http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Barriers to Cycling in Edinburgh Study en Sun, 17 May 2026 09:44:56 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443&page=2#post-116249 Sat, 29 Jun 2013 10:28:58 +0000 Instography 116249@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>How can Edinburgh not be called hilly? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443&page=2#post-116248 Sat, 29 Jun 2013 09:22:00 +0000 wee folding bike 116248@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Silk scarves are not risk free.</p> <p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isadora_Duncan" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isadora_Duncan</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443&page=2#post-116246 Sat, 29 Jun 2013 01:30:41 +0000 iweir1 116246@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>With the inclusion of the open questions in my online survey, I have certainly got enough qualitative data. Has taken me hours to get through the paragraphs for each question, so pleased with that. Regarding asking Joe public, I am very much for that. I have been involved in several projects where interviewing the public regarding sustainable transport has been the main approach and I have talked to thousands of people on their doorstep over the last couple of years, but in the end their views have counted for very little. Through this frustration, and maybe the fact that I have already secured a job, I am aiming to make my dissertation quite provocative and hopefully emphasise the importance of the views expressed by cyclists in Edinburgh as much as I can. Also not buying this idea that Edinburgh is hilly. Had to cycle 7 miles over proper hills just to get school where I came from. Need 21 gears just to go downhill, maybe. Anyway, have done most of my analysis now so any queries are welcome. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443&page=2#post-115815 Tue, 25 Jun 2013 18:38:32 +0000 ouime 115815@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>hopefully if iweir1 is doing this survey for university he/she will not only be using quantitative data (questionnaire) but also qualitative results (interviews) ah the memories....<br /> ;-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443&page=2#post-115506 Sun, 23 Jun 2013 12:31:01 +0000 gembo 115506@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That might work!! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443&page=2#post-115501 Sun, 23 Jun 2013 11:27:37 +0000 Min 115501@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Silk headscarf.</p> <p>It doesn't squash your hair and you won't look windswept.</p> <p>Problem solved! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443&page=2#post-115494 Sun, 23 Jun 2013 09:58:58 +0000 gembo 115494@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My partner said big barrier is hair. If she goes naked on the head the complaint is too windswept, if she wears a bunnet her longer hair is squashed and she looks like she has been cycling rather than well groomed for work.</p> <p>Ip so facto never going to be commuting to work, which as is ten minute walk away not great issue.</p> <p>Mrs Gembo asserting she would cycle for leisure, butihave heard this sort of talk before. She has a lovely unused bike I bought for her about six years ago, unused, but my eldest will use it this summer as she is now big enough for it.</p> <p>Issues appear to be worried about small technical things going wrong and not being able to fix them(inner tubes have gel in, all brakes as new). Still banging on about her hair, I have pointed out no need for helmet as on WoL path only, never road, and will be going very slowly. Could be pre-contemplative. Will need to buy another bike tho for my eldest in this instance as she refuses to use the rather clunky white one that was acceptable before she was a teenager. So if successful I have an old clunky Halfords hybrid suitable for 12 year old girl that will be available gratis to a good home.</p> <p>Will try to get everyone in the family on bikes in Suffolk this summer as initial effort.</p> <p>My better half, alas for this survey also reluctant to fill in a survey about being reluctant </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443&page=2#post-115466 Sat, 22 Jun 2013 20:48:24 +0000 iweir1 115466@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks. 13 more and will have reached my target. Spokes are going to publish the final report, and will make sure I post my findings on here too. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443&page=2#post-115451 Sat, 22 Jun 2013 16:11:48 +0000 Cyclingmollie 115451@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Completed. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443&page=2#post-115440 Sat, 22 Jun 2013 15:01:13 +0000 iweir1 115440@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Looking for around another 20 completed surveys, both cyclists and non-cyclists would be great. Could already make a comprehensive map of Edinburgh mapping specific problems with the data I have gathered so far. Taking a while to get through all of the responses, but the more the merrier. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443&page=2#post-114879 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:16:02 +0000 kaputnik 114879@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>But why do transport planners think they can learn by asking Joe public</em></p> <p>I think asking the user base about cycling infrastructure is a very good idea - lets face it, roads planners and engineers in this country have a pretty poor to non-existant reputation in putting in useful, user-friendly infrastructure. Surely it can't be any worse than maintaining the status quo!</p> <p>Of course, we could just hire a few Dutch or Danish engineers and have it all sorted in a jiffy at 1/4 of the price. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443&page=2#post-114867 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:44:27 +0000 Instography 114867@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It seems heavily reliant on planners thinking the right things. Haven't we seen enough of what happens when planners think they know best? </p> <p>In general, you ask the public about things because they tend not to be bovine idiots and often have good, if unexpected and counter-intuitive, reasons for doing what they do even if those reasons and their behaviour are constrained by limited knowledge and/or experience and strongly influenced by other personal and/or social forces. Once you know what people think or how they behave and why they think and behave like that you can start to influence that, if that is what you want to do.</p> <p>Anyway, I think for an MSc the design of the instrument and the process of collecting and analysing the data is more important than the impact of the research. Awareness of the data's shortcoming is often (and should always be) an important element of the analysis. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443&page=2#post-114863 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:25:36 +0000 neddie 114863@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I wish the good Mr Weir all the best getting his MSc :)</p> <p>But why do transport planners think they can learn by asking Joe public, instead of simply following well-proven international best practice?</p> <p>The problem with asking Joe public is:<br /> <ul><li>you get skewed results e.g. only existing cyclists respond</li><li>you end up with the lowest common denominator answers e.g. I want to park my car outside my favorite shop because it suits <em>me</em>, never mind thinking of the consequences to all society</li><br /> </ul> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443&page=2#post-114829 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:57:39 +0000 fimm 114829@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@edd1e_h <em>Why is there a need for a survey at all?</em></p> <p>So that the good Mr Weir can get his MSc in Transport Planning and Engineering (see 1st post). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443&page=2#post-114812 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:52:50 +0000 neddie 114812@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Why is there a need for a survey at all?</p> <p>Surely we only need to find out what are the barriers to cycling by <em>asking </em>more advanced, more civilised nations like the Netherlands, Denmark, etc. and by looking at their best practice etc. This is where (future) transport planners need to look.</p> <p>Why re-invent the wheel? Why make our own mistakes? Why not just learn from those that have the experience? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443&page=2#post-114810 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:39:19 +0000 Arellcat 114810@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>And don't forget the <a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4466#post-47330">Gugolmap of poor (and good) infrastructure in Edinburgh</a>. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443&page=2#post-114809 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:33:47 +0000 Arellcat 114809@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>What's the status of those white lines around the islands? I thought they were equivalent of "no parking here, waiting, or stopping. Ever".</em></p> <p>I wondered about that too. The solid white line is Diagram 1012.1 (TSR &amp; GD 2002) and is to mark (a) the edge of the carriageway available for through traffic other than at a road junction, an exit from a private drive onto a public road or a lay-by, (b) the back edge of a hard shoulder, and (c) the edge of a footway where it passes over a railway or tramway level crossing. Diagram 1012.1 is not associated with parking restrictions.</p> <p>A cycle lane with a continuous white line (Diagram 1049) is a mandatory cycle lane which would need signing and road markings in support of it as well as a TRO. The edge of carriageway markings are usually implemented to give the impression that the road is narrower than it actually is, with the aim of slowing traffic. Cyclists could ride inside the line if they wanted but the markings are not there for this specific reason, and so the cut-throughs in the build-outs are even more pointless than they seem. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443&page=2#post-114804 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:24:55 +0000 cb 114804@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>White lines across driveways mean nothing, you can legally park on them so I would guess these are the same? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443&page=2#post-114799 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:12:07 +0000 PS 114799@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@K I don't honestly know, but I would guess the white line is just there to make the build-outs and associated kerbs more visible to the lazy eyed.</p> <p>Given the staggering extent of double yellow line abuse in the city nowadays (I'd never dream of parking on a double yellow, but there's plenty out there who have other ideas), I doubt the road markings have any effect, unless a parking warden happends to stroll by. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443#post-114795 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:00:35 +0000 kaputnik 114795@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Accidentally found myself heading along Boswall Parkway the other day as I tried to find non-existant access to the NEPN. </p> <p>There are island buildouts every 100m or so all along the road, and every one has a reasonably wide cyclist bypass. And every one, without fail, was blocked by parking infront/behind (or both).</p> <p><a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Granton+Road,+Edinburgh&amp;hl=en&amp;ll=55.975749,-3.220646&amp;spn=0.000012,0.011566&amp;sll=51.563657,0.107845&amp;sspn=0.007323,0.016544&amp;oq=granton+road,+edi&amp;t=h&amp;hnear=Granton+Rd,+Edinburgh,+United+Kingdom&amp;z=17&amp;layer=c&amp;cbll=55.975734,-3.226627&amp;panoid=WZ_hyCpuxMBqUpsiJ5Vs6A&amp;cbp=12,263.89,,0,21.94">as demonstrated perfectly in this google street map</a></p> <p>What's the status of those white lines around the islands? I thought they were equivalent of "no parking here, waiting, or stopping. Ever". </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443#post-114762 Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:09:46 +0000 gembo 114762@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Can coxy get his wife to fill it in, she wants to cycle but there is a school play on? Sorryifthat sounds cheeky but the link is to a thread on Getting My Missus To Cycle. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443#post-114482 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:43:05 +0000 iweir1 114482@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks. Up to 100 completed surveys now. Great response so far. Mainly cyclists. Would like to get a good balance of cyclists and those who cycle a bit less or not at all, so if any of your non-cyclist friends or family would be willing to fill one out, that would be really helpful. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443#post-114403 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:53:09 +0000 paul.mag 114403@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Filled out the survey, good luck with it. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443#post-114356 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 01:24:22 +0000 allebong 114356@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Filled it out earlier. My first thought upon seeing 'problematic routes' was 'all of them'. I made it slightly more detailed :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443#post-114355 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 01:21:14 +0000 iweir1 114355@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks to everyone that has completed the survey, and thanks for all of the feedback and comments so far. 50 respondents in the first day is really encouraging. Very happy with the level of detail I am seeing in the surveys. Keep them coming. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443#post-114317 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 19:19:15 +0000 Blueth 114317@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>You could try interviewing at the City Chambers on Wednesday when a large variety of cyclists wil be there for the Bike Breakfast. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443#post-114315 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 19:12:48 +0000 marccr0wley 114315@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Filled it in and look forward to your findings. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443#post-114302 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:47:04 +0000 Instography 114302@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I find a lot of the questions difficult to answer. Q2 for example. I can't separate the fact that I use the same cycling journeys as a mode of transport, as leisure and as exercise. The appeal of cycling is that I get all of these things simultaneously. I fear you'll interpret my responses as indicating distinct journeys or distinct roles for cycling. Q13 won't get to the nub of it because it demands that I select one but that would be arbitrary. I suppose I'd eventually settle on mode of transport because I'm mainly going to work but if I only wanted a mode of transport, a comfy car, with a radio and hot coffee would be a better choice.</p> <p>Q4 important to me. In what sense should they be important to me? Politically, as part of a conscious societal effort to increase cycling, they are all important to me. But personally, in terms of how they impact on my experience of cycling in Edinburgh, most of them are less important and some not important at all. How do you want me to answer?</p> <p>Q5 - this will sound picky but what is a cycling accident? Do you mean a collision with another road user or just any incident while cycling - a badly judged corner or falling over in the snow? If I had an accident within the last 5 years then logically I've also had one in the last 10 years and in my lifetime but I assume you don't want me to record the same accident three times. Maybe "More than 5 years ago but within the last 10 years" and "longer ago" would be better options.</p> <p>Q8 - how should I record the fact that I think many of those things are problems but they don't put me off cycling? I cycle in spite of them.</p> <p>Q9/Q10 - how do I indicate that I think many of those things are safe but could also be improved? I fear I'd leave the impression that they are unproblematic by recording that generally I feel safe. Also, I modify my route to reflect that some are relatively more safe than other even though generally, they're all safe.</p> <p>Q11/12 - How do you interpret negatives to the form of question you've used here. I already cycle in Edinburgh as much as practically possible. How will you interpret my response that none of those things will increase the chances of me cycling (more) in Edinburgh? I wouldn't want to give the misleading impression that they are worthless things. I want to convey quite the opposite impression but the question doesn't allow it.</p> <p>Sorry, aside from being a picky **, I also run a research company so I think a lot about how people answer questions and especially about how to answer them badly. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443#post-114300 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:42:40 +0000 algo 114300@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>sorry yes - to be fair you did say "best" - I did it too quickly I think... you would get 7 types of answer if you let people select more than one though :-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10443#post-114292 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:21:49 +0000 iweir1 114292@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>In the same way that a driving enthusiast sees a car. I see it simply as a mode of transport. Others see driving as a leisure activity etc. </p>