Lesson 3:

Edinburgh traffic congestion management strategies and their effectiveness

What you should know by the end of this lesson:

The solutions to traffic congestion in Edinburgh
How effective or ineffective these solutions have been

Edinburgh Complete Worksheets

"Solutions" is never really the correct term as they do not really solve the problem. "Management strategies" is more accurate in that they are put in place to hopefully make things better but this isn't always the case.

Digital Workbook and Paper Jotter

Using the information on your handout or this webpage to either:

create a mind map (like the one shown) to show the different solutions and how effective they have been

Create a table (like the one shown) to show the different solutions and how effective they have been

HINT!!!!

Your information sheet contains the information about HOW the strategy works and the webpage main contains the information if it has or hasn't been effective.

Management Strategies

Queensferry Crossing

Built alongside the existing Forth Road Bridge, it carries the M90 north. Proposals to meet demand were first put forward in the 1990s with the bridge finally opening in August 2017.

The bridge was built to deal with the changing weather of the Firth of Forth and not need to close due to high winds as much as its predecessor.

Southern Bypass

Linked M8, M9 and Forth Bridges to encourage people to drive around the city rather than through it. It has issues due to the Gyle Centre and Hermiston Gate retail parks – traffic jams are common as large amounts of people travel to these places. Less than 10% of traffic is goods vehicles – cars are king! Actually increased traffic as people could get from one side of the city to the other quicker so undid the good work of improved public transport.

Greenways - Bus Lanes

Bus lanes – ‘Greenways’ have been marked on most main roads into the centre of Edinburgh. Greenways are bus priority lanes (painted green) which only buses, taxis and bicycles can use. They have produced much faster journey times into the CBD. Edinburgh’s ‘Bustracker’ system also enables travellers to track bus arrival times in real-time at bus stops and on smartphones.

Greenways have produced much faster journey times in to the CBD with passengers using the app to reduce wiating times for busses.

However, they have increased car traffic in the outer lane as the same cars are squeezed into less space and adversely affected small shops in Haymarket due to parking restriction

Improved Suburban Railway Line

Edinburgh from Lothian, Fife and the Borders has benefited from the building of new stations is giving commuters greater options rather than the car. Public transport has also improved to offer onboard WiFi, plug sockets and quieter/cleaner electric vehicles.

In 2017-18 almost 2 million journeys were made. Journeys which removed people driving to the city.

However, these trains are now criticised for overcrowding and being late, which might drive people away.

Just Eat - City Bike Rentals

An increasingly common sight in major cities. Public bike rentals allow you to rent a bike for a short time and drop it off in another part of the city. This allows you to avoid public transport or personal cars behind if you just need to make a quick trip across the city.

Very popular in the summer months, a cheap method of getting around while exercising and reducing traffic congestion.

Until recently, it was unproven if they could survive without public subsidy. As people damage bikes or do not return them properly, it costs a lot of money. Sponsorship like Just Eat is

helping them become financially viable.