http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Tag: crossing - Recent Topics en Sun, 17 May 2026 13:08:31 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11953#post-138194 Fri, 27 Dec 2013 18:44:13 +0000 emuir 138194@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I made contact with Edinburgh City Council with regards to the cycling provision for those attempting to cross the Gogar Roundabout, specifically heading West along the A8.</p> <p>I commented on the dangerous pedestrian crossing along the South side of the roundabout for it required the leap of faith (hoping cars use their indicators when turning of) and the difficulty in crossing when there's a steady stream of cars.</p> <p>The response from the council was that it would be too expensive to implement a traffic controlled crossing as money could be better spent elsewhere and so they intend on putting better signage to direct cyclists to use the shared use pass on the North side. I then replied pointing out that this was not convenient and that the elderly would find it difficult to use the bridge at the RBS and finally mentioned that this is not what the Dutch would do. The response from that was a story about how the Dutch got their infrastructure and that if the road layout changes in years to come then they will consider putting traffic signals in. My final reply was to then suggest improving the crossing at the Maybury junction for crossing there required navigating multiple pedestrian crossings.</p> <p>The actual letters can be found here: <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xpn072zgrumckrd/-JkYqaiayz" rel="nofollow">https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xpn072zgrumckrd/-JkYqaiayz</a></p> <p>Overall it was heartening to see that Edinburgh City Council is taking inspiration from the Dutch but simply adding signs does not sound good. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11058#post-123845 Wed, 04 Sep 2013 11:39:46 +0000 kaputnik 123845@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>The UK uses a traffic system called Scoot (Split Cycle Offset Optimisation Technique) so the same overall principles apply whatever town or city you live in. </p> <p>Edinburgh has roughly 300 traffic junctions of which about 50-60 are junctions where the green man comes on automatically. In the jargon this is known as "walk with". It is usually where a one-way street connects with another road. The green man comes on whenever the red traffic light shows. At night this might change but during busy times the system is automated. </em></p> <p><em>The maximum wait time for a green man in the UK is set at two minutes, says Martin Low, transport commissioner for Westminster City Council. </p> <p>That can feel like a long time. </p> <p>Low wants councils to help pedestrians to cross even if there is a red man. Instead of constructing barriers, Westminster is putting in "perch" islands in the middle of roads to allow pedestrians to get across. </p> <p>And here is where the UK differs from some other countries. The British pedestrian looks to cross whatever the lights, merely checking whether any traffic is approaching. (The law is on the pedestrian's side, except on motorways, certain other roads...)</p> <p></em><br /> There's a number of infuriating junctions I have to pass through which I'm sure the button has no effect and you have a long wait to cross while cars are prioritised through. </p>