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Roseburn to Leith Walk Cycle Route.jpgPetitions for and against Edinburgh protected cycle route
An online petition has been set up against a proposed cycle route going down a main road in Edinburgh. However, to highlight that many are also in favour of the scheme, a rival petition has been set up in favour of the plans.
The contentious part of the Roseburn to Leith Walk Cycle Route is a stretch between Roseburn and Haymarket. The proposals are for a general traffic lane to be replaced by a protected cycle path along the Northern side with local businesses expressing concern that this will "harm Roseburn businesses by preventing parking outside the shops for delivery vans and shoppers."
The petition in favour of the plans links to a review of 12 studies from around the world looking into the impact of replacing on-street parking with a bike lane. Its conclusion is that in almost all cases such a move has little to no impact on local business – and in some cases might even increase business.
“I believe that the best route is down the main Roseburn/West Coates route as it is both the most direct/encouraging for cycling and will improve the environment of Roseburn & West Coates,” writes the person who creation the petition in favour.
The petition against proposes the use of National Cycle Route 1 as an alternative. The section in question runs along off-road paths and low-traffic streets.“I acknowledge that it makes a 3-minute journey into a 4-minute journey, but I think it is a far more pleasant one,” writes Peter Gregson.
Kim Harding, one of the co-founders of Pedal on Parliament, is another who believes that direct routes are key.
Referring to a different section of the scheme, around George Street, Harding had said:
"Once again they are wedded to the idea of sending cyclists along George Street, rather than along Princes Street which is the route which most people want to use. During the George Street trial, more people were cycling along Princes Street than George Street, even though Princes Street is a bus-clogged hell hole. The fundamental problem is that cycling is still seen as a leisure activity and not as a primary form of transport."
The petition in favour of using the main road currently has 123 signatures while the one against has 37. The consultation runs until February 1.
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
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13 comments
A few local shop owners are whipping up opposition against the plans with the weirdest arguments. The proposal needs all support it can get - this is the first really segregated path along a major arterial route in Edinburgh, and if this proposal is killed or watered down, it will affect how the council plans other routes in future.
It is therefore important that everybody with an interest in the area fils in the consultation on the Council's website.
The local newspaper is promoting the "mass protest" (25 people plus an embarrassed dog). Spokes has provided some thoughts and background infos, and local campaigner Chris Paton has collated a document explaining why the new proposal is much better than the current "quiet route".
More info including why the supportive petition was set up can be found here
https://hankchiefblog.wordpress.com/2016/01/01/bringing-protected-cyclel...
The petition was not attempting to circumvent the formal consultation process which I'd encourage interested parties to complete. It does however highlight the wide support for cycle paths not being sent on wiggly routes.
To be honest, the cyclists are unlikely to able to just park and lock up their bike outside the shops either, so it's all fair!
(And, I agree with Zermattjohn above - I have never been able to drive a car to the shops, park right outside and shop there, then go somewhere else, park there, etc, etc).
I would think that responding to the council proposal is more useful than ticking a random online survey:
https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/roseburntoleith
It's better to get something than nothing. Yes you might want an all singing, dancing segregated bike lane but it's unlikely to happen. By putting in bits of cycling specific infrastructure it will gradually increase the number of people who feel that cycling is a safe & fun activity which will increase demand for infrastructure which will...
When I commuted along Princes St in the 90s I saw about 3 cyclists, things have changed and continue to do so
Yes, definitely, this is an important point. The "support" petition also asks people to fill in the official consultation, not just sign.
I understand that the "support" petition was mainly set up as a spontaneous and not totally serious reaction to the "anti" petition, especially as the "anti" petition was signed by two local councillors (Con & SNP). The local cycling scene (online or offline) has been very active promoting and discussing the official consultation. The city has also put up posters at cycle routes, key cycle racks etc. to advertise the consultation.
Regarding the bad bit in the middle around Haymarket, people can of course point that out in the consultation. The consultation asks about each section individually. I also think it's better to get parts of the route rather than nothing.
Note also that another proposal (Roseburn-Canal, consultation closed today) creates another very good route nearby that will allow many to avoid the bad Haymarket bit.
No thank you. I'd rather have nothing, because "something" is invariably a "let's get these bloody cyclists out of the way of proper road users" scheme, which is usually a shared pavement that cedes priority at every intersection.
The proposal is actually mostly a segretated cycle path along a major arterial route with priority over side roads. Please check the proposal and comment on the consultation page http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/roseburntoleith
half a bridge doe not increase the number of people crossing a river therefore justifying the cost of the second half.
Have you actually looked at the plans for Roseburn Terrace and West Coates?
http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/roseburntoleith
And are you aware that a second consultation has just been done that links this section to Fountainbridge (and the canal, Meadows network etc)?
Every bridge has to be built in sections.
It is a fairly rubbish proposal - two good sections at either end are undermined by the weak link in the middle, routed round back streets.
"...The fundamental problem is that cycling is still seen as a leisure activity and not as a primary form of transport..."
This. Exactly this. This is what needs to change.
".....local businesses expressing concern that this will "harm Roseburn businesses by preventing parking outside the shops for delivery vans and shoppers."..."
I can't remember ever driving to town, parking directly outside the shop I want to go in, buying something and then driving away. If that's the way then you'd only have one customer at a time. What a daft argument.
Yes, its la la land!
If they want to sell the scheme to local businesses they should include parking spaces though. On that road there is enough room for some parking AND a protected cycle route. I've signed the petition even though I don't live there since its a battle that needs to be won!