“It's infuriating.“
And (presumably) because planners are unwilling to challenge developers who know that such paths can be ‘unpopular’.
Just another way of encouraging people to drive...
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Scottish Govmt announces £10m for pop up cycle/walking lanes
(3661 posts)-
Posted 4 years ago #
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“
The people of East Craigs will, I fear, not be persuaded by a “they don’t know what’s good for them” attitude and will be expected to be listened to on traffic changes in their area. This is one matter where local knowledge trumps a university graduate traffic expert sitting behind a council desk, who is entitled to express a view, but this view does not need to be heartily endorsed by councillors in defiance of local public sentiment.
“
Posted 4 years ago # -
That's a weird take. If you let the whole of East Craigs decide if this scheme should happen, of course they're going to say no because that is legitimately what is best for them.
Our elected representatives, aided by experts, are there to determine when the interests of a minority should be put ahead of those of a majority.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I suspect that's one for the Private Eye column, "A Taxi Driver Writes"...
Posted 4 years ago # -
It might make sense if the opposition was coming from the streets within the filters, but even then the trial/consultation approach is more like working with the community to find a better way than "this is what's best for you".
Posted 4 years ago # -
So many questions...is local knowledge the new "common sense"? Are all desks an issue or only council desks? How important is the "sitting" aspect here? Would the advice be more palatable if it was provided to a senior councillor (say the Deputy Lord Provost) on a "face to face" basis by a youthful Ukranian official over a series of taxpayer funded trips to Kiev?
Posted 4 years ago # -
Oooh, you are naughty, Morningsider, but I like you
Posted 4 years ago # -
I am feeling depressed. Mrs G has today made three sub-five-mile car journeys today ferrying children around because our roads are not safe for them to use on bikes on their own, they are carrying too much stuff to walk and we're keen to leave the buses for people who have no choice. If we were in Denmark or The Netherlands, these children would have made their own way back and forth, and three short car trips would have been avoided.
What can we do to get people to see beyond the end of their own bonnet and recognise that we have to make proper provision for cycling and that we just have to have fewer cars in our town centre?
Posted 4 years ago # -
@Greenroofer, "...we're keen to leave the buses for people who have no choice. "
I understand the sentiment, but this may be part of the problem. If public transport is seen as something to be avoided except for those with no other options, it will continue to lose out to the private motor vehicle.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@crowriver - and that's the messaging from the Government, isn't it? "Don't use public transport unless you have to. Walk, cycle or wheel instead". We were a family of avid bus users, but haven't been on one since March.
The only viable alternative to public transport is the private motor car, due to lack of ambition from government at all levels and objections from a noisy minority. They ask us to 'walk, cycle or wheel' but don't actually make it feasible.
Posted 4 years ago # -
“that's the messaging from the Government, isn't it?“
Pretty much.
Problem now is it’s less clear what the messaging is about.
Obviously no one wants to get CV or any sort of return to the ‘early days’.
It seems it’s now about ‘clusters’ and ‘stopping the spread’ more than people getting significantly ill or overwhelming the NHS.
Of course better track and trace would help, but the virus doesn’t seem to waiting on every street corner or supermarket shelf.
This leads to denialism and complacency.
Mask wearing is tedious, but no great hardship. It’s a pity there’s no convincing guidance about how beneficial it is.
I’ve been on a few trains in the last month or so. Plenty of masks, reasonable social distancing, little sign of people hand sanitising or trains being disinfected between trips.
LNER booking algorithm didn’t seem to have spaced people as far apart as possible. Also as the seat allocation system was switched off, it was impossible to know which seats would be unoccupied for the whole journey.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@Greenroofer, "We were a family of avid bus users, but haven't been on one since March."
I haven't been on any public transport since March. Neither has my partner nor my youngest (walks to school). My eldest has taken a few bus trips since school went back: couple of days where the weather was awful, and once a week carrying a cello.
We don't use the bus much normally anyway, but certainly more often than never. In normal times I'm on a train two or three days a week. WFH since mid-March, maybe another month before I board a train.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Yes, public transport advice is confusing. We often use the train to go and visit my parents in Dunbar but have driven over every time we've gone since March. You could argue that visiting parents is the sort of thing one might be "allowed" to use public transport for, but we've been "leaving it for others" as I guess a lot of people are.
We've used the bus to get to the Pentlands a couple of times. Definitely non-essential leisure journeys.
I guess that we are really supposed to travel as little as possible.
Posted 4 years ago # -
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Very interesting resume of key research pieces on effects of reducing road capacity
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Posted 4 years ago # -
International Federation of Pedestrians have applied to join CALC (Campaign Against Long Cars)
Posted 4 years ago # -
Used George IV Bridge and the Mound up and down.
Better than nothing, but lots of stray parking and the rubber kerbs have already been hammered loose by busses. Lots of wands missing.
Not really robust enough for combat with the drivists. Needs blocks of concrete if it's going to work.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@iwrats - agree that it could be better but it is a useful demarcation on both the walking and cycling front. Often has at least one parked van on it though so needs more permanent structure as cones are going down like skittles!
Mrs LB and I walk facing oncoming bikes on NLS side. Faster bikes are generally on road if traffic is quiet. Bikes on lane not a problem we've found.
When I'm cycling north bound I often miss out the bus stop and rejoin path after the bus stop. Last approach by Radisson to junction generally clear now.Posted 4 years ago # -
I don't believe the advice has been to avoid public transport for a while, just to consider when you travel (e.g. avoid the peaks for leisure trips). A few of the 'big' UK ministers have been getting photos on PT recently, presumably to reinforce the idea it's okay to use.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Posted 4 years ago #
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As heard on radio
https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/pioneering-traffic-scheme-keep-non-18396039.amp
Posted 4 years ago # -
Yes I was listening to the elected member for Fulham keeping his sh1t together. His point - rat runners charged. Legitimate visitors apply for exemption. radio 4 presenter - Ah but....
Posted 4 years ago # -
“rat runners charged”
That’s charged for being caught on ANPR cameras, not charged like Congestion Charging.
Yes, R4 presenter was full-on ‘but what about the motorists’.
Residents and legitimate visitors exempt.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Low Traffic Neighbourhoods are not a new idea – they’re already successfully used across the UK as a way of modernising older housing areas and making them safer by removing through traffic from an entire residential area. Not only has it been proven to significantly reduce the volume of traffic in both residential streets and the wider residential area, it can also invoke ‘traffic evaporation’, where residents no longer use cars for short trips and instead switch to other modes of transport.
However, we know that every area is unique. What has worked in other areas may not suit East Craigs and we are not in the business of making life harder for local people. That is why these measures are only being implemented on a temporary basis at this time and will be altered to include answers to key concerns being raised.
I believe East Craigs can be a successful LTN delivering a safer and healthier local community for everyone. However, I want residents to know I am listening and that I want to work together to create a positive vision for the East Craigs area.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Posted 4 years ago #
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I’m not about to cycle bash or even moan...
...but I am
Posted 4 years ago # -
@neddie
They've taken the front wall off her house.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I have fortunately not yet encountered one, but apparently the silent discos are back on the city centre streets. Not sure how they feel that this is in any way ok right now...
Posted 4 years ago #
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