Council accused of 'missing the point' over Spaces for People safety campaign

Edinburgh City Council has been accused of ‘missing the point’ after failing to back plans for a Spaces for People safety and awareness campaign.

Lisa Ferguson Controversial: The Spaces For People project in Edinburgh

Conservative councillor Susan Webber, who has been a vocal critic of some of the council’s controversial Spaces for People transport measures, is calling on the council to launch a safety campaign to educate motorists, cyclists and pedestrians about the new layouts of some of the capital’s roads.

Ahead of the next meeting of the council’s transport committee, scheduled for Friday February 5, councillor Webber has put forward a motion that calls on the committee to ‘note that the new segregated temporary cycle lanes introduced across the city are unfamiliar to all types of road user and can sometimes require different road user behaviour’.

'Disappointed' - Councillor Susan Webber

It continues: “The committee therefore requests a report in one cycle on the feasibility of a campaign to ensure cyclists get the maximum benefit from these measures whilst further enhancing the safety of all road users.

“It is agreed the campaign would be funded from the Spaces for People funds.”

However, the council’s ruling SNP/Labour administration has put forward a rival motion, which notes that ‘the greatest danger to road users comes from vehicles’, and proposes a feasibility report on a ‘campaign to ensure that vehicle drivers are aware of vulnerable road users and are reminded to modify their behaviour appropriately and in accordance with the Highway Code’.

Councillor Webber commented: “The administration needs to determine if they genuinely want to encourage more people to cycle, or not.

“My motion was submitted to address some of the actual questions I am getting asked from people across the city.

“These people are of all ages and genders.

“They are curious about all the new temporary infrastructure and are considering cycling more.

“These people, however, have very legitimate questions and are wanting to learn more about how to use these safely, getting the most benefit from them.

“For the SNP/Labour administration to turn this about and literally start from scratch, and put all the onus, and blame, upon the driver and seek to only change their behaviour is very much missing the point.

“And further, there are things for cyclists to be aware of with these temporary schemes.

“Indeed, the accident last week, published in the Edinburgh Evening News, was a case in point, where an experienced cyclist came off his bike after colliding with the bollard base.

“He did so as he was avoiding a pothole within the new segregated temporary cycle lane.

“My motion is genuine, and I am terribly disappointed that the SNP/Labour administration were unable to see it as such.”

The two rival motions will be put to a vote at the transport committee meeting.

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