http://regenandrenewal.blogspot.com/2010/11/uks-most-walkable-cities.html
"Edinburgh is the only UK town to make the cut."
Must have done the survey before this week...
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh
"The UK's most walkable cities"
(22 posts)-
Posted 13 years ago #
-
"Must have done the survey before this week... "
But ironically there have been more people walking this week than for decades (probably).
How many people will realise that walking's not such a bad way to get around?
And back to the walkable cities list - New York is in there for goodness sake. It is a terrible place to walk, unless you have some kind of bizarre penchant for waiting at the Red Man.
Posted 13 years ago # -
One of the great joys of living in Edinburgh is that it is so easy to walk here. Something I didn't appreciate until I lived in Aberdeen.
Posted 13 years ago # -
"How many people will realise that walking's not such a bad way to get around?"
And how many more if key pedestrian routes had been cleared?
Posted 13 years ago # -
Lots of people on foot, collecting groceries in rucksacks, kids in backpacks instead of buggies. Does make you think!
Posted 13 years ago # -
"Lots of people on foot, collecting groceries in rucksacks, kids in backpacks instead of buggies. Does make you think!"
What is the 'norm' in Canada - better ability to deal with snow by authorities and/or drivers or more willingness to walk?
Posted 13 years ago # -
Not much walking I'm afraid. Sidewalks are the last thing to get ploughed (although there are wee ploughs for them that would also suit bike lanes), so you have to walk in the street. But we're talking 3-4 feet of snow in a big storm, and drifting, packed snow at that, not this light stuff. But except in big cities, there's not much that is walkable except the corner store, so people will have groceries etc in, and less need to go out. Also, if it is bad enough to close schools then most businesses will also announce closures, so there is not really any need to go out, except to shovel. Have been very struck here that no shops etc have been announcing closures, which would be the norm if there was a big storm (and bear in mind that where I lived was more like scottish climate, not in the middle of the continent where it gets really cold and really heavy snow).
Posted 13 years ago # -
"not this light stuff"
Show off!
Posted 13 years ago # -
My guess is that 99% of people who have taken to foot from their cars will return to them as soon as it is possible. I have little faith in the human condition.
Kim's right, Aberdeen is a pain to walk around (they've planned for YEARS to make Union Street a pedestrianised area, but Worst Bus is pretty powerful up there and keeps threatening the council with the withdrawal of services).
Newcastle centre is pretty good (certainly the walk from the station to St James' Park is one I've done a lot, couple of big pedestrianised areas and good crossing points on roads). For that matter Glasgow, I would say, is better to walk around than Edinburgh!
Nottingham is so-so, Birmingham (once inside the stramash of roads into the centre) is pretty good, Leeds is fine, London is too busy (places I've been to cricket test matches and had to stay in a hotel a few miles walk from the grounds).
Posted 13 years ago # -
Edinburgh is a great city for walking: compact, scenic, lots of vennels and closes to short cut through - far better than Glasgow in my book.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Oh, and the council seems to have found a couple of mini-tractors with snow ploughs on the front - they've cleared a path up the North St Andrew Street pavement this morning.
Posted 13 years ago # -
"Edinburgh is a great city for walking: compact, scenic, lots of vennels and closes to short cut through - far better than Glasgow in my book."
Yes, though I think there are two aspects to "most walkable cities" -
a) whether it is a nice place which central Edinburgh clearly is
b) the 'pedestrian experience' - railings, crossings, traffic volume/speed
The first is relatively fixed. The latter can usually be better.
I think that attitudes/priorities about snow clearing show the underlying 'philosophy'.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Oh, I agree with that. Pedestrianisation in the city centre (like in Munich) would be a big step forward. That said, there are quite a few "off road paths" for peds in the centre of town (Princes Street Gardens, the various vennels and closes); however, most of these are an accident of geography rather than due to any forethought or consideration by the council.
I'd like to know where these mini tractors came from and where they have been for the last few days. If you're going to prevent pavements/paths becoming ice rinks you really need to shift the snow before it gets compacted. If it's taken the council five days to organise these tractors then that's pretty shabby.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Apparently they announced before the snow that they had 8 new mini tractors, but you're right, it's a little 'after the horse has bolted' at the moment!
Posted 13 years ago # -
In that case, I wonder where they've been. They seem to have been pretty effective in North St David Street (although, providing fuel for a classic EEN rant, they were parked up and driverless when I walked past them).
Posted 13 years ago # -
North Bridge had obviously not been touched when I walked down it yesterday evening and the front of Waverley Station had not been touched yesterday morning (though it had been by the evening-only four days after the first snow fall). Princes Street seemed to have occasional cleared bits. And yet Dalkeith Road (cemetary side-not the residential side) had been pavement ploughed. I really don't understand the council policy!
Posted 13 years ago # -
A colleague says that someone has driven a quad bike down the South Gyle Broadway pavement and made a good job of clearing it. He may have mistaken quadbike tracks for mini-tractor tracks.
Posted 13 years ago # -
As an ENews poster says -
"Notice most complaints are from selfish car owners who can't get out of their streets. Police are stating only go out if journey essential. How many of these people are going on essential journeys rather than being too lazy to walk? Neighbour spent 30 mins other day getting car out and returned within 20 mins with couple of bags from supermarket that is 1/4 mile away."
Posted 13 years ago # -
Meanwhile the EEN feels the need to inform its readers-
"be brave and head outside. Who knows? It might even turn out to be fun."
With essential tips on how to use a sledge and make a snowball. Thanks EEN!
Posted 13 years ago # -
My guess is that 99% of people who have taken to foot from their cars will return to them as soon as it is possible.
Yes... I'm afraid that the experience of public transport in bad weather will make some more determined to get back behind the wheel. Expect the council to suspend parking charges as a sop to those whose cars were temporarily buried. Expect lots of idiotic fast driving to make up for lost time!
Meanwhile rail and some bus users who have had no service for days (Kirknewton, Bathgate etc) should look forward to a hike in fares to pay for a loss in public transport income.
That's the way we do it here!
Posted 13 years ago # -
The A70 route for 44 and 45 bus has been quite quick [quicker than normal?] the buses have been full, sometimes have to wait for another one, but another one comes along in a minute or two, the spirits have been positive, kind of blitz mentality. The road has narrowed with each ploughing but still very few cars venturing out...
Posted 13 years ago # -
Posted 13 years ago #
Reply
You must log in to post.
posts
