Safety set to be improved after tramline death
● Council discusses acceleration of existing plans for improving cycling ● Lawyer calls for inquiry and says campaign group’s warnings were ignored
City leaders in Edinburgh are to speed up the introduction of safety measures after a cyclist lost her lifein Scotland’ s first tram line death.
The 24- year- old woman was hit by a bus when her bicycle wheels became stuck in the tram track on Princes Street on Wednesday.
The city’ s S NP group leader Ada mM cVey said yesterday: “I’ ve spokento senior officers about their immediate plans to improve cyclist safety, particularly on Princes Street, and about how we can accelerate some plans already in the pipeline to help improve safety for those on bikes across the city.”
Road safety measures are set to be assessed after a cyclist lost her life in Scotland’s first tramline death.
The 24- year- old woman died in hospital on Wednesday morning after she was hit by a bus shortly after falling into its path when her bike wheels got caught in a tram track on Princes Street.
Now cityleaders in Ed inburghare looking to inv esti gate how existing plans to improve safety could be accelerated.
Ad a mM cVey,SNP group leader in the city, said the incidenthad been a“profound tragedy” and that he had spoken with council officers about potential changes.
He said: “It was deeply saddening for everyone in the city and my heart goes out to the family and friends of the women who lost her life.
“Events like this bring home just how vulnerable cyclists can be on our roads and emphasise how important new infrastructure and safety measures are to improve conditions for cyclists.
“I’ve spoken to senior officers about their immediate plans to improve cyclist safety, particularlyon Princes Street, and about how we can accelerate some plans already in the pipeline to help improve safety for those on bikes across the city.”
It is understood parts of the capital’ s planned East-West cycle route, which will be segregated in parts, are among measures which could be sped up.
First Minister Ni cola Sturgeon yesterday sent her “heartfelt sympathies” to the 24- year-old woman’ s family and friends, saying the incident was“sad almost beyond words”.
Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish Government was assisting investigations into the incident in anyway it could and highlighted that she had increased investment in cycle safety.
She added :“The relevant minister would be willing to meet with cycling groups, not just in Edinburgh but across the country, to look at what further action we can take to make sure cycling, which is an activity we want to encourage, is as safe as it possibly can be for everyone who partakes in it.”
Some 200 cyclists have been injured by tram tracks in Edinburgh, with Lothian cycle campaign group Spokes saying urgent action was needed.
Brenda Mitchell,a senior partner atlegal firm Cycle Law Scotland, said the young woman’ s death could have been avoided, and called for an inquiry.
She said: “Spokes have come up with numerous recommendations time and time again and the time for paying lip service to this has got to end. We need serious action.”
Acity council spokesman said: “We will carry out a road safety assessment of the area, considering all users and aspects of the junction and its approaches. The council and our partners take road safety extremely seriously.”
“We will carry out a road safety assessment of the area, considering all users … The council and our partners take road safety seriously” COUNCIL SPOKESMAN