http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Edinburgh Park/the Gyle - commutability? en Thu, 30 Apr 2026 01:07:25 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505&page=2#post-29839 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 20:10:32 +0000 Nelly 29839@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I am no apologist for the gyle - I work in Edinburgh Park and its a soul-less pit. Our office used to be in he city centre, then Leith - both much preferable.</p> <p>Clearly I cycle as much as possible, but sometimes drive, such is life.</p> <p>I am not a frequent bus user, but - I agree with what SRD said - anyone who works there knows that the 22 bus comes along incredibly frequently.</p> <p>I think it depends where you live - during the snow I drove most of the time, but had to use a combo of the train and bus one week - and found them both really good. I can get a bus from the end of my street, down to lothian road jump off, wait about 5 mins max and jump on the 22 which stops outside my office - what could be easier ?</p> <p>Its all very well blogging on a subject close to ones heart, but sometimes its useful to allow the truth to get in the way of a good story............ </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505&page=2#post-29836 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 19:42:19 +0000 gembo 29836@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The 44 to Seton Sands or even further into East Lothian is an astonishing bargain if you get on at Balerno Terminus. Of a Saturday morning ten years ago with child two in buggy and child one on buggy board I used to meet two old fisherwomen who had come the other way and were walking to Colinton via the reservoirs [known as the High Ponds] very brown as berries one was fit of mind but injury prone the other spry of limb but gaga.</p> <p>In my first stint in Edinburgh in 1987 I was completely gobsmacked tootling along to come face to face with an orange Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive bus in Carnwath. Strathclyde, there was a region - Mull to Carnwath. Druidh will be cycling it soon. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505&page=2#post-29830 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:41:44 +0000 chdot 29830@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Pretending you're a monster-truck driver, huh?"</p> <p>Nah, just continuing to live my childhood... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505&page=2#post-29829 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:40:26 +0000 kaputnik 29829@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Front of top deck </em></p> <p>Pretending you're a monster-truck driver, huh? :D </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505&page=2#post-29826 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:24:28 +0000 chdot 29826@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"At £1.30 it's a bargain!"</p> <p>At £1.30 any bus journey beyond a couple of stops really is a bargain - chauffeur driven great views etc. (Of course I'm talking about non-'rush' hour).</p> <p>I used to (occasionally) take my children on magical mystery tours - buy day tickets on the first bus that came, get off after a while catch the next bus that appeared etc.</p> <p>£3.20 really is a bargain for exploring the out-of-Edinburgh bits (I did it one Sunday when the wind was just too much for a pleasant ride. Front of top deck with the sun streaming through the window - great! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505&page=2#post-29821 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:03:44 +0000 Stepdoh 29821@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Now the 21, that's an exciting bus route. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505&page=2#post-29820 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:03:06 +0000 Stepdoh 29820@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The 35 offers the most comprehensive tour of Edinburgh of pretty much any bus on the road. At £1.30 it's a bargain!</p> <p>The tinfoil hat wearer within suspects that there was pressure on LB to make a city fare alternative to the Airbus, but so not to damage airbus revenue they decided to make it go via EVERYWHERE. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505&page=2#post-29819 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:01:35 +0000 RJ 29819@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I found that out the hard way, in the snow!</p> <p>(X)48 is my magic bus ... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505&page=2#post-29818 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:59:11 +0000 SRD 29818@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>35 involves more of a walk to start with.</em></p> <p>I was being sarcastic. It is also extremely indirect and slow. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505&page=2#post-29817 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:58:03 +0000 chdot 29817@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"wondered if 22 might not be faster? but a quick look at the route for the 12 suggests it is actually pretty direct. he should try the 35 next time!!"</p> <p>35 involves more of a walk to start with.</p> <p>"Next time" should start here -</p> <p><a href="http://lothianbuses.com/find-your-bus/route-maps.html" rel="nofollow">http://lothianbuses.com/find-your-bus/route-maps.html</a></p> <p>Suspect the optimum would be 22 most of the way and 2 for the final bit (not clear what ultimate destination is).</p> <p>The Journey Planner on the LB site takes you to <a href="http://www.travelinescotland.com/journeyplanner" rel="nofollow">http://www.travelinescotland.com/journeyplanner</a> which is cumbersome and not smart enough to know that if you put George Street into the box on the LB site you <em>mean</em> Edinburgh! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505&page=2#post-29816 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:41:26 +0000 chdot 29816@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"so why does it seem so difficult to implement alternatives? (sadly, at least one answer is mundane old electoral politics....)"</p> <p>I often think politicians underestimate 'how far' 'the public' have 'moved' on 'environmental things'.</p> <p>That is of course what people <em>say</em> they want - local schools/shops/hospitals/open spaces etc.</p> <p>SOME of these must be the same people who want more parking, out-of-town shopping, bigger cars etc.</p> <p>So in some sense politicians are just dealing with what they 'know' people want even if they are <em>saying</em> different things.</p> <p>People mostly(?) want what they have got, then more of the same and then something else too.</p> <p>I don't know whether this is 'human nature', the 'inevitable' consequences of 'consumer capitalism' or even the result of Judeo-Christian (and no doubt other religious/belief systems) which (sometimes at least) seem to take a view that the Earth and its resources are primarily there for the indulgence of the Human Race.</p> <p>Etc... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505&page=2#post-29815 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:40:06 +0000 kaputnik 29815@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Have to absolutely agree though, the Gyle ain't designed for anything but cars (and vans and lorries). Even then it's not really "designed" as it has 2 very constricted access points from either Gogar roundabout or under the Railway at South Gyle Access Road onto Bankhead.</p> <p>I'm sure one of the attractions to many companies is the availability of cheaper land on which to build car parks. The car parks at my office are larger than the buildings themselves and probably only provide spaces for 30% of the workforce. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505&page=2#post-29814 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:30:06 +0000 SRD 29814@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Basing journey times on the (almost) not-stop Airport Bus strikes me as naive.</em></p> <p>have never taken the 12, and wondered if 22 might not be faster? but a quick look at the route for the 12 suggests it is actually pretty direct. he should try the 35 next time!! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505&page=2#post-29813 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:28:05 +0000 SRD 29813@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>If we are serious about responding to climate change, or about reducing our dependence on the car or about protecting green space from tarmac and concrete then surely not: there have to be better alternatives."</em></p> <p>Amen! :) </p> <p>But seriously, what strikes me as obscene is that most people either don't agree, or don't see the consequences of their demands for more parking/more roads, or think there are no alternatives. </p> <p>As you say, the observation 'chimes', it speaks good common sense, so why does it seem so difficult to implement alternatives? (sadly, at least one answer is mundane old electoral politics....) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505&page=2#post-29812 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:28:01 +0000 chdot 29812@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"it's hard to disagree with this:"</p> <p>Yep, that's mostly what I meant by "Well that was an entertaining read!" </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505&page=2#post-29811 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:25:24 +0000 chdot 29811@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Well - up to a point."</p> <p>I agree about intimate knowledge of PT in a city where a job is based is not vital for doing even a 'climate change' job.</p> <p>It just made be wonder if "the proud user of a Lothian Buses Ridacard" had actually used it before!</p> <p>Basing journey times on the (almost) not-stop Airport Bus strikes me as naive. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505&page=2#post-29810 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:23:20 +0000 RJ 29810@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The bus/train choice depends in part where you're starting from (and who's paying). Cycling is definitely quicker (and pleasanter).</p> <p>Still (and the main reason for posting the link) it's hard to disagree with this:</p> <p>"<em>The Gyle does not seem to be built for human beings; it is about making money. Office space is cheaper than in the middle of town and this is presumably why businesses choose to move there; this and ease of access by car. It is a landscape designed around the car, where people have to fit in and is consequently both inhuman in scale and design. Do we have to continue with developments like this? If we are serious about responding to climate change, or about reducing our dependence on the car or about protecting green space from tarmac and concrete then surely not: there have to be better alternatives.</em>"</p> <p> - a view which chimed with my colleagues ... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505&page=2#post-29809 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:16:04 +0000 kaputnik 29809@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>As chdot says, train is much quicker (and in my humble opinion, a much more pleasant ride) than the bus. The Gyle is also in the curious position of being served by 2 train stations, neither of which are actually within the larger estate area ("The Gyle" / "South Gyle Industrial Estate" / "Edinburgh Park") and if they ever build it, the Gogar station will be linked to the Gyle Centre by a (cycle-free) underpass. Train then walking quicker than bus, Brompto-train combination quicker yet. Cycling the whole way quicker than bus too. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505&page=2#post-29806 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:06:18 +0000 SRD 29806@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>All true of course, though you have to wonder about the apparent naivety of someone who works in Edinburgh as a "Climate Change Officer".</em></p> <p>As mentioned on another thread, eco-congregations had a meeting last week in M'side about transport. Had hoped to go, but didn't make it, so have no sense how 'naive' or not they might be. </p> <p>I did kick up a fuss about a meeting that was organised last year in a time and place that was inaccessible by public transport, and some carshare/lifts were arranged. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505&page=2#post-29805 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:05:20 +0000 RJ 29805@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote> <em>All true of course, though you have to wonder about the apparent naivety of someone who works in Edinburgh as a "Climate Change Officer".</em></blockquote></p> <p>Well - up to a point. But if the purpose of the job is to influence decisions at a Scotland level, then edinburgh is where the job probably has to be based. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505#post-29804 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:02:23 +0000 chdot 29804@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well that was an entertaining read!</p> <p>All true of course, though you have to wonder about the apparent naivety of someone who works in Edinburgh as a "<a href="http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/speak_out/care_for_the_earth">Climate Change Officer</a>".</p> <p>"Being the proud user of a Lothian Buses Ridacard it seemed sensible to take the bus and knowing that the bus to the airport took about 30 minutes thought than about 20 minutes should do it. Bad mistake."</p> <p>Indeed.</p> <p>"If we are serious about responding to climate change, or about reducing our dependence on the car or about protecting green space from tarmac and concrete then surely not: there have to be better alternatives."</p> <p>Well yes. </p> <p>Perhaps he should have borrowed the office Brompton (bet they don't have one), cycled to Haymarket and got a train to Ed Park or S Gyle. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505#post-29801 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 13:36:09 +0000 RJ 29801@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>An independent view on our new office location:</p> <p><a href="http://ecocongregationscotland.blogspot.com/2011/04/to-hell-and-back-on-number-12-bus.html">http://ecocongregationscotland.blogspot.com/2011/04/to-hell-and-back-on-number-12-bus.html</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505#post-23919 Mon, 14 Feb 2011 14:13:42 +0000 cb 23919@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I don't often ride the bit of Gorgie Road to the east of Robertson Avenue (in fact I'm not sure I can ever recall riding it), but the bit to the west is OK; seems to be whenever I go along it anyway. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505#post-23912 Mon, 14 Feb 2011 13:35:17 +0000 wingpig 23912@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Gorgie Road westbound is one of the best recommendations for vehicular cycling (or at least going nowhere near the kerb) in the city. For some reason it doesn't seem as bad going east. Slateford Road is much more free-flowing and less face-to-face-with-a-bus-pulling-away-from-a-stop but isn't as handy for getting out to east end of the Fastlink path. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505#post-23904 Mon, 14 Feb 2011 12:19:47 +0000 Stepdoh 23904@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Gorgie road is one of the worst roads for cycling in Edinburgh I'd say. I hate when my route takes me down that way, I never really feel safe on my own, let alone with passengers, as no one seems to give you any leeway whatsoever and the random parking renders the bike lane/greenway useless. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505#post-23890 Mon, 14 Feb 2011 09:02:36 +0000 SRD 23890@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>We made the mistake of trying to go down Gorgie around 2pm on Friday with a trailer and the tandem. The traffic was unbelievably bad - lorries everywhere and traffic backed up all over the bike lanes. On the way back took the Robertson Ave turn and it was slightly better. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505#post-23865 Sun, 13 Feb 2011 22:49:10 +0000 cb 23865@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><strong>Nelly</strong></p> <p>"carry on down Ashley terrace through shandon. Left on Slateford Road, right at Chesser past Asda, down to Gorgie Road, quick left"</p> <p>It's slightly shorter to go down Robertson Avenue onto Gorgie Road, although probably only 100m or so. Might shave a minute off though!... Might depend on the traffic lights on each route I suppose.</p> <p>There is a bit of satisfaction to be had in making the no-cars right hand turn into Robertson Av from either end. (Incidentely, Google Maps seems to think this route is OK for cars). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505#post-23851 Sun, 13 Feb 2011 21:13:26 +0000 ruggtomcat 23851@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I actually have a bell but is so useless I shout anyway, its good cos you can change your bell to suit your mood. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505#post-23844 Sun, 13 Feb 2011 18:38:38 +0000 druidh 23844@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>There used to be a guy on the canal who shouted "coming through" on approach to the bridges.</em></p> <p>Err - that's what I do (not that I use the canal towpath often). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=505#post-23837 Sun, 13 Feb 2011 15:30:58 +0000 Nelly 23837@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I only have a bell on my mtb, which I invariably forget when on my road bike - I am too embarrassed to shout "ding, ding" so usually resort to a loud theatrical cough which usually draws a few odd looks.</p> <p>There used to be a guy on the canal who shouted "coming through" on approach to the bridges. </p>