On the suggestion of crowriver, how about this as a starter for ten on a petition to close Holyrood Park to through-traffic for people to hack about:
"Holyrood Park is an important green space for Edinburgh which should have as its main purpose the recreation and leisure of the people of Edinburgh and tourists in the city. The use of the park by 25,000 vehicles per day as a through-route conflicts directly with the recreational use of the Park, and Historic Scotland's legal duty to, "... protect Holyrood Park, its significantly important cultural and natural heritage, and promote its benefits for recreational users". As the roads are Crown Property, and do not form part of the wider road network, with no direct funding for the upkeep of the road network in the Park, the roads should be closed to motorised traffic (using existing barriers which enforce Sunday closures), while access to the various car parks is maintained, so that the Park can become a haven for individuals, families and children (and swans) to enjoy, free of the noise and danger of motorised traffic. This would see Holyrood Park regain a status as one of the most pleasant and dramatic urban green spaces in the world, that could rival Central Park or Hyde Park, and something which the city can once again be truly proud of. Historic Scotland, explaining closures of the Park roads over the festive period, has stated that this makes the Park a 'safe' place for children to take new bikes, and for people to enjoy the Park in peace. This situation should not be reserved for festive periods only, and should be the default state for what at the moment amounts to a missed opportunity."
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