CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure

20mph zones may go Scotland wide after Edinburgh trial

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  1. SRD
    Moderator

    damn them. they've ignored my submissions.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  2. chdot
    Admin

    "Don't read the comments!"

    Slashed I say SLASHED!

    "

    SPEED limits on major arteries – such as Leith Walk, Dalry Road and Portobello High Street – will be slashed under plans to make Edinburgh’s roads safer.

    "

    Posted 9 years ago #
  3. dougal
    Member

    It's nice to see that Leith Walk is on that list but I don't hold out much hope. The average speed has gone up since some sections have been relaid despite the addition of two new zebra crossings. Someone's gonna get hurt long before anyone pays attention to a twenty limit there.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  4. SRD
    Moderator

    "The average speed has gone up since some sections have been relaid"

    as we know from some other thread, that's hat always happens with new tarmac

    Posted 9 years ago #
  5. chdot
    Admin

    "It's nice to see that Leith Walk is on that list"

    Yes, that was always going to be an indicator of how 'serious' CEC was about improving LW.

    Shame no segregated cycling which would have restricted carriageway and reduced 'racetrack appearance'.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  6. kaputnik
    Moderator

    @SRD if it makes you feel any better, they've ignored mine too.

    Here's something telling from the report, from the survey.

    Q. To what extent do you support or oppose 20MPH speed limits being applied to the following road types?

    1. Residential Streets with network of main roads left at 30mph - Strongly Support or Support = 74.4%, Oppose or Strongly Oppose = 1.9%
    2. Busy shopping streets - Strongly Support or Support = 68.9%, Oppose or Strongly Oppose = 3.9%
    3. All City Centre Streets - Strongly Support or Support = 67.3%, Oppose or Strongly Oppose = 4.7%

    However, when asked "Q. Do you think the Council should extend 20mph speed limits to:"

    1. Residential Streets with network of main roads left at 30mph = 33%
    2. Busy shopping streets = 19%
    3. All City Centre Streets = 21%
    4. None of these = 23%

    So there's 23% of respondents who don't support the 20mph zones, but 73% who do (in one form or another). Remember this was an either/or question, you couldn't support multiple options therefore it's actually at first glance loaded against the "20mph brigade" as their votes are split across 3 options, but the broom-broom brigade only have 1 option to tick.

    anyway, whichever way you look at it, there would appear to be overwhelming popular support amongst people who bother to take part in these consultations for 20mph zones. I'm sure there are lots of people who don't like the idea of 20mph zones who just can't be bothered to take part (and who will probably ignore them anyway, like so many drivers currently do).

    Posted 9 years ago #
  7. Stickman
    Member

    They've changed their mind on making Wester Coates 20mph. Damn.

    They've also left St John's Road at 30mph further east, despite the presence of the zoo, a church, housing, community hall, two (non-emergency) hospitals and it forming part of the John Muir Way, all points I made in my response.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  8. gibbo
    Member

    @SRD Don't read the comments!

    I couldn't help myself.

    It currently takes me around 1 hour and 15 minutes (1 way) to do my daily commute of around 4 miles

    Should get a bike, mate. Or, alternatively, just walk it.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  9. Roibeard
    Member

    @SRD they've ignored my submissions.

    And mine, so it's not personal...

    Robert

    Posted 9 years ago #
  10. kaputnik
    Moderator

    It currently takes me around 1 hour and 15 minutes (1 way) to do my daily commute of around 4 miles

    I do 8 in 45 minutes on the bike...

    You could raise the road speed limit to 70mph in town and their journey will still take 1 hour and 15 minutes. I guess that's lost on the poster.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  11. chdot
    Admin

    "so it's not personal"

    Oh but it is.

    Plenty of persons have bothered to help CEC by registering support for its proposals and (sensibly) suggesting streets that should be added.

    Figures (seen on Twitter) suggest significant support - plus disquiet over streets still regarded as 'main roads' rather than 'residential streets'. Some are planned to remain at 40MPH.

    So it's 'traffic flow before people'.

    These plans are recommendations until passed by next week's transport committee - and then by the full council.

    I hope there are plans for deputations (Spokes?, Living Streets? and individuals affected).

    Posted 9 years ago #
  12. Charlethepar
    Member

    @SRD they've ignored my submissions.

    Ah, but then again I was asking for more to try to ensure that I didn't get less. To that extent, it worked for me.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  13. Stickman
    Member

    I'm currently biting my tongue and keeping quiet as an outraged conversation about this is going on at the next bank of desks to me.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  14. chdot
    Admin

    "outraged conversation about this is going on at the next bank of desks to me"

    Presumably none of them cycle or cross roads - or have children and other relatives that do?

    Presumably they also think their existence is defined by their occasional roles as (hard pressed) motorists?

    Sad.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  15. Charlethepar
    Member

    @SRD Don't read the comments!

    But, the car lovers are so funny when they are angry.

    This one is positively sociopathic: "Of course there are wide support for lower limits from residents of those streets. But they are not the important people to ask. The drivers are the ones who should be asked"

    Posted 9 years ago #
  16. chdot
    Admin

    "But they are not the important people to ask. The drivers are the ones who should be asked"

    Irony, surely?

    SURELY!!

    Posted 9 years ago #
  17. Stickman
    Member

    Presumably none of them cycle or cross roads - or have children and other relatives that do?

    Bizarrely, two of them cycle to work every day and both have children at Sciennes Primary who take part in the cycle to school run each month! The other guy drives in each day (Morningside to Tollcross!) and has children.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  18. kaputnik
    Moderator

    The drivers are the ones who should be asked

    Um. They were.

    The auto-outraged drivists would I'm sure be more than happy for 40mph limits and daily convoys of single-occupant vehicles and park-outside-the-charging-zone-and-bus commuters down their streets.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  19. Morningside

    to

    Tollcross!

    That's a half hour walk!

    Posted 9 years ago #
  20. Stickman
    Member

    Or a 20 minute drive in bad rush hour (as I often hear!)

    Posted 9 years ago #
  21. dougal
    Member

    If the cooncil can guarantee travel at 20mph through Edinburgh streets surely drivers will be overjoyed? ;-)

    Posted 9 years ago #
  22. chdot
    Admin

    "The other guy drives in each day (Morningside to Tollcross!)"

    Presume includes 'free' parking.

    10 mins by bike.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  23. cb
    Member

    Some of my favourite comments:

    "If I have to commute at 20mph I'll never get out of 2nd gear and will take much longer to get to work and back home again."

    "I will never shop in Edinburgh ever again"

    "Defy this nonsense. Hinds - RESIGN NOW YOU USELESS PUBLIC SECTOR CRETIN"

    "This is great news for Livingston"

    "Everything that is wrong with this city is down to two things. Clowns running the council and a stupid wasteful tram LINE."

    "The amount of cyclist into work who don't shower and sit at their desk's all day....mingers"

    "But they are not the important people to ask. The drivers are the ones who should be asked."

    "Can't help thinking John Lauder might think differently if he had himself a proper 9 til 5 job"

    Posted 9 years ago #
  24. fimm
    Member

    4 miles in an hour and 15? I can do the 16 miles to Livingston in that...

    Posted 9 years ago #
  25. Mandopicker101
    Member

    I'm at a loss to believe some of those leaving 'comments' are actually in deadly earnest. Now I know why I never buy the EEN...

    The '4 miles in 01:15' comment really got me. Always assuming I had my health and mobility and didn't live adjacent to a pot-holed dual carriageway...if I lived four miles from my work I wouldn't be driving or taking the bus. I'd be cycling to and from work. Or running. Or...gosh...just walking. Sure, there's some days when it's plainly horrific outside. But, no-one ever melted in the rain. Or froze to death because its chilly outside.

    Money. Sense. More than?

    Posted 9 years ago #
  26. Arellcat
    Moderator

    they've ignored my submissions.

    I had hoped for a reduction to (at most) 30mph for the A702 southbound from Greenbank to Fairmilehead. It really is very difficult turning right into any of the streets when motor vehicles race past at 40mph. In fact, the whole ring road is basically untouched, so the torpedo may still have some use.

    Good on CEC for giving it a shot. If I drive to work, my average speed is still under 20mph and that's outside 'the' rush hour. If you never get out of third gear while driving in town, you won't save any more time by getting into fourth. However, getting into fourth and free driving on every descent will help save fuel in the long run.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  27. firedfromthecircus
    Member

    Sad thing is the polis I heard on radio scotland at 4pm today basically said that they (the polis) won't enforce it except if there is a need for casualty reduction, or outside schools. So it will be another unenforced law making even more of a mockery of the road network!

    Posted 9 years ago #
  28. firedfromthecircus
    Member

    Supt Phil O'Kane was the polis I was referring to apparently.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  29. crowriver
    Member

    Disappointed that London Road and Portobello Road have retained 30mph. I believe the original plans had London Road to 20mph at least as far as Jock's Lodge.

    Leith Walk will be a challenge to enforce...

    Posted 9 years ago #
  30. SRD
    Moderator

    There were police on the working group who said they would enforce. Council would not have gone ahead without that. Really upsetting that either they are backtracking, or the earlier commitments were not backed by higher ups.

    Posted 9 years ago #

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