http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Death rates prompt new traffic plans en Thu, 21 May 2026 16:23:43 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5488#post-58763 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 14:11:34 +0000 slowcoach 58763@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>This seems to be the <a href="http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/download/meetings/id/35014/item_8_city_centre_southern_arc-_area_development_framework-final_version">report</a> the Herald is referring to. Some of the measures listed in the Herald have already been proposed/agreed elsewhere eg the Active Travel Action Plan (ATAP). </p> <p>It might help show serious traffic problems are if we could compare how many early deaths traffic pollution causes/contributes to, compared with those from traffic collisions?? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5488#post-58758 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 13:55:54 +0000 wingpig 58758@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Back in 2001 the west footway on Waverley Bridge must have been quite bad too.</p> <p>Has anyone on here ever reported a Lothian Bus to LRT purely on emissions grounds after finding themselves behind one emitting FirstBus levels of exhaust-filth? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5488#post-58751 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 13:33:01 +0000 chdot 58751@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"City of Edinburgh Council found that buses contributed over 50 per cent of all emissions of nitrogen oxides at four of five sites monitored in the city centre in 2001"</p> <p>This is one of the reasons Lothian Buses has spent so much money on 'greener' buses.</p> <p>It's also a reason for the tram, which may or may not be a cost effective way of improving urban air pollution. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5488#post-58750 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 13:23:41 +0000 crowriver 58750@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Despite a slight improvement on the previous year, the level of nitrogen dioxide on busy roads such as London Road and St John's Road continues to put the city in line for EU fines.</p> <p>The EU annual average objective for nitrogen dioxide – which is not a greenhouse gas – is 40 micrograms per cubic metre. However, a number of the city's busiest roads regularly exceed this, including St John's Road and Morrison Street, where levels often exceed 70 micrograms</p> <p>The highest reading was taken on one part of St John's Road, where an annual mean concentration of 85 micrograms was recorded. Among the other worst offenders are West Port and West Maitland Street.</em></p> <p>From Scotsman, 2009:<br /> <a href="http://www.scotsman.com/news/city_air_quality_to_take_your_breath_away_1_1225038" rel="nofollow">http://www.scotsman.com/news/city_air_quality_to_take_your_breath_away_1_1225038</a></p> <p><em>The next time you see traffic stopped at lights and there are several cars emitting copious exhaust next to a lone cyclist, you can be cheered by the fact that those in the car are experiencing the highest air pollution exposure, and not the cyclist. The air pollution in cars moving slowly in traffic can be up to ten times more concentrated than the levels outside in the street. </em></p> <p>From Scotsman, 2002: <a href="http://www.scotsman.com/news/time_to_clear_the_air_over_pollution_1_850038" rel="nofollow">http://www.scotsman.com/news/time_to_clear_the_air_over_pollution_1_850038</a></p> <p><em>Road transport is the main cause of local air quality problems. There is a lack of coordination between air quality and transport objectives at both a national and a local level.</em></p> <p>and</p> <p><em>The majority of air quality problems in Scotland are related to emissions from road transport, in particular buses and heavy goods vehicles. For example, the City of Edinburgh Council found that buses contributed over 50 per cent of all emissions of nitrogen oxides at four of five sites monitored in the city centre in 2001.</em></p> <p>From 'Protecting and improving Scotland’s environment', Audit Scotland, prepared for the Auditor General for Scotland and the Accounts Commission, January 2010:</p> <p><a href="http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/docs/central/2010/nr_100114_environment_overview.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/docs/central/2010/nr_100114_environment_overview.pdf</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5488#post-58733 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 12:18:57 +0000 SRD 58733@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There was a front pager on the EEN a few years back, showing which places in Edin had worst air pollution. Leith St - London Rd are was one of (if not the) worst. (at that time, I walked through there twice every day!) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5488#post-58729 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 12:11:10 +0000 crowriver 58729@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>These reports make for interesting reading. The maps are very revealing as to the source of most pollution (motor vehicles):</p> <p><a href="http://www.sepa.org.uk/air/air_publications.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://www.sepa.org.uk/air/air_publications.aspx</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5488#post-58727 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 11:59:24 +0000 crowriver 58727@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I know the area around Haymarket has been the worst for air quality for some years: high traffic volumes, relatively low lying and sheltered from the wind. South Bridge, Cowgate etc. also not nice.</p> <p>Pretty sure there must be similar pollution issues in the north of the city centre too, eg. Easter Road, London Road, Leith Walk areas. Maybe the fresh breeze off the Forth and the wider roads (except Easter Rd) mitigate the effect of pollution somewhat? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5488#post-58718 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 10:30:14 +0000 chdot 58718@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Google satellite view still shows empty ground there, but perhaps I'm behind the curve and there are already some sparkly new flats in that space?"</p> <p>Nope.</p> <p>There's a recession ya know...</p> <p>Pretty sure that a link here is/would be part of planning consent.</p> <p>I think site is still owned by <a href="http://www.macmic.co.uk" rel="nofollow">http://www.macmic.co.uk</a></p> <p><em>In theory</em> it would be possible to put a link through now, but I don't suppose anyone would think it was worth doing a 'temporary' path. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5488#post-58711 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 10:13:28 +0000 cb 58711@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There must certainly be scope to open up direct access from Lochrin Place to the canal.</p> <p>That would cut quite a large and busy 'corner'.</p> <p>Google satellite view still shows empty ground there, but perhaps I'm behind the curve and there are already some sparkly new flats in that space? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5488#post-58706 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:50:31 +0000 chdot 58706@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"I hope they don't just mean carrying bikes up through the vennel"</p> <p>Agreed!</p> <p>Think I did that once - quite a slog!</p> <p>The intention <em>might</em> be to include a contra-flow on Lady Lawson Street. That's been 'coming' for 30 years.</p> <p>It was originally shelved because of objections from the Fire Brigade.</p> <p>That's when the active fire station was at Lauriston Place not West Tollcross...</p> <p>This<em>is</em>Edinburgh. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5488#post-58705 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:25:48 +0000 wingpig 58705@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I hope they don't just mean carrying bikes up through the vennel, through Quartermile, along NMW, up over Bruntsfield Links then across to a strip of red paint down Leamington Terrace, technically avoiding vehicles (with that last bit of red paint) but also avoiding convenience.<br /> I hope there'll be plenty of thought put into the interactions at the beginnings and ends of new facilities. Changes to the one-way.systems round Lothian Road would be helped with big signs indicating them well in advance to prevent people getting into them before discovering that they can't escape in the way they wish to. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5488#post-58704 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:18:14 +0000 chdot 58704@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"vehicle-free access from the Grassmarket to the Union Canal"</p> <p>That's quite a long bridge... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5488#post-58702 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:09:37 +0000 gembo 58702@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>and a vehicle-free access from the Grassmarket to the Union Canal.</p> <p>this could be part of the curious whin kerbing 175m on the Western Approach? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5488#post-58701 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 08:43:49 +0000 chdot 58701@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>This is most encouraging!</p> <p>It is likely that it's partly due to EU regulations on air pollution. </p> <p>I hope it includes Queen Street. </p> <p>No doubt there will be an 'outcry' by some people who fear that their 'human rights' will be infringed on. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5488#post-58697 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 07:30:53 +0000 cc 58697@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/death-rates-prompt-new-traffic-plans.16877850" rel="nofollow">http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/death-rates-prompt-new-traffic-plans.16877850</a></p> <p>"The council has identified areas for improvement, including the route from Haymarket to Holyrood, the Haymarket area, Chambers Street, The Royal Mile and Tollcross.</p> <p>The road to Holyrood would include prioritising pedestrians and bikes over cars, changing one-way systems in the Lothian Road area, and a vehicle-free access from the Grassmarket to the Union Canal.</p> <p>The Royal Mile would have greater restrictions on cars. Tollcross and areas towards the canal could have widespread pedestrianisation." </p>