CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!

School run cars banned from streets in Haddington

(18 posts)

  1. LaidBack
    Member

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-25913984

    Been debated a bit this morning. The local council have tried to dissuade car use on the cul-de-sacs leading to these schools before.

    From what I hear parents go on board for a while but often revert when they see that 'others' still do it.

    Cycling and scooting was mentioned. Walking is what they really want initially maybe.
    Unless they put up bollards on the roads (and pavements) then results will be mixed I fear. Local residents still have to get in too....

    Posted 10 years ago #

  2. Calum
    Member

    The fact that they're actually trying to tackle the root problem - too many cars around schools - is very encouraging. It would be so easy for them to give the kids reflective armbands and all the rest of it, or get them to make a poster begging lawless drivers to behave themselves, which are the kinds of things you usually see. I really hope this is enforced and that it spreads across the country.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  3. chdot
    Admin

    On BBC1 shortly.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  4. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Neil "the sage" Greig tweeted that he's been asked for his opinion about this, as is now mandatory on anything involving wheels or tarmac.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  5. SRD
    Moderator

    As some of you will know, our council has also approved this as an option.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  6. Smudge
    Member

    Saw this on the news at ten and it seems very sensible, hope it's adopted countrywide.
    I assume they're only closing cul de sacs and minor back streets from the pictures, what is the plan for schools on main roads I wonder..

    Posted 10 years ago #

  7. Darkerside
    Member

    Scooting is a superb word.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  8. MeepMeep
    Member

    Even though I have no children myself, I am pleased about this move and think that this is an excellent step in the right direction for supporting more active travel.

    The cynic in me, however, believes that those 'renegade' drivers will not care about transferring their behaviour to the nearest available streets, no matter whether these are main roads or not. Their god-given right to drive everywhere and park closest to their destination obviously supercedes any child-boosting initiatives being bravely pushed by local schools.

    My mother-in-law is a teacher and she says the children who have had some form of exercise in coming to school are by far more settled, ready to learn, and less restless and troublesome than those who roll out of cars (and don't get her started on the ones who haven't had breakfast and are bundled off to school with no coat).

    Posted 10 years ago #

  9. recombodna
    Member

    Motoring journalist Allan Douglas actually said on the radio yesterday that we shouldn't be blaming people in cars but blaming the schools for being in the wrong place....... And people agreed with him.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  10. KeepPedalling
    Member

    Yep all schools should be remodelled to provide that McDonalds/Krispy Kreme drive through experience! Jeezo.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  11. chdot
    Admin

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/school-car-ban-helps-beat-parking-woes-1-3293465

    Posted 10 years ago #

  12. Stickman
    Member

    "Mum-of-one Megan Dunlop, 24, whose three-year-old Riley attends Haddington Nursery, agreed it improved safety but said it had simply shifted the congestion elsewhere. She said: “It is a lot better but we could do with more parking. The streets around it are heaving and I’m having to come five to ten minutes earlier to find somewhere to park. It’s definitely safer for the wee ones which is the main thing.”"

    I'm making no comment......

    Posted 10 years ago #

  13. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    Unless Haddington only has one street, banning parking in one must displace traffic into several others. Perhaps it's taking drivers a while to find the pedestrian cut-throughs.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  14. Simon Parker
    Member

    “According to his or her physical aptitudes, balance, agility, rapidity of reflexes and clarity of perception, the adult cyclist will instinctively choose his or her routes […]. Cyclists must therefore be enabled to circulate everywhere, on both secondary roads and major routes.

    “Children are a different category. Less capable than adults of choosing their itinerary according to their skills, they need guidance and various facilities all along their route. Routes leading to schools merit particular attention, therefore (and parents and schoolchildren are, moreover, very good at advising on possible improvements).

    “In the town of Courtrai (Belgium), the town council is paying special attention to these routes and has not hesitated to take special measures during peak traffic times regarding school routes (some streets are closed to traffic in one direction, policemen are on duty at hazardous crossroads where there are no special facilities provided). As a result, 60% of the journeys made by schoolchildren are by bicycle.”

    (Cycling: the way ahead)

    Posted 10 years ago #

  15. chdot
    Admin

    "As a result, 60% of the journeys made by schoolchildren are by bicycle."

    @Simon do you know about this report?

    http://www.cancer.dk/fagfolk/forebyggelse/fysisk+aktivitet/cykling+og+sundhed/Healthy+and+bicycle-friendly+school+roads

    Posted 10 years ago #

  16. Simon Parker
    Member

    I hadn't seen it before - it looks like it's worth reading. Now, where did I put my pipe?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  17. Simon Parker
    Member

    The Ranty Highwayman discusses the school run here.

    He concludes: "Officers can make suggestions until they are blue in the face - it needs local people to step up and demand change from their elected representatives and remind them who their current and future voters are!"

    Posted 10 years ago #

  18. SRD
    Moderator

    here in edinburgh, Council has agreed in principle to trial the 'school streets' concept, but will be guided by requests from parent councils in choosing pilot. seems a good blend of top-down and bottom-up to me.

    Posted 10 years ago #

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