Man hit by bus died on 'hostile and dangerous' street, say campaigners

Campaigners have pushed for the Cowgate to be fully closed off to traffic

A man who died from catastrophic injuries after being hit by a bus in Edinburgh was killed on a “hostile and dangerous” street, campaigners say.

Living Streets called for the area to be closed off to traffic eight years ago after complaints it was the worst in the city for pedestrians.

The 74-year-old man died after being struck by a single-decker bus in front of revellers on the busy street, packed with late night bars and nightclubs on either side, on Saturday evening.

Police Scotland has repeatedly asked for the public not to repost images or videos from the scene out of respect for the deceased’s family.

Images and videos reportedly showing graphic images from the scene were quickly circulated on X.

Police Scotland confirmed a road traffic accident had taken place in a now deleted X post at about 19:30.

The force did not confirm a man had died until 12:27 on Sunday afternoon.

In their statement, Police Scotland asked users not to repost the pictures and “report the images to the relevant social media platform”.

The force declined to comment when asked for an update on the incident by BBC Scotland News.

Ch Insp Trisha Clark said on Sunday: “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.”

Police cordons were put in place on the Cowgate after the incident

Meanwhile, BBC Scotland News can reveal an audit carried out on the Cowgate by Living Streets in June 2016 found “heavy vehicular traffic” was the “biggest problem for pedestrians”.

One participant in a survey of the street described it as a “dumping ground for traffic,” while another called it “the worst street in Edinburgh for walking”.

The group’s convener, David Hunter, said traffic in the Cowgate had been a “known hazard” for more than 20 years.

He said: “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.”

The Cowgate was closed to revellers between Guthrie Street and Blackfriars Street

Current rules are supposed to prevent any vehicles from driving along the street after 22:00.

The area is also covered by the city’s 20mph and Low Emission zones.

However, buses, cars, taxis and heavy goods vehicles are permitted prior to the curfew, as long as they meet emissions standards.

No Lothian bus services use the street.

The area is home to more than a dozen bars and several nightclubs, as well as hotels, hostels, restaurants and student accommodation.

It also provides access to other busy side streets leading to further hospitality locations.

But at certain sections, the pavements are narrow, and pedestrians frequently have to cut on to the road to avoid large crowds.

On Saturday, it was even busier than usual due to the Halloween weekend, with many revellers dressed in costumes, and crowds filtering back in to the city centre from Scotland’s rugby international against Fiji at Murrayfield.

Police Scotland said the man was struck by the bus at about 19:25.

An extensive cordon was put in place between the junction with Blackfriars Street and the turn off to Guthrie Street.

Two forensic tents were erected, with access blocked in every direction.

Sheeting was placed on railings on North Bridge, which runs overhead, to prevent passers-by from looking down on the area.

Pubs and bars within the cordon were immediately closed after the incident, but those further up the road towards the Grassmarket remained open.

The council's transport convener, Stephen Jenkinson, said: “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."