The Edinburgh Union Canal Strategy - City of Edinburgh Council

The Edinburgh Union Canal Strategy The StrategyPROJECTS1. CANAL USER MANAGEMENT STRATEGY“Safety should rely on other users adopting a responsible conduct as well,such as having one’s dog (or sometimes one’s toddler!) under control”Responsible code of conduct - guidance, information or code of practiceto be developed with canal community and towpath users to helpprevent conflict• Development of signage and traffic calming measures such aschicanes, speed bumps and other hard measure where appropriate2. TOWPATH CAPACITY MANAGEMENT“Organise cycling/walking routes from residential areas further away fromthe canal to the canal corridor to improve sustainable transport options.Create / enable more traffic free cycle routes to town for commuters”The Union Canal towpath is part of a Family Network within The Council’sActive Travel Action Plan. The Family Network proposes greater use ofroutes such as the Union Canal by less experienced/leisure cyclists. Formore experienced cyclists, a Cycle Friendly City Network is also beingdeveloped.• The canal will form a key component of a wider network of routes forrecreation as well as active travel, including the creation of additionallinks and routes• Improvement to conditions on parallel roads as to make cyclefriendlyas possible to encourage commuting cyclists to use theroads.• Development of a commuter, community and tourism boat taxi /park and ride service from edge of city to city centre.3. TOWPATH ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS“Creating more access points (especially in the section between HarrisonPark and the canal basin); clearer marking of canal accesses and crossingplaces would significantly improve matters”• Where the towpath is too narrow consideration should be givento widning to sustain multiple use including hedge and towpathmanagement• Access points improving existing access points to make them moreevenly graded for cyclists and other users and the creation of newaccesses• Improved signage of access points, speed limits and awarenessraising Lighting strategy - installing unobtrusive as possible lowimpact lighting• Better and more frequent of control of foliage growth.• Disabled access for people with special needs requires more attention.Provision should be made for disabled people at key hub points - e.g.disabled parking, seats and ‘passing places’ at short intervals.• Improved cycle storage facilities along the route.City of Edinburgh Council City Development December 2011 17