http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Hermiston Village en Sun, 05 Apr 2026 16:42:11 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860&page=2#post-175714 Fri, 12 Dec 2014 19:31:49 +0000 bladteth 175714@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have been using the play park fairly regularly for about 5 years now. Never seen any kids apart from mine there. As a seasoned cyclist I would never use that bit of cycle path anyway. Way too many obstacles, lights and hard turns for my liking. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860&page=2#post-147793 Fri, 04 Apr 2014 13:12:09 +0000 allweathercommuter 147793@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Looks as though it's fixed - barriers reduced from three to two. Still slows you down, but not nearly as much of a pain. Hurrah! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860&page=2#post-144261 Tue, 04 Mar 2014 11:31:13 +0000 chdot 144261@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Would this work on the QBC.??"</p> <p>Hasn't so far... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860&page=2#post-144259 Tue, 04 Mar 2014 11:28:05 +0000 gembo 144259@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>You have to feel sorry for the poor guy that lives on the corner. Used to put out his own signs and cones to get cyclists to slow down. Finally gets a barrier and now it is getting taken down. Hopefully the new system will slow cyclists but not impede them. Personally I have skipped through the wee chicane with my foot off the pedal without any trouble though I see that the chap who has kid in trailer can't get through there nor indeed a tandem.</p> <p>They did get it right in the first place for the guy or gal living on the corner, just not quite right for us. </p> <p>Good effort though in showing that you can get planning mistakes rectified. Would this work on the QBC.?? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860&page=2#post-144239 Tue, 04 Mar 2014 09:29:55 +0000 allweathercommuter 144239@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>We're getting there - I received by email today new plans which show:<br /> 1. Removal of current chicane.<br /> 2. Construction of two barriers, one at each end of the path, each of whic slightly shorter than the existing obstructions.<br /> This looks like a good result to me (though a heck of a waste of time, money and effort compared to them just getting it right to begin with). pjmathews, I can see you are on the consultation list, which is great, as I suspect most of the others on that list are the locals... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860&page=2#post-140227 Fri, 17 Jan 2014 14:34:45 +0000 SRD 140227@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>well done both of you! </p> <p>apologies @allweathercom I'd totally missed your post last week. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860&page=2#post-140226 Fri, 17 Jan 2014 14:31:29 +0000 pjmatthews 140226@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hurrah! Got this reply today as well:<br /> "Further to your enquiry I can advise that a site meeting was held and that a decision was made to remove one of the chicanes.</p> <p>Unfortunately, I am unable to advise on a timescale for these works to be completed."</p> <p>Although I hasten to add, if the residents of Hermiston village didn't store their bins on a public footpath and looked where they were going when they crossed the path they would also be safer. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860&page=2#post-138896 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 20:44:50 +0000 Charterhall 138896@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Fantastic, well done ! I was taking the tandem through it only the other day thinking if only they could reduce it to two barriers instead of three.<br /> Makes you wonder what sort of QA was done on the plans before they handed them over to the installation contractor. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860&page=2#post-138876 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 18:43:15 +0000 chdot 138876@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well done!</p> <p>Hope this is better than just 'a bit better'. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860&page=2#post-138875 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 18:40:07 +0000 allweathercommuter 138875@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Result! From my local councillor:</p> <p>I hope you had a good Christmas &amp; New Year. I’ve now got some feedback on the chicane inspection which is shown below. </p> <p>Following the site visit late last year we recommend removing one of the barriers (the southernmost) and trimming the northernmost barrier to be in line with the other. This is in order to make the facility reasonable for cyclists to use whilst still reducing their speed and would be more compliant with the Council’s and national cycle design guidance (Cycling by Design access controls - <a href="http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/strategy-and-research/publications-and-consultations/j185500-06.htm#accesscontrols)" rel="nofollow">http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/strategy-and-research/publications-and-consultations/j185500-06.htm#accesscontrols)</a>. The remaining two barriers will provide plenty of speed reduction by themselves, especially as they are adjacent to the access which requires a complete ‘U’ manoeuvre around the northernmost barrier.</p> <p>Hopefully this suggestion will satisfy both cyclists and pedestrians.<br /> Best wishes<br /> Bill </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860&page=2#post-137681 Thu, 19 Dec 2013 14:51:40 +0000 pjmatthews 137681@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@allweathercon - thanks very much for contacting as well! And great to hear that news; more than I've received back from the council so far.</p> <p>And thanks all for your support and positive comments on the letter. Fingers crossed... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860&page=2#post-137391 Wed, 18 Dec 2013 09:49:43 +0000 allweathercommuter 137391@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I wrote to my local councillors (it helps that both the obstruction and my house are in the same ward, I guess). I also dashed off an email to Sustrans, as it's part of the National Cycle Network.</p> <p>Got a very prompt response from one of the councillors, saying the barrier is going to be inspected soon and potentially modified, which I suspect is a result of others complaining too (well done PJ!). My councillor's email refers to 'several near misses' and children's safety, which is of course one of those arguments one can never win, although pushing cyclists towards using the main roundabout instead has got to be more dangerous overall (compare small risk of light injury to child with slightly higher risk of death to adult...discuss!)</p> <p>Fingers crossed that the inspection, and any further letters etc, might help to get them to move the barriers so that it's a more sensible layout, at least. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860&page=2#post-136951 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 20:16:31 +0000 shuggiet 136951@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Excellent letter PJ. I particularly like the bit about getting motorists to stop, get out and push around the new A71 chicane. It would be good exercise and help the council meet it's active travel targets. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860&page=2#post-136934 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 18:02:47 +0000 Charterhall 136934@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yes, good letter PJ, interested to hear how you get on. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860&page=2#post-136895 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 14:25:50 +0000 neddie 136895@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Good letter PJ </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860&page=2#post-136887 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 13:42:57 +0000 Dave 136887@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Half the reason we currently drive to do all our shopping is the epic anti-disability barrier over the canal at Middleknowe (more of a <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/RtyoM">chicane-o-plex</a>).</p> <p>It is possible to avoid with an extensive bit of pavement cycling to join the canal further east, then doubling back. However, by that point it's certainly easier just to jump in the motor.</p> <p>(The other reason is Donkey Lane. I have ridden it with the trailer but it's not good for the condition of your groceries). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860#post-136881 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 13:28:13 +0000 chdot 136881@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Wish me luck"</p> <p>Do you need it?</p> <p>You have a certain track record...</p> <p>Persistence pays. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860#post-136880 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 13:20:47 +0000 HankChief 136880@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've been following this thread as a owner of a tandem. I don't use the particular crossing but I understand the need to have crossing that is useable for all types of cycles.</p> <p>I already have to modify my routes to avoid the worse of the anti-disability gates.</p> <p>When my kids start at school in the summer my commute will change and take me through the Broomhouse Rd / Dovecot Rd cut trough. Now I can just about get through it at the moment (with some faffing) but once my daughter moves onto a tag-a-long at the back of the tandem that route will be impassable to me pushing me on to much busier roads.</p> <p>So I'm about to start a campaign to the Council for it to be modified. Wish me luck. t </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860#post-136870 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 12:35:43 +0000 pjmatthews 136870@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@SRD the point about consultation has been raised already and half-answered by the Council... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860#post-136869 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 12:31:39 +0000 SRD 136869@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>if they are to have chicanes, they should be well back from the road, and differently designed.</p> <p>was chatting a guy from Dundee last night who pursued his council vigorously on this and says that now they put them in correctly rather than deal with him after!</p> <p>NB: this is also another case of where consulting 'residents' but not users is problematic. was the University involved in the consultation? did they contact their Bike user group? etc </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860#post-136865 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 12:25:06 +0000 pjmatthews 136865@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks everyone for your input. I've picked up on a lot of the points made and sent the following, with Councillor Lesley Hinds cc'd into the email:</p> <p><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/12D-D8TypVSpBSV6Nkh45prhq_8ED8NoyxQwAkuFQrh4/edit?usp=sharing" rel="nofollow">https://docs.google.com/document/d/12D-D8TypVSpBSV6Nkh45prhq_8ED8NoyxQwAkuFQrh4/edit?usp=sharing</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860#post-136834 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 10:25:29 +0000 chdot 136834@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"fed up with cyclists going too fast"</p> <p>It's ages since I was at the area, but assuming that the recent changes have anything to do with the residents it would certainly be in sharp contrast to the interest of CEC and the police in speeding cars!</p> <p>Also the increasing number of areas where CEC seems 'happy' to 'design in' potential conflict between pedestrians and cyclists is more worrying - bottom of The Mound, N St. A. St. etc. - and, potentially, <a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2373&amp;page=2#post-132594">top of Gifford Park</a>. (Monday last day for comments.) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860#post-136825 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 06:19:19 +0000 Charterhall 136825@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>And I hope they don't have the cheek to charge the cost of this anti cycling measure to any sort of cycling budget </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860#post-136755 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 20:02:47 +0000 gembo 136755@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I went down there this morning. No problem. The man who lives in the house is old and fed up with cyclists going too fast in his mind when he is trying to empty the bin etc. the barriers require slowing, foot down and then round. I have never seen a tandem or a trailer down that way but can see they might have issues. Fr the rest of us, my view is that there are bigger things to get upset about. I am just saying... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860#post-136754 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 19:33:50 +0000 Charterhall 136754@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks pj, but that's my point, I don't want to divert off through HW, I want to go straight on to join Riccarton Mains Road before heading off up Donkey Lane. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860#post-136747 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 18:45:51 +0000 pjmatthews 136747@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks for all the input, I think I will persist in getting this redesigned, if nothing else.</p> <p>And @charterhall, depending on where you're going, feel free to use the Heriot-Watt campus. It is open to the public 24-7 and has quite a few safe routes south. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860#post-136664 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 12:39:22 +0000 kaputnik 136664@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It is not outwith the bounds of our scientific and engineering abilities to create a mutually agreeable solution - there's no reason why this quiet little backwater can't work when areas like the Meadows and Harrison Park do. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860#post-136663 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 12:37:13 +0000 kaputnik 136663@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Charterhall perhaps your the albatros who regularly turns up off the Western Isles year on year? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860#post-136615 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 10:16:59 +0000 AKen 136615@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have some sympathy with the residents of Hermiston here. The cycle access to the toucan crossing has poor visibility and people taking it too fast can be a problem. However, it sounds like what has been put in place is excessive.</p> <p><em>And whilst on the subject, heading north, having manoevred around the new infrastructure and waited for hours for the green man to come on to cross the A71, how then is the cyclist supposed to continue north to the roundabout</em></p> <p>I think whoever designed this was given a brief of connecting a route to the Heriot-Watt campus. The notion that people might want to go in other directions was presumably outwith their remit so they never considered it. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11860#post-136607 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 08:48:21 +0000 Charterhall 136607@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>And contrast the ease with which residents can petition the council to address a perceived risk of cycle speed with the efforts required to persuade them to address the far less debatable and far more life threatening issues of motoring speed. </p>