http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: FRB Latest en Tue, 19 May 2026 01:29:13 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=3#post-370669 Fri, 22 Sep 2023 13:58:22 +0000 boothym 370669@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/theforthbridges/posts/pfbid02a9ebbQcd14GqSVYx8ttGUxrt6NCgzGyDfyz5jTSab4fUsVx2JoX86THYxJdZ1pHxl" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/theforthbridges/posts/pfbid02a9ebbQcd14GqSVYx8ttGUxrt6NCgzGyDfyz5jTSab4fUsVx2JoX86THYxJdZ1pHxl</a></p> <p>Metal ramp gutter thingys have been added to the steps on the north side (south side already had them). </p> <p>Also, no one actually pays attention to those "dismount when passing obstructions" signs on the bits of fencing, right? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=3#post-361674 Wed, 29 Jun 2022 16:26:25 +0000 chdot 361674@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@ p i </p> <p>This may or may not fit your experience…</p> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/setrunkroads/status/1542165025481277440" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/setrunkroads/status/1542165025481277440</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=3#post-361673 Wed, 29 Jun 2022 14:54:44 +0000 paddyirish 361673@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yep, I was one of 2 cyclists who discovered this last Thursday as we rounded the busstop on the Southbound side to find the barrier down. There was no signage at the lights to send us across to the W side... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=3#post-361668 Wed, 29 Jun 2022 13:45:40 +0000 chdot 361668@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>FORTH ROAD BRIDGE FOOT/CYCLE PATHS:</p> <p>The WEST footpath will open to the public and the EAST footpath will close from 00:00 on Thursday 23 June until at least 4 July (timing tbc).</p> <p>This is to to enable works to install a fibre loop and to allow steel beams to be lifted into place.</p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/setrunkroads/status/1539179969942888450" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/setrunkroads/status/1539179969942888450</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=3#post-350192 Sat, 01 May 2021 11:01:25 +0000 chdot 350192@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>The east footway/cycleway on the Forth Road Bridge will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists throughout. </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/forth-road-bridge-plans-weekend-closure-for-repair-work-3220325" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/forth-road-bridge-plans-weekend-closure-for-repair-work-3220325</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=3#post-345271 Sun, 31 Jan 2021 18:32:40 +0000 CocoShepherd 345271@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Vast majority of pedestrians in the bike lane, couple in the ped lane. Many determined to hold their ground and not yield </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=3#post-345155 Fri, 29 Jan 2021 09:11:38 +0000 gembo 345155@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Just been saying elsewhere we came to Edinburgh when I was wee for days out. Sometimes the zoo, sometimes the castle and once the bridge. So I am saying both paths have only ever been open once in 50 years (made up FOI data backs this up) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=2#post-345153 Fri, 29 Jan 2021 00:50:03 +0000 acsimpson 345153@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Bax, all good points. There is no active travel corridor across the Forth.</p> <p>Were both sides ever open before? I've only ever seen one in 7 years of use.</p> <p>Prior to the QC opening it wasn't unusual to find both lanes shut. One blocked by a barrier and the other by contractor vehicles. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=2#post-345152 Fri, 29 Jan 2021 00:35:34 +0000 minus six 345152@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>I was very irked that they had 50% of the walkway capacity shut, mid-pandemic</em></p> <p>that has been a constant, since QC motorway opened</p> <p>only one FRB footway open, with one reserved for the staff</p> <p>but the staff trucks still get to use the public footway also !</p> <p>they really do like it that way, that's the drill </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=2#post-345151 Fri, 29 Jan 2021 00:15:06 +0000 gkgk 345151@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I used the FRB on NYD, on my big commute, and it was heaving. Bit of a risk of getting tipped over the rail by accident. I was very irked that they had 50% of the walkway capacity shut, mid-pandemic. </p> <p>I did see a couple on the far side. They'd gone to the wrong walkway, seemed to have just walked through. Got me thinking, tbh. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=2#post-345149 Thu, 28 Jan 2021 23:44:08 +0000 jonty 345149@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That's a really good point bax - time to open some or all of the main carriageway to bikes. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=2#post-345147 Thu, 28 Jan 2021 21:59:16 +0000 minus six 345147@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>PS my issues above are all about weekday daytime conditions - i would not even dream of attempting to cycle over FRB on the weekends any more</p> <p>it might as well be charles bridge in prague </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=2#post-345146 Thu, 28 Jan 2021 21:45:10 +0000 minus six 345146@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>i use FRB twice daily and have done for 15 years</p> <p>the trouble with keeping domestic motoring options available means that active travellers like myself are stuck with the current situation, with no hope of a dedicated lane ever being created</p> <p>the FRB footway, since QC motorway bridge opened, is now an extremely popular family leisure destination - quiet and picturesque - and car parks at both ends</p> <p>yesterday was heavy mist and rain and yet it was still hoaching with leisure users</p> <p>sounds good - whats the problem ?</p> <p>well, A to B cycle commuters lived for years using FRB with substandard conditions shared with contractors and portacabins that culminated with the extensive roadworks on the north side for years, all with the promise of a better future soon at hand</p> <p>the reality is that only one of the two footways is ever open, its packed at all times with leisure destination users, and the more of those there are, the less tolerant they are of cyclists</p> <p>its easy seen that Transport Scotland and MSPs must think its job done and active travel is totally sorted on FRB</p> <p>but it is now a full time play park, with many kids on nimble wee scooters dotting about unpredictably, dogs running about without leash - or even worse - a fully extended leash right across the width of the footway, etc</p> <p>its a hazardous dangerous shambles, and all because the Transport Scotland loves SHARED USE </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=2#post-345133 Thu, 28 Jan 2021 18:06:06 +0000 jonty 345133@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There's not enough appetite for political division-mongering in the sustainable travel advocacy space.</p> <p>"Well, we could open the bridge to a <em>some</em> road users - say Audi drivers - forever, but this would mean that the overall strain would be too much to open the bridge as a diversion ever again. So sort that one out amongst yourselves and get back to us with your answer when you've got one yeah?" </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=2#post-345120 Thu, 28 Jan 2021 14:20:23 +0000 ejstubbs 345120@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@neddie: <em>It's all one big slippery slope to having the FRB open all the time to all comers...</em></p> <p>I think that's unlikely, given the pretty much unresolvable issues with the suspension cables - which, after all, were why the QC was built in the first place. From a <u>technical</u> perspective it probably could be opened to a limited subset of general motor traffic, though. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=2#post-345114 Thu, 28 Jan 2021 13:12:36 +0000 I were right about that saddle 345114@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It's only very recently that people have developed an expectation that they can criss-cross the Firth of Forth willy-nilly in winter. It's a notion we should really abandon. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=2#post-345111 Thu, 28 Jan 2021 13:01:11 +0000 jonty 345111@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>&gt; It's all one big slippery slope to having the FRB open all the time to all comers...</p> <p>Yes this is certainly the risk. The current diversion requires them to stop traffic so presumably involves a full redirect of the road to the FRB, which prevents this from being an easy option. I can certainly see some sort of "local traffic" creep though which might make the bus route look like an acceptable route for some wafer thin traffic flow. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=2#post-345109 Thu, 28 Jan 2021 12:57:32 +0000 ejstubbs 345109@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>BEAR Scotland has a fairly extensive FAQ about icing on the QC: <a href="https://www.bearscot.com/winter-portal/queensferry-crossing-ice-sensors/" rel="nofollow">https://www.bearscot.com/winter-portal/queensferry-crossing-ice-sensors/</a></p> <p><em><strong>18. Can you prevent ice accretion forming on the Queensferry Crossing?</strong><br /> Our long term goal is to develop a solution that will prevent ice from forming on the cables, and the better we understand the conditions that cause this issue, the greater our chances of success. Every bridge has different design details and operates in a different climate, so there is no off-the-shelf solution that is suitable for the Queensferry Crossing – any such solution will be bespoke.</p> <p><strong>19. Can we learn from similar issues on other bridges around the world?</strong><br /> A review of measures to address ice accretion on other bridges has been undertaken. This indicates that, whilst many methods of prevention and removal have been studied, tested and deployed, no single method or technology has been found to be completely successful in mitigating the problem or removing ice build-up. Because of this, most operators simply close the bridge and wait for the ice to fall.</p> <p><strong>26. Can the Forth Road Bridge be used as a diversion route if the QC needs to close?</strong><br /> The Forth Road Bridge is currently a dedicated public transport corridor and any other use would be to the detriment of public transport – but in emergency situations it is available to provide additional resilience as an emergency diversion route for motorway traffic. It should be noted that such a diversion would only be implemented overnight, outside peak periods. This is because it takes several hours to remove roadside barriers and lay large numbers of cones and signs, and this process would cause significant additional disruption to traffic during busy periods. Traffic will have to be initially diverted via the Kincardine Bridge, then switched to FRB overnight if the Queensferry Crossing is expected to remain closed for an extended period. Trials of the diversion implementation process are being undertaken to ensure it is as efficient and effective as possible.</em></p> <p>Quite an interesting article from 2016 <a href="https://www.newcivilengineer.com/archive/bridge-brilliance-falling-ice-10-08-2016/">here</a> about solutions to icing which have been and are being trialled on a bridge in Ohio.</p> <p><em>We’ve looked at putting chemicals on it, wiring it, heating it. We basically looked at every available technology, and none of them are really practical for the bridge.</p> <p>...</p> <p>Traditionally, manual mechanical removal of ice has been the only option, with the often dangerous work reserved for hoisted workers. Or infrastructure could be erected to ’catch’ the ice.</p> <p>Another solution is to use electricity to stimulate movement of the ice. One such method is an Electromagnetic Impulsive De-Icing System, which uses high current DC pulses run through a coil, leading to debonding and expulsion of ice. It was found effective for light to moderate ice accretions, tested for three years on the Storebaelt East Bridge in Denmark. Despite early success in the trial, a heavy 50mm ice accretion rendered the system ineffective.</p> <p>...</p> <p>On Hakucho Bridge, Japan, a study of the effects between different heating methods was made, including use of metal foils, air and water, but large amounts of energy were required in each case.</p> <p>...</p> <p>In Sweden, a high pressure hot air system has been employed on the Udevalla Bridge. The air is pushed through small holes in high density pollyelthelyne tubing. Again, large quantities of energy are required.</em></p> <p>It does seem to be the case that there is no easy, off-the-shelf solution, and the QC is by no means unique in experiencing the phenomenon. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=2#post-345098 Thu, 28 Jan 2021 11:55:14 +0000 gembo 345098@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Also two in kincardine and it is tiny</p> <p>Grangemouth also has loads of bridges but not over the forth </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=2#post-345096 Thu, 28 Jan 2021 11:53:03 +0000 Frenchy 345096@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There are eight bridges over the Forth at Stirling.</p> <p>I don't see why Edinburgh should settle for fewer. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=2#post-345095 Thu, 28 Jan 2021 11:46:36 +0000 chdot 345095@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Tunnel?</p> <p>Ferry?</p> <p>Ferries??</p> <p>(Or just stay at home.) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=2#post-345086 Thu, 28 Jan 2021 11:24:54 +0000 gembo 345086@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Slippery just now for sure. Is there not room to the west for another bridge? It is needed. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=2#post-345080 Thu, 28 Jan 2021 11:04:48 +0000 neddie 345080@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It's all one big slippery slope to having the FRB open all the time to all comers...</p> <p>(Except bikes. They can divert to one side or the other, or to a lorry, at the whims of the powers that be.) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=2#post-345072 Thu, 28 Jan 2021 10:44:18 +0000 jonty 345072@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Seems odd that they didn't design in a quicker/easier diversion system in that case? Perhaps the surprise has been that it's happening so often - maybe only expected to be a once in 5-10 years thing and therefore could hopefully be left to after restoration works?</p> <p>I am not particularly averse to having the FRB as a an occasional diversionary route with painted bus lanes to minimise public transport delays and encourage use of alternate transport/routes. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=2#post-345033 Wed, 27 Jan 2021 18:30:48 +0000 Baldcyclist 345033@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Mrs B read an article (didn't share the link) which suggested the ice risk was well understood even at planning, and the workaround was always to use the old bridge when that happened.</p> <p>The work to replace the expansion joints and bits of the carraigeway on the old bridge and the neccecity for it to be on one side is all that has stopped it happening so far. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=2#post-345015 Wed, 27 Jan 2021 14:28:00 +0000 I were right about that saddle 345015@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://archive.is/wip/Nwzg1">Dartfordisation is coming.</a> Accept this fact. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=2#post-344983 Wed, 27 Jan 2021 11:10:05 +0000 chdot 344983@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19041804.new-attempt-open-forth-road-bridge-traffic-emergencies-latest-embarrassment-queensferry-crossing-ice-fall/" rel="nofollow">https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19041804.new-attempt-open-forth-road-bridge-traffic-emergencies-latest-embarrassment-queensferry-crossing-ice-fall/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=2#post-343857 Mon, 11 Jan 2021 23:21:51 +0000 minus six 343857@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/fife/1876759/anger-over-forth-road-bridge-diversion-plan-as-operators-say-it-will-be-done-outside-peak-periods/" rel="nofollow">https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/fife/1876759/anger-over-forth-road-bridge-diversion-plan-as-operators-say-it-will-be-done-outside-peak-periods/</a></p> <p>Any emergency diversion over the Forth Road Bridge will only be put in place overnight, bridge operators have confirmed.</p> <p>Conservative Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser, said </p> <p>“This revelation is utterly shocking and will infuriate all those who had understood that it would be available at fairly short notice." </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=2#post-341888 Fri, 11 Dec 2020 19:21:54 +0000 davey2wheels 341888@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>When I first read scotlandsoldestbridges.co.uk I wondered who they were sold to. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20322&page=2#post-341878 Fri, 11 Dec 2020 17:54:20 +0000 Baldcyclist 341878@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Wife is on call on Saturday night, actually half the hospital staff come in from Fife.</p> <p>Won't be good if a patient gets called back for anything, and half the theatre team can't get there for 3 hours. </p>