http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: " ‘Drastic measures’ needed to combat air pollution" (Musselburgh!) en Fri, 22 May 2026 04:00:25 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15218#post-194509 Sat, 01 Aug 2015 10:45:44 +0000 gibbo 194509@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>"Presumably this means 'at peak times only buses are allowed'</p> <p>Presumably that's what he means to mean(?)"</em></p> <p>That would make a lot more sense.</p> <p>I think his comments about the bus companies led me to take his comments literally. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15218#post-194508 Sat, 01 Aug 2015 10:44:36 +0000 gembo 194508@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I googled that and the only really possible lead was Sydney Australia in a 1920 Sydney Morning Herald article. The city centre looks to have been proposed as a traffic free area.</p> <p>I think lots of European town centres have banned motor vehicles completely? That will be my next test to google.</p> <p>There is also Buchanan St :-)</p> <p>Doesn't feature in the wiki page but slateford green does.!!! </p> <p>Freiburg I think is the main example the wiki page his green for entire areas, largely islands but some historic city centres, then beige for places with large chunks, then just text for specific streets. Quite a nice wiki page, think I googled European cities car free </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15218#post-194506 Sat, 01 Aug 2015 10:21:26 +0000 Min 194506@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Many years ago I read of a city where motor vehicles are not allowed at all before 9.30 am. People walk or run to work. I cannot remember where it is but I think it was somewhere in South America. I don't <em>think </em>I imagined it.. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15218#post-194503 Sat, 01 Aug 2015 09:36:20 +0000 chdot 194503@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“There are already local authorities that only allow public transport in town centres at peak times.”</p> <p><em>Presumably</em> this means 'at peak times <em>only buses</em> are allowed'</p> <p><em>Presumably</em> that's what he means to mean(?)</p> <p>I wonder how much of Musselburgh's traffic is 'essential' local traffic and how much is bypassing the bypass. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15218#post-194501 Sat, 01 Aug 2015 09:28:25 +0000 gibbo 194501@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>"Green campaigners have accused council officials of showing “utter contempt” for residents by failing to combat the issue."</em></p> <p>To which, the council replied, "What's a 'resident'? We've looked at ways of lowering pollution, but they would all impact drivers, so they're not acceptable.".</p> <p>I found this particularly laughable:</p> <p><em>"Cllr Hampshire insisted regular meetings had been held with bus companies, with the council identifying the reduction in bus fumes as its best option to improve air quality.</p> <p>He said drastic measures may have to be considered in the long term, including restricting the number of vehicles passing through the town.</p> <p>He added: “There are already local authorities that only allow public transport in town centres at peak times.”"</em></p> <p>Buses are an estimated 2.5% of the traffic (the article mentions 20,000 vehicles, including 500 buses).</p> <p>Interesting how he's insisting on ignoring the 97.5% of vehicles that aren't buses... and that his solution is to reduce public transport.</p> <p>I've never heard "let's cut back on public transport" as a green measure before. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15218#post-194495 Sat, 01 Aug 2015 00:39:45 +0000 Mandopicker101 194495@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Living on Musselburgh High Street, yes the traffic is nightmarish. My daughter knows that, barring super-hurricane winds or weather so hot the rocks melt with the sun (or a broken leg...), she'll almost never get to go to school in the car. </p> <p>Debating the traffic situation with my neighbours a few weeks ago, we agreed that the commonly held belief of opening up the Electric Bridge permanently would do nothing to improve traffic, just chase it down new streets to spoil. </p> <p>I do fail to understand why people feel the need to drive through town though. I mean, it isn't as if Musselburgh's near perma-gridlock is something new or a freak occurrence. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15218#post-194474 Fri, 31 Jul 2015 16:28:31 +0000 kaputnik 194474@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Not sure how the trams heading in the opposite direction were meant to pick up the traction current! Perhaps that's why they never caught on... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15218#post-194469 Fri, 31 Jul 2015 16:02:38 +0000 Cyclingmollie 194469@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Musselburgh was a compact, walkable town for two thousand years. Cars ruined it in less than fifty. But in that respect it's the same as every village, town and city in Britain. The wonder is that no-one, anywhere ever thought to challenge the right to drive and park wherever you like through the courts. </p> <p><img src="http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_pcv_m/0_post_card_views_valentine_-_fisherrow_high_street.jpg"></p> <p>Image via <a href="http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_pcv_m/0_post_card_views_valentine_-_fisherrow_high_street.htm">Edinphoto</a>. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15218#post-194468 Fri, 31 Jul 2015 16:00:07 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 194468@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Removing the deliberate congestion causing restrictions would help. In the case of Musselburgh they could have used a fraction of the tram money on a by-pass. Bus lanes and road closures mean traffic forced into less and less road space."</p> <p>The commenter clearly forgetting about the big bypass called the A1; somehow thinks that not having an bypass is 'deliberate congestion causing restriction'; and doesn't know Musselburgh, and its lack of bus lanes and road closures, very well.... Apart from that, spot on!</p> <p>(not surprised in the slightest, the high street in Musselburgh is a nightmare!) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15218#post-194462 Fri, 31 Jul 2015 15:46:32 +0000 chdot 194462@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"</p> <p>Council chiefs have warned “drastic measures” could be needed to drive down air pollution in Musselburgh – including banning motorists from the town centre.</p> <p>East Lothian Council was forced to declare Musselburgh High Street the county’s first Air Quality Management Area in 2013 after a spike in toxic fumes.</p> <p>"</p> <p><a href="http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/drastic-measures-needed-to-combat-air-pollution-1-3846123" rel="nofollow">http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/drastic-measures-needed-to-combat-air-pollution-1-3846123</a> </p>