According to Living Streets Edinburgh, 35% of journeys in the city take place on foot, while the effects of the pandemic means that we need more space on our pavements to move around safely. 

There are dozens of shops, cafes, hairdressers and other businesses on St. John’s Road and Corstorphine High Street, while the latter also welcomes hundreds of children to Corstorphine Primary School during the week.

We’d like to see even more people walking and wheeling around Corstorphine because of the many benefits, including improved physical and mental health, better business for local traders, reduced air pollution from fewer short car trips and feeling more connected to the local community.

What can be done?

We’re keen that walking on the key streets of St Johns Road and the High Street is improved and we’d like to see:

  • Clutter-free pavements that allow residents of all ages, parents with pushchairs, wheelchair users, etc, easy movement.
  • Wider pavements that allow people to pass each other safely, both during and post-pandemic.
  • Level, smooth and well-maintained pavements.
  • The elimination of pavement parking, via better designed street spaces and enforcement.
  • More dropped kerbs to help people with accessibility needs and parents with pushchairs to get around safely and more easily.
  • A reduction in the waiting time at pedestrian crossings, currently 90 seconds on average.
  • The 20mph initiative enforced and assisted by the introduction of ‘Your speed’ electric signs and other interventions where relevant.

Our priorities for action are to:

  • Audit both St Johns Road and the High Street for pedestrians, noting the key issues that need addressed.
  • Work in partnership with other pedestrian advocacy organisations such as Living Streets Edinburgh.
  • Make local councillors and MSPs aware of problems facing the community.
  • Give residents the opportunity to feed back their concerns to us.
  • Access funding to help improve the pedestrian environment.
  • Respond to relevant consultations to help ensure that walking is given priority in our community.

If you usually drive through Corstorphine’s streets and are able to make more journeys by foot or bike, please consider doing so. It’s not going to be possible for everyone, but one less car trip means a more pleasant area for pedestrians.

If you’re keen to support our aims, please consider taking a few simple steps.