'Pavement rage' plan for shoppers

Princes Street attracts crowds of shoppers at peak times

An "express lane" for pedestrians who want to travel along Edinburgh's Princes Street quickly without being held back by shoppers is being mooted.

Tory councillor Jason Rust, said he planned to launch a motion to councillors next month with the idea to help combat "pavement rage".

He said he had received complaints about the problem from office workers in his Colinton/Fairmilehead ward.

City transport leader, Phil Wheeler, said he would listen to suggestions.

Mr Rust told the BBC Scotland news website he sometimes came across the problem during his lunch break while walking from his west end office to buy a sandwich.

I have had complaints about workers being held up in Prince Street as well as from pedestrians who have been bustled out of the way Jason Rust Conservative councillor

He said: "Now and again I am in a hurry and get stuck behind people who are walking along at snail's pace, stopping every few seconds, and it is a minor irritation.

"This would be a practical measure to see if it works.

"The problem would be how to enforce it but I'm sure the majority of people would go with it, with the outer part of the street being the fast lane.

"I have had complaints about workers being held up in Princes Street as well as from pedestrians who have been bustled out of the way."

He suggested either street markings or bollards with a small chain to split the two lanes.

A recent survey by Nurofen found that 71% of people are often irritated by crowded streets.

Phil Wheeler, Edinburgh City Council's transport convener, said: "The results of this survey are interesting.

"More interesting, perhaps, will be to see what serious proposals can be put forward to try to deal with the problem."

Traders in London launched a similar plan several years ago for Oxford Street but the campaign dissolved within a couple of months.