Observation so far seems to be that vehicles are mostly not being parked on the cycle lane but are frequently obstructing the on/off ramps at Pilrig St junction despite double red lineage.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Leith Walk Project
(1166 posts)-
Posted 7 years ago #
-
Have to say that traversing the Pilrig junction by bike is much more pleasant than it used to be. Not just the surface is smooth at last, but also the removal of the left filter lanes, decent width cycle lanes and ASLs. Still the usual problems with idiot taxi drivers, double parked vehicles and so on, but the zebra crossings lower down are very effective at reducing vehicle speeds.
Posted 7 years ago # -
LEITH WALK WORKS TIMETABLE-ISH
The Leith Walk improvement programme will proceed exactly as follows.
Phase 4 (Iona St–McDonald Rd) will complete in June this year. Phase 5 (McDonald Rd–Montgomery St) will run like clockwork from January–July 2018, subject to the result of an as yet unscheduled public hearing. Phase 6 (Montgomery St–Playhouse) will run from January 2019 – December 2019 in the event of no tram-extension approval, or from April 2019–June 2021 if trams get the go-ahead.
There is a further, tiny, possible complication. Spurtle hears growing concerns that St James Quarter developers may have overlooked Phase 5 when traffic modelling the 44-week Leith Street closure. In which case … oh, forget we said anything. It’ll probably all be fine as usual.
Posted 7 years ago # -
"Spurtle hears growing concerns that St James Quarter developers may have overlooked Phase 5 when traffic modelling the 44-week Leith Street closure."
Yeah, it's going to be a total nightmare.
In addition to massive traffic jams on Leith Walk, London Road and Easter Road I can well imagine increased rat running along Albion Road, Abbeyhill, Brunswick Road, McDonald Road and various streets in the New Town, eg. Albany Street.
Posted 7 years ago # -
I understand that CEC have modelled Leith St with Phase 5 included and it may not be all bad?
Whether their timescale is realistic for Phase 5 is another matter, given that a public enquiry still has to be undertakenPosted 7 years ago # -
Unsurprising news follows given work has basically been 100% stalled for two weeks now
Stakeholder Update 96
Phase 4 (Pilrig Street to McDonald Road) Land Engineering Administration
We have been formally notified today that the contractor responsible for the works currently underway on Leith Walk, Land Engineering, has been put into administration.
Having carried out a comprehensive assessment of the company’s financial stability prior to signing the contract, which did not highlight any concerns, this is unexpected and particularly disappointing. As part of any assessment the Council seeks a third party credit agency opinion of the risk of business failure, and in relation to Land Engineering the third party opinion did not raise any issues.
We appreciate how frustrating this will be for businesses and residents.
We are currently in communication with the administrator and we are evaluating options to mitigate the impact and ensure the works, which to date have been running on time and to budget, are completed as soon as possible.
I am also aware that Land Engineering had recently issued a communication indicating that Brunswick Street would close on Monday 5th June to accommodate works to that junction. As a result of the above, this closure will not go ahead on Monday, and we will be in touch in due course with a revised closure date to complete the works at Brunswick Street.
Further updates will be issued as more information specific to completion of the works becomes available.
Kind regards
MichaelPosted 7 years ago # -
Interim contractor appointed to make good work so far
Stakeholder Update 97
Phase 4 (Pilrig Street to McDonald Road)
We refer to our communication yesterday regarding the Leith Programme contractor being put into administration.
We have now completed an options appraisal and identified an interim way forward that will ensure work re-commences on Monday 5th June. The works will be carried out by a Council framework contractor, Crummock (Scotland) Limited, and will concentrate, in the first instance, in the work sites that are currently partially complete.
As you will appreciate, we are dealing with a complex situation but feel we have reacted as quickly as possible to maintain momentum on the project. We will of course keep you updated as more detailed plans emerge.
Thank you for patience in this matter.
Posted 7 years ago # -
That's pretty quick turnaround in response to the loss of a contractor, to be fair.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Really underwhelmed.
Posted 7 years ago # -
It was very obvious from the design drawings that it would be pretty bad. It seems to have been built precisely as designed, so this shouldn't be a surprise.
Posted 7 years ago # -
I think it's the lack of vertical segregation from the pavement that makes it look weird.
It's actually an ok width.
I suggested the below bin bay design at a library event, the response was 'binmen couldn't cross the cycle-way if the bins were on the inside'. It's impossible to have a constructive conversation with someone like that, because they know what they're saying is a half truth constructed to justify the design decisions already made.
You'll note, my design takes a significantly smaller amount of pavement space (footprint of the bins only) than a bicycle chicane and certainly does not obstruct bin access (in fact, facilitates it with a small ramp to road level). Unfortunately the ugly snaking design has been retained for phase five.
I've said elsewhere,
It's the best in the city so far, but with significant, foreseeable design problems that the consultation process failed to acknowledge, let alone redesign.
Posted 7 years ago # -
"It's actually an ok width"
That's debatable.
Less than 2M in places.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Could be a foot wider on the pavement side if they'd dropped the height an inch and thus not had to install tactiles the entire length...
Posted 7 years ago # -
I've actually cycled bits of it uphill. Of course it's not officially "in operation" yet but the experience is essentially shared footpath: pedestrians all over it. I can't imagine that will change after the lanes are finally "in operation" - whenever that might be: 2020? People will have become so used to walking ion it by then they won't be in the mood to give way to cyclists.
On the other hand it will be significantly safer than mixing it with buses, taxis, tipper lorries, etc. So as long as you don't want to cycle *fast* then it will be usable IMHO.
Posted 7 years ago # -
"Underwhelmed" to put it mildly. I have nothing good to say about this. A lot of it is no more than 1.3 metres wide; there is nothing to really mark it as a cycle track, and pedestrians are already walking all over it (as would I because the pedestrian desire lines take you onto the track); there will be horrendous tension at the floating bus stop, fulfilling all the worst prophesies; some of it is hard up against the road creating a risk of dropping off the kerb, but it will also encourage pedestrians who want to cross the road there to stand in the track; priority not given at one minor side road. I'm sure I will be using the road on hopefully smooth tarmac. Sorry.
Posted 7 years ago # -
No sign of workers on site today.
A brief tale.
When the temporary pedestrian crossing went in at Brunswick Road, it was magic for about a week. It was on a 50/50 cycle between pedestrians and motor traffic, about 15 seconds each. It in my limited experience seemed well respected by peds with little crossing on red (don't need to) and it didn't seem to unduly obstruct traffic. I'd say it was having a ramp metering effect on the junctions downline in each direction (that is to say, shorter queues further on).
Now it's been 'fixed' to something like a 60s/10s cycle and able bodied persons, myself included, get bored of waiting and just cross at the next narrow opportunity between vehicles like at every other junction.
Posted 7 years ago # -
"Now it's been 'fixed' to something like a 60s/10s cycle"
Must be 'traffic flow zealots' who have wrestled back control.
(Maybe LB complained?)
Posted 7 years ago # -
It feels like forever. I wouldn't be surprised if it is more like 2 minutes but have not stopwatched it.
I was thru again at about 1 and there's now a good mob of Crummock out looking at the work so far
Posted 7 years ago # -
Crummock, given their record, probably think that what they see now looks finished.
Is it me or are there fewer cycle racks outside the Scotmid than there used to be?
Posted 7 years ago # -
About 10 racks were removed and not replaced outside the Sainsbury's building
Posted 7 years ago # -
Further to the events of last week, in regards to the administration of the previous Leith Programme Phase 4 Contractor, and the re-commencement of works on Monday 5th June, we intend to hold an informal drop-in event on Wednesday 14th June, commencing from 5pm – 7pm to provide any further information we can regarding the current contractor situation, the progress on site and to answer any general queries with regards to the Leith Programme Phase 4 project.
This will be held within the Learning Centre room at the McDonald Road Library.
Posted 7 years ago # -
General queries:
Why have they routed half of the cycle path precisely in the (passenger side) door zone?
Why are wheelie bins being stored on it?
Why are pedestrians favouring walking on it rather than on the broken, uneven paving slabs alongside?
And, are cyclists expected to go two-way on it? It's barely wide enough to ride a trike one-way on it.
Posted 7 years ago # -
"are cyclists expected to go two-way on it? "
No. There's a one way lane on each side.
"Why are wheelie bins being stored on it?"
No idea. Trade waste? The designs I saw have communal bin refuges on the road.
Remember the cycle tracks are not officially in operation yet (though I'm using one section regularly already)."Why have they routed half of the cycle path precisely in the (passenger side) door zone?"
Bit late to raise that now they've built it? Consultation was so long ago I've almost forgotten, but pretty sure this was raised by lots of folk. I *think* the answer was "parking and loading space required". Also to be fair we can't really expect pedestrians to sacrifice more space than they already have...
I've said it before, but these lanes are not for *fast* cyclists. I'm treating them as essentially a shared use footpath. Unless cycling levels rise dramatically, that is how they will end up be used de facto.
"Why are pedestrians favouring walking on it rather than on the broken, uneven paving slabs alongside?"
I assume that was a rhetorical question for comedic effect.
Posted 7 years ago # -
"Why are wheelie bins being stored on it?"
Because a number of Leith Walk traders are a law unto themselves who expect free use of the road space to park their cars and the pavement space to park their A-boards and waste.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Very narrow for all users at Shrub Pl citybound with a horrible turn angle
Still don't know why the difference couldn't have been split between the Albert St and Shrub Pl stops to create one large stop. They're only 100m apart.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Can someone please check whatever has been *believed* to be the finally approved plan.
I can't believe that this was OKed by the many 'cycle interest' people who were involved in the process.
Posted 7 years ago # -
The only change I remember being made as a part of the consultation was a watering down of junction design from 'segregated' toucans (which weren't good) to the lane giving up 10m in advance of the junctions and becoming advisory again (which is worse). I think the complaints about the toucans were seized upon to save some money at the junctions.
Everything else is as it was in draft one. It was an entirely uninteractive, one way process
Posted 7 years ago # -
I'd also like to add there was no public consultation events that I'm aware of for Phase 5, and I've been on the stakeholder mailing list since forever. Straight from no public draft to TRO, which is not a good time to make constructive criticism as at the point you're drafting legal orders you're setting out your hand as having developed a final single option.
Posted 7 years ago # -
I do seem to recall public meetings around the first draft designs for the entirety of Leith Walk. A long time ago. The design team then went away and revised the designs. I recall them removing various things, such as a segregated lane on the west of Picardy Place, which various people had slammed as "dangerous". Then more recently we've had the TRO process.
I think what has happened to some extent is that comments have been very negative, which has resulted in things just being dropped rather than improved. Not saying that's the appropriate reaction but it's what seems to have occurred.
As to the cycle tracks themselves, I'm going to wait and see once they're finished. Nothing we can usefully do at the moment anyway, except maybe point out things like lamp posts in the middle of the route...
Posted 7 years ago #
Reply »
You must log in to post.
posts
