Leith Walk & Constitution Street - Welcome to my World

[NagisaKoworu]

A trolleybus system is better in the narrow conditions in edinburgh, I think :)

[scottishlowoflow]

most people in Edinburgh actually take the bus or walk because there is no parking, nobody likes traffic but then again nobody like cars either people use them because they either don't like the general public (who might be on that tram) or because they live miles away from their work land values are already ridiculously high in Edinburgh and Leith walk is the last affordable and livable place left. but they have to kill that off too and move the yuppies in

[virtuososkills]

Are we actually comparing the tram networks of Amsterdam and Hong Kong to the piece of pathetically embarrassing and absurdly expensive nonsense that is going on here? REALLY!? Isn't that a little presumptuous? Are we all looking at the same route here in Edinburgh? because I see massive amounts of money going out the window to facilitate a system that people have already admitted won't be of any use to anyone who doesn't commute to their job at Gogar from Leith... :s

[apnea93saleps]

Quite a debate for a few cities and towns around the UK but i'm all for the return of the tram.

[krizvasa]

Although it cause some problems during construction It is very good idea to return trams to the city. They are space effective, environmentally friendly. They will encourage people to use public transport. It is great if tram is longer in Edinburgh then it will multiply its advantage of high capacity. I wish every city to have so clever government. Trams create cities much more human and nice...It will help business when it will be finished.

[krizvasa]

People will use trams instead of buses but the most important thing is that new passengers will use trams instead of cars. It happened in other cities that after new tram system was built public transport became more popular. If more people use public transport you don´t have so many congestion from cars. Trams are more environmentally friendly than buses because they run by electric power. But buses are also environmentally friendly if we compare to cars.

[krizvasa]

Ok. I think they should build more tram tracks to cover more parts of city :-) I suppose there will be park and ride parking lots and bus to tram transfer terminals. Yes busses can cover bigger area but aren´t so capacitive. Trams also have shorter headyay than buses it also motivate people to use them.

[Rod13MacLean]

Well, let's put it this way then:

If you're affected by the tramworks, you probably live on or near the route.

That means house prices in your area will go UP when the trams are finished.

I deliberately got rid of my car when i realised that it was about 3 times more expensive to have one and use it instead of public transport. More public transport = good.

Seriously, anyone who lives in Edinburgh and takes a car to work needs their head examined!

[scatmando]

I think you need your head examined, how do I get all the equipment I need to do my line of work, ie musician.

How do I get pa system, speakers, speaker stands and lights on public.

Now away and boil your head.

Mistraknowitall.

[krizvasa]

scatmando: I agree your argument about transporting musical equipment. Some people really need to drive a car. But most of people who drive to work every day doesn´t need to carry as many things as you. Then their car journey is unnecessary and they should use public transport instead of congesting streets. Of course it is ok when car is full of things or people when you drive from shopping or family trip.

[Rod13MacLean]

I'm a musician too and I've thought this through:

I don't take the bass, amp and drum kit with when I go to my 9-5 job or when I pop out to buy a few CDs, so I don't need the car for those.

Shopping runs and going to work are the busiest times of day - when there is most congestion. Some people will suddenly find that the trams are very useful.

People like us might suddenly find that it's easier to get parked right outside venues because less people are taking their cars into town...

[scatmando]

This is my full time job.

9 til 5s are out.

[virtuososkills]

Disagree, the roadworks are affecting everyone I have spoken to, I live in Edinburgh and so do most of my family and almost all my pals, everyone from my place of work and previous employers, and for the record I haven't met a person in the flesh with a good word to say about this, just dafties on the interweb... oh and pretty much every day at uni is blighted by someone/something affected by roadworks, whether it be another sprained ankle on the pavement or lecturer caught in traffic.

[Rod13MacLean]

Umm. When the trams are finished, what will your reaction be then?

I also live in Edinburgh and I have never heard anyone say a good thing about the traffic but that doesn't stop thousands of people getting into their cars.

Cars also cause a lot more accidents than roadworks ;)

[ProphetTenebrae]

Awesome, you're spamming pro-tram propaganda! Sadly, it'll take a LOT more than that to lessen the total antipathy the vast majority of city dwellers feel toward most of this project and those responsible for it.

Save it for 2011 when you can actually talk about results.

[krizvasa]

Yes I´m spamming pro-tram propaganda because I think many cities can be better if they use trams. I think tram system will have good results in your city and many people will change opinion about trams.

[ProphetTenebrae]

None of which will affect the fact it's going to be another two years of further disruption and likely monstrously over-budget.

I think that things are somewhat more complex than your rather naive trams = good.

[krizvasa]

I´m not naive. I know lot of tram advantages. I really think that it is the best kind of public transport for many cities. I know traffic problems are complex and that´s why trams can help to solve them. For example - traffic problems can´t be solved if you just build wider roads. It could be solved by encouraging people to use public transport and that´s why your city council decided to build tram system.

[Rod13MacLean]

Trams work very well in Amsterdam - you hardly see anyone driving cars there.

A very sensible arrangement it is too.

[krizvasa]

Rod13MacLean: Thanks for your arguments. I agree them. Of course house values are connected witch tram track. I grew up without car and I doesn´t want to have it in future. "More public transport = good." - it can be considered like motto of my life. "Seriously, anyone who lives EVERY BIGGER CITY and takes a car to work needs their head examined!

[flexdream]

The tram network for Edinburgh is not only very expensive, but it's also very limited, and I don't think I'll be using it. I will of course be paying for it! I do live in Edinburgh, and I use walking, car, bicycle and bus regularly.

[matelot777]

It's like a war zone!!

[mcqueenthee]

A very sad vision of the reality that Edinburgh currently finds itself in.

Even if these trams ever get up-and-running, they will be a massive drain on the local economy for decades to come..

They should be scrapped with immediate effect.

[scottishlowoflow]

you've clearly never actually seen edinburgh, we have a good bus network already, house prices in Edinburgh are ridiculously expensive and this provides the wrong type of jobs (yuppie professional jobs not low skill jobs)

[qazisw]

Lothian Buses are best voted in UK. Still i dont know why they need trams.

[krizvasa]

Because new tram system was always better alternative than busses in history of public transportation. It always encouraged more people to use public transport than busses did.