http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: George Street Improvements en Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:40:10 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=41#post-383934 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:40:13 +0000 chdot 383934@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>Ottolenghi is to open its first Scottish restaurant on Edinburgh’s George Street this autumn, the group has confirmed. It will be the brand’s first UK location outside London. </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://dramscotland.co.uk/2026/04/22/ottolenghi-to-open-first-scottish-restaurant-in-edinburgh/?ref=edinburghminute.com" rel="nofollow">https://dramscotland.co.uk/2026/04/22/ottolenghi-to-open-first-scottish-restaurant-in-edinburgh/?ref=edinburghminute.com</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=41#post-383237 Mon, 16 Feb 2026 13:34:07 +0000 chdot 383237@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“Naïvety is my strength!“</p> <p>Distance from convention/accepted wisdom is often a useful starting point. </p> <p>There are many people who have said (notably of ultimately successful businesses) ‘if I’d realised what it involved/how long it would take, I wouldn’t have started’!</p> <p>Problem with things like GSt is forgetting (or even not thinking) about ‘what is the purpose of all this?’</p> <p>Or ignoring ‘contexts’ - immediate area, whole city priorities, business ‘wishes’, ‘political aims’ (they change!). Oh and “people”. </p> <p>Add in climate change, the next election, vested interests etc etc, (and ThisIsEdinburgh) don’t expect much change. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=41#post-383235 Mon, 16 Feb 2026 13:04:29 +0000 bakky 383235@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>(Probably lots of things. Naïvety is my strength!) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=41#post-383231 Mon, 16 Feb 2026 12:28:05 +0000 bakky 383231@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>With clean slate and good budget:</p> <p>Re-route the tram through St. Andrew's square along an otherwise entirely pedestrianised George St. Don't provide cycle infra here, but also don't try to disallow it.</p> <p>Allow loading access in the side streets via retractable bollards, with crossing over George St controlled to morning only. Four blue badge spaces at the George St end of every side street, both north and south.</p> <p>Close every side street at Princes St, except for Hanover. On the northern side, widen the pavement by 1.5m and use one lane of eastbound carriageway for a bidirectional cycle superhighway, fed by redirecting CCWEL along Queensferry St to Princes St and cutting out Charlotte Sq entirely. With the remaining 1.5m-2m and the central reservation, we have a substantial bus waiting and alighting platform, as we use the two carriageway lanes currently for westbound traffic as East-West bus lanes. Taxis are allowed, PHCs aren't.</p> <p>CCWEL links back to the York Place leg via South St Andrews St, but also continues along and down the east side of Leith St to link in at Greenside row. </p> <p>Taxi ranks on Hanover St south leg, St Andrews Sq, Charlotte Sq, and North Castle St. </p> <p>Buses that currently use George St are re-routed to Queen St; and 33% of the buses that currently use Princes St are dealt with in the same way.</p> <p>All current pedestrian crossings of the bus lanes remain but are on permanent green person unless a bus is detected to go through. Taxis are detected and subject to a 90 second wait before being lit through.</p> <p>...what did I break, other than a few of Cllr Whyte's blood vessels? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=41#post-383228 Mon, 16 Feb 2026 11:46:15 +0000 neddie 383228@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Or... &lt;shock horror&gt;... we could even PAY a guy a wage to open and close low-cost manual barriers, ensure the lorries don't go awry, give assistance to those with additional mobility needs, and even have a nice conversation with people / direct tourists.</p> <p>Imagine that! Actual <em>human </em>assistance! Actual public luxury.</p> <p>To attract people back to the city centre shops, that's exactly what is needed - personal service and boutique shops.</p> <p>Honestly, get rid of all the tech bulls**t, and let's have actual humans. There's even a frickin levy to pay for it</p> <p>Added benefit: The Tories would self-combust knowing that something was not "making a profit" </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=41#post-383227 Mon, 16 Feb 2026 11:42:06 +0000 Morningsider 383227@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@neddie - the mad things is that they really did that for 18 months (although the implementation was a bit shonky). All it takes is political will, a commodity in short supply in Edinburgh at the moment. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=41#post-383226 Mon, 16 Feb 2026 11:41:37 +0000 neddie 383226@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The bollards can be automated and retractable for deliveries in the morning. I don't care. Just bl**dy pedestrianise it. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=41#post-383225 Mon, 16 Feb 2026 11:37:42 +0000 bakky 383225@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There is an inherent bias in all of this stuff towards the ‘need’ for loading - either people or goods - as directly as possible off a vehicle and into a destination. </p> <p>I’m pretty comfortable with the idea that any and all stock / delivery traffic could be required to stop at side roads and hand-trolley goods round - there are plenty of tools that make this feasible. </p> <p>Similarly, the majority of folk looking for a taxi or private hire could move to a pick up point that’s at most a block away…</p> <p>Not sure how the accessibility side of this would stack up; or whether there’s guidance on proximity of blue badge spaces to destinations. But that’s potentially solvable too. </p> <p>The main thing they’re up against does seem to the classic overstatement of % patronage from drivers and those arriving being driven. Hard to argue with when the whole street is effectively a massive car park but I bet if you started there, and removed that parking, there’d be little measurable downturn for businesses. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=41#post-383224 Mon, 16 Feb 2026 11:32:44 +0000 gembo 383224@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@neddie, gets my vote only thing stopping it is Motornormativity </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=41#post-383223 Mon, 16 Feb 2026 11:24:36 +0000 neddie 383223@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Honestly, all as they need to do on George St is pedestrianise it entirely, with bollards across all the crossroads.</p> <p>Just leave the tarmac as it is. Then they can "fill in" the street with the fancy paving at their leisure (or never, who cares?)</p> <p>Just bl**dy pedestrianise the thing! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=41#post-383222 Mon, 16 Feb 2026 10:26:14 +0000 chdot 383222@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>Oh boy! George Street</p> <p>The big loser could be the £35m transformation of George St into a more pedestrian and cycle-friendly environment. After several years of debate and consultation, the plan is once again on hold. </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=1719536&amp;post_id=186009285" rel="nofollow">https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=1719536&amp;post_id=186009285</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=41#post-383220 Mon, 16 Feb 2026 10:00:08 +0000 gembo 383220@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Big oil funding the SNP, Tories, Lib DEms Reform and doubtless Labour too,. It ‘s not easy being Green as Kermit sang.</p> <p>This originally bold place making has been well and truly fillibustered. </p> <p>Next<br /> Spend the LEZ fines /tourist taxon consultants to pretend to fix Princes Street?<br /> Remember never to spend the LEZ money /tourist Tax on infra</p> <p>What sort of massive consultations will needto happen as they have a fair bit of revenue coming………</p> <p>At the end of every consultation I am going to answer in the Anything ELse to say? Box </p> <p>Please, spend all the Money on more pointless Consultations, I love filling in pointless consultations. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=41#post-383219 Sun, 15 Feb 2026 23:34:34 +0000 bakky 383219@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Watched some of the webcast from full council and not really any the wiser than having just read the SNP amendment.</p> <p>They need to stick a bi-directional cycleway with parallel crossings at side roads down the length of George St, <strong>yesterday</strong>. Building something with the scope and benefit of CCWEL and spitting users out into a linear car park is not only embarrassing by this point, but looks like it's going to continue being fannied about with for another half decade of 'design' work and humming and hawing about 'placemaking'; meanwhile two thirds of the year you have to dodge motors along it and the other third you contend with stupidly placed or narrow hostile vehicle mitigations and venue encroachment on whatever sorry 'cycle provision' they've squashed in.</p> <p>(If I exorcise these demons here maybe I'll be kinder 'in print'). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=41#post-383204 Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:33:22 +0000 Arellcat 383204@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Is the tourist tax just to raise money to pay consultants instead of building infra?</em></p> <p>Now <em>that</em> would be the basis of a good FOI request. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=41#post-383203 Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:28:45 +0000 chdot 383203@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“All of this is far more acceptable than a direct charge on motor mad edinburghers.“</p> <p>Well yes</p> <p>Which remains the (a) problem. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=41#post-383202 Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:23:31 +0000 gembo 383202@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>In a way the hotel tax is a congestion charge as it is a means of generating income from over tourism. It is. Indirectly levied on the citizens of Edinburgh [when they visit other cities]</p> <p>All of this is far more acceptable than a direct charge on motor mad edinburghers.<br /> Spineless councillors. AlsoIs the tourist tax just to raise money to pay consultants instead of building infra?</p> <p>Meanwhile over in north berwick all shops on the high street have gone bust and all poorly paid carers who live in small villages outside of the town have had to resign.</p> <p>All because parking will b e charged between 10 and 4. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=41#post-383201 Fri, 13 Feb 2026 14:50:39 +0000 chdot 383201@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>From link</p> <p>“</p> <p>“The levy represents an unprecedented level of extra funding into the city that will benefit not only those who visit Edinburgh but also those of us who live and work here, the residents, the businesses and workers who form the lifeblood of the city and help make it the desirable place to visit that it is.”</p> <p>“</p> <p>How about talking up the benefits of “levy” from Comgestion Charging… </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=41#post-383200 Fri, 13 Feb 2026 14:45:30 +0000 Morningsider 383200@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The Chipwrapper reporting that the George Street project has been "put on hold". While it was a ridiculous, gold plated bit of nonsense, it does mean that central Edinburgh remains a cycling infrastructure black hole for at least the next few years.</p> <p>Triples all round at Jacobs, Aecom and pals though - as they get stuck into a new city centre focused project!</p> <p>See: <a href="https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/edinburgh-tourist-tax-change-of-plan-on-george-street-as-ps90m-package-of-spending-from-visitor-levy-is-approved-5593648" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/edinburgh-tourist-tax-change-of-plan-on-george-street-as-ps90m-package-of-spending-from-visitor-levy-is-approved-5593648</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=41#post-382931 Tue, 20 Jan 2026 19:31:01 +0000 chdot 382931@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>Edinburgh tourist tax to fund long-awaited revamp of George Street </p> <p><a href="https://archive.ph/2026.01.20-182508/https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/edinburgh-tourist-tax-to-fund-long-awaited-revamp-of-george-street-5482973" rel="nofollow">https://archive.ph/2026.01.20-182508/https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/edinburgh-tourist-tax-to-fund-long-awaited-revamp-of-george-street-5482973</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=41#post-380108 Thu, 26 Jun 2025 14:22:45 +0000 neddie 380108@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks!</p> <p>The Green amendment was also accepted, meaning they'll have to keep a 2-way cycle lane open during construction </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=41#post-380107 Thu, 26 Jun 2025 13:57:14 +0000 MediumDave 380107@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@neddie If I read the Spokes reporting correctly, the two "Do Nothing" options were dropped for now at least but due to a Lib Dem amendment passing they may come back later. </p> <p>Conservative wrecking amendment which scrapped the project entirely was defeated. </p> <p>Agenda item document:</p> <p><a href="https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/documents/s85548/7.2%20-%20George%20Street%20and%20First%20New%20Town%20Conclusion%20of%20RIBA%20Stage%204%20and%20Next%20Steps.pdf" rel="nofollow">https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/documents/s85548/7.2%20-%20George%20Street%20and%20First%20New%20Town%20Conclusion%20of%20RIBA%20Stage%204%20and%20Next%20Steps.pdf</a></p> <p>Lib dem amendment:</p> <p><a href="https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/documents/b26671/Motions%20and%20amendments%2026th-Jun-2025%2010.00%20Transport%20and%20Environment%20Committee.pdf?T=9#%5B%7B%22num%22%3A124%2C%22gen%22%3A0%7D%2C%7B%22name%22%3A%22FitH%22%7D%2C846%5D" rel="nofollow">https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/documents/b26671/Motions%20and%20amendments%2026th-Jun-2025%2010.00%20Transport%20and%20Environment%20Committee.pdf?T=9#%5B%7B%22num%22%3A124%2C%22gen%22%3A0%7D%2C%7B%22name%22%3A%22FitH%22%7D%2C846%5D</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=41#post-380106 Thu, 26 Jun 2025 11:21:27 +0000 neddie 380106@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Anyone watching today’s TEC?</p> <p>Does anyone know how the vote went on whether to ditch the “do almost nothing” options on George St?</p> <p>Note the traditional media were busy reporting this as which option they would proceed with on George St. - which it isn’t, it’s only a decision on dropping 2 of the 6 options. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=41#post-380039 Wed, 18 Jun 2025 17:00:30 +0000 bakky 380039@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Huh:</p> <p><blockquote><strong>5.5</strong> It is programmed to move to RIBA Stage 4B in October 2026 to appoint a contractor for the works. This will allow time to develop a phased construction programme for the First New Town and allow contractors involvement in <strong>confirming how a bidirectional cycle route can remain along George Street for the duration of construction</strong>, allowing the active travel link of CCWEL to continue through the City Centre.</blockquote></p> <p>That's pretty good. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=41#post-380038 Wed, 18 Jun 2025 16:49:39 +0000 pringlis 380038@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Detailed Plans/Renders at Page 13+ here: <a href="https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/documents/s85548/7.2%20-%20George%20Street%20and%20First%20New%20Town%20Conclusion%20of%20RIBA%20Stage%204%20and%20Next%20Steps.pdf" rel="nofollow">https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/documents/s85548/7.2%20-%20George%20Street%20and%20First%20New%20Town%20Conclusion%20of%20RIBA%20Stage%204%20and%20Next%20Steps.pdf</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=41#post-380035 Wed, 18 Jun 2025 11:49:52 +0000 chdot 380035@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>The cost of Edinburgh’s most high-profile street upgrade scheme is expected to fall further as the plans take shape, the city council has confidently predicted.</p> <p>A major revamp of George Street to remove parking and most traffic is now estimated at £35 million compared to nearly £39.5m last September following “more detailed and accurate costings”</p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/new-visuals-of-ps35m-george-street-revamp-in-edinburgh-revealed-as-council-bold-on-cost-5181078" rel="nofollow">https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/new-visuals-of-ps35m-george-street-revamp-in-edinburgh-revealed-as-council-bold-on-cost-5181078</a></p> <p>Bargain… </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=41#post-379897 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 12:18:12 +0000 chdot 379897@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>Long-awaited George St transformation boosted by surprise drop in cost </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/pedestrian-friendly-george-st-moves?" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/pedestrian-friendly-george-st-moves?</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=40#post-378973 Fri, 14 Mar 2025 12:57:32 +0000 Yodhrin 378973@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@boothym Of course that's an option, it always was, but This Is Edinburgh Dontcha Know. Can't just stick in a few scruffy lights and signposts or - heaven forefend - freestanding planters, we must pave the road with stone cut by master masons from a quarry blessed by the Queen o' the Fae per a redesign by one of the world's top architects as befits our status and grandeur.</p> <p>Crikey, if they put any more temporary-material cycling infrastructure in that part of town half the Cockburn Society would drop dead of the vapours. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=40#post-378968 Thu, 13 Mar 2025 15:12:27 +0000 Arellcat 378968@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>1. 24hr access for coaches to drop off hotel guests.<br /> 2. unlimited taxi and PHC access between 7pm and 6am.<br /> 3. 24hr access for taxis and PHCs carrying Blue Badge holders.<br /> 4. Mon-Sat loading between 7pm and 10.30am, Sun loading 7pm to 12.30pm.<br /> 5. A one-way system in operation (presumably only for motorised vehicles).</em></p> <p>Even Glasgow didn't try for "faux-pedestrianisation" with Buchanan Street - and this was in 1972! Most evenings (&gt;7pm) you see vehicles for loading wares into shops or for maintenance duties, but the rest of the time it's just people and more people, most walking and a few on bikes.</p> <p><a href="https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/transport/23542940.day-buchanan-street-banished-cars-forever/" rel="nofollow">https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/transport/23542940.day-buchanan-street-banished-cars-forever/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=40#post-378967 Thu, 13 Mar 2025 13:02:15 +0000 boothym 378967@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Instead of waiting years for this project are there changes that could be done just now with a couple of bus gates/modal filters to make it safe enough?</p> <p>Like a filter to the west side of Frederick Street, remove a few parking spaces to allow turning at the dead end, a bus gate on the east end and an improved connection to CCWEL. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=40#post-378923 Mon, 10 Mar 2025 11:42:37 +0000 bakky 378923@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>If you’d like to experiment with what an article like that might say without a paywall, I believe you could try adding <code>12ft.io/</code> in front of its full URL. You know, just as an experiment. </p>