Had an "interesting" wee discussion with chap on the local residents' Fb page regarding SfP consultation.
Someone had posted the link in case any local folk were interested, even though our area is basically completely untouched by any SfP provision whatsoever. An opinion was expressed that some of the recently completed cycle lanes further east on London Road at Jock's Lodge might be part of SfP (they're not, but understandable folk might think so).
Anyway the owner of a local business (only recently set up shop, but owner apparently lives locally) started wading in, complaining about loss of ten "much needed parking spaces". The cycle lanes are exactly a mile distant from his premises, so his business not affected at all, but still he complains.
I chipped in to ask if he was aware that households with access to a car are in a minority in the local area. He refused to believe this, as the streets are "jammed with cars everywhere" and sarcastically asked to be enlightened as to how it was possible for drivers to be in the minority given this apparently common sense observation.
So, as you may imagine, I had the evidence to back up my claim, not only government statistics on our area but also a quick parked vehicle count from my window, versus an estimate of the number of dwellings (and therefore households) in the area, which is three times greater than the number of parked motors.
He literally asked for it, and got more than bargained for perhaps. Even so, in the face of evidence, he continued to peddle clichéd soundbites about motorists "suffering" due to "council incompetence".
This chap maybe not the sharpest tool in the box, but it just shows that regardless of evidence, folk go with what feels emotionally right to them, especially if they personally "suffer" some mild inconvenience such as not being able to park their van outside their shop...
I'm going to stick to my guns though when local drivists pipe up with these tired, hackneyed claims. In my area at least (and I suspect much of Leith, Leith Walk too) motorists are a minority, even if they don't believe that they are. They have no right to demand more public space to store their private property, indeed they should get less - in proportion to their numbers. So they should get about 30-40% of street kerbside maximum, instead of the 80-90% they currently enjoy at the expense of the majority of residents.
posts
