I tried cycling from the Water Of Leith to Leith Links for the second time yesterday, on Route 10. I'm pretty confident that this goes contra-flow east along Queen Charlotte Street, but there is absolutely no space to fit there, or allow cars to move west. And again I got shouted at by a taxi driver who tried to block my path. So, am I right that we're supposed to be allowed to ride east along Queen Charlotte Street?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Queen Charlotte Street in Leith
(15 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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East to west is two way to all traffic there but the bit I have difficulty with sometimes is entering via the narrow cycle-only contra-flow (at the wheelie bins) when going west to east as drivers coming from the east don't seem to like giving way to cyclists.It could be better signed showing that cyclists are allowed to use it both ways.
Posted 12 years ago # -
East to west is two way to all traffic
What do you mean by that?
The contra-flow access point was blocked yesterday anyway, so completely unusable.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Well that's a fine contraflow cycle lane:
Observe the correct hierarchy of cycle infrastructure provision in Edinburgh, where wheelie bins take precendence over bikes:
and a well maintained ASL box:
Does anyone have more recent photographs to update the situation?
Posted 12 years ago # -
Having cycled around a bit in street view that's pretty dodgy...
If you step back East to the T junction there's a clear one way only sign. However, there's no indication on the cycle lane that it stops, so effectively you've got a nice feeder lane directly into on-coming traffic.
Nice!
Posted 12 years ago # -
The streetview has a blue circle cycle sign on the pavement. does that mean you can cycle on the pavement?
Posted 12 years ago # -
Don't forget the well placed utility box at the end of the ramp out of the kirkgate with accompanying absence of dropped kerb too:
The link between Sandport Place bridge and Leith Links really needs some attention and thought - with proper contra-cycle lanes added eastbound on Queen Charlotte Street AND westwards on Tollbooth Wynd.
The need for contra-cycle lanes and the issue of the rogue utility boxes has been raised with officials by local folk, but there seems to be a strange resistance to sorting out the junction.
Response seems to be along the lines of: "you'll have had your Shore upgrade/Leith Links bridge."
Posted 12 years ago # -
I've been going through this a few times a week in both directions for three years. I've not yet had been unable use the salmon-lane due to bin/car blockage (though have never ever seen no cars parked on the north side of the street) and only once had to use gestures to explain to an impatient swerving dimwit that I was allowed to be going east past the end of Maritime St. It's much more frequent to encounter hassle when going west from Queen Charlotte to the WoL, when the judder-inducing surface and several tight turns result in impatient dimwits bothering your mudguards.
Posted 12 years ago # -
This reply via their fb page:
I'm advised that cyclists are permitted to travel in an eastbound direction - signage is to be improved in the area to make it more obvious to drivers that this is the case. The plan is to have these installed in the next 1-2 months. Hope this answers your query - if you need more detail, I'd suggest contacting environment-ccl@edinburgh.gov.uk and the local Roads Officer can help further.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Thanks, Sarah, and everyone else. I've fired off an email.
Posted 12 years ago # -
new signs to look like this apparently:
http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/transport-and-streets/traffic-management/PublishingImages/contra-flow-cycling-sign.jpgPosted 12 years ago # -
and this:
As some of the people posting suggest the street is technically two-way east of the cyclist contra-flow. However, because very few motorised vehicles travel eastbound here westbound drivers assume it is one-way and think that cyclists are breaking the law (unfortunately a one-way sign there also helps to reinforce this view).
We have discussed the situation with the local Roads Team and we have agreed to replace the existing sign with two new signs that specifically indicate that cyclists are permitted to travel contra to the main traffic flow (see http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/transport-and-streets/traffic-management/PublishingImages/contra-flow-cycling-sign.jpg ). Hopefully this will be done in the next 1-2 months.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Except that part of the problem is that it is a two way street(?)
Posted 12 years ago # -
Here's the reply to my email:
Thank you for contacting the City of Edinburgh Council on the 29 April 2013 and please accept my apologies for the delay in responding.
I passed your enquiry to Graham Hall, Professional Officer for Leith, and he has been looking into this matter. I can confirm cyclists can travel both ways onto Queen Charlotte Street. Cars can travel one way from the junction of Maritime Street to Tolbooth Wynd and two way from Maritime Street to Constitution Street.
Graham is still looking into what alternatives, if any, could be provided in this street for parking and/or cyclists and would like to speak to his colleagues in the Cycling Team before making a decision. Any change to the layout or use of a road will require a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) which can take up to 12 months to process. The public can object to these changes and so any TRO must be carefully considered.
I will update you on our progress in due course.
Kind Regards
Emma O'Sullivan
Posted 12 years ago # -
I've been trying this route again lately. Some time since the last street view visit (October 2016) the cycle lane was extended to Maritime Street and then almost entirely warn away.
They didn't extend the double yellows so it's still impossible to use. Been accelerated at a few times already. Not sure if they're misguided vigilantes or simply oblivious.
Posted 8 years ago #
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