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not resolvedI've noticed there are 6mph signs on the canal, I can't remember exactly where but it's within a couple of miles of the city centre end. Out of interest, is that for the path, or the canal? If it's for the path, then I break the speed limit when running, never mind when on the bike, and I'm pretty slow at running. So I was wondering whether it's for the boats on the canal instead? Does anyone know?
I ask merely out of interest, as it's always made me ponder while plodding past it.
I think it's for the path, amazingly.
I live in the hope that one day I'll be able to write an 'angry in Edinburgh' letter to the EEN because I was out running and got caught up behind a group of cyclists who weren't speeding.
I think there's a couple of those signs either side of the aqueduct near WoL/Asda
A previous thread -
http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=7422#post-76844
I think there are others.
Daft regs really...
Canal regs by steveo_mcg, on Flickr
No doubt it's been pointed out before, but - speed limits for cyclists - how are they meant to know if they're breaking them?
What're "blind bridge holes" when they're at home?
And I'll go at 6mph when bike manufacturers are required by law to fit speedometers.
But seriously. I jog faster than that!
Until cars are built with breathalysers, we can't expect people not to drink and drive?
I support the SW Neighbourhood Partnership's Transport and Environment Forum. They've been working with SPOKES, SUSTRANS and Scottish Canals on a code of conduct for the canal to promote better shared use of the tow path. The canal is also part of my commute into work and I only found out those speed signs were for cyclists at one of the meetings.
The code of conduct will be ready to go out to the public fairly soon. I'll make sure its shared on here and would be interested in your feedback.
Blind Bridge Holes are the cobbled path through the narrow bridges, I would have though it would be obvious? I guess not.
I do find some cyclists don't give much space when overtaking pedestrians but then some pedestrians don't help themselves either.
I think its important to foster good relations between all users, as no one has priority over others - well not unless that Strict Liability comes into play.
I expect more than enything, this is a rear covering exercise by 'the authorities' incase anyone tries to sue over some infraction.
This is what happens when people can't play nice.
The sign looks like a cut and paste, with its reference to weirs.
And my speedometer comment was tongue in cheek. But it's perfectly true that joggers and dogs go faster than 6mph (and often less predictably) so I'm not sure what's special about cyclists.
I'd be a lot happier if the signs were a 'code of conduct for all users of the path'.
By way of analogy, my workplace has a big book of policies. Policies for everything. Mainly they're ignored so long as everyone lives by the spirit of them. But if someone is taking advantage then we can fall back on the policies to enforce good behaviour up to the point of sacking people.
That's what this is. Too many cyclists plainly can't be relied upon to behave themselves so the first stage of enforcement is to erect the signs that make everyone, in theory, aware of their duties towards other users of the canal. I don't suppose Scottish Canals can afford to employ anyone to enforce these rules so the next step will be to start erecting physical barriers that force cyclists to slow down or just ban them from the towpaths completely.
The sign looks like a cut and paste, with its reference to weirs.
Do canals have weirs? How does that work? The Water of Leith has them. Not sure how I'd cycle across though.
There is a weir type thing, a long way out (the other side of the other aqueduct, the one over the River Almond) but it is at one side of the canal, i.e. it is some kind of overflow thing. I don't think I've ever been that far on the bike, and if I did I'd probably walk over as it has nasty cobbles, but I'm sure a more confident cyclist could cycle over it.
Canals have drainage weirs at the side to allow excess water to escape. There's one I recall on the canal that runs across the path and drains over the bridge. There is already dismount signs on it.
@steveo - I'd not seen that sign before. The one I'd seen was just a white circle with a red outline with a 6 in the middle of it - a bit like a normal 30mph sign on a road (but with a 6, obv). There was no indication that it was for the path or the canal, hence the question. But that black sign you've posted does seem to suggest it's for cycles.
In which case, I do know two cyclists who cycle at that speed, because I overtook them on Sunday when I was out for a run. I found it hard to believe at the time that I was running faster than they were cycling, but maybe they were aware of the limit and were sticking to it.
@fimm, yes I say the drainage weir at the aqueduct over the almond is a feature to tackle with caution and does need signs all of its own. I have been through it several times but ever so slowly
How many people are stable when cycling at 6mph? It is a silly unenforceable thought up by someone who doesn't ride a bike at all. It will be more honoured in the breach then the observance...
"How many people are stable when cycling at 6mph?"
Er, everybody?
I'm sure everyone in Copenhagen and Amsterdam is stable when they ride at 6mph beside a canal.
The Union Canal plus Forth and Clyde canal is 69 miles, or almost twelve hours at 6mph.
I suppose tourists (domestic or otherwise) just have to make it a multi-day trip by staying in hotels along the way?
When I'm out with the family we're breaking records if we average more than 7 or 8 mph.
Interesting, that's the first time I've seen reference to "two tings".
I think the canal regs are best dealt with by 1. employing consideration, courtesy and good manners. 2. not worrying about them. After all, unless they've been changed, the towpath isn't supposed to be used after dark!
and 3. not using the towpath if you really have to barrell along at 18mph and never give way
My favourite: at the bridges, people ting repeatedly and assume if they can't hear any answering tings that the way is clear.
This is annoying for me, as while I can deal with cyclists who don't ting (I have the radio on anyway, but by pretending I hear a bell at every bridge, I'm always prepared) it means I have turned into one of the ting-ting-ting-ting-ting-ting-ting brigade myself...
My wife has fitted a bell to her bike for canal purposes and is extremely pleased with it. The other day we rode together and she demonstrated how it meant she didn't have to slow down for pedestrians any more (I guess previously she would have to slow up then use her voice - or maybe she just did a monster wheelie and blew past them with no space? ;-)
I have to say, now having a bell that doesn't ring-a-ling the whole time I'm riding, I've been converted to bells a bit. This one seems to be at a pitch that gets heard from quite a distance, and I still say thank you to people who move over, so don't lose that personal side of things.
I love bells. I am getting a big brass one that makes a dong sound, this will be an infraction on the two tings but it makes everyone who hears it very happy. If people make even the slightest adjustment to their line of travel I thank them enthusiastically. Also slow right down as lots of people are scared of cyclists, sometimes I even push the bike across the aqueduct. Towpath not for racing.
Dave said "The other day we rode together and she demonstrated how it meant she didn't have to slow down for pedestrians any more"
This is how my children tend to treat pedestrians too, much to my dismay as I am constantly reminding them predestrians have right of way on the path*. I'm usually following up apologising to the pedestrians who have had to veer off the path to avoid being run over by a 6 year old. My children usually have to ride with the eldest in front or he gets a major strop as he is eldest and thinks he should be in front of his younger brother.
* I'm not going to enter into any arguments about whether pedestrians having right of way or not. With a 6 year old its easiest just to tell him they have right of way so hopefully he'll not just ring his bell and then run into the back of them!
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