http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Princes Street/George Street/Queen Street en Wed, 13 May 2026 03:49:12 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9038#post-93008 Sat, 01 Dec 2012 01:55:45 +0000 kaputnik 93008@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The light phase cycles on Princes Street are so ridiculous (for instance 3_way red phase while pedestrian phase is also red! No one can go!) that it's just not worth it. It saves absolutely no time, and the bus ranks are horrible to go past. I don't blame the bus drivers, after doing the visibility session at doors open day, they can't really see you when pulling out from head of a column of 5 buses.</p> <p>You forgot Thistle Street, which is also a no-no due to cobbles, bad parking and one-way system. Rose Street is tolerable to get to the shops on it, but not as a route. If it was just a bit wider (say George Street width) then the mingling of pedestrian and cyclist would work I think. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9038#post-93005 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 23:35:57 +0000 fiets 93005@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>but...they're discouraging cycling and encouraging pedestrians/markets along Rose St-hence the decluttering and plans to place bike racks at the intersections. In the longer-term they'd like to stop bikes going along here altogether so sadly Rose St wont count as one of the 'plenty' of other routes... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9038#post-92988 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 17:14:21 +0000 steveo 92988@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Most Taxis!</p> <p>Most Taxi drivers are fine the problem is that some of them are impatient, murderous bar stewards and you never know which is which till they've tried to run you over and are new spitting bile out their window as your cruise past them in traffic... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9038#post-92987 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 17:08:17 +0000 crowriver 92987@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I was on the east end of Princes Street last night, coming from Waverley. </p> <p>What's interesting is that the taxis don't really seem to mind zig-zagging cyclists holding them up momentarily while trying to cross the tram lines at reasonably safe angles. Which is good, as they're going to have to get used to it! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9038#post-92980 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 16:18:52 +0000 custard 92980@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>ha! I was having exactly the same conversation this morning at the gym </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9038#post-92978 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 16:08:09 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 92978@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>So last night I thought I'd try riding along Princes Street again and see if my view of the tramlines had changed. Except the buses were chocka going west to east so after sitting through two traffic light sequences (there was a bus ahead of me, and there's no space for a bike to go up the side...) I diverted onto George Street, and it just makes you realise there's not really a nice, safe, easy cycling route right the way through the centre of town.</p> <p>Princes Street<br /> Bus gridlock + tramlines = eek.</p> <p>Queen Street<br /> Just. So. Many. Cars. (though at times I quite enjoy Queen Street, it's more because it's quite a challenge).</p> <p>George Street<br /> Now. This was my route last night, and it's nice that there's a filter to turn onto it. It's also nice that the road surface is remakably better these days. But really going either direction it's just not easy to get off. Charlotte Sq I had the choice of dropping down to Queen Street, or the end of Princes Street. Traffic is nose-to-tail, and (on Princes Street, the way I went cos there was a photo I was after) there are the tramlines of course (I had a taxi behind, but made it abundantly clear I was taking the entirety of the lane to cross the tracks at a good angle).</p> <p>Which leaves... Rose Street? Kinda makes a mockery of the EEN comments on the Princes Street tramlines v. cyclists that you should 'just avoid Princes Street, there are plenty of other routes'. Multiply my misgivings by 100 for debut or novice cyclists...</p> <p>In all honesty there are so many missing links in Edinburgh that it just isn't funny anymore. </p>