The introduction of low-cost zebra crossings on Edinburgh's streets could take "several years," it has emerged, after a bid to conduct a trial in the capital failed.
The crossings, which would only be used on side streets, still use zebra markings but not Belisha beacons on either side and are significantly cheaper for local authorities to create and maintain as they don't rack-up energy bills.
Furthermore, they are said to encourage more walking by making people feel safer when crossing the road.
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It's estimated they would cost the council £1,000 each — around £39,000 less than the price of main road crossings which require flashing yellow lights.
Pilot schemes in other cities found roughly 30 per cent more motorists stopped for pedestrians waiting to cross when the low-cost option was in use, compared to no crossing.
Lib Dem councillor Neil Ross tabled a motion at the transport committee in November calling for powers to be given to the City of Edinburgh Council from the UK Government to introduce zebra markings on side streets.
And he requested that officers "investigate the potential to set up a trial of zebra markings on side streets in Edinburgh," like ones carried out in Manchester and Aarhus in Denmark.
Since the motion was passed, council officers have spoken with Scottish Government Ministers, Transport Scotland and officials from Glasgow City Council, who have also been looking into trialling the scheme.
However, the council's executive director of place Paul Lawrence said in a report to councillors he has now been advised the low-cost crossings are "not permitted on a public road under current legislation."
He added Scottish Ministers "have no powers to authorise their use, even on a trial basis."
"To permit this would require a change to be made to secondary legislation, namely the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016," Mr Lawrence wrote.
He said: "While Transport Scotland appreciated that the use of low cost zebra crossings on public roads might be a useful tool to encourage and prioritise active travel, they do not consider that a compelling case for changes to legislation to permit this has yet been made."
He added that even if the case for legislative amendment was made successfully, the likely time scale for change to the law "would be several years."
Councillors agreed to instead undertake a study of the effectiveness of low-cost zebra crossings already in place away from the city's public road network in locations such as supermarket car parks, retail parks and within the grounds of hospitals and schools.
Andrew Easson, road safety and active travel manager for Edinburgh City Council, said: "What we're proposing is effectively to try and gather evidence to support making that case for a change to the legislation. But we will continue to engage on it."
Councillor Neil Ross said: "I am pleased with the way the council has responded and investigated the matter, I'm pleased with the way they have been in touch with the Scottish Government and investigated the possibilities but I am a little bit disappointed it's not got any further and that a trial isn't on the cards at the moment."
