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Leith Walk Project

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  1. crowriver
    Member

    I had occasion to use the McDonald Road junction on foot this evening and I have to say it's a much more pleasant experience than it used to be. Traversing Brunswick Street at Leith Walk was also good raised table works well. Pedestrians respecting the new cycle tracks too.

    I enjoyed the wider footway on Tesco corner as I turned up Brunswick Road: unfortunately it didn't last very long and was soon its old narrow and "rugged" broken old self. Particularly poor with random bricks littering the way ahead adjacent to the last of the new blocks being constructed on the former GPO sorting office site (I still miss being able to post stuff at 2am there and guarantee delivery a few hours later).

    Speaking of which, I was surprised to see people living in a block that was only partly complete (one half still being fitted out by the looks of it): not only that but a "To Let" sign prominently displayed outside the common entrance! Another identical sign was found two blocks further on, plus a "For Sale" sign with "under offer" plastered on top. I realise the eaternmost of these blocks has been occupied for some months now, but my that is quick.

    Clearly my little ambulatory survey not scientific, but that's three "investment" properties spotted in just one evening: two landlords and one flipper. Doubtless others will emerge in due course. I also begin to wonder how many of these properties are being let via AirBnB or similar?

    Posted 7 years ago #

  2. Rosie
    Member

    Leith Walk Police Box are running an event Saturday am.

    https://www.facebook.com/events/846024948911471/?acontext=%7B%22ref%22%3A%223%22%2C%22ref_newsfeed_story_type%22%3A%22regular%22%2C%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D

    Spokes and Sustrans will have stalls.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  3. LeithWalkpolicebox
    Member

    Voice your opinions of the Leith walk path and 2 stage right turn tomorrow at Leith walk police box between 9 and noon. Andy from Systrans will be there and Spokes too. Come and say hello!

    Posted 7 years ago #

  4. Klaxon
    Member

    Very informal session

    The irony was not lost on me that the cycle lane was continuously blocked as people gathered around the stall. This is a reoccurring problem with the police box right now.

    If you would like to constructively feedback any element of the scheme, SPOKES is gathering feedback through their usual email address.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  5. rbrtwtmn
    Member

    Backing up Luath's experiences, noted earlier as regards a punishment pass, a colleague experienced abuse on Friday for being on the road rather than the cycleway. Unusually this abuse was from a Lothian Bus driver - passing, stopping, then leaning out of the window to shout a him.

    Perhaps Lothian's good reputation is slipping...

    He cycles fast, and could see pedestrians blocking the cycleway so quite sensibly remained on the road.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  6. Harts Cyclery
    Member

    I haven't used the Leith Walk Cycle way yet, but I'm going to go out of my way some time next week to do so.

    If I may make a general point (and this is in no-way to detract from those who have thus far decided to ride on the road), it's that we need to start using this lane as much as possible. Pedestrians need to get used to large amounts of bikes on the path and we need to get used to negotiating said pedestrians. Get a bell if you don't have one and use it!

    In short, we need to be seen to use it. Is it perfect? No. Is it faster on the road? Probably. Is it safer on the cycle way? Yes. Do we want to see more of these and is the success or failure of this project important to Edinburgh and cycling more generally? Absolutely.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  7. Klaxon
    Member

    Coming back up the hill this afternoon I dinged two people walking in the lane who still didn't move until a pedestrian started rather aggressively shouting at them.

    Thank you angry person for shouting so I didn't have to!

    Posted 7 years ago #

  8. Stickman
    Member

    Get a bell if you don't have one and use it!

    Alternatively:

    [+] Embed the video | Video DownloadGet the Video Plugin

    Posted 7 years ago #

  9. crowriver
    Member

    Yeah but did he have to do it to the melody from Star Wars?

    Posted 7 years ago #

  10. crowriver
    Member

    I cycled on the segregated tracks today, and it was great.

    Vast majority of peds seem to have got the idea now: a nice clear ring on the bell heps with any who are oblivious except one or two intransigents on the downhill section.

    I turned right at McDonald Road junction, but didn't bother with the two-stage box thingy. Instead I zipped across on the advance bike green, but this meant I missed the start of the downhill cycle track: however very easy to join it slightly further down due to a dropped kerb near a loading bay.

    Superb on the way back with a full load of shopping, not a single ped strayed into my path, and left turn at Brunswick Road fairly seamless.

    Really I encourage all but the faster cyclists to use these: pretty much stress free cycling for a few "city blocks" as Americans would say. It's really nice to be away from the motor traffic for a while.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  11. dessert rat
    Member

    Still quite a few 'cycle land closed' signs on the up side this evening

    Posted 7 years ago #

  12. chdot
    Admin

    “

    Scotland is undergoing a resurgence. The recent announcement from the Scottish Government to double investment in walking and cycling to £80m per annum from 2018/19, equivalent to £15 per head, is especially welcome and is an example for the rest of the UK. In Edinburgh the city council has kept its promise of dedicating 10% of its transport budget to cycling. This investment has meant Leith Walk’s segregated cycle lane is almost finished, significant parts of the city have recently become 20mph zones and more plans are in the pipeline, including the Roseburn to Leith segregated cycle path. Edinburgh is now in a good position to continue momentum over the next few years.

    “

    https://www.sustrans.org.uk/blog/bike-life-2017-what-can-we-expect

    Posted 7 years ago #

  13. Stickman
    Member

    Share the road!

    https://mobile.twitter.com/apple_franca/status/928249587105779712

    Posted 7 years ago #

  14. gkgk
    Member

    "
    city council... 10% of its transport budget to cycling.. has meant.. significant parts of the city have recently become 20mph zones
    "

    Are sustrans saying the 20mph work is paid for by the cycling budget?

    Posted 7 years ago #

  15. acsimpson
    Member

    I read it that way too. I really hope not though. They are g eat but nothing to do with cycling.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  16. Klaxon
    Member

    There's a squad out today fixing the height of the incorrectly installed racks

    But only the ones that don't have bikes attached to them (see front/rear)

    Posted 7 years ago #

  17. HankChief
    Member

    Tried out the new cycle lanes today. I thought they were great. Not for super fast cycling but as an escape from the traffic and a rare chance to relax.

    What's the deal for either end? More to come or is that it?

    The bit uphill from it has a very hostile feel, the bit downhill a bit better.

    My main thought though was the volume of pedestrians and the feel for the street was lovely. Admitted it was Saturday afternoon, but there were many people out and about on the street. Many more than were driving past.

    I also tried the new 2 stage crossing (in all 4 directions!). Turning off Leith Walk, I felt a lot less exposed than trying to cross multiple lanes and then wait in the middle. However, what I don't understand is why is the pedestrian phase of the lights directly after the LW phase? It meant, the right turn was considerably slower than dicing with traffic.

    When turning onto LW, getting to the 'wait' box was quite tricky (as it is a long way to the left) and to be honest given the traffic I'd probably take my chances crossing from the left to right hand lane. Given this is the turn that doesn't have to wait for a pedestrian phase, it feels the wrong way round.

    The early traffic light for cyclists was good, but only any good for going straight ahead. You don't have enough time to cross the path of motor traffic as the junction is too big. (this is a trick I can pull off at Western Corner turning right out Ellersley Road into Corstorphine Road and the slope gives me extra acceleration).

    All in all, I was impressed. More of this please.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  18. Klaxon
    Member

    Phase 5 (Brunswick St to Montgomery St, only about 150m more) follows the same design style and the TRO went out for statutory consultation but is now on hold for the tram redesign, so kicked down the river for at least three years. Disappointing to say the least.

    I have heard it mentioned in the passing that the flaws of the north end (Phase 1-3, Pilrig St to Foot of the Walk) may be able to be revisited during the tram build too.

    I’ll pass on some contact details so you can remark on the light phasing yourself. I suspect it is set now only because it was the same before.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  19. gibbo
    Member

    @HankChief

    All in all, I was impressed. More of this please.

    +1.

    Although I haven't used the on-pavement bike lane, I've been past on bus. And, as long as cyclists use it responsibly, it looks to be a huge improvement over the normal Edinburgh cycling experience.

    PS I have used the box at the end of McDonald Rd - but only to go straight ahead, so no strong opinion on it.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  20. crowriver
    Member

    I'm a regular user of these cycle tracks and it is a big improvement. Just a pity we'll have to wait for years before Elm Row is done.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  21. dougal
    Member

    The advanced light for cyclists has been like that since the traffic lights were changed some months ago. I was hoping that it was set to "minimum" (it seems like a second? really short anyway) and that they'd come back to rephase the whole junction when everything else was in place.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  22. threefromleith
    Member

    Witnessed two taxis this morning on LW shooting off through the cyclists' green lights rather than wait the second it takes before the lights change for them.

    Quelle surprise. (It certainly was for the cyclist just pulling away from the lights).

    Posted 7 years ago #

  23. jonty
    Member

    I don't understand why they're on the main signal head (which you struggle to see anyway on a bike) and not on 'dwarf' signals like in London.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  24. ih
    Member

    Those cycle lights, of which I absolutely approve, should give a full 5 seconds before motorised traffic gets the red/amber. Cycles waiting in the ASZ would then have good chance to turn right before other traffic moved. Could there also be some number plate recognition technology to catch motorised cycle light jumpers? I fear that unless that happens cars will just get used to doing what @threefromleith observed this morning.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  25. jonty
    Member

    There's presumably nothing stopping red light cameras being installed. Isn't/wasn't there already one at Pilrig Street?

    Posted 7 years ago #

  26. crowriver
    Member

    On the several occasions I've used that junction, the lights have worked as they should, ie. motorists wait for "their" green. Disappoiting but perhaps not surprising to learn taxis (private hire or black cab?) disrespecting cyclist priority...

    Posted 7 years ago #

  27. Harts Cyclery
    Member

    I had a shot last week, with Claire C before the Spokes Mtg. I too thought it was excellent! More please! Just a shame the thing is so short at the moment.

    I didn't do the right turn but couldn't help notice that the advanced phase was rather, um, rapid! Defo needs to be longer.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  28. Min
    Member

    I am glad to hear the cycle lanes are going down well as they look rather horrible from on foot, jinking around all over the place and full of pedestrians. Also saw a ped going erse for elbow over one of the tiny rubber bumpers alongside the roadside cycle lanes.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  29. jonty
    Member

    Min: that's one of the reasons I really don't think those are a good idea - you should write to the council and report that you saw that so they know it's going on.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  30. Min
    Member

    That is a good point although I can't be sure exactly why she went down but the ped/bumper juxtaposition was exact.

    Posted 7 years ago #

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