Andy Neal, chief executive of Essential Edinburgh on the financial benefits of pedestrianisation:
Comment: Taking time to pedestrianise Edinburgh
Thought about putting this in the George Street thread, but figured it had a wider reach...
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Comment: Taking time to pedestrianise Edinburgh
(14 posts)-
Posted 10 years ago #
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I've not been into George Street in ages. I'm trying to work out what that picture means.
How is it a cycle lane if there is a Rangerover driving down it? Is the bike meant to be in the thin strip to the left or the right where the bike sign is painted?
Posted 10 years ago # -
Just going to sit back and watch the usual Scotsman/EEN commenters go wild...
Posted 10 years ago # -
@Lezzles Suggest you have a read of the George Street Improvements thread for a blow by blow account, but it's a work in progress. Photo may have been taken before the barriers were put in place.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Lezzles, I am also very confused about the "part-pedestrianised" bit about that photo. Is the part that's been pedestrianised the pavements? It looks to me like a lane of traffic (Range Rover) with two lanes of on-street parking. And since the parking in the left of the picture has bumpers to stop them moving forward they can only have come in from a lane on the extreme left. Which makes two lanes of traffic as I count it - just as there always was!
Posted 10 years ago # -
high-quality environment
Uh oh
They used the "q" word..
Posted 10 years ago # -
I'm not going to argue with the idea of pedestrianisation/better cycle provision, but arguing purely on the economic grounds of "improved city centre trade" raises it's own debate. This likely won't be "new" activity, but activity displaced/relocated from elsewhere. If that means out-of-town centres then fine, but we should acknowledge that there will be losers as well.
I think the general point that ped/bike friendly cities are much more pleasant and safer is argument enough.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Presumably some of it comes from people visiting who otherwise would have gone to Dublin and some from people who might have bought online?
But I would argue there are broader society benefits from shopping being maintained/ increased in the city centre, rather than suburban / out of town malls.
Posted 10 years ago # -
But I would argue there are broader society benefits from shopping being maintained/ increased in the city centre, rather than suburban / out of town malls.
I'd be interested to know what you think those benefits are. (Not arguing or disagreeing with you, just something I've never given much thought!)
Posted 10 years ago # -
There are wider benefits, but I reckon it's a good thing that this article counteracts (to an extent) the knee-jerk shopkeeper argument of "no parking means no customers". And it comes from within the traders/commercial group.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Stickman - Town centres are generally far easier to get to by foot, bike or public transport - so the environmental impact of people travelling to them is smaller. In addition, town centres provide more opportunities for local and independent businesses, as there are a far greater range of premises available to rent. These businesses generally pay their taxes and employ from within the local community - boosting employment.
Vibrant town centres attract new businesses and development, consolidating development in already accessible areas, limiting urban sprawl and reducing car dependency.
All good, in my opinion.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Town centres are generally far easier to get to by foot, bike or public transport - so the environmental impact of people travelling to them is smaller.
Indeed. So remind me why did they move the RIE out to Little France? Why are they about to move the Sick Kids too?
Oh I forgot, "everyone" has a car, except for the people who don't (40% in Edinburgh?).
Posted 10 years ago # -
"So remind me why did they move the RIE out to Little France?"
Because in the 70s there was a particularly strong reaction to the 'inevitability' of the expansion of the (old) RI and demolition of (more of) Chalmers Street, Lonsdale Terrace, Panmure Place etc.
Apparently it 'could' have gone to Cameron Toll (which might have made it more likely that the South Sub would have opened to passengers).
"Why are they about to move the Sick Kids too?"
Presumably a mix of 'combined campus', new building/facilities being 'better' and the idea that the existing site is 'worth a lot of money'.
Posted 10 years ago # -
"So remind me why did they move the RIE out to Little France?"
The RIE is not just for Edinburgh - it needed to be accessible (especially by ambulance) for folk from the Lothians and the Borders.
From the RIE website (with my bold):
The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh is a major acute teaching hospital. With a 24-hour accident and emergency department, it provides a full range of acute medical and surgical services for patients from across Lothian and specialist services for people from across the south east of Scotland and beyond.Posted 10 years ago #
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