Campaigners Label Street Where Man Died After Bus Collision ‘Hostile and Dangerous’

Campaigners assert that a man who sustained fatal injuries after being struck by a bus in Edinburgh lost his life on a street they describe as “hostile and dangerous.” Eight years prior, Living Streets advocated for the closure of this area to vehicular traffic, following grievances that it posed the greatest challenge for pedestrians in the city. On Saturday evening, the 74-year-old individual succumbed to his injuries after being hit by a single-decker bus on the bustling street, which is lined with late-night bars and nightclubs, in the presence of numerous revelers. Police Scotland has issued multiple appeals urging the public to refrain from re-sharing images or videos from the incident site, citing respect for the family of the deceased. Visual content, including images and videos reportedly depicting graphic scenes from the location, rapidly spread across X. At approximately 19:30, Police Scotland verified that a road traffic accident had occurred via an X post that has since been removed. The police force did not officially confirm the man’s death until 12:27 on Sunday afternoon. In a statement, Police Scotland requested that users refrain from re-sharing the photographs and instead “report the images to the relevant social media platform.” When approached by BBC Scotland News for an update on the event, the force chose not to provide a comment. On Sunday, Chief Inspector Trisha Clark stated: “We are aware of videos and images circulating on social media which are causing distress to the deceased’s family and those viewing them inadvertently.“We would ask members of the public not to share them out of respect for his family, and to report them to the relevant social media platform to prevent further circulation.“There has been a lot of speculation, and I would like to reassure the local community that this was an isolated incident and there is no risk to the wider public.” Concurrently, BBC Scotland News reports that an assessment conducted on the Cowgate by Living Streets in June 2016 identified “heavy vehicular traffic” as the “biggest problem for pedestrians.” A participant in a street survey characterized it as a “dumping ground for traffic,” while another referred to it as “the worst street in Edinburgh for walking.” David Hunter, the group’s convener, indicated that traffic on the Cowgate has represented a “known hazard” for over two decades. He stated: “Our report on the Cowgate eight years ago called it “the worst street in Edinburgh”. It’s been a known hazard for over 20 years, which is why traffic is banned from late in the evening.“There have been some improvements – the 20mph speed limit and double yellow lines – but with still-speeding traffic and dreadful pavements it is still a really hostile and at time dangerous place for pedestrians.“We shouldn’t jump to conclusions about the cause of the weekend’s horrific incident, but reducing traffic – or removing it entirely – from the Cowgate must be a top priority for the council’s traffic plans for the city.” Existing regulations are intended to prohibit all vehicles from traversing the street after 22:00. Furthermore, the location falls within the city’s 20mph and Low Emission zones. Nevertheless, buses, cars, taxis, and heavy goods vehicles are allowed before the curfew, provided they comply with emission standards. Lothian bus services do not operate on this street. This vicinity hosts over twelve bars and multiple nightclubs, alongside hotels, hostels, restaurants, and student residences. Additionally, it offers routes to other bustling side streets that connect to more hospitality venues. However, in specific areas, the sidewalks are constricted, often compelling pedestrians to step into the roadway to bypass significant crowds. Saturday saw an increase in activity beyond the norm, attributed to the Halloween weekend, with numerous revelers in costumes and crowds returning to the city center following Scotland’s rugby international match against Fiji at Murrayfield. Police Scotland reported that the man was hit by the bus at approximately 19:25. A substantial cordon was established, extending from the intersection with Blackfriars Street to the turn-off for Guthrie Street. Two forensic tents were set up, and access was restricted from all directions. To deter onlookers from above, sheeting was affixed to railings on North Bridge, which spans over the site. Establishments such as pubs and bars located within the cordoned-off zone were promptly shut down following the incident, while those situated further along the road towards the Grassmarket continued operations. Stephen Jenkinson, the council’s transport convener, stated: “I want to express my sincere condolences to the family of the gentleman who died in the tragic incident on the Cowgate over the weekend.“The circumstances are still unknown and it’s important that we allow the police to investigate fully before jumping to any conclusions.“We remain firmly committed to making our city centre a safer, more welcoming environment for all road users, and the proposed improvements to the Cowgate are very much part of our plans.”