The Spokes Spring public meeting on Thurs 26 March will discuss the future of Edinburgh city centre – particularly Princes Street / George Street – and the role of the bicycle there. Our headline speaker is Cllr Lesley Hinds, Convener of Edinburgh City’s Transport Committee.
Speakers
- The council view – Cllr Lesley Hinds, Convener of Edinburgh City’s Transport Committee
- The business view – Richard Darke, Projects Manager for Essential Edinburgh
- ‘My view’ – Professor Tom Rye, Director of Napier Transport Research Institute
- … followed by audience QA and panel discussion
Practicalities
- Thursday 26 March, 7.30pm
- Doors open 6.45 for coffee, stalls & chat. Tea/Coffee available 6.45-7.15 [to give time to clear up before meeting starts]
- Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge
- Poster pdf download [click]
- Queries? / More info? Email mknottenbelt1
AT gmail DOT com
Here are two Edinburgh photos from different times in 2012. Where would you prefer to walk or cycle? [NB – yes, there is a bike (or more?) in the top picture!]
here ??
or here ??
In the coming months major decisions are to be taken on the future of the city centre. Recent years have seen slow though important moves towards a more people-friendly and less traffic-dominated public realm. Cars were banned from Princes Street; a tram introduced; George Street gained an experimental segregated route and lost some car space; a fully 20mph city centre is imminent. These changes all brought plenty complaint at the time, and politicians were nervous at every stage – but few people now want to go back!
Which way does Edinburgh city centre move next? – and will it try to emulate European models such as Copenhagen, as in Jan Gehl’s Edinburgh reports and recommendations ? There are many things we’d like to see … such as … a city centre where people want to be and enjoy being; flourishing businesses; minimal traffic danger; an end to toxic pollution; no traffic noise (apart from bicycle bells!) …
Specific decisions on cycling affect and are affected by all the above ambitions …
- What happens to George Street in September when the experimental traffic order ends? Does the cycleroute disappear and we revert to full car traffic until decisions are taken? The public doesn’t want to see that!
- How bold will be the plans for Edinburgh’s East-West city centre cycleroute, Roseburn to Leith? Will it be a back-street wiggle or a bold superhighway like London’s proposals?
- Will the Council forget about Princes Street? – or return to its former idea of Princes Street traffic-free on at least one side [but this time with a cycleroute!] ?
- Will Leith Street get high quality cycle provision, to link from Leith Walk to South Edinburgh, to Princes Street and to George Street?
- When will Edinburgh catch up with Glasgow over a bike share scheme?
- … and bring along your own questions and ideas …
Professor Tom Rye – Mobilities Week video on Sustainable Cities transport
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf1E6_xFyYE
George Street experimental segregated cycleroute
Cllr Lesley Hinds open the experimental George St cycleroute
Our submission to the George Street consultation is here. We’ve not done a post-implementation report at present, but much of this original submission remains valid. Early public reaction is in this initial survey for the Council.