A visitor's views on Edinburgh road safety. Bit of a dim view of pedestrians and cyclists.
Only a short clip but interesting viewing.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh
Edinburgh road safety - from 1950
(11 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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The peds are simply putting the concept of "shared space" into good use. :)
I'm increasingly of the view that this is the way forward - drivers should be aware that peds have priority in town centres (cos that's what cities are for) and they should drive carefully accordingly. Militant pedestrianism FTW.
Presumably it was like this until the ascendancy of the motor car in the 60s and 70s?
On another note, how on earth did cyclists manage back then, what with the maze of trams lines on the streets?
Posted 12 years ago # -
They fell off - mortality and injury rates were quite a lot worse in those days!
Posted 12 years ago # -
"...how on earth did cyclists manage back then, what with the maze of trams lines on the streets?"
Chubblier tyres, more upright riding positions, lower speeds, habitual rail-avoidance?
Fewer vehicles around blocking the view of the road immediately ahead?
Competently-laid roads and rails?Posted 12 years ago # -
Fewer vehicles around blocking the view of the road immediately ahead?
More likely just fewer vehicles, and the space for bicycle riders to make the required angled manoeuvers that modern taxi drivers dislike so.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Look at pre 1950s photos of Edinburgh, and it's not the lack of motor vehicles that strikes you so much as the lack of parked vehicles in town. So plenty more room available ont he roads as they were serving their intended purpose of being a carriageway, not a car park.
After the 1960s it all goes down hill. Anyone that claims its traffic calming that's caused congestion should refer to photos from the 60s thru 80s and we had it back then too. Perhaps even worse in some locations.
Posted 12 years ago # -
They didn't have any choice. They just had to plunge in to the middle of all the motor cars as best they could, it was the only way to get across the road.
Very striking how the motorist actually swerves when the cyclist comes out unexpectedly. I mean he is miles away. It is almost as if the driver is trying to avoid hitting him.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Is it me or does the chap doing the voiceover sound a bit like Ivor Cutler? A wee bit of a Hebridean brogue to his voice too...
Posted 12 years ago # -
The peds are simply putting the concept of "shared space" into good use.
Passed through Poynton, in Cheshire recently, which has actually put this into practise in the centre of the village. Unfortunately due to the concept being so alien in this country, the benefit it brings in terms of visual attractiveness is rather detracted from by the dozens of signs explaining it to motorists. (it's too new for Street View so I can't illustrate this).
Other than that minor downside it seems to work really well. My perception was that traffic flow seemed no worse than a standard traffic light controlled crossroads would have been, but in a far, far more pleasant environment.
Posted 12 years ago # -
The Poynton scheme:
http://www.naden.de/blog/bbvideo-bbpress-video-plugin -->
[+] Embed the video | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vzDDMzq7d0" target="_blank">Video Download Get the Flash Video (Knew about this youtube vid after Dave linked to it here: http://mccraw.co.uk/leith-walk-consultation-redesign/ )
Posted 12 years ago # -
"From the Maybury Roundabout to Moray Place, shot during the 60s, through the windscreen of a Ford Consul"
[+] Embed the video | Video Download Get the Flash Video Goes a bit fast after the first mile or so. I set Youtube to play at 0.25 speed.
Posted 10 years ago #
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