The City of Edinburgh Council has received an open letter from doctors and health workers from across the city supporting the Travelling Safely programme, formerly Spaces for People, which supported walking, wheeling and cycling during lockdown.
Over 140 medical professionals cite the positive impacts of more active travel on health, inequality, air quality and in tackling the climate crisis, amongst other benefits.
In June, Edinburgh’s transport and environment committee approved proposals to retain some of the schemes on an experimental basis, to remove others post-pandemic and to engage further with communities on options for a handful of measures.
Councillor Lesley Macinnes, transport and environment convener, City of Edinburgh Council, said: “The collective voice of this wide range of medical and health professionals is incredibly welcome. We’ve been vocal about our commitment to encourage travel by foot, wheel or bike, and the benefits this brings, but to have the support of the medical profession demonstrates just how crucial investment in safe, protected routes is.
“Over the last year and a half we’ve introduced changes which have helped many people to feel newly confident about walking, cycling and wheeling safely. There are, of course, tens of thousands of people in Edinburgh who don’t have access to a car. We now have the opportunity to extend the lifespan of many of these measures and to improve upon them so that they work for as many people as possible.
“The evidence is clear and well expressed in this letter – there’s so much to gain from active travel, in terms of health, quality of life and in limiting our impact on the climate. We simply cannot return to the status quo, where private car journeys dominate the streets. By retaining the majority of schemes introduced through Spaces for People, we’re laying the foundations for a happier, healthier future for everyone here.”
