With lockdown due to start easing from Friday, more people will soon be venturing back out onto Edinburgh’s streets, but there have been a few changes recently.
Edinburgh Council have got £5m from the Scottish Government’s Places for Everyone fund to change the way people move around the capital in the age of coronavirus.
The initiative is designed to fund temporary schemes to help streets cope with the havoc wreaked by the virus – as well as money, there’s also an effort to cut red tape to make sure things change fast.
The council have already announced a package of temporary measures like pavement widening, pedestrianising streets, changes to pedestrian crossings and pop-up cycle lanes to prioritise ‘active travel’ such as walking or cycling.
We spoke to one campaigner about what the changes might look like and how coronavirus measures will affect the way people get around the city.
David Hunter of Living Streets Edinburgh, which campaigns for better pedestrian spaces, said the money was “an unprecedented opportunity, which we must seize,” adding “there does seem to be the political will” to make changes.
He explained how things will start to change as lockdown is eased, saying: “Fewer people will want to use the bus - the roads won't cope if all those people become private drivers."
“However there will also be more people working at home which will reduce the amount of travel too.
“The big risk is that people will want to use their cars, I think it will be a tough year for buses.”
In terms of pedestrians, he said: “social distancing is likely to stay in place for some time. Currently you see a lot of people stepping off pavements and walking in the road to avoid people – that will be a danger when the traffic gets busier again.”
Living Streets Edinburgh have drawn up a list of changes they would like to see to make Edinburgh’s streets more pedestrian-friendly, including removing parking/loading spaces on some of the city’s busiest roads to allow wider pavements.
“We want to change the presumption that people should be able park and load anywhere” David explained.
“But some people are more reliant on their cars, we don’t want to disadvantage blue badge holders, for example,” he added.
To receive one WhatsApp message a day with Edinburgh Live's headlines, as well as breaking news alerts, text NEWS to 07899067815. Then add the number to your contacts as 'Edinburgh Live'.
The group also suggested blocking rat runs in some residential areas by placing a barrier in the middle of a street allowing cars to reach houses from either end but cutting off through-traffic.
In addition campaigners have been calling for the removal of street clutter like old roadworks cones to be removed, as well as long metal rails, saying: “guardrails which hem in pedestrians over long stretches of pavement (for example, Slateford Road bridge) are particularly inappropriate at present.”
Join our Traffic Facebook group to get up-to-the-minute traffic news from across Edinburgh and the Lothians: Edinburgh Traffic
Announcing the new £5m of funding yesterday (Tuesday 26) Edinburgh's transport convener Lesley McInnes said more changes were to come, adding the moves "point us towards a better ‘new normal’, reflecting the path we’re moving along towards a greener, more sustainable Edinburgh, as we emerge from this difficult time."
