CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure

Commuting from Midlothian

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  1. chdot
    Admin

    A couple of CCE members have posted about commuting from Midlothian in another thread.

    I suspect more would be willing to cycle in if there was a better route - or the current routes were better.

    Unfortunately geo-politics means that cycle policy/provisions alter at arbitrary (invisible) lines on the ground. Lothian Regional Council (1975–1996) did a lot of good work to encourage cycling - not least the creation of much of the North Edinburgh Path Network.

    Since then City of Edinburgh has been actively reluctant to pay for 'cross-border' cycle routes on the basis that not many people (by implication, who are Edinburgh residents/council tax payers) would use them.

    Phrase "chicken and egg" never made much impact.

    SEStran has some responsibility for cycling. Its Business Plan 2008/09-2010/11 states "There are four main strands of SEStran work in sustainable transport: ■ travel plans, ■ car sharing, ■ cycling, and ■ sustainable transport policy."

    One of its "Input to Single Outcome Agreements" - No. 44 - says "Cycling key connections, Edinburgh - Improve cycling links to and from Edinburgh." But then No. 3. is "Royal Infirmary Link Road - Improving accessibility to the new Royal Infirmary on the south side of Edinburgh, especially by bus."

    The Borders Railway had proposals for a parallel cycle route in places - particular though the planned Midlothian settlement of Shawfair, which seems to be permanently on hold for economic reasons.

    Infrastructure is very "chicken and egg".

    Posted 14 years ago #

  2. amir
    Member

    Although we do not pay council tax in Edinburgh, our place of work (in Edinburgh) would probably pay business rates. Should give us some say. Also we pay income tax - which is a major contributor to council income. We just don't vote!

    Posted 14 years ago #

  3. Kim
    Member

    "Since then City of Edinburgh has been actively reluctant to pay for 'cross-border' cycle routes on the basis that not many people (by implication, who are Edinburgh residents/council tax payers) would use them."

    I find this rather bizarre as I know quite a number of people who live (and pay council tax) in Edinburgh but work in Midlothian. I used to commute out to the Bush Estate, and I know of plenty of others working out at Bush and at Roslin, who would welcome better cycle route to make it easier for them to get to work.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  4. chdot
    Admin

    "I find this rather bizarre"

    yes, but true.

    It's all about "priorities'"- there are other places in Edinburgh to spend 'cycling money' and Midlothian probably wouldn't have money to 'meet' any new path.

    Lost track of where SESTran are at (not to be confused with Sustrans).

    Posted 14 years ago #

  5. amir
    Member

    Another motivation is to reduce traffic levels, to the benefit of Edinburgh inhabitants. I suspect that "outsiders" contribute quite a bit.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  6. chdot
    Admin

    "Another motivation is to reduce traffic levels, to the benefit of Edinburgh inhabitants. I suspect that "outsiders" contribute quite a bit."

    That's why they built the Sheriffhall Park and Ride - with some quite curious bits of cyclepath nearby.

    The disused Loanhead to Millerhill rail line is owned by Sustrans but there's no immediate plan/money to make it cycleable.

    Obviously this doesn't go into the centre of Edinburgh, but I'm sure (with some decent links) it would be useful for people wanting to go to the east of the city - Queen Margaret etc.

    But...

    Posted 14 years ago #

  7. chdot
    Admin

    Took a small trip to Midlothian yesterday. Must be a long time since I was on the road between the ERI and Danderhall.

    I was really quite shocked at how dangerous (for cyclists) these two islands are. Either CEC should add road markings to show that vehicles aren't supposed to (try to) pass bikes (like East Lothian Council does) or take a bit out of the pavement.

    (Musselburgh - this 'minor' road actually seems wider than the main Edinburgh to Dalkeith one!)

    Posted 14 years ago #

  8. SRD
    Moderator

    Ah yes, the ERI-Danderhall road was fun on our first long trailer outing (to pick strawberries). Cars generally waited, then gunned their motors aggressively as they went past....

    Posted 14 years ago #

  9. Min
    Member

    I just avoid Old Deathtrap Road as much as possible nowadays.

    Some of the traffic islands in Musselburgh have signs to say to motorists not to pass cyclists at traffic islands-then a 6" strip of red paint at the side to try and encourage cyclists right in to the gutter so drivers can pass them anyway.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  10. cb
    Member

    Penicuik has those signs (and red paint) too.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  11. holisticglint
    Member

    Yes ERI and Danderhall is errr exciting and is my daily commute. Apart from that bit (and all the cars parked in the cycle lane at the garage past Cameron Toll) the A7 within CEC region is good for cycle markings even up to the bypass then it all goes a bit wrong at Sheriffhall roundabout and the rest of the A7 into Gorebridge is lethal.

    Does anyone else cycle on Sheirffhall roundabout ? I suspect going around the path and crossing the road is way more dangerous.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  12. chdot
    Admin

    Thought it might be worth resurrecting this, especially because of the opening of the Loanhead to Lasswade Road path.

    There still seem to be a lot more people on here commuting from Fife than MidL.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  13. cb
    Member

    It's probably been that way for a while but I did notice the other day that the cycle lanes on the main road into Penicuik have been significantly widened.

    They were far too narrow before (see Streetview). Now many drivers are straddling them as they seem to be incapable of driving down a section of road that isn't at least twice as wide as their car.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  14. slowcoach
    Member

    https://www.facebook.com/Penicuik.Cuckoo/photos/a.254456634636301.61636.232185943530037/629355427146418/

    Posted 9 years ago #

  15. kaputnik
    Moderator

    So that's the third attempt at painting those lines, making the lanes ~twice as wide as they were a few years back. 3rd time lucky?

    Posted 9 years ago #

  16. Uberuce
    Member

    As I'm shortly going to be a Midlothian commuter, resident of Roslin, I took a trip up to my new flat, and checked the path from there to Lasswade out.

    It's got a couple of broken parts from cables being laid and the surface not resealed, and in places it could use a path Mummy coming along, spitting into a vast hanky and wiping the leaf mulch off, but mostly it's much like the lovely NEPN and Innocent, but with significantly better views.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  17. cb
    Member

    Stumbled across this when looking for something else.

    "
    Midlothian Council is assessing the feasibility of new road alignment options connecting the A701, A702 and A703 to assist in the preparation of the Main Issues Report for the Local Development Plan
    "

    http://www.midlothian.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/3491/technical_note-transport_and_infrastructure

    Not really sure why this is being considered other than More Roads=Good.

    This probably clarifies best what is being looked at (map):

    http://damheadcc.org.uk/files/ED10977-SK-001.pdf

    Also came across this:

    https://www.facebook.com/ProtectDamheadGreenbelt

    Seems to be largely about a proposed film studio but I think there could be something about new roads in there too (but it's a Facebook site so couldn't really be bothered looking too far)

    Posted 9 years ago #

  18. chdot
    Admin

    Of course MidL has been trying to increase road capacity for years.

    Previously there was an organised campaign against, plus a camp in the woods. This is from 2002 -

    "

    The 18 million A701 road project has been the subject of a long-running battle between Midlothian Council and local people in Bilston and Roslin.

    The A701 realignment was granted permission two years ago, with the Scottish Executive deciding to approve the scheme without a public inquiry.

    But campaigners opposed to turning the road south of Edin-burgh into a dual carriageway say there is no need for the planned 2.8-mile upgrade.

    Midlothian Council claims the realignment of the road is necessary to foster economic development, arguing that firms interested in moving to the area would go elsewhere unless the dual carriageway was built.

    "

    http://www.scotsman.com/news/going-out-on-a-limb-to-stop-a-road-1-847267

    This time there doesn't seem to be so much 'noise' -

    "

    “A Transport Appraisal is being carried out. Would one have been undertaken if Transport Scotland had not requested it? However, we know already that this appraisal will give the thumbs up – it has to; the MLDP contains no alternative to the new road or indeed a sustainable way to address congestion. Prioritising the existing A701 for public transport and cyclists will work for a while, until traffic levels increase once again, and will not address the cross-Midlothian issue, but is and must be seen as merely a sop to give the impression the council is addressing the underlying problem with a sustainable transport policy. It is not.

    "

    http://www.midlothiangreens.org.uk/?p=715

    Posted 9 years ago #

  19. chdot
    Admin

    From -

    http://midlothian-consult.objective.co.uk/portal/planningpolicy/mldp/mir?pointId=1367310339926

    Posted 9 years ago #

  20. chdot
    Admin

    This is an 'artist's impression of previous plan -

    (Can't find bigger/better!)

    The last bit near the bypass is the same - though they have since built the Park'n'Ride.

    Posted 9 years ago #

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