CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".
IT’S TRUE!
CCE is 15years old!
Well done to ALL posters
It soon became useful and entertaining. There are regular posters, people who add useful info occasionally and plenty more who drop by to watch. That's fine. If you want to add news/comments it's easy to register and become a member.
RULES No personal insults. No swearing.
sticky“
I have asked for a pedestrian crossing on Biggar Road, but that was refused.
The shop is only looking for a change of use, so I am not sure to what extent traffic impacts will be considered... but clearly they should be!
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https://mobile.twitter.com/CllrScottArthur/status/1570528788269912064
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My letter to the Scot Gov's Minister for Transport,
@JennyGilruth
, asking that Edinburgh gets the tools it needs to deal with parking violations.
This will help us with our plan to overhaul parking policy in Edinburgh to:
1. Cut congestion
2. Hit Net Zero
3. Reduce car use
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https://mobile.twitter.com/cllrscottarthur/status/1571419579787902978
To put on my Professor Arthur Hat for a moment and score some petty political points; much as Labour's every reply to the Scottish Government's insistence on more powers/independence is greeted with cries of "use the powers you already have first", I'd say Edinburgh could already be doing quite a bit more to deal with parking violations under the legal framework we already have, so perhaps begin there. Those items would be fine additions to the arsenal, but of little use unless actually used in practice.
As usual though, the real problem is they lack ambition - where's the demand for a means testing system, not to reduce fines for "the poor"(who can afford to own and run a motor), but to radically increase them for the rich? Where's the demand for powers to enable citizen enforcement like they have in New York, where anybody can download an app that lets them gather and submit evidence of engine idling and receive a cash bounty for every fine the city gets paid? And the similar apps that are starting to come up in some US cities for parking violations? Where's the demand that the multiple gaping "I'll just be five minutes gov" exceptions & loopholes in existing legislation are closed?
It's been made quite clear by Op Snap and the virulent reaction to ANPR cameras down south that it isn't laws themselves that prevent road violence, but how likely drivers feel they are to be caught violating them - the only way we're ever really going to tackle blights like pavement parking and vehicle idling is to turn every mobile phone into a potential enforcement camera and make drivers *very* aware of that reality.
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Frustrated by @CllrScottArthur talking about the great bus service we have in #Portobello. We used to have a @on_lothianbuses service, and I know there are challenges recruiting drivers, but waiting 15-20 mins for a bus to town will not persuade people out of their cars.
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https://mobile.twitter.com/markballard27/status/1574478842525253633
https://twitter.com/CllrScottArthur/status/1575162101051662338
I'm quite liking his "here's what you could have won" video.
A few tweets later -
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@CllrScottArthur · Sep 29 Replying to @EDIbikenick This decision was made by the last administration!
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https://mobile.twitter.com/CllrScottArthur/status/1575162101051662338
I don’t know or care how ‘true’ that is.
I presume he agrees with it or is too scared to face down the noisiest residents in his ward or incompetent.
Or all three.
"waiting 15-20 mins for a bus to town will not persuade people out of their cars." - the 12 minute rule - you don't bother with a timetable, just turn up.
It does operate where I live - frequent buses and a tram.
A previous administration cannot bind a future administration. That is one of the fundamental principles of UK politics. It may cost money to undo some decisions, such as where contracts have been let, but I doubt that applies to Braid Road.
Obviously, there will be no discernible change to traffic on Comiston Road when Braid Road reopens - why would there be, it has always been terrible. The focus will then turn to removing the Comiston Road cycle lanes, which will become the sole focus of concerned local residents.
I noticed the esteemed councillor vanished into the ether pretty sharpish when people pointed out that there's supposed to be a new crossing and some tweaks at the junction at one end done before the reopening but there doesn't seem to be any sign of those, and asking for a commitment they would be done before the date given.
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The key thing with the CP is that walking is not wholly lumped in with Active Travel.
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https://mobile.twitter.com/cllrscottarthur/status/1576214435815116800
With ‘support’ like this, what a surprise that decision was made. An utter mendacious prick.
Car chargers
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They are powered (but can't charge) as part of the commissioning process, but getting that completed takes too long in some instances.
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https://mobile.twitter.com/cllrscottarthur/status/1576492471374458880
The article he links to quotes an anonymous EV driver from Fairmilehead. Not to get too tin-foil conspiracist here, but isn’t there a recently unsuccessful Tory council candidate from Fairmilehead who does PR for the EV industry and regularly criticises Scotland’s charging network?
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The first step in dealing with Edinburgh's street cleanliness problem is accepting there is problem.
Edinburgh's new Labour administration has done that, and will now start cleaning up Edinburgh:
https://mobile.twitter.com/cllrscottarthur/status/1576463851603623936
Linked from above (my bold) -
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Councillor Arthur said: “Edinburgh is a fantastic city, but too often I am ashamed by the level of mess I see on our streets. I know that issues such as graffiti and fly-tipping need to be addressed, and Edinburgh’s new administration is committed to taking immediate action and making further improvements if funding can be found.”
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It was great to be at the @Edinburgh_CC #CarFreeDay event in Edinburgh today - I had positive conversations with @on_lothianbuses , @EdinburghTrams , @SustransScot , @LivingStreetsEd , @CriticalMassEDI , @EdinReporter (some photo credits) & @EastCraigsBC .
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https://mobile.twitter.com/cllrscottarthur/status/1576641688445284353
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I have 6 stories on the @edinburghpaper today. If you look past the headlines, these highlight the scale of ambition we have & the challenges we face... not least in terms of funding! By working with residents & the other 4 political parties, progress is possible.
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https://mobile.twitter.com/cllrscottarthur/status/1576974860852641792
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“It’s clear that we all need to rethink the way we move around the city if we are to cut congestion, air pollution and harmful carbon emissions, as we are reminded during Scotland’s Climate Week. Not only do Edinburgh’s QuietRoutes help people to make more sustainable transport choices, but they provide pleasant and enjoyable spaces, connecting key destinations around the Capital.”
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Success ≠ number of stories in local newspaper.
Perhaps you mean *mentions*…
It is, reasonably, part of his job to attend openings/photocalls and spin on behalf of CEC/transport.
Just not convinced he has a coherent strategy or well thought out way of getting things progressed/delivered.
Expecting SG to come up with £1bn for a new tram line and blaming SNP for ‘everything’ comes to mind.
Plus the expectation management that finding money for a cycle hire scheme might be ‘difficult’.
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2. An additional pedestrian crossing or crossings on Bridge Road.
Based on this, I asked to speak to Senior Council Officers. Whilst I do have robust discussions with Officers, I do have a duty to respect their professional judgment and Council policy (the Standards Commission may be interested if I did not).
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https://drscottarthur.scot/2022/10/09/speed-reduction-proposals-for-bridge-road/
“New pedestrian guardrail to join on to old pedestrian guardrail…”
Hmm. Could that be prioritising the convenience of motorists over pedestrians?
This is the location. If I'm understanding correctly, they are proposing adding guardrail to fill in the gap in the existing guardrail? So everyone will have to walk to the end of the existing barrier to cross the road?
Also building out the pavement (roughly covering the section with hatchings)?
That is. Bad junction and often has poor driving. The one further up where U turns are permitted is even more mental
Lack of suitable walking route to Ingliston
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Mail me about it and I shall ask, but IIRC road, land and footpath ownership is fairly fragmented.
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https://mobile.twitter.com/cllrscottarthur/status/1579160458187022337
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Sorry but this is a supposedly major venue in a capital city which lauds its ambitions on climate change and people friendly transport. Why are we so bad at this?
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https://mobile.twitter.com/flunkerts/status/1579160410464587776
I'm with Cllr Arthur on this.
PARKING IN EDINBURGH: IT'S STAYING CHEAPER TO ACCEPT A FINE THAN PAY THE FEE IN SOME PARTS OF CITY
Transport convener Scott Arthur says a Scottish Government snub means it will remain cheaper for motorists to accept a fine than pay the parking fee in some parts of Edinburgh.
And he accused the government of a “massive slap in the face” to law-abiding motorists after it refused his call for increased fines and more enforcement powers for the council.
Councillor Arthur wrote to Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth last month, urging new powers for councils in line with changes in England and Wales. These include different levels of fine to reflect the seriousness of the offence and higher penalties for persistent offenders. And he told Ms Gilruth there was cross-party support on the city council for higher fines to encourage better compliance, given that fine levels had not been increased since 1998.
The Scottish Government recently published its response to a consultation on parking fines. Seventy per cent of those who took part agreed that fixed penalty notices should be increased. But the government said: “Although these results point towards a desired increase, it is Transport Scotland’s view that this is not an appropriate time to introduce due to the current cost of living crisis.”
https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/parking-in-edinburgh-its-staying-cheaper-to-accept-a-fine-than-pay-the-fee-in-some-parts-of-city-3876046 12/10/22
I sympathise slightly with the Scottish Government on this - it is probably very easy to imagine the headlines they'd generate doing the massive hike required at this specific moment.
But the question remains why this wasn't done ages ago, or why fine limits weren't simply inflation linked or expressed in terms of a multiple of parking charges.
...it is Transport Scotland’s view that this is not an appropriate time to introduce due to the current cost of living crisis.
Is one of the worst excuses I have ever heard. These are fines, levied on people found to have committed an offence. Incurring parking fines isn't some essential facet of daily life. The cost is literally meant to act as a deterrent, not be part of the family budget.
Not heard anyone at the school gates say "Oooh, have you seen the cost of parking fines these days? Honestly! I've cut right down - just one or two a month now. It's the youngsters I feel really sorry for. When I was their age I happily racked up seven or eight on the average Friday night. Now all they can afford to do is stay at home and park on yellow lines in Grand Theft Auto. It's just not the same."
@Morningsider - well put.
It's the whole attitude towards car law breaking, which has a whiff of the droit de seigneur.
An FB friend was making light of speeding in a 20mph zone and being re-educated by the police. This guy is a passionate activist for good causes - he would not be a scofflaw in other circumstances.
I posted a link showing the decrease in casualties in 20mph areas. He didn't respond to that.
Don't bother with fines - just remove the parking spaces
Proved in reverse by Glasgow from 1995 onwards, in a policy never adopted by Edinburgh - annual planned budgets to install 200-400 public cycle stands per year.
These then fill up with bikes being parked - with some showing 30+% growth rate
One exceptional site from 1 bike locked to a bollard 1995 to 48 covered bike stands 2015 - often full
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I hope this helps:
1. The bus lane was always temporary, and there have been no complaints from PT providers since removal.
2. The cycle lane removal is due to a Green\SNP amendment which I have a duty to respect... despite not voting for it.
3. I have no plans to cut bus routes.
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https://mobile.twitter.com/CllrScottArthur/status/1582041489915678722?
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