Through our City Mobility Plan, we’ve already started looking at the way we travel around Edinburgh. We’re changing roads and pavements to make it easier for people to move around the city in a way which is good for their health as well as the environment.
This includes:
- Extending the tram network to Newhaven
- Establishing a Low Emission Zone (LEZ)
- Reducing the carbon footprint of public transport
We are also looking at ways to strategically coordinate public transport in the city and have better connectivity between different types of public transport.
Longer term aims look at developing a business cases for further extending the tram network adding north-south routes and potential routes in west Edinburgh. This extended network would be linked with a revised routing of bus services to make sure poorly served areas of the city and new developments are connected.
Making it easier and safer for people to walk and cycle
As part of our response to COVID-19, we’re increasing the physical space within the city set aside for people travelling on foot or bike through our Spaces for People programme.
Meanwhile our aims to create a vibrant and people focusses on city centre. It aims to improve community, economic and cultural life by prioritising movement on foot, bike and public transport.
Supporting Electric Vehicles
We have approved an electric vehicle (EV) action plan for increasing the provision of EV charging infrastructure across the city as well as e-mobility options.
A total of 66 on-street charging points are being installed across the city as part of the first phase of implementation. This includes the installation of a further 145 EV charging points as part of phase two, the type and location of these will be confirmed following further engagement and feasibility studies.
As part of our partnership with EIT Climate-KIC, we are also exploring options for future city wide EV expansion.
In the meantime, we are working on removing all diesel cars within our own fleet (with the exception of the civic cars) by the end of 2020, and have procured 20 electric vans, 32 electric cars and an electric road sweeper. Discussions are underway around a more sustainable and carbon-neutral plan for council large vehicles.
More information
You can
- find out about walking and cycle routes across Edinburgh
- find out about our proposed low emission zone.