http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Liberton Brae/Liberton road/Kirk Brae/Mayfield en Tue, 19 May 2026 16:24:30 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275&page=2#post-301247 Tue, 12 Feb 2019 15:21:02 +0000 edinburgh87 301247@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Good point, hadn't ever noticed that, always on bike when I pass through. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275&page=2#post-301241 Tue, 12 Feb 2019 13:34:42 +0000 Frenchy 301241@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Frenchy's paraphrased communications with CEC about pedestrian crossings:</p> <p>F: Add pedestrian crossings on Kirk Brae, Mayfield Road and Blackford Glen Road.<br /> CEC: We're spending lots of money replacing all the traffic lights<br /> F: Will you add pedestrian crossings at the same time?<br /> CEC: No.<br /> F: Why not?<br /> CEC: ...<br /> *CEC installs new lights*<br /> F: Why didn't you add pedestrian crossings at the same time?<br /> CEC: ...<br /> F: No, seriously, why didn't you add pedestrian crossings at the same time?<br /> CEC: "This will be done when the traffic signals apparatus at the junction requires to be refurbished but this is unlikely to be within the near future."<br /> F: AAHAHGAHGAHGAGHAHGAHGAHJBJHBVDEJHHG. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275&page=2#post-289173 Mon, 20 Aug 2018 10:53:33 +0000 Frenchy 289173@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'm hearing that this junction will be getting cyclist advance release lights to "supplement the existing cycle provision".</p> <p>No other changes planned at the moment. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275&page=2#post-279539 Thu, 05 Apr 2018 12:21:54 +0000 dk1 279539@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>+1 for the Morningside/Hillend route, I use it to get back to Loanhead from town (via Old Pentland Road). I've mentioned elsewhere before, but Liberton Brae is horrible, too many close passes in the bottom half with cars trying to sneak past before the road opens out. </p> <p>Interestingly (or maybe not) I have no problem commuting into town via Liberton Brae, bus lanes are never too busy and it is downhill/downwind mostly. Worst section is through the 'quality' bike corridor (sigh). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275&page=2#post-279531 Thu, 05 Apr 2018 11:03:23 +0000 Lezzles 279531@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@mkoerner it would probably be quicker to continue to Roslin and then pop up to Easter Bush. Loanhead is nasty to cycle through and Straiton is even worse. Roslin to the Bush is my commute and its frankly lovely in comparison </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275&page=2#post-279525 Thu, 05 Apr 2018 10:19:45 +0000 mkoerner 279525@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Lezzles: Thanks! Good shout RE the Morningside/Hillend route - looks like same distance, I'll give that a try next time.</p> <p>I've tried the Gilmerton/cycle path variation, but it adds a fair bit of time to the anyway already quite lengthy commute (it's probably worthwhile if you're going all the way to Roslin, but maybe less so if you have to come off at Loanhead already in order to go to Easter Bush).</p> <p>Generally, I find it utterly frustrating though that cyclist need to search for alternative / less convenient routes because of the sheer lack of a safe cycle infrastructure / dangerous/ignorant driver behaviour. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275&page=2#post-279515 Thu, 05 Apr 2018 09:47:50 +0000 Lezzles 279515@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@mkoerner my husband stopped using this route home from work for the same reason. He prefers to go up through Gilmerton now - there is the upgraded railwayline all the way to Roslin if you fancy it. </p> <p>Otherwise all my colleagues go up through Morningside and past Hillend to get to the Bush Estate. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275&page=2#post-279406 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 11:10:24 +0000 mkoerner 279406@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'll be soon working at the Easter Bush Campus (commuting from Leith) and tried out this most direct route yesterday. Several close passes at Liberton Brae. 27 cars parked in the (unfortunately only advisory) cycle lane.</p> <p>A mandatory cycle lane would be great - also further along at Straiton (where enough space should be available).</p> <p>I do agree, with this road being the most direct link between KB and Easter Bush, cycling infrastructure needs to be improved/developed. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275&page=2#post-277462 Thu, 15 Mar 2018 11:21:33 +0000 glasgow megasnake 277462@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks! </p> <p>I think the only way I could see serious infrastructure is if the university came on board - from KB to meadows is regularly used by uni people and it's pretty poor from a cycling point of view. But they seem to prefer spending all of their money in town, really, and despite their rhetoric action on genuinely making it easier to travel around the uni by bike is weak. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275#post-277456 Thu, 15 Mar 2018 10:59:18 +0000 I were right about that saddle 277456@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@glasgow megasnake</p> <p>It was a consultation of the community council by the council. I would imagine that any actual changes would be preceded by council consultation.</p> <p>I'd also not hold my breath waiting for any serious cycling infrastructure anywhere between the bypass and the Meadows. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275#post-277454 Thu, 15 Mar 2018 10:45:54 +0000 glasgow megasnake 277454@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I was just wondering (politely, no nagging!) if anything ever came of this informal consultation? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275#post-266294 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 09:55:40 +0000 glasgow megasnake 266294@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>another close pass at the west mains road traffic island. pedestrians on the island, me indicating left, car sails through the middle. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275#post-264548 Thu, 26 Oct 2017 17:58:24 +0000 I were right about that saddle 264548@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Nice work folks. I've distilled the feedback and sent it in. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275#post-264490 Thu, 26 Oct 2017 11:31:34 +0000 Frenchy 264490@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Various unsorted thoughts:</p> <p>Add pedestrian crossings to Kirk Brae, Blackford Glen Road and Mayfield Road.</p> <p>Extend ASL on Mayfield Road ~3m forward, so that cyclists start on the flat. Advanced green lights for cyclists.</p> <p>Painted ("car", not cycle) lanes through the junction. A cycle lane from Liberton Brae to Mayfield Road should be considered.</p> <p>Allow left turns for cyclists from Kirk Brae and Mayfield Road.</p> <p>Single yellow lines on Mayfield Road should apply till at least 9:30am (currently 9:15am).</p> <p>Braefoot Terrace should have double yellow lines, single yellow kerb flashes. No loading should apply till at least 9:30am.</p> <p>Liberton Brae should have double yellow lines and single yellow kerb flashes northbound, at least as far as Alnwickhill Road. Southbound, there should be at least single yellow lines and kerb flashes - ideally double yellows.</p> <p>I'm not sure what I'd do with that traffic island on Mayfield Road. Probably get rid of it. It can't move any further north, because of the junction, and if it's moved far enough south to fix the problem for people turning into KB, it's not going to be on the desire line for pedestrians crossing the road. It creates a nasty pinch point for southbound cyclists too, regardless of its position. A proper pedestrian crossing could be the answer?</p> <p>Currently, if you are only able to filter to the end of the southbound bike lane on Mayfield Road, you almost certainly don't get through the junction at the next green light. The bike lane should continue past the pub, at least.</p> <p>Ban motorised traffic going from Mayfield Road to Kirk Brae? Too radical? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275#post-264404 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 18:53:49 +0000 amir 264404@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Frenchy come on, it's more or less flat (and I do get asthma)</p> <p>I agree about the scaryness about turning right from Mayfield Road up Liberton Brae. But it often does have a much shorter queue.</p> <p>Mostly I go home via the Innocent to avoid all this anyway. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275#post-264397 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 18:10:22 +0000 Frenchy 264397@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Took Orchardhead Road on the way home. Think I had an asthma attack at the top. I don't even have asthma.</p> <p>Found myself being overtaken by drivers on either side going through the junction as well, which is never fun.</p> <p>Much as we're complaining about conditions for cycling at this junction, the situation for pedestrians is pretty dire too. Only two of the five roads that meet there have pedestrian signals (Liberton Road and Liberton Brae). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275#post-264393 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 17:37:18 +0000 DrAfternoon 264393@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A less common route, but the traffic light out of Blackford Glen Road doesn't seem to register bikes at all. I've waited hopelessly for several light cycles, trying to get to Kirk Brae or Liberton Brae. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275#post-264389 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 17:01:41 +0000 glasgow megasnake 264389@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>i came off my bike at gate 4 in february this year because of that traffic island (and the massive effing potholes just inside gate 4) and I still can't run more than 10 km week without pain. I used to do 20+ in one go. i was just trying to get off of mayfield road ASAP before the transit that was tailgating me on approach to the island squeezed past. So I think its a genuine hazard. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275#post-264388 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 17:00:18 +0000 I were right about that saddle 264388@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I will not use 'kinetic envelope' in any feedback. Just won't. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275#post-264386 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 16:52:53 +0000 MediumDave 264386@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@glasgow_megasnake </p> <p>Ah, the traffic island. At the time of the KB&lt;-&gt;meadows route consultation I queried the installation of a similar island at the Gate 1 entrance with one of the designers. The reasoning I was given for installing an island there was to protect those turning right from West Mains road into the other end of Max Born Crescent. Example given of where this was working "successfully" was Gate 4. </p> <p>Protestations that while the islands may be nice for right- turning cyclists they are hazards for cyclists going past in either direction were batted away with jargonistic reference to "envelopes". Possibly kinetic ones (but I wouldn't rule out brown). </p> <p>I think road engineers also tend to use islands as quick and dirty pedestrian crossings rather than putting proper ones in. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275#post-264383 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 16:43:09 +0000 I were right about that saddle 264383@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>All grist to the mill, fellas. I shall digest and transmit once Frenchy has both cogitated and spake. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275#post-264381 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 16:19:13 +0000 glasgow megasnake 264381@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>you may want to ask <a href="mailto:KB-bug@mlist.is.ed.ac.uk">KB-bug@mlist.is.ed.ac.uk</a>... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275#post-264377 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 16:05:16 +0000 Lezzles 264377@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I second the issue of Kings Buildings. Actually I work in the Bush Estate and there is a lot of cross over of staff between the Bush and Kings Buildings. </p> <p>Personally I avoid this cycle route as much as possible. Its ok heading into town but coming back is utterly horrid. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275#post-264376 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 15:56:41 +0000 glasgow megasnake 264376@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>oh, and one other thing.</p> <p>there is a traffic island on mayfield road right opposite max born crescent. It's a pinch point where you often get close passes. Unfortunately it's right where you need to be cycle one handedly if you are signalling to turn left into max born crescent. it needs to be relocated away from the junction. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275#post-264374 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 15:53:25 +0000 glasgow megasnake 264374@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>and as for all this freedom, i blame autocorrect </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275#post-264373 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 15:52:52 +0000 glasgow megasnake 264373@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I also use this every day, and also choose liberation brae over kirk brae. It's wider and there is less of an issue with close passes. I don't know what good solutions would be bit major issues are caused by:</p> <p>- the surface in the middle of the is a mess, not fun when there is a car either side of you...<br /> - the cars getting into two lanes on mayfield road on approach to the junction often results in, er, 'contested space' between cars and cyclists.<br /> - the bus lane heading south on liberton brae is supposed to be also be a cycle lane. It's just never enforce. Cars will queue in it in the morning for 100s of metres and regularly just sweep left into it regardless of whether you are already there, in it, on a bike or not. They could start by actually just enforcing the bus lane, or getting rid of it so that cyclists KNOW that cars can (and should) use it to. Right now it's a kind of sadistic gambling apparatus.<br /> - cars frequently parked in the bike lane on mayfield road past about 9am.</p> <p>Mayfield road and liberton brae are really wide, there is plenty of space for decent cycle provision. I have also written to the university travel people and said they should be pushing for better facilities for accessing KB from this direction (e.g. from easter bush). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275#post-264368 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 15:01:47 +0000 Frenchy 264368@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Try it, you'll love it</em></p> <p>Hmm.</p> <p>I like cycling up hills. Orchardhead Road is not a hill, it's a cliff. A cliff that looks like a gentle hill from far away, purely to suck people like me in.</p> <p>I do find myself going up it occasionally, for reasons which are almost relevant to this thread. If there's a large queue in the left hand lane at Mayfield Road, but no queue in the right hand lane, it's easier to filter in the right hand lane. I then normally get stuck in that lane, and have to turn right.</p> <p>As low as my opinion is of Kirk Brae, the first bit of Liberton Brae is worse. Cars parked nose to tail in the bike lane, so you have to take primary, with a long queue of impatient drivers following you until you reach Orchardhead Road. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275#post-264362 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 14:40:11 +0000 I were right about that saddle 264362@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have used Orchardhead Road for speed training (running, speed is the least interesting aspect of bicycling to me). Its profile is quite infernal. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275#post-264360 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 14:36:53 +0000 unhurt 264360@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Try it, you'll love it</em></p> <p>I'm moving you into the "persuasive stealth sadist" category. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18275#post-264359 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 14:35:52 +0000 amir 264359@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There should be more money in this, given the presence of the King's Buildings with its large contingent of cyclists (and equally large contingent of drivers who need to persuaded not to park on back streets).<br /> There is currently no *good* way south from KB </p>