Edinburgh for elderly too

Please stop ramming cycling down our throats. Not everyone can cycle and more importantly not everyone wants to. 

We had a fantastic public transport system which is being jeopardised as a result of your obsession with cycling. 

Edinburgh is hilly, wet and windy ...it can't be compared with Amsterdam or other European cities

Why the contribution is important

Edinburgh is for everyone

by Edinburghresident on July 31, 2020 at 04:49PM

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Average rating: 1.9
Based on: 11 votes

Comments

  • Posted by KH August 01, 2020 at 10:15

    This isn't about "ramming cycling down our throats", it is about making the city a better place for everyone, and not just the privileged few. None of my elderly neighbours has a car, yet they all benefited when the traffic dropped during lockdown as they were able to get to the shops safely without having to worry about speeding motorists. Likewise the families with small children who were seen cycle and walking alone streets where is usually too dangerous for them to go.

    The propose changes will not jeopardise Edinburgh public transport system, by reducing the level of motor traffic we can improve the reliability of bus services.

    As for wet and windy, Edinburgh is far from unique in this, and while Edinburgh may have a few hills, it is not as hilly as Lisbon which has already has a higher cycle modal share than Edinburgh (achieved within the space of three years) because they put in safe infrastructure and provided shared e-bikes.

    By opening our streets to the people who live in the city, we can make Edinburgh a better place for everyone.

  • Posted by CHC2751 August 01, 2020 at 10:25

    Encouraging those who can to cycle benefits everyone in reducing pollution and congestion so that buses can move around the city more easily. There are electric bikes, trikes, and other options for people who might not want to cycle on standard bikes. And if no one did anything because of bad weather in Scotland we'd never leave our houses.

  • Posted by finlay1 August 01, 2020 at 19:11

    The 190+ injuries and 1 death caused by the tramline in Edinburgh haven’t exactly stopped the tramline getting extended at a cost of £207million. It is a complete lie to suggest cyclists are jeopardising our public transport system.

    However you do make a very good point that not everyone is able to cycle but more importantly you mention something often forgotten by cycling lobbies when you mention Edinburgh is a hilly, wet and windy city. I am in the very fortunate position of being in possession of an e-bike, however it is worth considering that while e-bikes are now available for under £500 some people are unable to afford an e-bike. Without an e-bike I would be unable to cycle around most of the city.

  • Posted by Yvonne_CEC August 05, 2020 at 13:28

    Interesting discussion around Edinburgh being hilly and not everyone being able or wanting to cycle. What do you think about the new E-bikes added to Edinburgh's cycle hire scheme? https://transportforedinburgh.com/news/ebikes-go-live/

  • Posted by finlay1 August 05, 2020 at 22:35

    @Yvonne_CEC, tens of thousands of people in Edinburgh are over 1 mile away from a Just Eat Cycles Station. I live in Fairmilehead in the South of Edinburgh and my nearest Just Eat Cycles Station is 3.5 miles away. Due to where I live I cannot benefit from the Just Eat Cycles scheme like some maybe can. Also Yvonne, the idea of using a bike someone with Covid19 has potentially just used and has not been cleaned for possibly days, if not weeks, is incredibly unappealing.

  • Posted by FiG August 06, 2020 at 23:05

    I have used the just eat bikes. Before I do I wipe it down with some Dettol wipes. They have been a god send as I don’t have a car and very uncomfortable about using public transport. I have now got my own bike which I intend to use as I will be returning to work after working from home all through lockdown. It’s definitely given me more freedom and exercise. The traffic has got really heavy and so many drivers are very impatient. It’s a shame we can maintain the be kind attitude so many had during lockdown. I have seen far more old persons cycling which is fantastic.

  • Posted by DJ August 10, 2020 at 20:37

    I agree that Edinburgh is for everyone and the public transport system should work hand in hand with active travel.

    Evidence from around the world shows that, yes, there are no barriers (beyond inaction) for Edinburgh to have as many people walking and cycling as cities like Amsterdam.

    Electric transport (bikes, mobility scooters, the new Royal Mail cargo bikes) need the infrastructure to traverse our city safely. Far from ‘ramming cycling down throats’ it is the first step in redressing the balance of space, investment and infrastructure between people travelling in their own cars and those who are traveling actively; and I include public transport in the latter.

  • Posted by Voiceofreason September 01, 2020 at 19:45

    "What do you think about the new E-bikes added to Edinburgh's cycle hire scheme?"

    How many diesel powered vans are required to re-distribute then from whence they started?

    See teh research paper by Cyrille Medard de Chardon -
     https://ideas.repec.org/[…]/v121y2019icp401-419.html

    As widely reported, London is a disaster: 'The total amount of carbon produced from the vans is not offset by the amount saved from use of the bike share scheme.'
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