http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Sustrans Routes Sub-Topic? en Fri, 19 Jun 2026 08:34:05 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3814#post-40474 Thu, 08 Sep 2011 18:13:17 +0000 chdot 40474@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>As mentioned above -</p> <p>"Today, we're very pleased to announce the beta mobile HTML version of CycleStreets – written by me, project-managed by Martin, and funded by Cycling Scotland."</p> <p><a href="http://www.cyclestreets.net/blog/2011/09/08/mobile-web-site" rel="nofollow">http://www.cyclestreets.net/blog/2011/09/08/mobile-web-site</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3814#post-40214 Wed, 07 Sep 2011 09:49:04 +0000 chdot 40214@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"We all know many people would like to make their local journeys by foot or bike, but barriers including railway lines, rivers and busy roads can get in the way, especially for those less mobile or less confident.  Providing direct, traffic-free routes is crucial to encouraging people to get around and leave their cars at home."</p> <p>Once again Sustrans does what it is REALLY good at - building new links/route - AND getting money to do it - notably the Lottery money for <a href="http://www.sustrans.org.uk/what-we-do/connect2">Connect2</a>. </p> <p>it <em>must</em> realise that people don't <em>just</em> use Sustrans routes (and anyway they have to get to them) so I remain mystified as to why they don't use/promote CycleStreets as a Journey Planner. </p> <p>Must be some secret Bristol v Cambridge rivalry! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3814#post-40210 Wed, 07 Sep 2011 09:37:32 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 40210@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@SRD, that's exactly where I see the benefit of Sustrans, and where the focus should be. <em>Creating</em> useful routes in towns and cities that can be used by people as an <em>alternative</em> to other modes of transport.</p> <p>Off road leisure routes in the country are good, and to be welcomed, but if they're to live up to their name, Sustainable [/i]Transport[/i], I feel that really is more about giving people options that may not have otherwise existed for commuting.</p> <p>As for signs along existing roads, I guess it might make route-finding a little easier, but is it really something that will get more people cycling? Genuine question. If someone in a city wants to ride to work then surely they know which roads are quiet and which are busy?</p> <p>Within Edinburgh there are so many opportunities with old railway lines and the like that anything else just feels like fluff (especially when, as mentioned on another thread, double yellows are being removed to put in car parkign on what is supposed to be part of the Quality Bike Corridor).</p> <p>Grump. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3814#post-40208 Wed, 07 Sep 2011 09:25:40 +0000 SRD 40208@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>email from sustrans today:</p> <p>"New Sustrans routes see massive increase in walking and cycling" <a href="http://www.sustrans.org.uk/resources/in-the-news/connect2-boosting-the-economy-and-the-nations-health?dm_i=6EB,J26Y,13M3J9,1JU47,1">Our latest monitoring stats show the demand for community walking and cycling routes is huge. Commuters, school children, families and local businesses all benefit.</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3814#post-40207 Wed, 07 Sep 2011 09:09:33 +0000 chdot 40207@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>CycleStreets has recently introduced a mobile version of its web site - <a href="http://m.cyclestreets.net" rel="nofollow">http://m.cyclestreets.net</a>. </p> <p>With the journey planner <a href="http://m.cyclestreets.net/journey" rel="nofollow">http://m.cyclestreets.net/journey</a> it's easy to toggle between OS and OSM - AND between quietest, fastest and balanced.</p> <p>Not as elegant as the iOS and Android apps but works well on any 'phone with the Internet. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3814#post-40202 Wed, 07 Sep 2011 01:23:16 +0000 ruggtomcat 40202@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>yeah, on the OS maps you can see the horrendous gradient sustrans is trying to direct you up... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3814#post-40179 Tue, 06 Sep 2011 21:18:56 +0000 cb 40179@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I used the Sustrans site recently to check out the progress of the Oban to Fort William route and, for that, I <em>liked</em> the fact that they were using OS mapping. OSM mapping is next to useless compared to the OS for some/many purposes. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3814#post-40094 Tue, 06 Sep 2011 11:30:25 +0000 chdot 40094@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"I've not really embraced OSM"</p> <p>It's <em>fairly</em> straightforward - and much easier now that the base satellite image is Bing rather than Yahoo.</p> <p>There's STILL lots of stuff to be added/amended.</p> <p>I added a couple of informal paths around the Gyle recently - and I know there are others that I'm not quite sure enough about to add.</p> <p>Keep adding cafés and bike parking.</p> <p>There's an Edinburgh group page - <a href="http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Edinburgh" rel="nofollow">http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Edinburgh</a> - people actually meet too!</p> <p>All this information can be used by <em>anybody</em> and is the basis for Cyclestreets being able to do its <a href="http://edinburgh.cyclestreets.net/">journey planning</a> (with <a href="http://www.cyclestreets.net/api)" rel="nofollow">http://www.cyclestreets.net/api)</a> in its own apps (iPhone and Android) + BikeHub ones and several London cycle hire apps (Boris Bikes).</p> <p>Sustrans <em>could</em> have a journey planner (the <a href="http://www.cyclestreets.net/api">CycleStreets one</a> really is the best and most appropriate for anything to do with encouraging cycling) - and wouldn't even need to use OSM if Sustrans <em>really</em> thinks OS is 'better'.</p> <p>Any Sustrans Rangers on here? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3814#post-39958 Mon, 05 Sep 2011 10:40:47 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 39958@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Good idea. I've not really embraced OSM (though used Cyclestreets at the weekend to check the start/end/route of 764 (because OSM actually marks the numbers of routes very identifiably on the map, which again Sustrans (bizarrely) does not). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3814#post-39957 Mon, 05 Sep 2011 10:34:32 +0000 chdot 39957@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"much better mapping tool than Sustrans use themselves!"</p> <p>Yes well I've mentioned the unfortunate fact that (for whatever reason) Sustrans prefers OS to OSM mapping and its iPhone app doesn't have a journey planner. </p> <p>For now, the optimum is for people to update <a href="http://OpenStreetMap.org">OpenStreetMap</a> and make sure things like surfaces are recorded as accurately as possible.</p> <p>ALSO upload photos to <a href="http://Edinburgh.CycleStreets.net">CycleStreets</a> which then get displayed when people plan routes. </p> <p>Perhaps Sustrans should encourage its <a href="http://www.sustrans.org.uk/support-sustrans/get-involved/volunteering-with-sustrans/volunteer-rangers">volunteer rangers</a> to do this too. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3814#post-39956 Mon, 05 Sep 2011 10:23:16 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 39956@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Can I suggest a new sub-topic of 'Sustrans Routes'? The reason I make the suggestion is that for-good-or-bad Sustrans really is a first stop for many getting back into cycling looking for routes. For the Edinburgh and surrounding area it might be useful to have up-to-date actual-real information on routes, as well as local knowledge on what surfaces are like and so on.</p> <p>For example, it would be worth people knowing that the route that follows the John Muir Way is a bit of a trial on a road bike. Conversely, we cycled route 764 from Dunfermline to Clackmannan at the weekend and it's superb.</p> <p>Having had a wee search I can't find a really-this-is-how-it-is guide to various Sustrans routes. I do wonder if a nationwide 'real-Sustrans' site would be good (and could use a much better mapping tool than Sustrans use themselves!). Hmmm, I've got an idea brewing here... </p>