http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Giving up on a road? en Tue, 19 May 2026 19:37:02 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582&page=2#post-275769 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 12:15:02 +0000 gembo 275769@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Nice One Lezzles, picked a good day to p;lay that old David Soul record and get back out there </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582&page=2#post-275758 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 10:00:34 +0000 Lezzles 275758@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I just wanted to say I've just had my first cycle to work since the New Year after giving up on a road and I feel ace.</p> <p>We've had so many temporary traffic lights round my way (Roslin/Bush Estate) that were causing people to get super frustrated and try to push past me on the single lane with cones on the other side.</p> <p>Anyway the traffic lights have gone, my legs feel all wobbly but it was really nice to get moving again. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582&page=2#post-275749 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 02:09:47 +0000 Chug 275749@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@jdanielp there's always the playing field cut through. The entrance is off craiglockhart terrace - go past the flats at the right angle corner. Brings you out at the gateway immediately south of the railway bridge. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582&page=2#post-275718 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 15:46:47 +0000 I were right about that saddle 275718@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>@IWRATS when that happens</em></p> <p>Excellent avoidance of any conditional tense. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582&page=2#post-275717 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 15:43:03 +0000 dk1 275717@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Amir - Been up there, nice and steep just at the top. Most of the time I head through Morningside and then cut back along Captains Road or head over the bypass to Old Pentland Road. It doesn't make too much difference to the distance. I need the training anyway...</p> <p>Now the Railway path from Loanhead has been extended to Shawfair I may try and head in that direction to keep things interesting on the way home. Always good to see new places.</p> <p>A703 - horrible, feel like you are always just waiting for a close pass at 50mph </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582&page=2#post-275712 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 15:25:47 +0000 Lezzles 275712@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I was going to email the Midlothian council cycle chap about the A703. They're moving my kids nursery out that way and I'd like to be able to cycle her there but no chance will I cycle on the road. I'd like them to widen the pavement and class it as shared use. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582&page=2#post-275710 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 15:12:49 +0000 jdanielp 275710@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@IWRATS when that happens I'll be happy to cycle along Myreside Boulevard. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582&page=2#post-275709 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 15:06:12 +0000 I were right about that saddle 275709@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>I don't think I'd be comfortable trying to cycle along IWRATS' snicket due to its narrowness (and also muddiness)</em></p> <p>If it ever became popular it would be impassable. Also I got a tick there once and had to improvise a tick-remover at my desk using a discarded soft drinks can and a borrowed pair of nail scissors.</p> <p>When I am Dictator Benign of All Caledon that path will be widened by taking three metres off the perimeter of the bourgeois cricket emplacement. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582&page=2#post-275706 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 14:43:04 +0000 jdanielp 275706@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I would like to give up on Myreside Road since I usually receive unnecessarily close and fast passes along there when heading towards Morningside despite its width and have to filter past queues of poorly positioned traffic when heading towards the canal. I used to head through Craiglockhart Wood, but that path seems to be constantly muddy these days and I would rather not get my hybrid clogged up. I don't think I'd be comfortable trying to cycle along IWRATS' snicket due to its narrowness (and also muddiness). There is no convenient alternative... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582&page=2#post-275690 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 12:54:37 +0000 amir 275690@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Try Orchardhead Road. You can't avoid the gradient, but the surface is good and very little traffic. Plus you get an excuse at the top for a breather as you chose your moment to rejoin the main road. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582&page=2#post-275685 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 12:44:53 +0000 dk1 275685@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Liberton Brae, to many close passes as you grind up the hill. Also the uphill start from the end of Mayfield Road at the bottom is pretty horrible with 2 lanes of traffic behind you waiting to squeeze past. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582&page=2#post-275684 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 12:42:00 +0000 gembo 275684@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@fimm, yes that was me this morning </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582&page=2#post-275683 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 12:41:28 +0000 gembo 275683@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>\Thanks Redmist, similar to Monday then and also M8 snarled for 3.5 hours I am told.</p> <p>Monday the chap who crashed abandoned the vehicle on the bypass.</p> <p>Too many cars seems clear. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582&page=2#post-275681 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 12:23:23 +0000 Frenchy 275681@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Do you know if the A701 is any better/worse for close passes?</p> <p>I noticed that Midlothian Council are proposing a shared use path along the A701, but nothing on the A703 (or the A702, but that's a trunk road). See: <a href="https://www.midlothian.gov.uk/info/205/planning_policy/536/draft_green_network_supplementary_guidance" rel="nofollow">https://www.midlothian.gov.uk/info/205/planning_policy/536/draft_green_network_supplementary_guidance</a> (Loanhead etc. file) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582&page=2#post-275678 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 12:14:56 +0000 Arellcat 275678@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I would quite like to give up on the A703 Seafield Moor Road, for its innumerable drivers executing close passes every day. But I can't give up on it because it's my only sensible commuting route to south and west Edinburgh. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582#post-275674 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 11:47:23 +0000 fimm 275674@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think I spotted Gembo <code>[Oi! Wrong thread - Ed]</code> coming down Lanark Road?</p> <p>I was about 10 minutes later than I would usually be this morning and I was thinking that if traffic was always that heavy I'm not surprised that Moose was thinking of giving up on the road. I think I'm glad to hear that that was not normal... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582#post-275667 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 11:04:38 +0000 redmist 275667@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>gembo - incident on the bypass this morning meant the whole west side was clogged up. Not a normal morning. Not that the A70 is that great anyway ! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582#post-275666 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 10:53:43 +0000 gembo 275666@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>needed to be at work very early today so chose A70 over towpath. Man it was snarled all way from Gillespie Xroad to nether currie. No reason just volumne of traffic from the new build at Kinleith and I suspect people trying to avoid the A71 which is super snarled since the boy left his car ion the bypass early monday.</p> <p>Went back on to towpath at Codfather/Dominos - much nicer. Some Boroughmuir kids but nothing of note </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582#post-275483 Mon, 19 Feb 2018 17:52:21 +0000 chdot 275483@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Might be worth adding here -</p> <p><a href="https://edinburgh.cyclescape.org" rel="nofollow">https://edinburgh.cyclescape.org</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582#post-275482 Mon, 19 Feb 2018 17:46:17 +0000 Moose 275482@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Interesting replies (thanks!) and quite a surprising volume too. I wouldn't have guessed that on a forum like this with so much urban cycling experience.</p> <p>Apart from making me feel better, I wonder how the volume of no-go streets might extrapolate across the latent 'could-be-cyclists' population.</p> <p>Also, if I were more technically minded, I would attempt some Google-map-overlaying of some of these no-go streets against the ECC cycle route provision. There would be some interesting route planning anomalies I am sure... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582#post-275280 Fri, 16 Feb 2018 10:49:48 +0000 crowriver 275280@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Pretty much given up on London Road/Portobello Road - especially the latter. Traffic too fast, too heavy, too many close passes and cut ups. Have almost given up on Easter Road north of Powderhall rail bridge too as the drivers are impatient and recklessly endanger others without a second thought.</p> <p>If going to Porty I generally take the much longer, but safer route via the Pilrig railway path. Despite the usual dog walkers it's a lot less stressful than the more direct road routes. Which I suppose goes to show the benefit of having an off-road alternative route. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582#post-275277 Fri, 16 Feb 2018 10:43:19 +0000 dessert rat 275277@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@morepathsplease - as I am usually starting or finishing work next to new Sainsburys on Craighall Rd, i always use Granton Rd (despite the hill) and along East Trinity.</p> <p>The traffic on East Trinity is terrible with the parked cars, but if you stand your ground/take primary they almost always ceed when the parked cars are their side. Which is the total opposite on Lower Granton deathwish Rd </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582#post-275273 Fri, 16 Feb 2018 10:23:45 +0000 wingpig 275273@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I haven't gone from Constitution St to Seafield Place along Baltic/Salamander St for a while, probably since the Leith Links path extension.<br /> Conversely, I currently use Leith Walk, London Road and the two roundabouts at the top despite once having them on a list of places to avoid for traffic-evils; I moved, and they became parts of quickest routes between places, and I became used to them.</p> <p>Surface-wise, I'll still go out of my way to avoid the juddering of Howe Street, Scotland Street, Little King Street and so on, particularly after accidentally ending up on then again earlier this week. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582#post-275258 Thu, 15 Feb 2018 22:58:50 +0000 Cyclingmollie 275258@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Frenchy Yes, it's a tarmac and gravel path. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582#post-275253 Thu, 15 Feb 2018 21:20:40 +0000 morepathsplease 275253@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Iain McR - that stretch from Porto &amp; Fi is local to me. I could use the Trinity path but risk the road instead - it's only a few minutes of a commute but I never feel safe despite the 20mph restriction (highly unusual for anyone to stick to that, many go well over 30). The road surface is awful as well. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582#post-275249 Thu, 15 Feb 2018 20:10:46 +0000 Frenchy 275249@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Cyclingmollie - Ta. Is Newhailes estate traversable on a road bike? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582#post-275247 Thu, 15 Feb 2018 19:58:34 +0000 gembo 275247@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Towpath and WoL path again tonight, with the lighter evenings getting better. Bad roads in Edinburgh of course to get to canal but might start using the one bit of segregation we have though would need to use kings theatre junction daily. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582#post-275242 Thu, 15 Feb 2018 19:45:35 +0000 Cyclingmollie 275242@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yes, up through Stoneyhill to the cycle path then through Newhailes Estate. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582#post-275238 Thu, 15 Feb 2018 18:37:22 +0000 Frenchy 275238@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Is there a way of getting onto the Brunstane path without going on the Musselburgh-Joppa road? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18582#post-275234 Thu, 15 Feb 2018 18:04:49 +0000 Cyclingmollie 275234@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I actually gave up on all city roads a few years ago and bought a mountain bike for my commute. The Brunstane/Innocent route was much less stressful. If I had to ID just one road that made my mind up it would be the one between Joppa and Musselburgh. Nutters in vans, buses, cars, even a driving instructor. </p>