CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!

Biodiversity or ‘safety’?

(5 posts)
  • Started 5 years ago by chdot
  • Latest reply from Cyclingmollie

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  1. chdot
    Admin

    We know that verges are under considerable pressure. Priorities for safety and access, along with budget constraints and difficulties with the collection of litter and grass clippings all mean that enhancing their wildlife value is often low on the list. But we believe that the adoption of a few basic principles can significantly improve the biodiversity on our verges, bringing benefits for wildlife, for us and for future generations.

    http://www.plantlife.org.uk/application/files/4614/8232/2916/Road_verge_guide_17_6.pdf

    Posted 5 years ago #
  2. unhurt
    Member

    Yes please.

    I'm back up in Orkney for work, and every spring/early summer - away from junctions etc. where sightlines are important & it is a useful thing - some farmers consider it their civic duty to go out and make all the verges around their area "neat and tidy" - which basically means, mown down to a short green desert instead of a riot of wildflowers ("weeds").

    Posted 5 years ago #
  3. neddie
    Member

    Better sightlines only enable faster driving, more overtaking etc.

    And, as the vast amount of money spent on improving the sightlines of the A9 attests, more crashes. Now "we must make it dual"... "for safety"...

    Posted 5 years ago #
  4. unhurt
    Member

    To be fair I'm thinking about very tight single trackish T-junctions where absent sightlines other people's mad driving makes pulling out a bit of a lottery.. Otherwise, agreed!

    Posted 5 years ago #
  5. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    No, there is a mania for this verge cutting that goes beyond the rational. It's difficult to understand for example why ELC cut the verges of the Pencaitland Railway Path every summer, destroying yellow rattle, spotted orchids, common toadflax etc. The Wildlife Rangers try their best to prevent it by putting up signs here and there.

    Posted 5 years ago #

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