Consultation on "improvements" for pedestrians at the northern edge of Leith Links - closes in five days' time.
My response below. Feel free to borrow/adapt if so minded.
https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/johns-pl-elbe-st-ped-crossing-improvements/
This is the location. Fresh tarmac clearly visible where previously removed build-out on south side used to be.
https://goo.gl/maps/7CbcD6muWgJ2
Another similarly removed south side build-out on the same street a little further east. Note the build-out that's still there has a car parked on it!
https://goo.gl/maps/YJbUrC3aSyt
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I support the proposal to decrease the street corner radius. This will enhance the safety of pedestrians trying to cross. However I question the need to remove the footway build-out. This move seems designed to increase motor traffic throughput. This is contrary to the various council transport plans that aim to reduce traffic and slow it down, not encourage more of it to go faster. Pedestrian crossing safety will not be improved by replacing the build-out with an island refuge. In addition an island refuge will increase hazards for cyclists using the street, as it creates two pinch points (one in either direction of travel) while failing to slow motor vehicles down (as the current build-out does, by necessity vehicles have to slow to give way to oncoming traffic). I note also that the build-out on the south side has already been removed, for reasons unknown.
It would be better to formalise the pedestrian crossing to the footway build-out by using a zebra crossing road marking, for example. This is after all a popular route for pedestrians that connects a residential area to a public park. I would further suggest re-instating the southern build-out to reduce vehicle speeds on Links Place.
So, in summary, yes to reducing street corner radius; no to removing footway build-out / replacing with island refuge; and suggest further zebra crossing markings to formalise the crossing at the build-out, plus re-instating the removed build-out on the southern side of Links Place..
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