Adam McVey: Edinburgh set to close more roads to improve social distance cycling and walking

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The Capital is looking to enforce more road closures to make social distancing easier for walkers, cyclists and joggers.

The Capital is looking to enforce more road closures to make social distancing easier for walkers, cyclists and joggers.

Council leader Adam McVey said officials are looking to introduce measures to make sure residents can still keep a safe physical distance outside as some restrictions are lifted.

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Speaking on BBC radio Scotland this morning he said: “As we look to roll out road closures, it will be about looking at where there are pavements that are quite narrow and where people won’t be able to physical distance the way they would want to when there are far more people on the street after some restrictions are lifted.”

Council leader Adam McVey said officials are looking to introduce measures to make sure residents can still keep a safe physical distance outside as some restrictions are lifted.Council leader Adam McVey said officials are looking to introduce measures to make sure residents can still keep a safe physical distance outside as some restrictions are lifted.
Council leader Adam McVey said officials are looking to introduce measures to make sure residents can still keep a safe physical distance outside as some restrictions are lifted. | JPIMedia

Since the lockdown began, the city has seen a significant increase in cyclists, a 75 per cent reduction in traffic, and walking appears to be the primary way of getting around the Capital for most people.

Mr McVey said he hopes to free up current road space to ensure residents can still maintain their “new norm” habits as lockdown eases.

He said: “Not everyone wants to get back in their car after this.

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People actually want to keep doing what they have been doing for 40 odd days now which is walking around their community while maintaining a safe distance.

“So it’s about anticipating that and taking actions.”

The council has already closed the road separating Leith Links this week to increase pedestrian space as part of its new measures to improve social distancing outside.

The SNP politician said road closures will predominantly happen near “green spaces” and he hopes near areas where people are finding it hard to keep a safe two metre distance.

He added: “It’s also about providing alternatives.

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“If you think of the Water of Leith and the canal towpath - there are areas where there has been some conflict between cyclists, and joggers and walkers and dog walkers and everyone trying to use that space as they normally would, but finding it a challenge to sustain that two metre distance.

“So what we’re looking at is measures to introduce alternative places that they could walk in, within those same areas, so we can relieve some of that pressure.”

Mr McVey said policy makers are also looking to free up spaces where cars are currently parked as well as road closures to increase pedestrianised areas.

He added: “There is certainly aspiration that we can take road space and transfer it into pedestrian space.

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“I would expect to see space that’s currently occupied by parked cars transferred over.”

Edinburgh City Council is the first local authority to introduce such measures.

Glasgow and other councils are expected to follow suit so people can keep 2m apart from each other.

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