Transport and Environment Convener Cllr Lesley Macinnes writes in today's Edinburgh Evening News on the need to harness the city's new enthusiasm for active travel.
The situation we find ourselves in has changed so many aspects of our lives – the way we work, how we interact with others, even our approach to daily exercise.
Nipping to the shops or out for a jog is a completely different experience compared to before lockdown, not in the least because the way we move around the city has changed immeasurably too.
But, as often observed, out of crises can emerge opportunities. The volume of cars, vans and lorries on roads has dropped noticeably, while cycling levels have surged. The need to get out of the house for exercise has seen more people walking and wheeling on our pavements, paths and in parks. As a result, we have witnessed improving air quality, less congestion and calmer streets.
We have a chance now to harness these positive, changing habits and build towards a more sustainable future for Edinburgh. By helping people make the decision to cycle, walk and wheel as restrictions are eased, we can offset the negative impacts of traffic and air pollution as some return to using their cars.
We’re already making moves to do this, and last month were quick off the mark to identify ‘pinch points’ where measures would make it easier and safer for people to exercise or visit local green spaces by foot, bike or wheelchair.
As part of our first tranche of improvements, partial road closures on Silverknowes Road, Links Gardens, Cammo Walk and Braid Road, as well as a one-way system on Braidburn Terrace, have really impacted the lives of people living there. We’ve had a fantastic response from residents, with Braid Road described as a “peaceful haven” for dog walkers, cyclists and families and reports of children skateboarding along Links Gardens, not to mention lovely videos on social media of cyclists of all ages enjoying the hill towards the Forth on Silverknowes Road.
The next phase, which we’re currently consulting local councillors and stakeholders on, will significantly enhance conditions for those cycling to and from the city’s main hospitals. Our plan is to install around 3km (2 miles) of temporary segregated cycle lanes on Crewe Road South, leading to the Western General, and Old Dalkeith Road, between Cameron Toll and the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, providing safer routes for key workers and service users, especially as traffic grows again.
Of course, this is just the beginning. Our initial changes have aimed to make physical distancing safer and easier as people exercise but as we begin to return to some sense of normality, as last week’s announcement by the Scottish Government suggests is on the horizon, we need to address the challenges this will bring.
Our focus now will be on implementing new measures in sync with, and where possible in advance of, each stage of the release of lockdown. We’ll continue to focus on providing safe spaces for people walking and cycling while at the same time facilitating public transport use, as services return. Our programme of actions will support the four-stage plan outlined by the First Minister – for example, as offices and worksites begin to return, we will address arterial routes to support commuters. And as pubs and cafes can reopen with outdoor areas, we’ll adapt these plans to support them too. Proposals to pedestrianise streets like Victoria Street and Cockburn Street, provide extra space for walking on South Bridge, Clerk Street, Nicolson St, and George IV Bridge and possibly segregated cycleways, on George IV Bridge are about helping our streets and their businesses come back to life as we look to restart the economy. Our nine local high streets in outlying areas of the city will also benefit from similar improvements, encouraging people to explore local businesses as they begin to reopen.
In an ideal world, these changes would be implemented within days, but even the smallest temporary road closure takes time to put in place. We must make sure that the needs of all members of society are met so I’m glad that our officers are working quickly through their own list of potential projects, as well as the many suggestions we’ve gratefully received from the public, to prioritise resources where they are needed first. Let me reassure you that we will be sharing information on the next stages of our plan as soon as we can.
We have long been clear about our intentions to create an environmentally friendly and accessible transport future for Edinburgh, supporting our goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. We know that the status quo is no longer an option and our residents do too - 80% of city respondents to the latest Scottish Household Survey said they believed that climate change is an urgent problem.
Long term, strategies like Edinburgh City Centre Transformation, the City Mobility Plan and our Active Travel Action Plan will transform the way we travel in Edinburgh, alongside sustainable policymaking across the council.
However, right now, we have the opportunity to make changes immediately. Like cities across the world, we are experiencing a new enthusiasm for cycling, wheeling and walking. We cannot afford to ignore it – and all of the benefits such changes can bring to our city.