The transport minister for Scotland has recently met with various safety campaigners in order to discuss the high number of cyclist deaths that have been occurring in Edinburgh in recent years. Just last year alone four cyclists in the city died after being struck by vehicles. The campaigners have been pushing the government to introduce more safety measures for cyclists to ensure they are better off on the roads of Edinburgh.
The government is being put under a great deal of pressure from grassroots safety organisations and they have planned a protest next month in the city in order to pressure the government into introducing regulations.
The government are very much behind the promotion of cycling and they have recently said that they want to see one in every 10 journeys made in Scotland being done on a bicycle by 2020. Campaigners have been very critical of the government however because they have set these high targets, but have done very little in order to facilitate reaching them.
The Scottish Green party have recently put forward a proposition that the government run a survey of the 50 most dangerous junctions in the country. This would allow them to make improvements to these junctions so cyclists can use them safely.
A safety campaign, Pedal on Parliament, is having a protest next month but they have also created a manifesto and presented it to the government. The manifesto shows how the group want to see the same safety protocols that are seen in England put into effect in Scotland.
The campaign was started by David Brennan, a keen cyclist, who has been encouraging people to cycle in the city for a long time. He has also organised the protest which is going to see people cycling around the Scottish Parliament building on 28 April.
I stay on North Bridge and often hear of cyclists in accidents at the cross roads with the Royal Mile and further along at Nicolson Street. Most commonly cyclists could have avoided the accident had they not been listening to music through their head phones.
Sometimes I think cyclists should be given driving lessons and drivers bike lessons just to better understand each others attitudes and road ‘necessities’.
Great article and as it has a local focus I found it really interesting. I have a blog of my own and would be happy to contribute a guest post here, or if you like you could do so on my site http://www.lowpricelessons.com either way all the best. Jamie