Improve cyclist and pedestrian safety - Petitions (Invalid)
Petition details
The safety of pedestrians and cyclists needs to be prioritised in Edinburgh. The number of cyclists killed or seriously injured increased by 91% between 2002 and 2022, and pedestrian fatalities increased by 360% between 2022 and 2023 in Scotland, including small children in Edinburgh. Edinburgh has plans in place to improve active travel infrastructure, with the City Mobility Plan 2021-2030 setting out plans for improvements, and a bike hire scheme is being proposed. However, relatively simple measures that could reduce injuries and fatalities, such as protected cycle lanes and zebra crossings, are sparsely placed and disjointed. The quality of streets needs to be improved for people with wheelchairs, mobility aids and prams. Women being more likely to have disabilities and caring responsibilities also makes this a feminist issue, which the Feminist City working group should put focus on. The benefits of active travel are well known and have direct impacts. Reducing pollution in cities is proven to lead to reductions in respiratory illnesses, and along with increased walkability, reduces costs to the NHS. - Add segregated cycle lanes on every major road - Enforce parking bans on cycle lanes - Widen and improve the quality of footpaths - Add pedestrian crossings where there aren’t ones in 100-200 metres; starting around schools - Make it easier for pedestrians to cross by shortening wait times at traffic lights and building pedestrian infrastructure at junctions - Increase driver awareness of cyclist and pedestrian safety, such as pedestrian priority at crossings (Highway Code Rule 8)
Petition status
Invalid in terms of 1.2 of our petitions criteria as it relates to a matter already being considered or scheduled to be considered by the Council or a committee.
