http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Clearly Not Expecting Cyclists en Wed, 17 Jun 2026 03:28:54 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=990#post-360740 Tue, 24 May 2022 10:12:25 +0000 acsimpson 360740@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It's not long but it is steep. 200m at between 8 and 10% up to the member gate. The car park is visible on Google streetview, I don't think it's changed much in the passing years.</p> <p>If you are going to an event it may be worth asking the zoo about the possibility of taking your bikes into the zoo. They have a lot of private space and may be willing to allow you to secure your bikes inside the fence somewhere. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=990#post-360739 Tue, 24 May 2022 09:54:43 +0000 SRD 360739@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>for our away day we're supposed to use the members entrance, which is apparently in the car park? so more incentive to find some parking in there (is it that much of a climb? haven't been up there before).</p> <p>But yes, agree, some decent racks in front - not on the pavement but not 'hidden' - would be much better. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=990#post-360737 Tue, 24 May 2022 09:35:30 +0000 acsimpson 360737@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>To be fair if the zoo were to remove a couple of parking spaces to install cycle racks I'm not sure how many people would cycle up the hill in order to walk back down rather than parking on the racks outside anyway. The racks can be busy but I'm not sure I've ever seen them full.</p> <p>@Chdot, many car drivers park on the road outside which is unrestricted between 9:30 and 16.30. On a busy day it can be parked a long way in either direction. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=990#post-360733 Tue, 24 May 2022 08:56:57 +0000 chdot 360733@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>Please note, as we are a city zoo, our car parking spaces are limited and only available on a first come, first served basis. Our car park is currently free to use and has been very popular, which means it can fill up early in the day, especially during busier periods such as school holidays. </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/plan-your-visit/day-planner/how-to-get-here/" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/plan-your-visit/day-planner/how-to-get-here/</a></p> <p>So where do ‘most people’ park? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=990#post-360732 Tue, 24 May 2022 08:48:42 +0000 SRD 360732@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>there's another zoo parking thread too, but anyway... </p> <p>amused to see that Zoo has actually put 'arriving by bike' on their website, and mentioned some routes/maps, but still says 'we can't bother actually giving bikes any space, so use the racks the council provided out front....' </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=990#post-120650 Mon, 05 Aug 2013 10:02:40 +0000 steveo 120650@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I was at the zoo yesterday for the first time in ages and they seem to have moved and added to the racks. They're now against the wall behind the bus stop well away from the road which is great for safely getting the wee man out of his seat and not having him run under a bus. Only took three years... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=990#post-9852 Sat, 10 Jul 2010 20:52:27 +0000 SRD 9852@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>DDF got in touch with the Zoo, wearing a Spokes hat, and got a rather better response than I did. Sounds like they may add some cycling directions to their website, and they also claim to be looking into cycle racks. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=990#post-9162 Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:07:54 +0000 Arellcat 9162@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I quite enjoy e-mailing or telephoning hotels and venues in advance of my arrival (or even my booking) to question them about bicycle parking. Often the answers involve phrases such as "Umm", "We don't have any" and "Let me find out for you".</p> <p>I've both organised and attended events at Edinburgh Zoo before, and had suggested to the conference people that the bike stands on the pavement outside weren't ideal, especially if one was intending to cycle an expensive bike. There's no bike parking at the mansion house either; the first time I locked my bike to a drainpipe, the second time I took my folding bike inside with me, and the third time I asked them to store my bike inside, which to their credit they were happy to do. But for a regular Zoo-going visitor, those aren't really options.</p> <p>Hotels almost never have cycle parking, but also generally don't question someone bringing a bike inside, shoehorning it into a lift, and into the bedroom or the conference room. While touring in the US I learned to walk into a motel with my bike, as though it was simply a suitcase. Fitting an eight-foot long bike into an elevator is ... entertaining.</p> <p>Birmingham NEC is another poor example which makes a big song and dance about car parking, rail, air, and buses, but nothing about cycling. The only bike stand turned out to be an unloved set of nine wheelbenders in a corner of car park E, and 360 metres' walk from the nearest entrance. It's also used by motorbikers rather than cyclists. I took my folding bike inside with me and at great cost (£2) was able to have it stored in a cloakroom. Mind you, the NEC isn't the easiest place to visit on a bike anyway. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=990#post-9160 Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:45:17 +0000 chdot 9160@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Once upon a time the Zoo had its 'own' station nearby.</p> <p><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4751349715_d0ebfb7c41_b.jpg"><br /> <img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4751349715_d0ebfb7c41.jpg"><br /> </a><br /> Now the line is a cyclepath.</p> <p><a href="http://edinburghpaths.info/pdf/Epark.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://edinburghpaths.info/pdf/Epark.pdf</a></p> <p>I've often thought about creating a similar sign - certainly there should be 'destination' signs on this path like on the NEPN. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=990#post-9158 Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:35:17 +0000 SRD 9158@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>From the zoo:</p> <p>"<br /> There is a cycle parking rack outside the front of the Zoo on the main road. People do lock bikes there, but we have no responsibility for this, it is provided by the council. If I can help with anything further please let me know.</p> <p>Regards</p> <p>Visitor Services and Reception Manager<br /> " </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=990#post-9095 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:39:08 +0000 SRD 9095@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I just wrote to the generic 'info' email. If anyone's a member or supporter, they might have better access. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=990#post-9092 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:11:31 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 9092@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>We can do this one venue at a time I'm sure. Not all at once, but we should start asking the zoo about bike parking... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=990#post-9091 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:01:44 +0000 SRD 9091@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I emailed them earlier in the day and mentioned that although their website mentions 'sustainable transport' cycle parking is not there. Will see what (if anything) they say. </p> <p>We felt uneasy leaving the bikes with childseat basically beside the airport rd, and I would definitely not want to leave a trailer there. </p> <p>Maybe we could get them to generate a covered enclosure - or how about something like those lockers they have at ikea for trolleys? Then again, I'm probably the only person who cycles to the zoo. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=990#post-9090 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:55:22 +0000 chdot 9090@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/visiting/getting-here" rel="nofollow">http://www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/visiting/getting-here</a></p> <p>Makes a big deal of buses and mentions that car park is £3.50. </p> <p>No bikes. </p> <p>Think we can change that... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=990#post-9073 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:23:00 +0000 steveo 9073@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>SRD, to be fair they're not exactly at the bottom of the stairs, they are along a little near the acccess hill for the hotel so yeah missing them wouldn't be a great surprise. Judging by the state of the stands i agree wouldn't be my first choice of places to lock my bike. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=990#post-9059 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:45:59 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 9059@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Exactly Kim - what I was sort of hoping was that I'd check the site in a week and find out there were instructions for cyclists... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=990#post-9058 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:45:53 +0000 SRD 9058@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Steveo...hmmm...either I used those and have forgotten, or didn't see them and locked to a pole. It was a year or so ago, and raining, so I may be mistaken! But they're certainly not particularly secure/protected etc. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=990#post-9055 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:41:29 +0000 Kim 9055@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There is a need for a paradigm shift in thinking here, how do we get there? Well asking the question of organisation and event organisers such as "is there cycle parking?" is probably a good start! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=990#post-9053 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:33:33 +0000 steveo 9053@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The zoo has (fairly dilapidated) Sheffield racks at the bottom of the stairs on St. Johns road, though they are probably council provided and currently two of the 4 are bent over probably from vandalism. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=990#post-9046 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:13:20 +0000 SRD 9046@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A list of all the local attractions to which people might or do cycle, but which either (a) fail to give any info or (b) fail to provide bike parking would be very long indeed. </p> <p>My nominee is <a href="http://www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/visiting/getting-here/">the zoo</a> which certainly does not mention bikes, and - in my experience - does not have any (obvious) parking either. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=990#post-9043 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:03:47 +0000 recombodna 9043@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>You could always lock your bike to one of the many trees surrounding the museum.I used to live in Athelstaneford and cycled to the M.O.F loads of times and never had a problem even during the airshows. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=990#post-9041 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:48:14 +0000 Min 9041@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Given the vast amounts of gear people normally take with them to airshows I think it is probably because not enough people own massive enough cargo bikes to be able to ride to one. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=990#post-9038 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:29:40 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 9038@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've not been to the East Fortune Museum of Flight airshow for a few years, so plan this year to ride out. Checking their 'Getting to the Show' details on the site there was nothing about bikes. Plenty of car directions, a train option to North Berwick, and buses for onward travel.</p> <p>So I phoned up and asked if there was bike parking, or if I'd be able to take the bike in with me. "Good question," was the response.</p> <p>To be fair to the guy he was very helpful and at worst I'll have to chain up to the railings beside the ticket entrance they set up. But he reckoned I'd be able to come through and chain up to the bike stands they have by the main visitor building. Just an odd omission when they're beside a lot of cycle routes and clearly do cater for cyclists the rest of the time. </p>