Traffic and the Economy

Edinburgh is a vibrant and prospering city with a growing 24-hour economy. It is important to ensure that people from all walks of life - people who are the lifeblood of that economy - are able to access the city easily. More than that, it is essential that people continue to want to come into the city.

Reduced congestion, and with it a much improved environment, will make the whole experience much more attractive. This is not just hearsay. Studies around the world show that retail and tourist sectors benefit from initiatives that achieve a better balance in the use of sometimes limited space. It all takes time, as the Copenhagen experience has shown. Not only is the end result worth the effort but, more than that, it is essential to the long-term survival of the city economy.

Although retail studies within the Council are at a very early stage, an interim report gives some interesting insights on shopping patterns in the city. The townscape plays an important part in the shopping experience. More significantly, the relatively minor role the car plays in city centre shopping might surprise some observers.