http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: “Plans to make Edinburgh city centre ‘largely traffic free’ “ en Tue, 19 May 2026 14:30:05 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=7#post-326344 Tue, 31 Mar 2020 11:29:45 +0000 neddie 326344@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Too late.</p> <p>Police and government have a whole load of new powers.</p> <p>Free parking. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=7#post-326339 Tue, 31 Mar 2020 10:59:02 +0000 I were right about that saddle 326339@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I would ca'canny on this one. A whole load of folk are just itching to implement their pet policies on the back of this and some of them are our worst enemies.</p> <p>Goose and gander both liable to saucing. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=7#post-326337 Tue, 31 Mar 2020 10:47:40 +0000 neddie 326337@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Tory group leader Iain Whyte said such major, long-term proposals needed proper scrutiny and should not be brought to the panel during the Covid-19 crisis.</em></p> <p>Nope. This is exactly the right time to implement this measure. We should never go back to business-as-usual in terms of private motor traffic in the city centre.</p> <p>It's a bit like saying "now's not the right time to implement gun laws after a mass shooting" or "now's not the right time to implement climate actions after a major flood" </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=7#post-326333 Tue, 31 Mar 2020 10:26:27 +0000 toomanybikes 326333@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>They all voted through the plans with this in months ago?..... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=7#post-326326 Tue, 31 Mar 2020 10:04:39 +0000 Stickman 326326@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/edinburgh-council-chiefs-accused-trying-sneak-through-car-ban-mound-2523239" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/edinburgh-council-chiefs-accused-trying-sneak-through-car-ban-mound-2523239</a></p> <p><blockquote>COUNCIL chiefs have been accused of trying to “sneak through” an effective ban on cars from The Mound by putting the proposals to a small panel of councillors making urgent decisions during the coronavirus crisis.</p> <p>Detailed plans for traffic changes in the city centre would see Bank Street - the stretch of road between The Mound and the Royal Mile - restricted to buses, taxis and cycles. Although cars could still travel in both directions on The Mound between Princes Street and Market Street, it would no longer be a north-south through route.</p> <p>Market Street would also be closed to through car traffic, with only buses and taxis allowed, as well as cars dropping off people at Waverley station.</p> <p>Council meetings have been suspended due to the coronavirus crisis, but the plans are due to be discussed via Skype today at the leadership advisory panel, which is made up of the leaders of the five main party groups on the council.</p> <p>Tory group leader Iain Whyte said such major, long-term proposals needed proper scrutiny and should not be brought to the panel during the Covid-19 crisis.</p> <p>He said: “This should be coming to a proper committee to discuss. The leadership advisory panel is meant for taking urgent decisions, not big long-term strategic decisions.</p> <p>“They are trying to sneak this under the radar here by dramatically changing the city centre layout when the news agenda is fully on other things. You would almost think they were playing fast and loose with council rules to get this through.”</p> <p>Council leader Adam McVey said: “These projects are working to externally set funding deadlines and if we’re to take these projects forward we need to take cognisance of that.</p> <p>“Our teams are working from home, in line with Government advice, to deliver project funding for improvements to our city. There has been no instruction to pause work where we still have the capacity to deliver it and staff aren’t needed to deal with the direct Covid-19 crisis.</p> <p>“This has been explained to the Tories so it’s a pity they have chosen still to attack these projects.”</blockquote> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=7#post-314570 Fri, 20 Sep 2019 13:40:05 +0000 gembo 314570@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>largely snarled up just now, due to the climate change striker</p> <p>see the Superordinate Category on Climate Change that is often overlooked </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=7#post-314569 Fri, 20 Sep 2019 13:36:41 +0000 twinspark 314569@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>What Rosie said<br /> "<br /> I understand that Cllr Macinnes spoke very eloquently at the Council meeting, so respect to her. However I am curious about which cities in Europe would follow Edinburgh’s example, when there are plenty of other cities like Siena, Oslo and Llubljana who are well ahead in transforming their city centres, let alone the usual City Godheads of Copenhagen and Amsterdam.<br /> "</p> <p>+1</p> <p>Copenhagen and Amsterdam have done it already so it really frustrates me with the level of "patheticness" of schemes for pedestrians and cyclists in Edinburgh. Just look at all the lights where motorised traffic has priority.... Why can't we just not copy what those cities have done in terms of design and has been shown to work?</p> <p>The ironic thing is that motorised traffic flows well in places like Copenhagen because there is so little of it.... put all the people on bikes back into cars and....?</p> <p>I do take some solace though in the number of people you see on bikes now in Edinburgh. It's not unusual to share an ASL with at least 2 or 3 others :-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=7#post-314530 Thu, 19 Sep 2019 20:42:37 +0000 Rosie 314530@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Transport and environment convener, Cllr Lesley Macinnes, told councillors that the city centre transformation project will “build a capital city fit for the future” with a “ground-breaking approach”.</p> <p>She added: “Cities across Europe are looking to us for leadership. We must address the challenges of congestion, pollution and stress caused by an increase of vehicle use.”"</p> <p>I understand that Cllr Macinnes spoke very eloquently at the Council meeting, so respect to her. However I am curious about which cities in Europe would follow Edinburgh’s example, when there are plenty of other cities like Siena, Oslo and Llubljana who are well ahead in transforming their city centres, let alone the usual City Godheads of Copenhagen and Amsterdam. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=7#post-314526 Thu, 19 Sep 2019 19:30:00 +0000 Morningsider 314526@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well, it's certainly a novelty to see the Tories calling for more scrutiny of a policy these days... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=7#post-314525 Thu, 19 Sep 2019 19:10:33 +0000 gembo 314525@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Conservatives, clue is in the name. Not keen on the future </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=7#post-314520 Thu, 19 Sep 2019 18:14:10 +0000 Stickman 314520@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>As expected, this was passed at full Council. </p> <p><a href="https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/politics/edinburgh-s-city-centre-transformation-final-strategy-agreed-despite-pathetic-attempts-to-halt-it-1-5007572" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/politics/edinburgh-s-city-centre-transformation-final-strategy-agreed-despite-pathetic-attempts-to-halt-it-1-5007572</a></p> <p>Fair to say Lesley Macinnes was fuming at the Tories. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=6#post-314275 Fri, 13 Sep 2019 21:57:39 +0000 Stickman 314275@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://drscottarthur.scot/2019/09/13/we-cant-let-the-car-lobby-stop-the-city-centre-transformation/" rel="nofollow">http://drscottarthur.scot/2019/09/13/we-cant-let-the-car-lobby-stop-the-city-centre-transformation/</a></p> <p>I watched the webcast. It’s a shame that the Tories sent two stand-ins without the depth of knowledge on transport projects to vote on such a major strategy paper. </p> <p>I thought Daisy showed, as always, remarkable patience when answering their questions. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=6#post-314260 Fri, 13 Sep 2019 14:51:09 +0000 Rosie 314260@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Murun - oh please can someone put out the alternative Boaby Boaks merchandise. I offer this concept for free and expect no royalties. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=6#post-314257 Fri, 13 Sep 2019 14:27:50 +0000 Murun Buchstansangur 314257@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>iwrats has been <em>beaten</em> to it (geddit)</p> <p><a href="https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/retro/edinburgh-can-t-get-enough-boaby-as-design-goes-down-a-storm-with-locals-1-5003659" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/retro/edinburgh-can-t-get-enough-boaby-as-design-goes-down-a-storm-with-locals-1-5003659</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=6#post-314189 Thu, 12 Sep 2019 14:04:19 +0000 gembo 314189@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>bEST TO REMND ANY TORY WHEN YOU SEE THEM THAT tHEY ARE getting frantic down there, they are the cats in the bebop hats and THEY ARE LIVING IN THE PAST. THey have no cAre for the future none whatsoever </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=6#post-314188 Thu, 12 Sep 2019 13:55:31 +0000 Morningsider 314188@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Simple electioneering by the Tories. They know the full Council will approve the City Centre Transformation (as it is supported by the SNP, Labour, Greens and Lib Dems). I imagine they want every non-Tory councillor to vote for it, so they can claim at the next election that only the Tories stood up for the hard-pressed motorist when confronted by the prospect of "cars being banned from the city centre and hard-working families taxed for parking outside their home." </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=6#post-314185 Thu, 12 Sep 2019 13:34:49 +0000 Stickman 314185@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Strategy was due to be approved today, until the Tories moved that it gets debated at full Council. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=6#post-314057 Tue, 10 Sep 2019 15:28:51 +0000 gembo 314057@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>this Boaby thing is a recent invention </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=6#post-314038 Tue, 10 Sep 2019 12:44:25 +0000 I were right about that saddle 314038@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Replace it with a statue of Greyfriar's Boaby</em></p> <p>Quality content that has gone unremarked. I've started sculpting. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=6#post-314023 Tue, 10 Sep 2019 10:54:27 +0000 PS 314023@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>4. Control loading - many premises on the west side can be serviced from the Cowgate and Victoria Street.</em></p> <p>This should be a first step across the city centre - I went down the Mound yesterday and the inconvenience/conflict for cyclists and bolshie driveriness caused by one car parked up in the cyclelane in front of the Whiski (sic) Rooms was something else. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=6#post-313937 Mon, 09 Sep 2019 12:34:59 +0000 mgj 313937@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@CycleAlex; I was possibly misremembering them from the front page of the Evening News rather than these designs.</p> <p>I guess like all of us, I'd like to see the Council committing to enforcing parking regulations as part of this with the very clear guidance that first time offenders get a fine, second time towed, third time crushed.</p> <p>At least there is a kerb in the designs between the cycle lanes and the pavement, so some of it has improved from previous iterations. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=6#post-313936 Mon, 09 Sep 2019 12:34:34 +0000 Frenchy 313936@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Replace it with a statue of Greyfriar's Boaby; see how many people want to rub the end of that.</p> <p>Actually, probably even more... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=6#post-313935 Mon, 09 Sep 2019 12:31:16 +0000 Morningsider 313935@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Absolutely barking. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=6#post-313934 Mon, 09 Sep 2019 12:23:55 +0000 gembo 313934@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Morningsider - move Greyfriars Bobby are you mental? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=6#post-313926 Mon, 09 Sep 2019 11:56:39 +0000 Morningsider 313926@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>For me, the question is "How do we approach a city centre transformation?" Yes, there needs to be compromise and the needs of a broad range of users need to be accommodated. Yet the list of reasons for having bi-directional lanes is just so timid. I would respond:</p> <p>1. Move Greyriars Bobby, it's in a poor location next to a kebab shop. Why not move it somewhere people can gather, away from people moving around by whatever means, including other pedestrians.<br /> 2. Make the streets safe and the need for controlled crossing points reduces.<br /> 3. Floating bus stops are not dangerous - unless the Council are happy to endanger people on Leith Walk, Roseburn etc.<br /> 4. Control loading - many premises on the west side can be serviced from the Cowgate and Victoria Street.</p> <p>At least start with grand plans and then tweak them. What might these plans look like after another round of consultation, TROs/RSOs etc. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=6#post-313918 Mon, 09 Sep 2019 11:20:46 +0000 I were right about that saddle 313918@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>I’d prefer unidirectional lanes down The Mound.</em></p> <p>A bi-directional lane on the Mound inevitably means a 25-30mph head-on collision between a downhill and an uphill cyclist. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=6#post-313916 Mon, 09 Sep 2019 11:05:05 +0000 CycleAlex 313916@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Where are you seeing the cycleway on the west side? Consultation designs show it on the east side all the way from GIV to George Street. 3 metres wide. <a href="https://meadowstogeorgestreet.info/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Meadows-to-George-Street-Concept-Designs-George-IV-Bridge-3-of-4.pdf" rel="nofollow">https://meadowstogeorgestreet.info/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Meadows-to-George-Street-Concept-Designs-George-IV-Bridge-3-of-4.pdf</a></p> <p>Their reasons for bidirectional:<br /> • Offers better opportunity to improve pedestrian and public spaces on west-side with areas of higher demand. [Including Greyfriars Bobby]<br /> • All crossing points controlled and safe<br /> • Reduces conflict with pedestrians and bus stops – by<br /> positioning on single side only<br /> • Main loading activity on west side</p> <p>Frankly I agree with their points, I can imagine unidirectional lanes being a nightmare on the west side in August. Although, I’d prefer unidirectional lanes down The Mound. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=6#post-313915 Mon, 09 Sep 2019 11:03:14 +0000 Morningsider 313915@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>mgj - there was a discussion about this on <a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18147&amp;page=2#post-307618">another thread</a>. The upshot being - we all agree with you. I think there are details about lane widths in there somewhere. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=6#post-313912 Mon, 09 Sep 2019 10:42:43 +0000 mgj 313912@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Even from the initial diagrams, I can see conflict designed in. On GIV bridge the bi directional cycle lane is on the West side (why does it need to be bidirectional?) but by the time it gets to the Mound its a narrow dangerous lane (for descending) on the East. How will the crossover be done? Its like the Meadows all over again, switching sides for no good reason and building problems. How are we going to persuade people to commute by bike if the cycling facilities are designed for 4 mph tootling alongside pedestrians rather than 15 mph commuting? These lanes look no wider than those that go from Stenhouse to the Gyle, where cyclists cant pass each other - are there measurements? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19033&page=6#post-313841 Sat, 07 Sep 2019 09:17:43 +0000 gembo 313841@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I don’t mind taxis as a concept - for example if you are a game old stick and still like to get out and about but are a menace with your driving then hire a cab to go from your house to the shops.</p> <p>Obvs not good when the game old stick is driving the taxi</p> <p>Again i would love it if out of city centre places like kinnaird took the drivers and the city centre was the place for cyclists to shop.</p> <p>I did cycle to Hermiston Gait for breakfast items the other night just before 10, it is I think more accessible by bike than car.</p> <p>I like these plans and yet something tells me even if they are passed given they are 10 years off, building them will meet much resistance. I mean a small stretch where three shopkeepers park their cars has taken years of our lives to get not very far </p>