Edinburgh will benefit significantly from £5m Scottish Government funding to support the creation of safe, accessible routes for walking, cycling and wheeling as lockdown restrictions are lifted.
The Capital is receiving half of the original £10m Spaces for People funding total (administered by Sustrans) – now trebled by the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Michael Matheson, to £30m – to carry out road space improvements like temporary pavement widening, pop-up segregated cycle lanes and pedestrianised streets.
Earlier this month the council published a widespread package of suggested measures to make it easier and safer for people to travel by foot, bike or wheelchair while maintaining physical distancing.
These proposals recognise a real surge in walking and cycling rates since lockdown began, and the positive impact of this, and fewer cars, on air quality and congestion levels. The changes to how we allocate road space will help sustain this increase in people choosing active travel as the city moves towards the ‘new normal’.
The council’s received many suggestions for road closures, widened pavements, segregated cycle lanes and other possible actions from across the city and they are all helping to shape our efforts over the next weeks and months.
A programme of changes is already well underway across the city, with road closures in Silverknowes, Greenbank, Cammo and Leith prompting strolling, cycling and family exercise amongst community members.
Thanks to the latest funding boost, the city council will be able to make further, extensive improvements at no extra cost to Council budgets, including the next phase of measures set to be implemented next week.
Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes said: “This significant award from Transport Scotland – half of the original total for Scotland – is testament to the scale and ambition of the schemes being brought forward.
“We’re delighted that this will allow us to make extensive changes to provide a safer and more attractive environment for walking, cycling or wheeling at no cost to the Council.
“We are building a sustainable future for the Capital as we emerge from this crisis, as our Adaptation and Renewal programme demonstrates, and setting an example through our approach to transport.
“There’s been a step-change in the way people move around the city, with a surge in walking and cycling, and our proposed measures will harness this enthusiasm long term. Facilitating active travel and public transport use is essential if we are to limit the negative impacts of congestion, air pollution and carbon emissions as we return to a ‘new normal’.
“Of course, this is a complex process, and our project team are working extremely hard to get schemes in place where they are needed most. We’ve already seen a fantastic reaction to the first phase of improvements in areas like Silverknowes and Greenbank, where road closures have brought communities out to stroll and cycle on newly-peaceful streets, and this is exactly the kind of response we want to see.
“There’s clearly a desire to be able to travel on foot or bike and by giving residents safe and accessible routes to do this, we are encouraging healthier, more environmentally-friendly habits now and for generations to come.
Transport and Environment Vice Convener Councillor Karen Doran said: This is fantastic news. Our close working relationship with funding administrators Sustrans, who have supported us to develop innovative, effective projects to enable active travel, has helped pave a smoother path to funding, which will be extremely beneficial to the city long-term.
“In line with national policies to drive down carbon emissions and encourage healthy, sustainable transport choices, we are already 100% committed to delivering a people-friendly, accessible city.
“Our existing plans for Edinburgh City Centre Transformation, the City Mobility Plan and Low Emission Zones envision a city where pedestrians, cyclists and public transport is prioritised, and the temporary measures made possible by this funding will help us build towards this.”
Transport officers have been working to prioritise areas where supportive measures are most-needed, and the next phase of improvements will be:
- The partial closure of Stanley Street and Hope Lane between Stanley Street and Christian Grove to provide a low-traffic corridor for people to walk and cycle and access nearby green spaces like Figgate Park for exercise, from 2 June.
- The closure of Warriston Road to through traffic to provide a wide pedestrian and cyclist-friendly space leading to access to the North Edinburgh path Network, from 2 June. Access to the allotment and Warriston Crematorium will be maintained via Ferry Road.
- The implementation of a temporary segregated cycleway on Old Dalkeith Road, between Cameron Toll and the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
- The introduction of an advisory cycle lane on Crewe Road South, between the Orchard Brae roundabout and Crewe Toll roundabout. Both this and the cycle lane on Old Dalkeith Road will allow safer travel by bike for key workers and service users, from early June.
From this week, the council will also be prioritising pedestrians at 150 junctions by removing the need to press the button to call the green man during the daytime and evening. Those with visual impairments will be able to continue using crossings as before.
The Council’s overall approach will be implemented to support the Scottish Government’s phased approach to lifting lockdown.
The proposed partial pedestrianisation of Waverley Bridge, for example, aims to create more space at a key transport hub, while the measures in the city’s eight local high streets will support local shops, pubs and cafes to re-open in safe environments.
Space will be created on the main routes into the city to support people coming back to workplaces by walking where possible, and by bike, which has seen a surge in popularity.
All measures that are introduced will be closely monitored and refined or adapted in response to any issues, where necessary. A dedicated webpage will also be set up listing schemes that have been implemented, those that are under consideration and any which have been discounted.
Find out more about plans, and other changes to council services, on the Council website.
Sight loss charity RNIB Scotland has written to the City of Edinburgh Council asking it to ensure that new plans to create temporary cycle-lanes do not endanger blind and partially sighted people.
This week, transport secretary Michael Matheson announced he will treble the £10m originally put forward under his ‘Spaces for People’ initiative, inviting Scottish local authorities to take advantage of reduced traffic levels and introduce additional cycle-lanes or expand existing ones.
While welcoming the ‘Spaces for People’ initiative, RNIB Scotland fears this could still exacerbate problems it has been campaigning on if too hastily introduced.
“New cycle lanes must be created with full regard to pedestrians with sight loss or other mobility issues,” insisted its director James Adams.
“The problem is that blind and partially sighted people might not be able to see or hear cyclists approaching, while cyclists might simply assume a pedestrian will see them coming. Mobility aids such as white canes getting caught up in bicycle wheels is a further hazard to both.
“Mr Matheson also urged councils to engage with disability organisations so plans do not compromise the ability of people who have impaired mobility to cross roads and to use pedestrian crossing facilities.”
RNIB Scotland is promoting its Coronavirus Courtesy Code https://www.rnib.org.uk/scotland/campaigning-rnib-scotland/coronavirus-courtesy-code to encourage better understanding of the needs of pedestrians with disabilities. The charity is also calling for any extra space for cycle-lanes to be allocated from roads and not pavements, for raised kerbs to be maintained, and for warning signs to alert cyclists when they are approaching a crossing.
* The RNIB Helpline is available to help blind and partially sighted people and their families and carers on 0303 123 9999.
