SCOTAND’S capital city is among one of the first areas to create more space for pedestrians and cyclists to exercise safely during the coronavirus lockdown.
Edinburgh City Council will start its new initiative by tackling “areas highlighted as pinch points for pedestrians and cyclists”.
The city will close three roads this week, and soon after, begin to construct some temporary cycle lanes to help people exercising maintain a two-metre distance from one another.
A statement from the city council said there had been “significant, understandable public demand for action to help facilitate safe daily exercise and the movement of essential workers”.
READ MORE: Scottish Government pledge £10m for temporary cycle lanes and paths
The changes will see Silverknowes Road closed as soon as tomorrow, while Braid Road and Links Gardens will be shut by Sunday, May 3.
Council leader Adam McVey said the way residents move around the city has “changed significantly over recent weeks”, prompting the move.
He went on: “We’ve been working closely with the Scottish Government to develop measures to help pedestrians and cyclists travel safely while remaining socially distant, so we’re delighted that Transport Scotland has confirmed funding to support local authorities to meet this challenge.
“Our commitment to encouraging and facilitating safer, more convenient walking and cycling in Edinburgh remains as strong as ever. We want to ensure that our city can support essential journeys and let local people access their local open spaces by creating safe, accessible routes to do so.”
Over the coming weeks further changes will prioritise walking and cycling in Edinburgh, and in the medium term the council has said it will develop a city-wide approach to more significant changes like expanded cycle lanes and the creation of bus gates.
The council’s next steps will see a report made public in May outlining more significant changes to travel around Edinburgh.
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