CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
“Council rules out low-cost zebra crossings because there is no legislation”
(8 posts)-
Posted 1 month ago #
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Cack-handed headline from Swanson.
All emphasis included below is mine.
TEC Business bulletin for 2nd April meeting:
On 3 April 2025, Committee considered a report that recommended proceeding with a study of existing continental style zebra crossings in Edinburgh, at locations that are not on the public road network.
Committee requested that a letter be sent to the Cabinet Secretary to request an update on legislative options to allow the introduction of continental style zebra crossings on public roads.
Committee also decided that the study should only proceed if legislative options to allow this are available.
The Convener subsequently wrote to the Cabinet Secretary as requested on 25 June 2025. The Cabinet Secretary responded on 9 July 2025 but offered no current legislative route to allow the introduction of continental style zebra crossings on public roads in Scotland.
The decision of the Committee taken on 3 April 2025 is therefore that the proposed study should not proceed.
On 11 March 2026, the Traffic Signs (Amendment) (Wales)
Regulations and General Directions 2026 came into force. These allow for a continental style zebra crossing to be placed across a minor road in Wales in the vicinity of a junction with a major road, where the speed limit for both roads is 20mph or lower.The Convener wrote again to the Cabinet Secretary in December 2025 and the response is attached in Appendix 1.
The council have ruled out their own study on low cost zebra crossings.
Appendix 1 letter:
Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Transport
Thank you for your letter of 12 January 2026, regarding the provision of 'side road zebra crossings' in Scotland. I apologise for the delay in response as I took time to understand the complexities in our legislation in this area.
The Scottish Government is committed to improving the accessibility and safety of roads, paths and crossings for pedestrians, in accordance with the Highway Code. Transport Scotland officials have been engaging with the Department for Transport regarding on-site trials of zebra markings at side road junctions, on non-public roads at Warwick University campus. Drafting of study findings is underway and publication will follow. The study included literature reviews, on-site trials at three side road crossings on the campus, user surveys and focus groups which included disabled people.
As this research has progressed it is understood that, if appropriate, the introduction of side road zebras could be achieved under legislation that is devolved. I have asked Transport Scotland officials to seek further legal confirmation, as they consider the effectiveness of this type of crossing upon review of the
published trial findings.If local authorities in Scotland wish to implement a trial it would mean their acceptance that any crossing,
under trial conditions, may be unenforceable which comes with risks. A collective way forward may be to proceed with shared discussions on the potential risks, benefits and opportunities of trialling and ultimately introducing side road zebra crossings in Scotland. Transport Scotland officials would be happy to engage with CoSLA and SCOTS on this at the earliest opportunity. I would encourage you to consider your support in taking shared discussions forward.I hope this response reassures you that I will do what I can to see progress in this and other active travel
innovations.Yours sincerely
FIONA HYSLOP
Cabinet Secretary for TransportDoes that sound like they're ruled out? Because to me it sounds like they're (slowly) working their way towards it.
Posted 1 month ago # -
Regardless of rules surrounding zebra crossings, does the highway code not state that drivers should be giving way to pedestrians at the locations where the zebras would be installed?
Posted 1 month ago # -
@acsimpson it does - the idea with side road zebras is to close the gulf between people who know about / follow the rule and those that don’t (most).
Flawed - unless you paint them on every single side road in the city. But - possibly better than nothing.
Posted 1 month ago # -
Yes, the biggest flaw is that it only educates the ignorant drivers on the individual junctions where they are installed. Better to spend the time and money on reducing turn radiuses and enforcing current rules.
Posted 1 month ago # -
And by reducing danger at source by reducing traffic
Posted 1 month ago # -
The Danes were doing this in the 1980s. Small turn radii on city streets. Zebra crossings covering all pedestrian movements at every junction, without the need for beacons. Vehicles adapted for use on city streets, using short wheelbases, tall windscreens, and self-steer rear axles for long vehicles.
Exhibit A - 1984:
Exhibit B - 1989:
Posted 1 month ago # -
Meanwhile even approved Zebra crossings aren't being built... heard back today from council officials that the Zebra Crossing approved for Morningside Drive after a SMPS pupil was hit by a car there is on hold due to concerns from Lothian Buses. Trying to find out if it's about service times (should be secondary to safety concerns), or the bus accessing the bus stop (there's a ton of room and cars can just wait behind). Neither should be a concern!
I wonder if Lothian Buses would be able to block painted zebras with similar concerns...
Posted 1 month ago #
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