Edinburgh Spaces for People scheme: safety audit identifies risks of pedestrians being hit, cyclists falling and head-on collisions

Many of the issues highlighted in the Comiston Road scheme have now been rectified, but the seriousness of the dangers discovered has intensified questions around the council's "try and modify" policy on the traffic measures.

The audit included the disabled parking bay in the middle of the road - now removed - which the Evening News highlighted in September. The audit's verdict was: "Risk of pedestrians alighting from vehicles being struck by passing vehicles, resulting personal injuries, due to the location of the disabled bay" and "Risk of vehicles crossing the centre line in order to pass a pedestrian or car door and striking opposing vehicles in head-on collisions."

It said similar risks were presented by other parking areas at various locations along the road.

And at night, there was also the "risk of vehicles colliding with stationary vehicles due to visibility of parking area".

It highlighted an issue of reduced visibility of some of the measures during hours of darkness, warning: "If the carriageway is not sufficiently illuminated, there is a risk of vehicles colliding with crossing pedestrians or street furniture."

Where bollards had been removed the bases sometimes remained on the road. "There is a risk that vehicles could strike the base of the cylinders and lose control. There is also a risk that cyclists could strike the base of cylinders and fall."

The report also identified junctions where there were safety concerns and dangers elsewhere for visually impaired pedestrians who could trip on badly-sited bollards.

And it said: "There are locations where the carriageway appears to be relatively narrow. If vehicles overhang the cycle lane, centre line or traffic islands, there is a risk that the vehicles could strike non-motorised users or other vehicles."

The council often answers criticisms of Spaces for People schemes by saying it has a "try and modify" approach which allows it to implement measures and revise them later if necessary.

But Tory Colinton/Fairmilehead councillor Jason Rust said: “I have serious concerns with the council’s try and modify approach, especially when it seems the council keeps getting stuck at the ‘try’ stage.

"If we're talking about the potential for collisions, serious injuries or fatalities, it's not good enough to say 'try and modify'. The council needs to get the design right in the first place rather than waiting until there are issues.

"Any defects identified by this audit need to be dealt with urgently and they should also be borne in mind in the design of any other schemes.”

Transport convener Lesley Macinnes said: “We carry out designer risk assessments prior to the implementation of schemes and, once in place, road safety audits help to ensure measures operate safely. These audits are for professionals who understand the importance of each of these elements and should not therefore be assumed to carry enormous amounts of risk to the public.

“Protecting vulnerable road users is of utmost importance and thanks to the temporary nature of these measures we were able to respond swiftly to recommendations. We will continue monitoring the scheme, responding to any further issues where necessary.”

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