Letters: Spend cash on making the city safer for pedestrians

The latter of course includes parents with small children, the elderly, those who are visually impaired, people with mobility difficulties and others, all of whom are expected to quickly jump out of the way or be mown down.

Individuals who behave in unacceptable ways by cycling along the pavements, going through red lights, weaving in and out past slow-moving or stationary vehicles, and being surprised that it is difficult and dangerous to cycle along the few completed areas of tramline, are in the minority, although it doesn’t seem like it. They give all cyclists a bad name, resulting in a lack of sympathy or tolerance for this group of road users.

I understand that increased funds are to be spent in Scotland encouraging more people to cycle. As this is a healthy, energy-saving green activity, it cannot be faulted. But consideration needs to be given also to pedestrians and to make it easy and safe for them to get around.

I hope too that some of the proposed extra funding will go towards making it safer for children to learn how to cycle properly – where necessary, among other road users.

S Edward Gordon, Edinburgh

Survey reminder of Soviet Union

A REPORT describing some incontrovertible facts about Edinburgh’s decline – for instance the spread of tartan tat shops on Princes Street and the dereliction at Granton Harbour – is dismissed by council leader Andrew Burns as “ill-informed”. Meanwhile a council-commissioned survey claims to show that, amazingly enough, in spite of the visibly crumbling infrastructure, the collapse of the corrupt statutory repairs scheme and the ongoing trams farce, seven out of ten people are satisfied with the way the city is being run (News, February 20)).

I’m starting to get a sense of what it must have been like to live in Soviet Russia around 1950.

David Jackson Young, India Street, Edinburgh

I don’t get this satisfaction

YOU printed a survey from the council stating that 97 per cent are satisfied with life in the city. This must be about a different Edinburgh than the one I am living in as I have yet to speak to one person who thinks the trams are good idea. The majority think the trams are a complete waste of money.

J Wight, Baberton Mains Lea, Edinburgh

‘Decline’ message is a wake-up call

OUR beautiful Capital has been described as a city in decline – how true, though I hate to admit it.

I hope Richard Williams’ comment will wake the people of Edinburgh and stop them being so complacent about what is happening to our city.

J L Clark, Manse Street, Edinburgh

In the land of milk and money

Karen Burchill anticipates the world’s nations gazing with avid admiration for the newly independent Scotland following a “yes” result in the independence referendum (Letters, February 16).

In the separatist supporter’s world everything will go according to plan and the leaders around the world will agree with Alex Salmond’s every whim.

Karen Burchill has not so much predicted the future but rather portrayed Alex’s promised land flowing with milk and money.

John Taylor, Edinburgh

Keep climbers off slopes in winter

IT’S deeply sad that a man and a woman lost their lives and a critically injured man died in hospital after they were buried under tons of snow due to an avalanche (News, February 15).

There has been a spate of fatalities recently due to avalanches in the Highlands.

It would have been best if no-one was allowed on the mountains in atrocious winter weather.

All resorts should be closed for climbers’ safety in the cold winter months.

June Fleming, Hercus Loan, Musselburgh