Safe, segregated and joined up
Edinburgh needs to have a joined up network of quiet routes with modal filters in place, and fully segregated routes where this isn't the case. The majority of residents do not have a car and as such the council has no obligation to provide for car owners first (and I am one).
The UK government has published key design principles which should be followed:
Cyclists must be separated from volume traffic at junctions and on the stretches of road between them.
Cyclists must be separated from pedestrians.
Cyclists must be treated as vehicles.
Routes must join together. Isolated stretches of good provision are of little value.
Purely cosmetic alterations should be avoided.
Barriers and dismount signs should be avoided.
Routes should only be designed by those who have experienced the road on a cycle.
On that last point, I would be delighted to take any of the council's staff members on a short guided cycle on a hire bike, to show what a regular journey looks and feels like from the position of a person on a bike.
Why the contribution is important
Cities are changing by necessity and Edinburgh is no different. Cars are not for cities and public transportation capacity is severely reduced.
by MichaelMain87 on July 30, 2020 at 07:14PM
Posted by niallanderson July 30, 2020 at 23:17
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Posted by Spudgt2 July 31, 2020 at 07:11
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Posted by ryanb July 31, 2020 at 09:52
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Posted by CameronFairfield August 07, 2020 at 22:34
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Posted by DJ August 10, 2020 at 20:39
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Posted by edinburger August 10, 2020 at 22:31
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Posted by gsm_terra August 11, 2020 at 15:19
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Posted by Narom August 13, 2020 at 13:59
I think that these are important steps forward for our city, however, the priority has to be people over bikes, scooters, and cars. Infrastructure for cycling is only a part of the story. It makes absolute sense to provide alternatives to the car, especially in these strange times. These steps can help protect vulnerable travellers and encourage young people to get out and exercise more.
We still need to provide for pedestrians as a priority and protect them from the dominance of the car in an ancient city that evolved long before the car came to any of our roads.
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Posted by Stellathomson August 14, 2020 at 20:30
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