http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Comment: Taking time to pedestrianise Edinburgh en Mon, 18 May 2026 16:46:39 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13281#post-162061 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 15:53:06 +0000 PS 162061@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>"So remind me why did they move the RIE out to Little France?"</em></p> <p>The RIE is not just for Edinburgh - it needed to be accessible (especially by ambulance) for folk from the Lothians and the Borders.</p> <p>From the RIE website (with my bold):<br /> The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh is a major acute teaching hospital. With a 24-hour accident and emergency department, it provides a full range of acute medical and surgical services for patients <strong>from across Lothian and specialist services for people from across the south east of Scotland and beyond.</strong> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13281#post-162059 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 15:45:35 +0000 chdot 162059@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"So remind me why did they move the RIE out to Little France?"</p> <p>Because in the 70s there was a particularly strong reaction to the 'inevitability' of the expansion of the (old) RI and demolition of (more of) Chalmers Street, Lonsdale Terrace, Panmure Place etc.</p> <p>Apparently it 'could' have gone to Cameron Toll (which might have made it more likely that the South Sub would have opened to passengers).</p> <p>"Why are they about to move the Sick Kids too?"</p> <p>Presumably a mix of 'combined campus', new building/facilities being 'better' and the idea that the existing site is 'worth a lot of money'. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13281#post-162056 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 15:21:53 +0000 crowriver 162056@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Town centres are generally far easier to get to by foot, bike or public transport - so the environmental impact of people travelling to them is smaller.</em></p> <p>Indeed. So remind me why did they move the RIE out to Little France? Why are they about to move the Sick Kids too?</p> <p>Oh I forgot, "everyone" has a car, except for the people who don't (40% in Edinburgh?). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13281#post-162051 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 14:21:52 +0000 Morningsider 162051@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Stickman - Town centres are generally far easier to get to by foot, bike or public transport - so the environmental impact of people travelling to them is smaller. In addition, town centres provide more opportunities for local and independent businesses, as there are a far greater range of premises available to rent. These businesses generally pay their taxes and employ from within the local community - boosting employment.</p> <p>Vibrant town centres attract new businesses and development, consolidating development in already accessible areas, limiting urban sprawl and reducing car dependency. </p> <p>All good, in my opinion. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13281#post-162047 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 13:56:51 +0000 PS 162047@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There are wider benefits, but I reckon it's a good thing that this article counteracts (to an extent) the knee-jerk shopkeeper argument of "no parking means no customers". And it comes from within the traders/commercial group. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13281#post-162041 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 13:53:08 +0000 Stickman 162041@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>But I would argue there are broader society benefits from shopping being maintained/ increased in the city centre, rather than suburban / out of town malls.</em></p> <p>I'd be interested to know what you think those benefits are. (Not arguing or disagreeing with you, just something I've never given much thought!) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13281#post-162039 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 13:44:16 +0000 SRD 162039@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Presumably some of it comes from people visiting who otherwise would have gone to Dublin and some from people who might have bought online? </p> <p>But I would argue there are broader society benefits from shopping being maintained/ increased in the city centre, rather than suburban / out of town malls. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13281#post-162037 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 13:39:48 +0000 Stickman 162037@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'm not going to argue with the idea of pedestrianisation/better cycle provision, but arguing purely on the economic grounds of "improved city centre trade" raises it's own debate. This likely won't be "new" activity, but activity displaced/relocated from elsewhere. If that means out-of-town centres then fine, but we should acknowledge that there will be losers as well. </p> <p>I think the general point that ped/bike friendly cities are much more pleasant and safer is argument enough. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13281#post-162035 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 13:33:22 +0000 Min 162035@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>high-quality environment</em></p> <p>Uh oh</p> <p>They used the "q" word.. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13281#post-162034 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 13:32:29 +0000 dougal 162034@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Lezzles, I am also very confused about the "part-pedestrianised" bit about that photo. Is the part that's been pedestrianised the pavements? It looks to me like a lane of traffic (Range Rover) with two lanes of on-street parking. And since the parking in the left of the picture has bumpers to stop them moving forward they can only have come in from a lane on the extreme left. Which makes two lanes of traffic as I count it - just as there always was! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13281#post-162032 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 13:28:58 +0000 PS 162032@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Lezzles Suggest you have a read of the <a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983">George Street Improvements thread</a> for a blow by blow account, but it's a work in progress. Photo may have been taken before the barriers were put in place. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13281#post-162029 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 13:24:35 +0000 newtoit 162029@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Just going to sit back and watch the usual Scotsman/EEN commenters go wild... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13281#post-162028 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 13:24:02 +0000 Lezzles 162028@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've not been into George Street in ages. I'm trying to work out what that picture means. </p> <p>How is it a cycle lane if there is a Rangerover driving down it? Is the bike meant to be in the thin strip to the left or the right where the bike sign is painted? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13281#post-162025 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 13:09:19 +0000 PS 162025@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Andy Neal, chief executive of Essential Edinburgh on the financial benefits of pedestrianisation:<br /> <a href="http://www.scotsman.com/news/comment-taking-time-to-pedestrianise-edinburgh-1-3507342">Comment: Taking time to pedestrianise Edinburgh</a></p> <p>Thought about putting this in the George Street thread, but figured it had a wider reach... </p>