The council remains committed to rolling out the next phases of its 20mph scheme and today enlisted the help of the Hibs and Hearts football mascots as well as Police Scotland officers.
The new area from Granton to Portobello, Duddingston to Morningside now has a 20 mph limit from today.
Councillor Lesley Hinds said: “We’re bringing in 20mph limits for city centre, residential and shopping streets in Edinburgh after in-depth public consultation showed support for slower speeds in the Capital. While understandably it’s taken a bit of time for everyone to get used to the new limits, public opinion is still clearly very much in favour, as evidenced by the recent poll in a local newspaper showing more than two thirds of respondents backing 20mph.
“The 30mph default limit in the UK dates all the way back to the 1930s, when there were far fewer vehicles on our roads. Like Edinburgh, swathes of cities and towns across the UK, Europe and beyond are now embracing 20mph – or 30kmph – as the optimum speed limit for their communities, encouraging active travel, improving road safety and generally making places more attractive to spend time in.”
Historic Environment Scotland have also introduced a 20mph limit in Holyrood Park.
This map shows the areas that are now active in yellow and pink, but if you look closely you will see that there are still arterial routes which have 30 and 40mph limits.
There is an interactive map on the council website here.
The first phase of the scheme went live in July 2016 and Police Scotland say they are already enforcing the new limit. There have been 18 people who have either been charged, issued with a fixed penalty ticket or reported to the Procurator Fiscal in that time.
Chief Inspector Mark Rennie of Police Scotland said: “Casualty reduction on our roads remains a priority in Edinburgh and we continue to work alongside our relevant partners to promote safe and responsible driving practises, including adhering to speed limits.
“Since the launch of 20mph speed zones in the Capital, officers have monitored these roads and taken appropriate action whenever motorists were observed travelling at excessive speeds.
“In particular, we have focussed our attention on the areas around schools and this will continue as more 20mph zones are rolled out across the city.
“Whenever we are alerted to areas where the speed limit is not being observed we will respond accordingly with the appropriate resources.”
Some streets in the phase two area still have a 30mph speed limit:
Granton Road, West Granton Road, Waterfront Avenue, Waterfront Broadway, West Harbour Road, Ferry Road (part), Craighall Road, Crewe Road North, Crewe Road South, Lindsay Road, Commercial Street, Salamander Street, London Road, Seafield Road, Portobello Road, Baileyfield Road, Milton Road West, Duddingston Park, Duddingston Park South, Newcraighall Road, Niddrie Mains Road, Willowbrae Road, Duddingston Road West, Duddingston Road, Dalkeith Road, Minto Street, Craigmillar Park, West Mains Road, Charterhall Road, Cluny Gardens, Colinton Road, Polwarth Terrace, Slateford Road,(part) Gorgie Road,(part) Balgreen Road, Chesser Avenue, Smokey Brae, Peffermill Road (part), Craigmillar Castle Road (part), Greenbank Drive, Blackford Avenue (part), Mayfield Road (part), Esslemont Road, Liberton Road, Gilmerton Road, Mayfield Gardens, Lady Road, Peffermill Road (part), The Jewel, Musselburgh Road, Craiglockhart Avenue.
Some streets in the Phase 2 area retain a 40mph speed limit
Seafield Road East, Sir Harry Lauder Road, Milton Road, West Approach Road
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