Edinburgh 20mph Roads
Discussion
The buses were against it and the buses just ignore it completely, they still bomb up princes st at full chat (for a bus). I've seen the police even ignoring it too.
I reckon it's all part of a play to bring in congestion charge. Force us to 20mph so we have to drive a gear lower as in third most cars would be labouring the engine. I certainly couldn't get up the mound at 20mph in third. Higher revs = higher C02 output. They'll do an air cleanliness test soon and find that (shock horror) the C02 levels have increased, slap a congestion charge in then ramp the prices of buses right up.
You'd think that ECC don't actually like people living and working here the way they carry on.
I reckon it's all part of a play to bring in congestion charge. Force us to 20mph so we have to drive a gear lower as in third most cars would be labouring the engine. I certainly couldn't get up the mound at 20mph in third. Higher revs = higher C02 output. They'll do an air cleanliness test soon and find that (shock horror) the C02 levels have increased, slap a congestion charge in then ramp the prices of buses right up.
You'd think that ECC don't actually like people living and working here the way they carry on.
Jammez said:
You should try riding an Aprilia RSV R at 20 mph, it's almost impossible to do it comfortably coupled with the horrific state of the roads in Edinburgh.
I commute through the grassmarket on a CBR. The slower i go the more the potholes want to knock you off the bike....its horrible now. Worst of it is i overheard two older guys saying that 20mph is the LIMIT so doing 15mph is fine by them.
I've been in Edinburgh today and I didn't see any evidence of people doing 20mph (apart from the car I overtook as I thought they were looking for a parking space); even the Police car in front of me was doing 30mph. It does beg the question why CEC thought it was a good idea to spend £2m+ on the scheme instead of using it to sort out the shocking state of the roads, although I think I know that the answer to that one.
If they really want to sort our road related casualties it would be better spending at least some of the cash educating pedestrians that it isn't a great idea crossing a side street whilst glued to your phone; the person whom I nearly hit today would have ended up in the ERI no matter what the speed limit!
If they really want to sort our road related casualties it would be better spending at least some of the cash educating pedestrians that it isn't a great idea crossing a side street whilst glued to your phone; the person whom I nearly hit today would have ended up in the ERI no matter what the speed limit!
tim0409 said:
I've been in Edinburgh today and I didn't see any evidence of people doing 20mph (apart from the car I overtook as I thought they were looking for a parking space); even the Police car in front of me was doing 30mph. It does beg the question why CEC thought it was a good idea to spend £2m+ on the scheme instead of using it to sort out the shocking state of the roads, although I think I know that the answer to that one.
If they really want to sort our road related casualties it would be better spending at least some of the cash educating pedestrians that it isn't a great idea crossing a side street whilst glued to your phone; the person whom I nearly hit today would have ended up in the ERI no matter what the speed limit!
The Council seem to imply that hitting a pedestrian at 20 mph is safer than at 30 mph, so perhaps we should just not bother to brake any more, as the council have told us that it's safe to run the daft fIf they really want to sort our road related casualties it would be better spending at least some of the cash educating pedestrians that it isn't a great idea crossing a side street whilst glued to your phone; the person whom I nearly hit today would have ended up in the ERI no matter what the speed limit!
kers over. Just sayin'.......tim0409 said:
If they really want to sort our road related casualties it would be better spending at least some of the cash educating pedestrians that it isn't a great idea crossing a side street whilst glued to your phone; the person whom I nearly hit today would have ended up in the ERI no matter what the speed limit!
It's getting more like London - pedestrians just do whatever the hell they want these days.tim0409 said:
I've been in Edinburgh today and I didn't see any evidence of people doing 20mph (apart from the car I overtook as I thought they were looking for a parking space); even the Police car in front of me was doing 30mph. It does beg the question why CEC thought it was a good idea to spend £2m+ on the scheme instead of using it to sort out the shocking state of the roads, although I think I know that the answer to that one.
Unless you were in the area from Queen Street South to the meadows you might not have been in the initial 20mpg zone as implementation is staged in about 4 or 5 parts.That said, I have not noticed much change in speed of traffic in the centre so far (as a pedestrian - I never drive in the centre unless I have no other way of getting to the other side of town). It is more difficult to assess the impact as the city is so busy with some sort of big festival that is on at the moment, as well as the now customary dozens of random road works - once festival shenanigans finishes and road works ease off it will become more "interesting".
tim0409 said:
I've been in Edinburgh today and I didn't see any evidence of people doing 20mph (apart from the car I overtook as I thought they were looking for a parking space); even the Police car in front of me was doing 30mph. It does beg the question why CEC thought it was a good idea to spend £2m+ on the scheme instead of using it to sort out the shocking state of the roads, although I think I know that the answer to that one.
If they really want to sort our road related casualties it would be better spending at least some of the cash educating pedestrians that it isn't a great idea crossing a side street whilst glued to your phone; the person whom I nearly hit today would have ended up in the ERI no matter what the speed limit!
Not condoning the buried in their phone but to give some balance here as I'm also a pedestrian in town monday to friday, from the highway codeIf they really want to sort our road related casualties it would be better spending at least some of the cash educating pedestrians that it isn't a great idea crossing a side street whilst glued to your phone; the person whom I nearly hit today would have ended up in the ERI no matter what the speed limit!
Rule 206
Drive carefully and slowly when
in crowded shopping streets, Home Zones and Quiet Lanes (see Rule 218) or residential areas
driving past bus and tram stops; pedestrians may emerge suddenly into the road
passing parked vehicles, especially ice cream vans; children are more interested in ice cream than traffic and may run into the road unexpectedly
needing to cross a pavement or cycle track; for example, to reach or leave a driveway. Give way to pedestrians and cyclists on the pavement
reversing into a side road; look all around the vehicle and give way to any pedestrians who may be crossing the road
turning at road junctions; give way to pedestrians who are already crossing the road into which you are turning
the pavement is closed due to street repairs and pedestrians are directed to use the road
approaching pedestrians on narrow rural roads without a footway or footpath. Always slow down and be prepared to stop if necessary, giving them plenty of room as you drive past.
I've highlighted the important part here. Pedestrians have right of way crossing side streets you are turning into when they are already crossing. That also includes while you are sat indicating waiting for a gap (turning right) and they start crossing before you move, they have right of way.
Turning left, distance from junction and when the indicators go on matter. Often I'll start crossing when they have no indicators on, only for them to slap them on 12 yards from the junctions and throw it in without a care in the world for other people, they expect them to just scatter out of their way.
Now, if they walk out 2ft in front of you clearly not looking I'm totally with you, all their fault and they shouldn't do it. Can't say I've had that happen more than twice in my driving career, cars trying to run me over though is a weekly thing (I hear the engine note rise as they accelerate at me).
A bit of balance is needed, too much Edinburgh traffic is willing to go to prison for causing serious injury/death by dangerous driving just to save 2.7 seconds on their journey and too many pedestrians/cyclists don't have enough thought to take charge of their own safety.
Highway code or not it's absolutely ridiculous to suggest that pedestrians can walk wherever they want whenever they want and it's up to the driver to sort it. I know that's not what you are suggesting but it's what the law is.
I live in town and I regularly see people just walk across the road on Queen Street without waiting on the lights and cause all sorts of carnage - one of them gets hit and it's the drivers fault !
I live in town and I regularly see people just walk across the road on Queen Street without waiting on the lights and cause all sorts of carnage - one of them gets hit and it's the drivers fault !
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