The City of Edinburgh Council have agreed to look at the idea of permanently excluding cars, taxis and buses from Princes Street once the Edinburgh Tram Project is up and running. The idea has come from Spokes the cycling lobby group and comes after the closure of Princes Street to traffic during the start of construction has been deemed a success.
Cllr Steve Cardownie, Deputy Council leader, said: It's something that's well worth looking at. I think everybody has been pleasantly surprised with how well the traffic diversions have gone. With that knowledge, it would be foolish not to examine whether they should be made permanent. Any information we get from temporary traffic plans must be used to our advantage. If all the indications are that it will work, then I would say 'why not?' It's a fantastic street. It would be absolutely splendid."
Under the plans only trams and bikes would be allowed down Princes Street with cars, taxis and buses carrying on using similar diversions to those they are using at the moment. However, the idea has not been universally welcomed with (unsurprisingly) the Association of British Drivers complaining that it is not practicable to ban cars from the street.
Source: The Scotsman