Before I forget:
Dear Jim Orr, Steve Burgess, Ian Perry and Cameron Rose,
As a resident of your ward who works in Leith, I'm writing to ask that you raise my concerns over the proposed Leith Walk improvements with Cllr Hinds as well as the finance & resource committee.
We were pleased to note that the council intends to keep its commitment to spend at least 5% of the transport budget on cycling, although the execution seems to be lacking (no bus lane enforcement now, rampant illegal parking making the King's Buildings Quality Bike Corridor near useless).
Here is a golden opportunity to improve a major conduit and make it a more liveable, vibrant space - somewhere people might think about stopping to spend money, if they're not busy dodging buses and double-parked italian food delivery vehicles.
What was the top request from the Vision for Leith Walk consultation? Segregated cycle lanes. What was the top request from the council's own (albeit small and poorly advertised) consultation? Segregated cycle lanes.
What is proposed in the report?
Nothing for cyclists at all, unless you count improving the road surface which people double park or cut you up on. In fact, building traffic islands and pinch points ("build outs") is one of the worst things that could be done, as I'm sure those of you who I see travelling by bike will agree...
Back in 2007 a report was commissioned which demonstrates there is room, all the way up Leith Walk, for segregated facilities. See pg. 8 onwards in http://www.scribd.com/doc/101067461/Cycling-Edinburgh-Tram
It seems depressingly likely that we're just going to spend millions rebuilding the street as it was before - dysfunctional - for lack of ambition or imagination.
I'd really appreciate if you could pass this on to the relevant parties.
I remain, sirs, the Council's most humble and obedient servant, etc. etc.