George Street: The pedestrian vision looks great - but what about the buses?

George Street looks like a foreign city in the computer generated images created to illustrate plans for its pedestrian-friendly future - and all the better for it.
The city's pedestrian-friendly vision for George StreetThe city's pedestrian-friendly vision for George Street
The city's pedestrian-friendly vision for George Street

All the people milling around on the tree-lined avenue and sitting chatting on the outdoor seats outside the shops and restaurants. Just look at those wide-open pavements and the cycling ‘highway’. It’s all a far cry from the hustle and bustle of the often overcrowded city centre pavements that we know so well.

It all feels, well, continental. Or, if you prefer a comparison closer to home, think Buchanan Street - but with a few more expensive bars thrown in.

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Forget the watered down suggestion that cars might or might not be barred from George Street apart from essential services at specific times. There is no point overhauling the street in the way being described and leaving two lanes of motor traffic steaming up and down the middle.

This pedestrianised vision of George Street is compelling. Think of the buzz around the street when cars were banned during the festivals. One thing prevents a clear endorsement of the scheme - and that is the lack of detail. What will happen to the buses? There is one on the CGI image, but no clarity about whether or not they will still be able to cross George Street.