Bonkers cycle lane says something important about Edinburgh Council – John McLellan

Too many cyclists seem to think they can go anywhere at any speed in Edinburgh, writes John McLellan.

Edinburgh is giving cyclists greater priority than people with a debilitating condition who need a car (Picture: Lisa Ferguson)

It may be staring everyone else in the face that sticking a disabled parking space in the middle of a 40mph zone separated from the pavement by a bike lane is stark, staring bonkers, but not, apparently, the revolutionary guards under orders from the City Council’s SNP-Labour administration.

Far from recognising the insanity of the new road layout on Pentland Terrace on Comiston Road, now wands have been installed to make it even more obvious. The message seems clear to me: it doesn’t matter if you have a debilitating condition and need a car to get about, cyclists come first.

Yet some social media reaction to a suggestion that the council might actually reconsider the equally crazy idea of running cycle lanes between bus stops and the pavement has been hysterical, suggesting that it is unacceptable for cyclists to have to go round stationary buses or, heaven forfend, stop.

As someone who cycles regularly, there are still far too many cyclists who believe their two wheels entitles them to cycle anywhere in any direction at any speed and until that changes these biker-pedestrian clashes should be shelved. This council likes nothing better than pandering to vocal minorities and it’s about time it paid attention to the sensible and largely ignored majority.

Council needs independent inquiry into whistleblowing procedures

The shock waves are still being felt in Edinburgh Council following the sudden death of former senior social work manager Sean Bell who was recently charged with historic sexual offences.

The council had notified police about allegations earlier this year, but the alleged victim says they date back 22 years, during which time several complaints were made to the authority which she claims were persistently ignored.

Several investigations are under way, including one at a senior level within the council, but it is not the first time that concerns have been raised about how the council handles whistleblowing and it’s surely time for a proper external inquiry into the culture and practices within Edinburgh Council so staff and the public are reassured.

Today my colleagues in the Conservative group will call for an independent inquiry because to command public confidence, such an inquiry can’t be conducted by the authority itself.

Hypocrisy or desperation on East Craigs protest?

Over 500 people attended the East Craigs protest meeting about the Council’s imposition of a Low Traffic Neighbourhood a fortnight ago and the night before transport convener Lesley Macinnes helpfully tweeted that she’d be there and encouraged people to go along because “organisers have only advertised it on Facebook”.

So imagine the surprise at an answer she has provided for today’s full council meeting in which she criticises the organisers because “no efforts appeared to have been made to limit the crowd numbers by the organiser. Indeed, it was quite the opposite with leaflet drops and promotion on social media conducted prior to the event to encourage persons to attend”.

Others have already commented on the hypocrisy but I’d just call it desperation.

Hot air about private homes

A strange message was issued yesterday from Edinburgh Council’s official news service which on one level might be regarded simply as a statement of fact.

“Did you know that our council housing is responsible for less than two per cent of all emissions in Edinburgh, compared to the owner-occupied market which is responsible for 33 per cent?” it asked.

Is the inference that council housing is more efficient than private homes? Or that owner-occupiers are somehow less environmentally conscious than council tenants? Who knows, and when 56 per cent of all houses are owner-occupied, what exactly was the point?

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