Edinburgh Council’s Transport and Environmental Committee (TEC) discussed proposals to reduce traffic on Cowgate last Monday, 18 November.
This comes after a fatal road traffic incident took place on Saturday 2 November.
In response the council commissioned the charity, Living Streets Edinburgh, to conduct a report on the road.
The charity aims to “promote walking (including ‘wheeling’) as a safe, enjoyable, accessible and healthy way of getting around Edinburgh”. One suggestion made in the report is that pavements on Cowgate, which are less than 90cm, should be expanded to meet the council’s “absolute minimum pavement width” criteria, which is two metres.
The charity conducted a similar report in 2016 which highlighted similar issues including fast and heavy traffic and narrow pavements.
Since this report, adjustments to the road have been made. For example, the speed limit of 20mph, double yellow lines and a ban on pavement parking were introduced.
In addition, over 20 years ago police Scotland recommended that a traffic ban should be introduced before 10 pm. The incident on 2 November took place before this time, at 7:25 pm.
Living Streets Edinburgh convenor, David Hunter told STV news: “We need to be very careful to work in a joined-up way. People have suggested closing Cowgate to traffic and pedestrianising it – but it’s near the Royal Mile, which has a primary school on it. You don’t want to push more traffic onto the Royal Mile.”
The Edinburgh Transport Environment convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson stated: “Road safety for all road users, not only in the Cowgate but across the city, is always a key priority for us.”
“Cowgate, Edinburgh” by r berndt is licensed under CC BY 2.0.