Vicious cycle

The council has signed up to the Brussels Charter to increase cycle use to at least 15 per cent of all journeys by 2020.

Princes Street is one of the broadest streets in the city. This, you might think, would be the ideal place to honour this commitment, but apparently not. When Princes Street reopens, the old rat race of buses will resume, with cyclists overtaking buses at stops by crossing the new tram tracks (carefully). Of course, things will become much more exciting when the trams start running at a rate of one every five minutes (before 2020, we hope).

If the city is serious about implementing the Brussels Charter and having less polluting traffic in the city, it must take the opportunity to change the pattern now. A segregated cycle lane on the south side of Princes Street would allow safe access for many more people and encourage others.

This would surely meet the council's commitment to "promote and incorporate cycling into all areas of policy".

This would not cost a great deal and would help triple the current level of 5 per cent of journeys by bike. Or is the time just not right? If not now, when?

DAVID GARDINER

Lawnmarket

Edinburgh