Five things you need to know today!

In September 2014 the Council introduced a dedicated two-way cycle lane, additional pedestrian space and a one-way traffic system for cars as part of a one-year-trial.

This week the cycle lane on the north side of George Street between Castle Street and Frederick Street has been closed to cyclists. Twitter has run amok with comments on the arrangement and the council sent an officer to look into it.

According to the council the changes aimed to make the street more attractive to shoppers, residents and tourists, and were approved as part of a wider city centre vision in October 2013.

Upon completion of the trial in September this year, an advisory cycle lane will be introduced on the north side of the street for eastbound cyclists and on the south side of the street for westbound cyclists. The street will also revert to four lanes of traffic while the Council considers the results of the trial and the street’s future layout.

An independently-led design process is already underway, and has been specifically set up to involve residents, businesses and all other stakeholders who are interested in the future of George Street.

Open days will be held by independent designers Ironside Farrar during the summer, where anyone will be welcome to drop in and give their views. The purpose of this work is to agree design principles and examine a range of options for George Street’s layout.

The first public drop-in will be all day on 13 August in the Roxburghe Hotel.

Sadly it seems that for the moment and without notice cyclists are relegated to using Hill Street instead of George Street. Given that this is a cobbled surface, and one of the bumpiest in town at that,  we don’t think we’ll be using it!

***

The University of Edinburgh has partnered with the Edinburgh International Festival to open the August festivals in spectacular style.

One of the most ambitious arts initiatives of 2015, The Harmonium Project is a huge sound and light event, taking place outside the Usher Hall on the evening of Friday 7 August.

Celebrating 50 years of the Edinburgh International Choir, the free outdoor event also showcases exciting aspects of the University’s work in design informatics.

Academics from The Centre for Design Informatics worked closely with the chorus to generate and capture data that will be used to programme the opening concert’s dramatic light show.

Watch our sneak preview here!

The Edinburgh Reporter NEWS from Phyllis Stephen on Vimeo.

***

Get your Fringe tickets at Edinburgh Airport on your way into the city.

Read more here about the Fringe ticket hub which has been set up

***

Our Fringe tip of the day is this comedy show which is being staged at Venue 88 Just The Fancy – The Caves From 6 – 29 August. No shows on 8th and 25th. Show starts at 4.45pm.

Book of Love starring Lindsay Benner. A show all about life love and juggling. We saw an excerpt from the show and there was no dialogue but it was extremely funny.

Tickets £8.50 in advance or pay what you want at the door!

***

We would like you to plan for tomorrow at the Edinburgh Art Festival when we recommend you get out of town to Jupiter Artland with all your children in tow!

Festival Detours: A Pocketful of Grimms at 4pm

£4 (includes free access to Jupiter Artland), book here.

As part of the Family & Children’s theatre programme and providing fresh perspectives on visual art, Detours are a series of intimate live performances in Edinburgh’s leading galleries by artists from the worlds of music, poetry and theatre.

Find yourself lost in a host of adventures that are weird, dark, funny and fantastical. An exciting collection of the most loved and less well known stories gathered by the Brothers Grimm come to life in a rich mix of clowning, physical theatre, puppetry, music and much more.

Jupiter Artland

Sign up here for a daily email from The Edinburgh Reporter !
[mc4wp_form]