What’s it like to live in Oxgangs, Firrhill, Colinton Mains? July 2019 Appendix 1: Analysis of the data Rating: 1 means there is a lot of room for improvement 7 means there is very little room for improvement Diagram 1: Radar chart of results for each question from all groups 1 1. Moving Around Can I easily walk and cycle around using good quality routes? Generally respondents felt that there are lots of paths for walking if you knew the area but paths and pavements are uneven, not wide enough, and with potholes. The lack of lighting makes it unsafe at night and in the winter months. Parking and the amount of traffic especially around the schools makes moving around harder and less safe. The topography of the area was raised by most people especially older people and the difficulty of pushing a buggy up hill. More benches and routes to be more accessible for older people and people with disabilities are required. It was strongly felt by all groups interviewed that cars are the priority in respect to walking and cycling. A strong desire for more cycle paths and dedicated lanes was mainly mentioned by the young people interviewed. Positive comments Don’t know, Negative comments neutral or mixed Very easy to get about “There are lots of Not very easy, quality of the area x2 paths around the pavements (uneven, potholes) area, although x16 “I'm a cyclist and attend some areas are a walking group in the badly lit at night.” “Quality of pavement is poor (e.g. area. Excellent walking Oxgangs Road North from routes in area.” bowling club to bridge as not accessible for prams). Makes movement especially difficult of those in wheelchairs or with buggies.” “I walk a lot with a buggy and the pavements are very uneven with often lots of dropped kerbs or uneven pavements and it can make it quite difficult.” OK x3 Not enough space for people to walk on pavements. Wider “Not a cyclist but as a pavements needed. x4 walker OK” “Easy to walk around.” Easy to get to school x2 Pot holes on paths x10 “Good in terms of getting around the place but poor in terms of conditions of pathways e.g. potholes and not smooth” “Dreghorn pathway very bad with lots of pot holes, narrow pathway and uneven. Difficult with a buggy” “Tesco field's dirt path should be 2 paved.” Lighting has been Lighting and safety x7 updated “Some routes not feeling safe to walk alone at night in Oxgangs, a bit risky.” “Lighting an issue by the field at Scotmid/ bridge” Overgrown hedges can make walking safely can be an issue. X2 Lack of signage x3 (2+1) in total “Easy when you know the area; if new to the area - you'll get lost” “short cuts and dead ends, have to be a local to know them” Topography of area causes issues - hill especially in winter x6 “Where you live in the area makes a difference to how you access services, there are distinct areas especially because of the hill.” Gritter service for pavements/ streets not very good. x2 Public seating to stop and rest is limited. No benches on walking routes and not enough on hills; benches only in parks X8 (6+2) in total Parking on pavements Routes near school not safe at school pick up/ drop offs. X4 “Space on pavement is particularly bad when the schools are emptying” Not enough traffic lights or safe places to cross x4 e.g. Redford Road, by Scotmid Not enough cycle routes x8 “Good for cycling but not enough cycle paths.” Separate cycle paths x3 “Cyclist should have different 3 paths to walkers; plus cycling too fast.” “Cyclists riding too fast is also a big problem, there are no walking/cycle lanes. ” “Roads need cycle lanes esp. near school.” Safety of bikes mentioned and issue of bikes being stolen (lock it up and they'll just steal the wheel) Spread of responses 30 Moving Around Most Negative Most Positive 25 20 15 10 % of %respondents 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Place Standard Rating Spread of responses Average Even though the comments were mainly negative , the rating s were positive: Ratings of 1-3 by 14% of respondents Rating of 4 by 20% of respondents Ratings of 5-7 by 66% of respondents Average rating was 5. The rating s between age groups were fa irly consistently, average rating s ranged from 4.5 to 5.5 with the lower average ratings being from younger people and older people. 2. Public transport Does public transport meet my needs? Generally people were very positive about public transport meeting their needs. The public transport in the area is a bus service managed by Lothian Buses (LRT) . There were comments around frequency of buses particularly the No 400 and a certain area that does not connect with any buses – Firrhill Neuk with the 4 main road of Colinton Mains Drive/ Allermuir Medical Practice. Issues with the bus tracker system were raised in terms of not being available at bus shelters and not being correct if using the App. Some of the young people commented on the cost of the fares and the lack of a young person’s discount. Positive comments Don’t know, Negative comments neutral or mixed Bus routes x11 Limited usage of No link from Oxgangs the service x2 Neighbourhood Centre(ONC)/ “Fantastic bus service “Hardly use public Oxgangs to Colinton Mains/ main with easy access to transport as have road x3 most areas of the city, a mobility card but “No direct transport from Firrhill airport, stations” used to use it.” Neuk end to new medical centre, either 5/16 could have their route “Perfect! amended to include it.” Lots of buses: No 4, 5, No direct buses to Western 16, 27, 400” General hospital. Frequency of buses x2 Poor frequency of buses: 400/ Wester Hailes x11 “Amazing that they run Night buses x2 through the night” school times x1 “Weekends service is “The 400 is the only direct also good; I was connection to the west of the city brought up in villages and should be more frequent” with no buses” “Working night shifts, it would be helpful for more night buses to be available in the area.” “Buses to airport and hospital but stop at 8.30pm.” “Good bus services near to the school but timings of buses could be better suited to end of school.” Buses good or very Bus tracker system x11 good x28 (No tracker system at stops x5; issues with App bus tracker “The buses are better working in the area x6) than they used to be and getting to and from “Buses are often not on time, the centre of town is which is a problem if you are not good.” able to use the tracking app. Especially as there are no stops with displays” “Majority of drivers are Bus shelters not all fit for purpose good.” (shelter, seating or vandalised) x4 Price x2 Too expensive x2 5 “It is also very good Some young people admitted that value, especially if you they buy or try to buy children's use it every day.” tickets (15 years and under) due to costs of adult tickets “Brilliant prices – good” “N ight buses extremely expensive (night tickets after 12midnight) ” Family friendly “Only complaint is with the new buses No16: limited space for a buggy and wheelchair with obviously the latter taking priority.” Seasonal “In winter, sometimes buses can't get up the hill (again the gritter service could be better). ” Spread of responses 50 Public transport 45 Most Negative Most Positive 40 35 30 25 20 15 % of %respondents 10 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Place Standard Rating Spread of responses Average Ratings of 1-3 by 5% of respondents Rating of 4 by 5% of respondents Ratings of 5-7 by 90% of respondents Average rating was 6. 3. Traffic and parking Do traffic and parking arrangements allow people to move around safely and meet the community’s needs? As previously mentioned in moving around the area (section1), parking, safet y and congestion are issues esp ecially around the schools. The latter was a major 6 point raised by nearly all respondents. Firrhill Community Council mentioned that they knew the police (as well as the Head Teachers) are aware of the issues of parking and congestion around the schools at start and finish times and that there has been communication to parents but it’s hard to maintain. A more sustainable plan is required for a change of behaviour on this. Again as previously mentioned (section 1), it was generally felt that there was too much traffic and that cars take priority over people in the area. Traffic-calming measures were mentioned to be not totally effective as some drivers are still speeding. Plus crossing roads was difficult and at times dangerous. The traffic and congestion was also recorded as having a negative impact on health: “The air quality along the main roads is poor.” A class in S6 of Firrhill High School raised the issue and link of climate change with the priority given to cars and other traffic in the area. Not surprisingly this was the second main concern with young people. Positive comments Don’t know, Negative comments neutral or mixed “Islands help to cross some “some drivers Parking a problem in area x50 of the busy roads” still drive too (49+1) in total fast; above “Putting the speed bumps 20miles/hr “Need to enforce parking in has been good, as some speed limit.