Edinburgh
is a magnificent city, the fastest growing city in Scotland, with population
growth of some 1% per annum. People from all over the UK, and beyond, make a
positive choice to come here to live and to work.
It
is vital that those residents can walk, cycle and travel by public transport.
So, over the last five years, Labour has worked hard to ensure that we are
forward thinking in how people get around. We have significantly
increased investment in public transport.
Edinburgh
is thus the only city in the UK which has seen a decrease in car ownership
along with increased use of buses, cycling and walking. This has happened because Labour has invested
in Active Travel.
Labour
has further pledged to continue with pavement resurfacing and will create a
dedicated BUDGET FOR WALKING to be used to install more pedestrian
crossings, drop kerbs, pedestrian zones and increase pathways.
Labour
also pledged, back in 2012, to increase spending on cycling and it has followed
through with that promise. Spending on cycling is now 10% of the
transport budget, using the money to make routes safer. We renew that
pledge to MAINTAIN SPENDING ON CYCLING AT 10%; to complete the west to
east link across the city centre, and to build segregated cycle lanes.
Not only do we pledge to continue our work but we will introduce a cycle hire
scheme that is fit for purpose and will enhance visitors and residents
experience of Edinburgh.
And
award-winning Lothian Buses has upgraded its fleet with more accessible and
less polluting vehicles. Passenger numbers are rising every year.
As
Labour has always promised, and
will always PROMISE, we will fight to KEEP LOTHIAN BUSES AND EDINBURGH TRAMS IN PUBLIC OWNERSHIP. Edinburgh Trams currently has one of the
highest service satisfactions in the latest passenger survey.
Labour
will continue to fight for a cleaner, safer Edinburgh to travel around in; with
20MPH zones in the City Centre, residential and shopping areas, while 30MPH
& 40MPH will be maintained on arterial routes.
We
will also look to introduce a LOW EMISSION ZONE in the city and monitor
it to ensure there is no shift of pollution to other areas.
Karen Doran and Karen Keil
Edinburgh Labour Councillors for City Centre and Drumbrae