CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh

Some parking to be removed on Chambers Street

(25 posts)

  1. cb
    Member

    http://www.scotsman.com/news/parking-spaces-to-be-axed-under-museum-plaza-plan-1-2695491

    "Dramatic plans to overhaul one of the Capital’s most historic streets and create a new performance space outside the National Museum of Scotland are set to be given the go-ahead."

    "the project will see a major section of the museum’s Caithness paving extended north into Chambers Street, creating a pedestrianised plaza and leading to the loss of 39 parking bays."

    "Neil Greig, director of policy at the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said: “Nearly 40 spaces is a big number to lose, and if the area is made more attractive more people will come in and they could well be in cars, so they need to find a strategy to fund parking elsewhere in Edinburgh"

    So Neil Greig admits that removing parking can make places more attractive, but...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  2. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Oh dear, now they will only be able to park on 2 sides rather than 3?

    40 parking spaces, if all cars had 4 passengers amounts to 160 people. Which is nearly exactly 2 double-deck busloads.

    I think we'll live.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  3. Min
    Member

    Are they proposing to close the entire street? It is not very clear.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  4. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    The IAM really do come out with some crackers...

    The end of the world is nigh!!!!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  5. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    "Are they proposing to close the entire street? It is not very clear."

    I tihnk it's just extending the pavement out in front of the museum, meaning they'll have to take away the spaces in the middle of the road there. The road will just be given a kink.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  6. Min
    Member

    They needn't worry, as one of the few streets in Edinburgh with any decent cycle parking, the council are almost certain to remove the bike parking spaces to create more car parking spaces.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  7. Kirst
    Member

    But what if I want to buy a washing machine from, er, the museum?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  8. SRD
    Moderator

    the west end of the street may have good cycle parking, but the east end of it is totally lacking (or at least I can never find it!).

    Posted 12 years ago #

  9. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Also from the IAM "Maybe they should be looking along the lines of creating a shared space, rather than clearing it of parking completely."

    Right. So pedestrianise it, then allow cars to drive on it and park. That makes... erm... sense.

    But yes, washing machines, I'd forgotten about washing machines.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  10. Min
    Member

    Kirst, if this anti-car nonsense is allowed to go ahead, no-one will ever be allowed to buy a washing machine ever again.

    I tihnk it's just extending the pavement out in front of the museum, meaning they'll have to take away the spaces in the middle of the road there. The road will just be given a kink.

    Oh okay. Cars roaring past a few feet away then as normal. Still, it appears to be a step in the right direction.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  11. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Got to love some of the comments...

    ""breathe new life" into the area and provide a stage for outdoor theatre and music". Where do these people get these ideas ?."

    Well the Grassmarket springs to mind.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  12. mgj
    Member

    Where will the Tattoo coaches park? And will they do any impact assessment on cyclists of the insertion of a big kink in the road? Is this 'perforamnce space' in addition to the appropriation of the Royal Mile for street artists, or instead of? If it is in addition then cycle traffic from North Edinburgh will have to tangle with the tramlines on Princes Street and then go up Market Street in order to get to the QBC/MMW, or go along George Street to access the Mound, at least during the festival.

    They have seen the weather in Edinburgh, havent they? And they do know that the Museum is only really busy when it is wet or windy.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  13. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    "Where will the Tattoo coaches park?"

    LOADS of available space. Stick them on Potterow and put it down to one-lane in each direction. Or do the same on the Bridges. They already do on George IV Bridge during the Tattoo, so it's not unheard of.

    "And will they do any impact assessment on cyclists of the insertion of a big kink in the road?"

    Doubtful, but we/SPOKES/anyone could ask. I doubt it would make it worse than at the moment with narrow sections where you can feel the cars behind you. Anyway, the 'kink' was only my interpretation - might not be the case.

    "Is this 'perforamnce space' in addition to the appropriation of the Royal Mile for street artists, or instead of? If it is in addition then cycle traffic from North Edinburgh will have to tangle with the tramlines on Princes Street and then go up Market Street in order to get to the QBC/MMW, or go along George Street to access the Mound, at least during the festival."

    Well, again only my interpretation, the performance area is on the newly extended pavement, so will affect cyclists in no way whatsoever. The street is remaining open, not to be closed off completely like the Royal Mile. Nicolson Square would probably be a better route to join the QBC. If you've already got to Chambers Street and you want to get to the QBC then heading down to Princes STreet is an almighty detour.

    "They have seen the weather in Edinburgh, havent they? And they do know that the Museum is only really busy when it is wet or windy."

    Not my experience, but YMMV. And if you make the whole thing more attractive then more people will come even in the good weather no?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  14. cc
    Member

    For washing machines think massive tellies from Richer Sounds.

    I can just see Chambers St as a pedestrian & cycle place, with maybe sculpture, trees, fountains, giant chess sets & cycle parking scattered here and there.
    It'd still be a bit dark and sunless though - they could do with progressing that plan to remove the Potterrow flyover road and demolish the student centre, then they could have a nice [intermittently] sunny space out the back.
    But less car parking spaces is a start. It's a move in the right direction at least.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  15. steveo
    Member

    For washing machines think massive tellies from Richer Sounds.

    Thats true, the only time I've ever tried to park on Chambers St was buying my telly. Even a reasonably moderate size tv is a bear to get on a bus given how delicate LCD's are.

    Although I doubt this will make the slightest bit of difference, the parking there is always busy from first thing so removing spaces at the top isn't going to effect much down the bottom its not like the spaces down the Bridges end are ever empty.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  16. Baldcyclist
    Member

    "
    Right. So pedestrianise it, then allow cars to drive on it and park. That makes... erm... sense.
    "

    To provide accessible parking, that makes perfect sense. All for pedestrianising, but we do need to cater for those who really DO need their cars.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  17. SRD
    Moderator

    Always seems to be lots of empty car spaces whenever i'm there looking for bike parking - I can think of three times since June, including a Saturday morning. Lots of room for cars.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  18. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    "To provide accessible parking, that makes perfect sense. All for pedestrianising, but we do need to cater for those who really DO need their cars."

    Do you think that's what the IAM man meant?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  19. cb
    Member

    I guess this is part of the Southern Arc proposal, mentioned on here before.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  20. Baldcyclist
    Member

    "Do you think that's what the IAM man meant?"
    Absolutely not.

    But it does make sense to allow some cars into pedestrianised areas.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  21. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    "But it does make sense to allow some cars into pedestrianised areas"

    Indeed. Of course the plans are NOT to pedestrianise the street. Only to take away some spaces, so access for those with limited mobility will remain.

    I have a feeling the IAM's view of 'shared space' is a little more skewed towards the car than the pedestrian. Never said that cars should be completely banned, I was responding to the IAM call for 'shared space'. Now if he'd said 'pedestrian area, but maintaining access for those with disabled badges' I'd not have picked up on it.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  22. Kirst
    Member

    The street is remaining open, not to be closed off completely like the Royal Mile. Nicolson Square would probably be a better route to join the QBC. If you've already got to Chambers Street and you want to get to the QBC then heading down to Princes STreet is an almighty detour.
    Why would anyone want to join the QBC?

    (Little bit of satire there, ladies and gentlespoons).

    Posted 12 years ago #

  23. steveo
    Member

    Why would anyone want to join the QBC?

    You might need to buy a christmas tree... :D

    Posted 12 years ago #

  24. PS
    Member

    This ->"The museum is one of the finest Victorian buildings in Britain, but it’s hemmed in by parking and the street is a cut-through for drivers." makes me think the plans are to close off Chambers Street, which is nice.

    TBH, I don't see that as an obstacle to normal cycle traffic - the only time I wouldn't cycle up the Royal Mile is at the height of the Fringe. Otherwise it's fine.

    "But fears have been raised for drivers after it emerged dozens of parking spaces will be axed under the plans..." Oooooh! Scary!

    I'd love to see some the return of giant chess sets - it would give the regular attendees at the Sheriff Court something to do while waiting for their appointments.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  25. crowriver
    Member

    I take it the 35 bus will be re-routed then, as it currently traverses Chambers St.
    If they do turn it into a cul-de-sac, I hope there'll be a bollarded cut-through for cyclists.

    Never mind carting washing machines around strapped to the roof rack of your Smart car, what about fridges?

    Posted 12 years ago #

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