Looks like they are in the process of swapping the curved top paving slabs on NMW for what appear to be the correct flat top slabs based on the conversation so far, assuming of course that they install them in the right direction...
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Meadows 'upgrade'
(107 posts)-
Posted 11 years ago #
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Ah yes, reminds me I grabbed a photo this morning
Untitled by blackpuddinonnabike, on FlickrPosted 11 years ago # -
Oh yes, I came along north meadow walk this morning. Gave myself a bit of a fright on the first lot of tiles you get to after the crossing, it was dark and there are leaves and you cross them at a bit of an angle. Took the second set as designed and that was ok but as it was early and there were not many people around I then nipped onto the pedestrian side to run over them the prefered way.
Posted 11 years ago # -
When you come onto the Meadows at the west end the slab is very badly positioned - right on the corner. My route to PY also.
I either ride over the grass or use the pedestrian side along NMW now.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I rode past the Bombay Bicycle Club resturant, this morning on my way to PY Oct (1/2). I joined the path on the corner, rather than just past the barrier, and then over the ped side of the path, and saw two single lines of slabs with a yellowish concerite in between. Temporary? Anyway I also sotted the opened path cordoned off as show in WC's pic above.
I didn't slip.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Bafflingly, they've lifted the pedestrian side too, which was already done correctly.
My money says they relay the cycling flags on the pedestrian side now, meaning it's still wrong, but just a back to front sort of wrong!
T.I.E. after all.
Posted 11 years ago # -
New
Old
Posted 11 years ago # -
My money says they relay the cycling flags on the pedestrian side now, meaning it's still wrong, but just a back to front sort of wrong!
My prediction is correct. They've lifted all the flags (even on the pedestrian side, which was correct) and replaced them all with the sort meant for cycling side (SRD's top photo). This means that the pedestrian side is now incorrect.
If Edinburgh Council can't be bothered to familiarise themselves with the regulations for using these sorts of slabs, they shouldn't be letting their design/planning department put them onto plans and then having the contractors waste time and money getting it wrong and then wrong again. This will be (at least) third time lucky to get this simple thing right.
Posted 11 years ago # -
They've lifted all the flags (even on the pedestrian side, which was correct) and replaced them all with the sort meant for cycling side.
I'll need to have another look at the works, then.
Figure 28 on page 54 in the Government guidance is the 'cycling' tactile surface, and Figure 19 on page 38 is the 'corduroy' hazard tactile surface. Figures, 30, 31 and 32 all show that the cycling tactile surface is used on both the pedestrian and cyclist sides, if it's a shared segregated path that intersects with a dedicated footpath or a cycle path.
The corduroy tactile flags are not for use adjacent to a delineator strip. "The purpose of the corduroy surface is to warn visually impaired people of the presence of specific hazards: steps, level crossings or the approach to on-street light rapid transit (LRT)
platforms. It is also used where a footway joins a shared route (see Chapter 5). It conveys the message 'hazard, proceed with caution'." Per Figure 30 you would use them at the point where a footpath joins an unsegregated junction on the cyclists' side.The real issue is that CEC hasn't installed the delineator strips along the length of the paths, and therefore blind users will not be able to tell which side of a path is correct until they encounter one of the tactile installations.
The point where the western end of NMW meets the pedestrian crossing at the end of Lonsdale Terrace is particularly complex because the cycle entry from Melville Drive is not well defined.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Didn't follow all that.
Are you saying this is OK if there is a centre strip?
Posted 11 years ago # -
Are you saying this is OK if there is a centre strip?
If there is a raised central strip, it is meant to be for the whole segregated path, not for segregation by paint and not just between the flags.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Guidance is that there should be a raised median strip where tactiles are used. [edit -- along full length of segregated path)
Posted 11 years ago # -
Not sure if the last two posts complement or contradict!
I understand the continuous strip (not paint) 'rule', but not the reasoning that the same sort of tiles on both sides are permissible (essential?) - which seems to be the official line.
No wonder CEC/contractors are confused!!
Posted 11 years ago # -
I'm very confused also. The general rule should be not to use/implement something that you don't understand the correct application of. I've a feeling that the planners have imagined that they should put these in as way of "slow down" rumble strips for bicycles around the junctions, which is absolutely not what they are meant to do. In fact they are not meant to impede the passage of bicycles at all!
Leamington Walk has the speedbumps which is sensible as a lot of speed is easily picked up on the way down the hill.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Ach well, at least they are putting the 'correct' slabs down. Still work in progress, as I noted this afternoon...
Posted 11 years ago # -
I've now ridden the new strips a few times in good/bad weather and day/night and haven't felt slippy or unsteady. Much better than the previous (wrong) ones.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Much better than the previous (wrong) ones.
Agreed, but if you get them at the wrong ange they can still 'slide' your back wheel.
Posted 11 years ago #
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