CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Cycle path in Inverleith Park

CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Cycle path in Inverleith Park http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Cycle path in Inverleith Park en Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:32:48 +0000 Colonies_Chris on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169&page=2#post-172239 Fri, 14 Nov 2014 12:22:49 +0000 Colonies_Chris 172239@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I complained to CEC about all the new bits of cycle infra in Inverleith Park being removed or allowed to fade away. Just got a response today. ---- CYCLING AROUND INVERLEITH PARK Thank you for your email of 2 November 2014 regarding the above issue. We are looking to reinstate suitable road markings and signage at the east exit of Inverleith Park, onto Arboretum Avenue to make clearer the more direct route for cyclists to Stockbridge, and the shared use nature of the path to pedestrians. (There was an arrow painted on the road to direct cyclists onto a bit of shared use path to avoid the nasty right turn. It was removed only a few weeks after it had been painted on. No explanation of the removal.) Regarding the ‘shortcut chord’ – this had not been intended specifically for cyclists. Rather it was to tidy up this part of the park where pedestrians had worn away the grass. This change met with significant local objections and was subsequently removed. (But I remember it was specifically signposted as a cycle route) We shall also review the road markings and signage at the East Fettes Avenue access to the park and renew / revise these where appropriate. (Absolutely no promises on this one then. Cyclists will continue to be directed into the park through a closed gate you have to dismount to open, when there's a new purpose-built path link just 5 yards south of it) It is intended that this work shall be completed before the end of March 2015. I hope that you find our response helpful. Yours sincerely Allan Tinto Transport Officer (Cycling) ----- gembo on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169&page=2#post-168003 Mon, 13 Oct 2014 17:46:28 +0000 gembo 168003@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Tried that path last week to get to Broughton high, was good. chdot on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169&page=2#post-167997 Mon, 13 Oct 2014 16:58:23 +0000 chdot 167997@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ "You build a bit of cycle infrastructure, then decide it's too dangerous to use it" Of course this is 'two different bits of the council", but that 'infrastructure' corner was a bad idea. Glad someone admits it. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chdot/8846207207/"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5323/8846207207_12462e8b45.jpg"></a> <a href="http://www.citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169#post-160175" rel="nofollow">http://www.citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169#post-160175</a> Colonies_Chris on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169&page=2#post-167995 Mon, 13 Oct 2014 16:53:06 +0000 Colonies_Chris 167995@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Recently the road markings around Inverleith Park have been repainted - much needed in many cases. One effect has been to refresh the pavement arrow that directs cyclists from Carrington Rd into the park via the gates rather than the new (last year) specially made cycle link a couple of metres south of the gates. I've tweeted north Team about it - <a href="https://twitter.com/north_team/status/521672223749586944" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/north_team/status/521672223749586944</a> Their reply: "Intention is 'cyclists enter through gate as using the new path involves travelling around corner with poor visibility' " Utter madness. You build a bit of cycle infrastructure, then decide it's too dangerous to use it, and instead force cyclists through a narrow gap between two gates that faces in the wrong direction and has a sort of half-gate that you can only get through by dismounting and holding it open. Is this the result of another intervention by FoIP? crowriver on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169&page=2#post-160546 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 23:57:39 +0000 crowriver 160546@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Presumably FoIL consulted their members? "Friends of Inverleith Park was set up in 2002 by a group of local residents who love this great public park and want to protect and enhance the park as a green space for the local community and all the residents of Edinburgh. Friends has around 300 members representing a cross-section of park users, mostly local residents who use the park as their recreational space and really care about looking after it. In 2006 we became a registered charity: Charity Number SCO37313. The charity's objectives set out in its constitution are simple: To promote, for the benefit of the public, the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of Inverleith Park. To advance the education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of Inverleith Park." chdot on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169&page=2#post-160542 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 21:52:24 +0000 chdot 160542@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Of course there was a plan for a ROAD through Inverleith Park - <img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3861/14790671263_5dd1e4bbfb.jpg"> <a href="http://www.gcat.org.uk/blog/?p=682" rel="nofollow">http://www.gcat.org.uk/blog/?p=682</a> chdot on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169&page=2#post-160319 Fri, 25 Jul 2014 11:04:36 +0000 chdot 160319@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <a href="http://foodiesfestival.com/event/edinburgh-inverleith-park" rel="nofollow">http://foodiesfestival.com/event/edinburgh-inverleith-park</a> chdot on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169&page=2#post-160292 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 23:41:46 +0000 chdot 160292@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ "I for one will be keeping a close eye on where FoIL take it from here" You mean you expect them to call for more restrictions on bikes - or other things?? Murun Buchstansangur on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169&page=2#post-160290 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 23:36:08 +0000 Murun Buchstansangur 160290@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Let's be clear here, cycling is very much a minority activity in Inverleith Park. I've rarely met another cyclist there. My usual route included the desire line junction in question, but I only used it a handful of times (<50% of trips) as on the others, there were pedestrians on it. Even so, it was useful - potential conflict at the crossroads was avoided through a choice of routes being offered. The other cyclists I have observed there have been travelling at modest speeds by NEPN shared path standards. Whatever this is all about, I doubt an objective observer would drag cyclists into it, and I for one will be keeping a close eye on where FoIL take it from here. stiltskin on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169&page=2#post-160289 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 23:29:57 +0000 stiltskin 160289@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ There are three aspects to this topic which grate. Firstly the speed with which this decision was taken and who was consulted. The suspicion is that the 'Friends' aren't just friendly with Inverleith Park. Secondly that this is money that has just been wasted....again and thirdly, how was the decision taken and what grounds? Granted there may be problems with speeding cyclists, but given the widths of the paths in the park, what real difference does this small path make. None at all I suggest. Instead it comes across as a knee-jerk reaction to appease an influential pressure group based on no evidence at all which just depletes the funds available in the cycling budget. Pathetic! chdot on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169&page=2#post-160287 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 23:07:52 +0000 chdot 160287@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ "it should be possible to come up with suggestions on how to spend the budget in a better way?" Perhaps, we'll all have our pet projects But the basics don't happen - filling in potholes quickly and properly, repainting lines when they fade a bit - not when they have disappeared. There is real reluctance to 'inconvenience motorists' - especially by removing parking (even on top of cycle lanes). There is real ignorance/panic about how/where to do 'shared use' and almost no idea about segregation. But the case here is about a modest change being introduced and then torn up because someone (who probably should have been consulted first) thought there might be a problem. There is something odd about such a degree of influence. Council didn't even try adding chicanes - maybe 'we' have frightened them! chdot on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169&page=2#post-160286 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 22:50:25 +0000 chdot 160286@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ @CC Very generous change of view - though as you say - "But of course it would have been even better not to have paid to build it and then later pay to remove it" Assuming the decision to build was a mistake, how to avoid it happening again? If it wasn't really a mistake, how to deal with further complaints? Fortunately there is virtually no chance of blanket bans on cycling in parks. So the future must include - Anticipation of objections (preferably at design stage) and do a sensible amount of consultation. Better/coherent design ideas/standards for dealing with 'potential for conflict'. Education to 'stop' Lycra louts. And/or education for people who fear problems where there are unlikely to be any. Meanwhile elsewhere - 'no room for cycling facilities on most Edinburgh roads in case it interferes with traffic flow'. Not about "potential conflict" - more like 'constant daily conflicts involving real danger'. gembo on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169#post-160285 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 22:48:36 +0000 gembo 160285@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I would say it would be good if we could be constructive in suggestions as to how the council can spend the budget rather than being negative. The council gets lots of things wrong for sure but given we have fair bit of expertise amongst us it should be possible to come up with suggestions on how to spend the budget in a better way? Colonies_Chris on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169#post-160284 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 22:31:04 +0000 Colonies_Chris 160284@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ On reflection, I think it's possible that CEC may be showing a bit more nous than I initially gave them credit for, about removing this little shortcut. In the unlikely event of, say, a small child being hurt by a cyclist on that section, the PR impact would be terrible. It would be spun by the outrage mongers of the press as 'council risks our children's lives by turning our parks into racetracks for irresponsible lycra-clad etc. etc.', and there might even be a campaign to ban bikes from parks entirely. Nothing fires people up more that the thought that their children might be in danger. So the removal of that little section can be seen as a small tactical loss in support of a larger strategic aim. (But of course it would have been even better not to have paid to build it and then later pay to remove it). chdot on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169#post-160279 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 21:14:20 +0000 chdot 160279@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Is that a challenge or a cry of despair? gembo on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169#post-160278 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 21:12:30 +0000 gembo 160278@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Does anyone have any proposal as to how we can affect a change so that the council learns to spend its cycle budget wisely? chdot on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169#post-160277 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 20:57:55 +0000 chdot 160277@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ " Sean Allan (@seansauzee) 24/07/2014 20:38 @CyclingEdin @LAHinds @north_team who/how do FoIP consult? No info on their website about conflicts on path. " chdot on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169#post-160272 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 20:31:51 +0000 chdot 160272@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ " Lesley Hinds (@LAHinds) 24/07/2014 20:21 @CyclingEdin @north_team should the Council not listen to Friends of Inverleith Park? " Dave on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169#post-160269 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 19:09:30 +0000 Dave 160269@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ The BBC article seems fair to me, although it would have been nice to challenge the out-of-control-dogs-are-alright-jack attitude of the self-appointed "friends", people like that are pretty transparent. Meh. There's no real question in my mind that the council's implementation of cycle infrastructure in Edinburgh desperately lacks the necessary vision and leadership and is squandering public funds. I started to list examples but I frankly can't be bothered. Whether or not we should accuse them publicly of their obvious incompetence is perhaps a different story, but to be honest even as someone who regularly gets about by bike, I'd rather a good proportion of the 7% budget had actually been spent on non-cycling projects instead (Barnton golf course, Craigleith, the terrible QBC, Broomhouse path, the list of things we could do without goes ever on...) When sums of money this large are involved, there does come a time when we have to ask, are we comfortable with this money being wasted just because it's being wasted on the nominal cycling budget? Really? chdot on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169#post-160265 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 18:37:31 +0000 chdot 160265@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ " On a shared path an old person can be very scared of a cyclist hurtling towards them at 8 mph whereas a cyclist is perfectly willing to slow down to a crawl of 8mph to carefully pass a pedestrian. " Er not sure what you're trying to say. Of course problem here is potential that cyclists won't slow down. So does this mean that there will be no more shared use paths anywhere? "we should abide by the rules of the forum" Technically the 'abuse rule' is about other CCEers, but 'we' should 'try' to be nice. Competence here is perhaps more an issue of 'process' rather than individuals. Obviously someone made a decision, which may or may not have been wise/reasonable. " Competency is also used as a more general description of the requirements of human beings in organizations and communities. " <a href="http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competence_(human_resources)" rel="nofollow">http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competence_(human_resources)</a> gembo on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169#post-160262 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 18:18:14 +0000 gembo 160262@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Tactile pavings appear to confuse many. Chicanes go in to slow cyclists down, we can object and these can get widened. The path in question went in and some friends of Inverleith objected and they took it out. I think it is good there is a process where we can object and get things changed. Setting the story up as if something was done with a lack of competence is just lazy journalism. A couple of lobbyists lobbied the council to get a piece of infrastructure changed. Same thing we do with chicanes. Of course in an ideal world a chicane would go in at a perfect distance that satisfied cyclist and pedestrians. On a shared path an old person can be very scared of a cyclist hurtling towards them at 8 mph whereas a cyclist is perfectly willing to slow down to a crawl of 8mph to carefully pass a pedestrian. I'll come round to your work tomorrow and call you incompetent if you like? You probably don't feel you are incompetent and you probably wouldn't like me. As we are trying to build a working relationship with the council employees we should abide by the rules of the forum.? stiltskin on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169#post-160261 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 18:09:13 +0000 stiltskin 160261@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Really? There is a long list of items where they have put in infrastructure which has then immediately been replaced or reconfigured because it hasn't been designed or implemented properly. It is a crying shame that the cycling budget is being frittered away in the way that it is.. I would call that incompetence gembo on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169#post-160260 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 18:05:37 +0000 gembo 160260@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ @kapps, that is a very fair point, it just read like evening news but was on bbc news last night about midnight when I first saw it. If any one wanted individual of Balerno to comment I would say there is some great cycling infrastructure in Edinburghsuch as the NEPN and it is frustrating that this level of quality infrastructure isn't replicated in some of the other developments. I do think this is frustrating and also that different depts. don't link up with each other. I just wouldn't describe this as incompetence chdot on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169#post-160259 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 18:04:56 +0000 chdot 160259@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ " North Team (@north_team) 24/07/2014 17:34 @ColoniesChris hi, it was removed following concerns from public over cycle speeds and potential conflict with pedestrians, EL " kaputnik on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169#post-160256 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 17:19:57 +0000 kaputnik 160256@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Where possible if speaking to the Johnson Press try to be positive about the great city we live Agree! (or don't talk to them). However he was talking to the BBC. I agree with Kim's sentiments entirely - I don't think anyone can really dispute that the council has spent a lot of money on cycling and a lot of it has gone on rather unhelpful things like the QBC, putting in fences too close to each other as to form an obstruction, an obsession with installing tactile tiles without actually reading the instruction manual, the Broomhouse path... It's a long list! I'm just as frustrated by the council as he is. If words needed "measured", perhaps "expertise" would have been better than "competence". Colonies_Chris on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169#post-160255 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 17:09:52 +0000 Colonies_Chris 160255@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I go through there pretty often. That new shortcut curve was very popular with both cyclists and pedestrians, and in fact did improve safety by bypassing the four-way junction there, so reducing conflict. I've no idea why it's been grubbed up again. I've tweeted North Team about it. chdot on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169#post-160251 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 16:29:18 +0000 chdot 160251@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ " The CEC is trying to balance various interests they are not a cycling organisation. ... We need to help CEC to come to a better understanding of the needs of cyclists within travel plans rather than slag them off. I sort of agree with that, but I have two problems. 1) Politically CEC says it wants to do more for pedestrians and cyclists. (I'm not referring back to previous administration that talked about 'a world class cycling city.) But that 'wish' is being dumped on a small section of the council rather than embraced 'holistically'. 2) 'We', as a bunch of amateurs, shouldn't need to constantly point out where they have made mistakes or (at the planning stake) tell them how things could be done better. gembo on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169#post-160244 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 16:07:48 +0000 gembo 160244@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I think we need to patiently continue to point out where things are not right rather than call anyone incompetent or give anyone a roasting. If I was called upon to comment and I was representing an organistation (e.g. Pedal on Parliament) I would seek to be positive in the first instance and then put any legitimate point across. I would not stoke Johnson Press hatred of local authorities by giving quotes about incompetence. The CEC is trying to balance various interests they are not a cycling organisation. THe George St stuff needs supported by us all as car drivers as I have said elsewere - Complaining about an intitiative where there seems to be some momentum to introduce cycling infrastructure will be counter productive. We need to help CEC to come to a better understanding of the needs of cyclists within travel plans rather than slag them off. Where possible if speaking to the Johnson Press try to be positive about the great city we live in rather than giving them loose quotes they use to lambast the council. THey love going on about FURY when people are only mildly disappointed. All of the above assumes an interest in collegiate approaches and social benefit. Feel free to ignore if you are a libertarian who wishes to remove local and or national government. 559 on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169#post-160220 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 13:06:52 +0000 559 160220@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ i haven't used Inverleith Park to cycle through for a few years, saw the installation from a foot perspective recently, and just thought, what a clumsy, wasteful piece of infrastructure, which added no safety to anyone. neddie on "Cycle path in Inverleith Park" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169#post-160215 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 12:45:15 +0000 neddie 160215@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Kim is right, the council do need a good roasting about this and their other incompetencies. Good cop, bad cop tactics.