Edinburgh residents asked to comment on innovative city centre cycle lane trial

Edinburgh residents were asked for their views on a year-long trial of an innovative cycling layout this week. Since September 2014 George Street, in the city centre, has been a dedicated two-way cycle lane but only a one-way system for general traffic and buses.

The public was invited to contribute ideas and opinions on a permanent layout for the street at an Open Day held on 13 August (today). The consultation was built around the themes of George Street being: a civic place, a place for living, a place for enterprise and a place for movement.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, transport convener at Edinburgh City Council, said: “Throughout this trial we have involved the public to ensure changes take into account the users of the street, and I think that’s reflected in the positive feedback we’ve received along the way.Now, as the trial draws to a close, we want to include those who live, work and travel on George Street to help us decide its future, and that’s why it’s so important that people come along to our open day to give their views on a long term plan.

“Making the city centre a great place to be is about striking a balance between work and leisure, practicality and atmosphere. I think that by working together we can achieve that.”

Besides regular stakeholder engagement meetings, the trial has seen around street interviews conducted with around 100 passers-by per month as way of gathering feedback from the public.

These interviews have indicated the importance respondents placed on cycling facilities as part the future of the, the need for George Street to be accessible to all and a preference for symmetry in any long-term designs. 

Environmental consultants Ironside Farrar have been appointed to turn the information gathered into design principles by October. These principles will be presented with the concluding report on the George Street Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) to the transport and environment committee in November.

The George Street ETRO expires on 6 September, so the street will revert to its pre-September look. This means both sides of carriageway will be open and the cycle lane removed, as will all marquees and decking.