Map of the route, from council consultation site
Official statement of reasons for the traffic order...
Statement of Reasons
The City of Edinburgh Council (Traffic Regulation; Restrictions on Waiting, Loading and
Unloading, Stopping and Parking Places and Prohibition of Motor Vehicles)
(Silverknowes Road Area, Edinburgh) (No. 1) Experimental Traffic Regulation Order 2025
– ETRO/21/30C
The introduction of the proposed measures are intended to provide safer cycling
infrastructure and pedestrian priority areas, encourage sustainable travel (walking and
cycling) and improve road safety. The scheme is being introduced by way of
Experimental Traffic Order made under Section 9 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act
1984, so as to allow the Council to modify or vary the scheme at short notice once in
force, should circumstances require.
On 16 November 2023 the Council approved proposals to use Experimental Traffic
Regulation Orders (ETROs) to take forward a revised version of the Silverknowes Road
Travelling Safely Scheme including re-opening Silverknowes Road north of Silverknowes
Parkway to general traffic, and installing cycle lanes and parking restrictions on
Silverknowes Road south of Silverknowes Parkway.
The proposed 18-month trial is intended to support the approved transport hierarchy,
measures included in the City Mobility Plan and Draft Circulation Plan. Edinburgh needs
mobility options that by 2030 are carbon emission free, efficient, accessible and
affordable. The more opportunity we have to make greener, safer, more sustainable
choices in how we move around, the greater the chance we have to reduce the impact
of climate change.
The perception of risk that pedestrians and cyclists face is a major obstacle to
encouraging more people to walk, wheel and cycle between the places they live, work
and visit.
Measures will be monitored and evaluated during the first year and considered for
retention under separate traffic orders as appropriate
Part of the draft spokes response
See link in the post for the full draft
We feel that the general principle embodied in this scheme is extremely sensible. It allows an
important connection (from NCN1 to the Promenade) to follow the obvious desire line.
SOUTH SECTION
The more southerly section is particularly important in facilitating active travel to and from
Davidson’s Mains Primary School, as this section sees substantial footfall as a key part of the
school’s catchment area. This is likely to encourage use and meet the strategic goals set by CEC
for the project (to some extent – see below for comments on issues that need further
improvement).
The retention of the existing segregation between Drive and Court on the east side is useful and
appropriate (also c.f. above comment on travel to the primary school), and the extension of
segregation on the west side of this section is welcome.
Thereafter, the absence of any substantial segregation is poor. It is in some respects a shame that
the previous quiet route is being replaced by unprotected, paint-only provision (albeit that the
lack of signage and off-desire line nature of that route limited its uptake).
The floating parking protection to the immediate north of the shops works reasonably well, and
appears to be having a traffic-calming effect. However, the remainder of the route to the
roundabout at the Parkway is unprotected and anecdotal experience is that the effective widening
of the road by removing parking is allowing higher average speeds – the two “chicane”
installations are not sufficient to keep speeds low, and the absence of any segregation means
cyclists are left at much higher risk than is acceptable. We note that recent CEC traffic surveys
have shown average speeds on this road to be higher than the threshold for action on a 20mph
limit road. We therefore strongly urge you to look again at this section and to provide additional
segregation or other protection, perhaps by installing further floating…
Letter to Spokes from a local resident...
Dear Spokes,
I am writing about the new bike lanes along Silverknowes road that has been recently implemented. This in my opinion is a wonderful change that joins up the Blackhall bike path with the promenade along the beach. Unfortunately, this change has also caused criticism by some residents claiming that the bike lanes are useless and dangerous. They are not useless because it is used by many cyclists and certainly they are not dangerous. It is great to have our own lane without worrying too much about cars and it is great to have double yellow lines so that no one can park their car on the bike lane. Before the bike lanes were implemented it was risky and dangerous to always zig-zag between parked cars.
On Friday 24th there was an impromptu rally of anti-road change with SMP Sue Webber. I feel concerned that if the people who are pro bike lane do not come forward, the road will be reversed again. The main objections at the rally are about the limitations on on-street parking due to double yellow lines but without double line, people would continue parking on the bike lane which would defeat the purpose of separate lane for bikes. I am seeking assistance from your organization since I strongly believe that bike lanes will improve public safety and contribute to a healthier environment.
Thank you
#Silverknowes Road to #Promenade
🙋 Ends 10 Feb
🙋 Please support!
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If you want detail, see our draft response
--> www.spokes.org.uk/wp-content/u...
@edi.bike @nialla.bsky.social @edfoc.bsky.social @edcriticalmass.bsky.social @stephenjenkinson.bsky.social