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Home - City Guide - Edinburgh - Getting Around | ||
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Getting Around Public Transport Traveline, 2 Cockburn Street (tel: (0131) 225 3858 or (0800) 232 323; fax: (0131) 469 3797), provides information (including maps) on all bus, coach and train routes within Lothian. The office is open Monday to Friday 0830-2000. Lothian Buses, 27 Hanover Street (tel: (0131) 555 6363; fax: (0131) 225 7857; website: www.lothianbuses.co.uk), provides bus services within the city and to outlying districts; as does First Edinburgh (tel: (0131) 663 9233; website: www.firstedinburgh.co.uk). The Council 'Greenways Scheme' makes it illegal to park on the city's main arteries and gives buses exclusive, green tarmac lanes. As a result, the bus service flows fairly freely 0600-0000, after which the night bus service comes into operation. Fares range from 50 pence to £1; night buses charge £1.60 and exact change is required. There are a number of passes allowing reduced fares. Lothian Buses sell a Daysaver ticket (£2.20), giving unlimited travel on their own routes (including those outside the city). They also sell weekly (£10.50) and monthly (£30.50) Transfair tickets, which allow unlimited travel on Lothian Buses, plus travel on all other buses Monday to Saturday after 1900 and all day Sunday. Taxis Edinburgh's taxis are mainly black hackney cabs and are fairly expensive at £1 per kilometre (£1.50 per mile). They can be safely hailed in the street; all are licensed and have meters fitted. Some form of driver ID should be prominently displayed. Limousines Little's Chauffeur Drive (tel: (0131) 334 2177; fax: (0141) 891 5766; e-mail: reservations@littles.co.uk; website: www.littles.co.uk) has a fleet of Daimlers, people-carriers and stretch limousines. A ride from the airport to the city centre costs £38-50 (plus VAT); day hire for eight hours and 60km (40 miles) costs £150-200 (plus VAT). Driving in the City Driving around Edinburgh is more hassle than it is worth, so the general advice is either to walk, cycle or use public transport. Visitors who do bring a car should be aware that parking is particularly problematic. Metered parking, in force Monday to Saturday 0830-1830, is restricted in the city and a resident's parking permit is required in many areas. Failure to comply with parking regulations can result in a fine and the offending vehicle being towed away. The easiest option is therefore to use one of the NCP car parks, such as at the St James Centre or Castle Terrace, or the Waverley Car Park, New Street, near Waverley station. Car Hire Regulations vary from company to company, however, in all cases drivers will require a valid driving licence to hire a car in the UK. In most cases, this can be a national driving licence, although an International Driving Permit may be preferred if the licence is not in English. A credit card is also essential. It is important to check what level of insurance is included in the price of car hire. Avis (tel: (0131) 337 6363) charges from £44.50 per day, including unlimited mileage, collision damage waiver, theft protection and tax. Drivers must be at least 23 years old. Hertz (tel: (0131) 556 8311) charges from £40 per day, including unlimited mileage, collision damage waiver, service charge and tax. Drivers must be at least 25 years old. Arnold Clark Car Rental (tel: (0131) 228 4747) charges from £16 per day, including a free 400km (250 miles) and tax. Drivers must be at least 23 years old and have held a licence for over a year. Bicycle Hire Bike Trax Cycle Hire, 11 Lochrin Place, Tollcross (tel: (0131) 228 6633; fax: (0131) 228 3686; e-mail: biketrax@btinternet.com; website: www.biketrax.co.uk), hires out a wide range of bicycles. The standard rate (including helmet and lock) is £10 for five hours and £15 per day; £100 deposit and photo ID are required. |