VOI cyclist tackled in St Patrick Street cordon — Edinburgh Live

edinburgh live reports police tackled a cyclist on a VOI bike inside a cordon on St Patrick Street on Tuesday, June 16, after emergency services descended on the city centre road around 2.30pm.

The road stayed closed afterwards, and Lothian Buses said services passing St Patrick Square were diverted, including 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 29, 20, 31, 37, 47, 49 and 47B.

St Patrick Street cordon

A bystander told Edinburgh Live that two young men on VOI bikes approached the tape at speed. One stopped and went around it, while the other rode through the cordon before police intercepted him.

“I was waiting to walk past the cordon when I heard shouting. I looked up from my phone and two young men on VOI bikes were approaching at great speed.”

“One of them stopped the bike but the other went right under the cordon. A female officer tried to get to him but he went right past her. His friend asked if he could go around the cordon and she told him yes. But the other kept going.”

Police response on Tuesday

The bystander said a group of officers surrounded the cyclist on the ground after more shouting. He said police handcuffed him, checked his identification and put him in the back of a police car.

“I heard more shouting, looked across, and a group of officers were surrounding the figure. He was on the ground.”

“I walked up to see what was happening. They've put the cuffs on him and were checking his identification. Now he's been put in the back of the police car and his friend is away to find a VOI parking space.”

Lothian Buses diversions

The closure kept St Patrick Street shut while the incident continued, creating a direct disruption for passengers using the services that pass St Patrick Square. For riders on those routes, the practical change was immediate: the buses were diverted away from the cordon while the road remained blocked.

Those affected services were 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 29, 20, 31, 37, 47, 49 and 47B.