CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: 'Manifesto', sort of

CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: 'Manifesto', sort of http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: 'Manifesto', sort of en Wed, 13 May 2026 03:07:16 +0000 holisticglint on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543&page=2#post-37907 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 10:07:14 +0000 holisticglint 37907@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ After nearly getting flattened again this morning coming past the junction at the Commonwealth Pool I'd like to see this overhauled to give priority to bicycles and peds. The idea would be to link Pollock halls into the QBC to encourage as much student cycling as possible. This would also open up bicycle access to Hollyrood and the Pool. holisticglint on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543&page=2#post-37904 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 10:03:26 +0000 holisticglint 37904@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Following a prolonged discussion on <a href="http://www.cyclechat.net/topic/90350-this-door-zone-thing/">Cycle Chat</a> about staying out of the door zone and the grief this can cause I figured that a good solution would be to have all on road parking bays bordered with an area of white diagonal lines as per <a href="http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070306">highway code rule 130</a>. This would push cyclists out of the door zone and legitimize the practice in the eyes of drivers. Note that this does not have to be done in conjunction with a cycle lane Probably a bit much to ask for this everywhere in Edinburgh but at least along the the main roads would be a good start. ruggtomcat on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543&page=2#post-37582 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:50:03 +0000 ruggtomcat 37582@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ An education campaign about safe passing distances. chdot on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543#post-37524 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 20:22:59 +0000 chdot 37524@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ " The Cycling Embassy has a manifesto and a set of demands. But it needs something shiny, a pretty picture to grab the attention of the people who need to read that manifesto and meet those demands. We’re looking for poster and postcard design ideas. Something that sums up the problem and the solution: the fact that fear of traffic prevents people getting around by bicycle, and that separation from traffic removes that barrier. " <a href="http://waronthemotorist.wordpress.com/2011/08/07/you-can-do-better-than-this/" rel="nofollow">http://waronthemotorist.wordpress.com/2011/08/07/you-can-do-better-than-this/</a> chdot on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543#post-37517 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 17:12:31 +0000 chdot 37517@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ "However, am I now thinking David Begg went into the belly of the beast when he was previously an analyst more critical of motor industry machine?" I think that depends on what you think he used to believe in, and whether or not you think that (or indeed if) he has changed his views significantly. I don't know if he still cycles. He did in Edinburgh even after he left the council. He is clearly in favour of public transport. Whether that explains him being with BAA, is another matter. Likewise, there are plenty of people who wonder if 'sustainable transport' and HS2 are compatible. Kim on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543#post-37516 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 17:05:47 +0000 Kim 37516@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I will throw in my <a href="http://www.kimharding.net/blog/?p=1647">Manifesto suggestions for active travel</a> which I drew up for the last Scottish elections, OK so it is for the national rather than the local level, but there ideas which could be carried forward... gembo on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543#post-37513 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 15:47:04 +0000 gembo 37513@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Bus and people priority schemes, a car free development and the first community car club in the UK were among initiatives taken by George Hazel and his political boss David Begg, of whom more later. Transport Times - mentions sustainable transport, lorry charging However, am I now thinking David Begg went into the belly of the beast when he was previously an analyst more critical of motor industry machine? chdot on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543#post-37508 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 14:26:41 +0000 chdot 37508@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ "did we get more about Prof David Begg?" ?? "I followed a link which went to a magazine with someone's coupon on the front" That's Prof H. Story is a few pages in. " David Begg has been appointed a non-executive director of airport operator BAA. Begg, the publisher of Transport Times, is leading BAA’s inquiry into last month’s disruption at Heathrow Airport caused by heavy snow.... " <a href="http://www.transportxtra.com/magazines/local_transport_today/news/?id=25363" rel="nofollow">http://www.transportxtra.com/magazines/local_transport_today/news/?id=25363</a> " David Begg is the publisher of Transport Times. He is a former chairman of the Commission for Integrated Transport and has an international reputation as a commentator on transport issues. He is a non-executive board member of First Group and BAA, an adviser to Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive and a visiting professor in sustainable transport at Plymouth University. " <a href="http://www.transporttimes.co.uk/about-us.php" rel="nofollow">http://www.transporttimes.co.uk/about-us.php</a> gembo on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543#post-37506 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 14:20:03 +0000 gembo 37506@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ chdot - did we get more about Prof David Begg? I liked him - very sensible but often portrayed in the media as a crazy man. I followed a link which went to a magazine with someone's coupon on the front (the other Prof? Maybe his wife leaked to the press he was giving up his range rover?) then I followed another link which was our Forum getting all party political. Rupert Murdoch's big fat pal obviously played a blinder but looking at the figures the Labour vote pretty much held its own and the Lib Dem vote all went SNP? Same as it all went Tory in rest of UK. So it appears Clegg is to blame. QED. chdot on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543#post-37503 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 12:04:52 +0000 chdot 37503@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ "Edinburgh welcomes people not cars" Especially around George Street chdot on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543#post-37502 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 12:03:58 +0000 chdot 37502@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ And previously <a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2877#post-30826" rel="nofollow">http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2877#post-30826</a> chdot on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543#post-37182 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 23:14:06 +0000 chdot 37182@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ More effort to restrict driving to work by CEC staff - charge for parking. There's a high profile precedent! " Travel with Professor George Hazel from the centre of Edinburgh to his home in Glenlockhart Valley and likely as not you will go by bus. He tells the following tale. “I was Director of Transportation for Lothian Regional Council in the mid 1990s, a time when Edinburgh was a particularly exciting place to be in terms of sustainable transport.” Bus and people priority schemes, a car free development and the first community car club in the UK were among initiatives taken by George Hazel and his political boss David Begg, of whom more later. “Life was good. Among many benefits I had a Range Rover and a garage space at work in the centre of the city.” He also had a wife, Fiona, with a stronger social conscience even than himself. “Set an example,” she said. “Leave the car at home.” He knew his wife was right but kept putting off the evil day, until Scotland’s leading Sunday paper rang to ask whether it was true that the Director of Transportation was giving up his wheels to get to work. “Yes!” was George Hazel’s response. “When?” asked the journalist. “Umm, next Monday?” suggested George. “Good idea, because we’re running the story on Sunday.” Professor Hazel does not know for sure who tipped the paper off, but the report and subsequent general media interest forced a fundamental change to his commuting which he does not now regret. “The bus is quick, convenient and fun, especially travelling upstairs,” he says. “It was a great personal lesson in the difficulty of accepting change in transport. Change is threatening to people, and if it has to be implemented, is best done so incrementally.” He points to Copenhagen which is reducing parking spaces by 3% per annum, “to gradually reclaim the city from the car”. <a href="http://www.ciht.org.uk/download.cfm/docid/BBF4EBC5-EB27-4B30-9C26A799B2D2A53B" rel="nofollow">http://www.ciht.org.uk/download.cfm/docid/BBF4EBC5-EB27-4B30-9C26A799B2D2A53B</a> UPDATE - just noticed this on his own web site! "<a href="http://www.mrcmh.com/about-us/staff/">My favourite city: Edinburgh My favourite way to travel: Cycling</a>" wee folding bike on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543#post-37180 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 23:03:00 +0000 wee folding bike 37180@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Dang. There goes my big idea. I did warm him that his soup would cool down quickly in the Trangia pot but it was cream of tomato so it didn't hang around for long. crowriver on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543#post-37178 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 22:51:21 +0000 crowriver 37178@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ @ wfb Picked a couple of non-stick dishes up from Black's last week in the sale. Great for solo camping, eg. touring... kaputnik on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543#post-37173 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 21:57:25 +0000 kaputnik 37173@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ And non-stick dishes They exist. Coating just comes off in my experience with them. Plastic works good. Less transparent to heat than aluminium. PS on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543#post-37172 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 21:36:43 +0000 PS 37172@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ While we are talking about the civilised treatment of cycle lanes in the face of roadworks/utility companies, here's something I saw in Stockholm: a trench dug across a pavement and marked cyclepath on the pavement. Here I'd expect a sign saying "pavement/cyclepath closed: get lost" or diversion or similar. In Stockholm, they've got a chippy in to construct a nice wee ramp over the obstacle. Stockholm seemed a fantastic place to cycle (in the non-snow-covered months at least). <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/65947862@N07/6005995987/in/photostream">Look here</a> <img src="http://www.flickr.com/photos/65947862@N07/6005995987/in/photostream"> Apologies for using a link - I've forgotten how to post a pic in the thread... wee folding bike on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543#post-37167 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 20:30:56 +0000 wee folding bike 37167@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Last year a jeep mounted the pavement and killed two pedestrians near Buchanan bus station in Glasgow. I think the driver had some kind of sudden health problem. The council are dealing with this by installing pedestrian barriers. Yes, pedestrian barriers. They aren't built to stop another jeep driving onto the pavement there (unlikely I know). They are only strong enough to stop pedestrians walking onto the road or for busses on the way out of the station to squash cyclists against them. On the wish list I want a pony. And non-stick dishes. I invented that last week when we were off camping and number two son had to eat his soup out of a non-stick Trangia pot. shuggiet on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543#post-37154 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:24:12 +0000 shuggiet 37154@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I was stunned that any roadworks I came across in Holland whilst cycling had special coned off cycle lanes within the roadworks. Another example of good thinking that we could add to the list.. kaputnik on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543#post-37150 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:25:07 +0000 kaputnik 37150@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ When undertaking roadworks, utility companies (or whoever) have to make provision for where they are also blocking off the cycle lane/facilities. If adequate temporary replacement (for longer term works in particular, i.e. NCN1 at top of Dublin Street)is not feasible, it at the very least it needs signing to indicate that it is currently suspended (as they did for the lanes at Dundee Street when the bridge across West Approach Road was being resurfaced recently and it was down to single carriageway operation.) And as Wingpig says, not just a sign on the obstruction itself saying "closed", but actually 100m before so you can take some avoiding routefinding (as they would do for diversions or road closure signs aimed at drivers) Example this morning a contraflow, cones and lane closures were in the process of being set up at Haymarket heading West from bottom of Morrison Street. If you stuck in the red lane, which splits for going left up Dalry or Right towards Roseburn, the arrangement of cones and the works would force you up Dalry and give you no escape into intended A8 direction. Fortunately as nothing was yet dug up, myself and another equally confused cyclist were able to cycle through the cones and find ourselves a safe exit into the single remaining lane of westbound traffic. Wilmington's Cow on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543#post-37147 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:18:49 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 37147@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I read something a while back that suggested pedestrian railings were always sold as a 'safety' design, but in reality it was to herd peds for better traffic management. For instance, on crossings which are given a central island, with basically an S bend for the peds to walk through. It's to create space to 'collect' pedestrians, meaning that traffic isn't stopped in both directions at once for as long a time. You can have shorter green man sequences doing this as peds have less far to cross, whereas if they were crossing all in one go the light sequence would have to be longer (double?) and traffic would be held up for longer. Yes, as cyclists we're not exactly looked after by a lot of traffic planning, but go further into streetscaping and pedestrians get a really rough ride in Edinburgh in a LOT of places in the city. PS on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543#post-37146 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:13:55 +0000 PS 37146@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Pedestrian priority at junctions. Specifically remove railings which force pedestrians to give up right of way when crossing side roads so cars can "safely" wizz round corners. I'd be interested to know what the current thinking is on railings. I was under the impression that consensus was that railings are bad for the streetscape (top Council concern, obviously) and actually dangerous (potential to trap/crush cyclists and any peds who have chosen to ignore the railings to cross the road at its shortest point). BUT new railings seem to be sprouting up in a number of places. Some due to parental campaigns (cf, the railings outside the school at Broughton Road/East Claremont St where that fatality was in April), some for no clear reason beyond protecting peds from poor driving as in holisticglint's example (the crazy logical conclusion of which is railings along every pavement). holisticglint on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543#post-37123 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:25:55 +0000 holisticglint 37123@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Pedestrian priority at junctions. Specifically remove railings which force pedestrians to give up right of way when crossing side roads so cars can "safely" wizz round corners. This is a classic example by my work which annoys me every morning. <a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/?ll=55.944194,-3.180471&spn=0.000547,0.001742&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=55.944114,-3.180761&panoid=kACQ0LcECHXlOLua7YXvMQ&cbp=12,185.34,,0,18.24" rel="nofollow">http://maps.google.co.uk/?ll=55.944194,-3.180471&spn=0.000547,0.001742&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=55.944114,-3.180761&panoid=kACQ0LcECHXlOLua7YXvMQ&cbp=12,185.34,,0,18.24</a> Although they will need to provide more bike parking to compensate :-) EDIT: Obviously need some sort of road markings to make sure drivers actually give way. The only time I've been run over was assuming that the driver had read teh same highway code as me. chdot on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543#post-37109 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:38:59 +0000 chdot 37109@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ More clarity about Council's intentions about 'encouraging cycling' - e.g. '<a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3547">concerns over shared use</a>! chdot on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543#post-37098 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:24:28 +0000 chdot 37098@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ "More bobbies on the beat." On bicycles of course! chdot on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543#post-37096 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:22:18 +0000 chdot 37096@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ On-line register of all council owned land and also property that is disused. PS on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543#post-37095 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:21:11 +0000 PS 37095@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Pedestrianisation of George Street (what a wonderful continental style boulevard that could be!) Too right - a real opportunity to make the city centre people-friendly, which may actually attract people to use it more. And it would be a straightforward means of making that tricky East-West cycle route connection. Two birds, one stone. crowriver on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543#post-37093 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:09:45 +0000 crowriver 37093@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Regular re-painting of ASLs and resurfacing of on-road cycle lanes. Introduction of ASLs at more road junctions. Double yellow lines in all on road cycle lanes. Decriminalisation of double parking, followed by the introduction of clamping and towing of double parked vehicles. Provision of sheffield stands outside all council owned/funded buildings, eg. libraries, sports centres, swimming pools, schools. That'll do for starters... chdot on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543#post-37091 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 12:59:24 +0000 chdot 37091@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ "Footrests!" Yeah like them. At the very least there should be kerbs where cyclists are likely to stop - I always hate the dip in Lothian Road Just past King's Stables. Saskia on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543#post-37089 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 12:52:13 +0000 Saskia 37089@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Footrests! <a href="http://www.copenhagenize.com/2010/01/holding-on-to-cyclists-in-copenhagen.html">http://www.copenhagenize.com/2010/01/holding-on-to-cyclists-in-copenhagen.html</a> splitshift on "'Manifesto', sort of" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3543#post-37086 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 12:49:49 +0000 splitshift 37086@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ proper signage relating to cycle ways when trams cause roadworks that push cyclists onto roundabouts !