Is this the start of something big or just another set of aspirations and visions?
3.6 Despite this progress, the city needs to take action now to ensure that as Edinburgh accommodates more people, jobs and activity, the quality of life and health of its residents, success of its economy and character of its built and natural environment is enhanced and not put at risk.
3.6.1 As a compact, walkable city, Edinburgh’s public realm does not always provide the best pedestrian experience. Congested historic streets, narrow footways, increased footfall, street clutter, the variable quality of materials and long-wait times at crossings, frustrate safe and convenient movement;
3.6.2 Edinburgh has an active and growing cycling culture with more people benefitting from this healthy, accessible and pollution-free way to get around. However, cyclists must negotiate conflicts with cars, public transport, pedestrians and the rolling topography of the city;
3.6.3 Edinburgh’s publicly owned public transport system is the envy of many other cities, yet its high patronage results in several thousand bus movements per day on Princes St and crowded bus stops across the city.
3.6.4 Congestion can be exacerbated at certain times of day due to delivery vehicles or during the summer festival period when the city’s population doubles, putting pressure on central infrastructure;
3.6.5 Air quality in central Edinburgh and its gateway approaches fail to meet Scottish Government standards. Traffic generated nitrogen dioxide concentrations must be tackled for the health of residents and visitors.
3.8 The scope of the project will involve rethinking transport priorities across the city in order to unlock the potential of streets and to provide a public realm that better meet the needs of residents, pedestrians, cyclists and to provide a more integrated public transport network.
3.9 Edinburgh can learn from other leading cities that have balanced city growth with an improved quality of life and urban environment and develop solutions that reflect its own circumstances and the needs of its citizens
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