I was heading downhill on Leith Walk on Friday when I spotted the new cycle lane and considered merging with it, but then spotted the armadillos and aborted, suspecting that trying to ebb into it at surrounding-traffic speed might not work.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Leith Walk Project
(1166 posts)-
Posted 6 years ago #
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Armadillos *and* bollards in their native "Spain": https://twitter.com/denterd/status/935551675959562240
A quick websearch on armadillos begs the question why were they ever installed.
Posted 6 years ago # -
It's hopefully quite easy to see how a bump on a usually continuously flat surface (the road) is easier to miss and trip over than kerbs, which are widely understood to always be at the transition of two areas of different appearance and height (the road and the pavement.) If I removed a kerb stone from the side of a pavement and placed it across it instead, I would expect people to trip over it lots more despite it being just as visible as it was before.
The other nasty aspect of armadillos is that you can trip into the road too, especially if you're looking at the traffic and not at the ground, which is usually a very sensible thing to do everywhere else.
The last I heard about armadillos is that they'd been largely discredited as a means of segregating bike lanes given that the actual segregation they provide is minimal compared to the risks they pose to cyclists, so it surprises to see so much of CCE unite in support of them!
Posted 6 years ago # -
Everyone knows they are Orcas right?
Not Armadillos - they are a different product and probably better for a street like Leith WalkPosted 6 years ago # -
Zat right? You live and learn. Is that because they're only half-armadillos?
Posted 6 years ago # -
Tried to thank the G4S cash-van driver for not parking in the cycle lane at Pilrig St.
Totally and completely blanked by the driver as if I were not there.
Suspect this is policy to prevent theft through distraction but I hope he was grateful inside.
Posted 6 years ago # -
A local councillor got a response from Cllr Macinnes, part-quoted here:
"It appears that there have been some near misses between pedestrians and cars and these are now felt to be unsafe. However she has assured me that an alternative method will be used to make it clear to cars to avoid the cycle lanes. "
We shall see. I'm happy to report that all three of the councillors I contacted are chasing this up on my behalf. Which is nice.
Posted 6 years ago # -
UPDATE: Following missive received from officer responsible in response to chasing by another local councillor, who has been duly thanked.
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The armadillos were implemented as a ‘soft’ segregation between cyclists and road vehicles at the locations leading up to the off-road sections of the cycle path. These elements of infrastructure were never intended to prevent or hinder illegal parking, is it not their function or purpose. Road markings and signage are in place to allow the enforcement against such action.
We had received a number of concerns and reports of people falling/tripping over the armadillos, most worryingly into the path of oncoming traffic. As such a decision was taken to remove them immediately, and the Council are currently considering alternatives that would provide the same level of ‘soft’ segregation while not creating an additional risk to pedestrians.
We will keep you up to date of any progress.
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Posted 6 years ago # -
This is my personal view which probably won't match the general consensus here. I can understand the fear and liability avoidance that may have led to the armadillo removal. The thought of someone tripping into the path of traffic brings back horrible memories of the west end earlier this year. If parking restrictions are managed by road markings and signage, I would be content with that if enforcement were made more rigorous. (If they were happy with soft segregation, couldn't they make the bike lanes mandatory, which is also soft segregation?) Automatic number plate recognition and fines might help.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@ih:
I agree with you. My frustration is (1) why wasn't this foreseen (2) why weren't wands or something similar used and (3) that something which has had the side-benefit of preventing illegal parking has been removed.
There are loads of examples of how to do this, but Edinburgh has gone its own way again.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Sink plungers as an interim measure?
Posted 6 years ago # -
The Orcas were unexpected and unconsulted upon to my memory thus a pleasant surprise
They have been quite successful at reducing incursions into the cycle lanes, particularly at preventing left turn filter queues forming at McDonald Rd and Pilrig St
They have been less good at preventing "sandwich parking" as they can be driven over around care but still much better than nothing.
The outcry seems to have come purely based on the fact they were removed with no advance notice. If the justification
and plan for future improved re-instatement had been inserted into Stakeholder Update 116 released only last Thursday (Orcas removed Tuesday) I don't think there would have been much fuss at all.Posted 6 years ago # -
“My frustration is (1) why wasn't this foreseen“
Well yes.
So, are they in existence anywhere else?
If so, presumably somewhere there are no jaywalkers!?
How is CEC’s risk assessment system/process?
Posted 6 years ago # -
http://content.tfl.gov.uk/lcds-chapter4-cyclelanesandtracks.pdf
PDF page 36 / numbered page 34
5 pages of guidance on light segregation including some examples, only lip service made to the needs of those with limited sight
Little by way of actual best practice as UK installed examples are still rare and the bulk of that guide was written in 2014
Posted 6 years ago # -
jaywalkers
Wash your mouth out!
There is no such law here. And indeed jaywalking itself was contrived by the motor industry to make pedestrians look stupid. http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26073797
Posted 6 years ago # -
“There is no such law here“
Yeah I know.
Point is, I can’t see them working (without wands) unless there’s so much traffic it’s almost impossible to cross the road - not Leith Walk most of the time then.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Capital Letter Property Ltd van parked where the orcas used to be this morning. Hazards were on which I guess counters the double red lines?
Posted 6 years ago # -
I took the lane downhill for the first time today, from Macdonald Road to wherever it is where it gives up. I do slightly prefer watching out for and giving way to pedestrians to watching out for heavy motorised things whilst going at their speed. I still ended up at the foot before the Sainsbury delivery van which was behind me at Macdonald Road.
Posted 6 years ago # -
The green man timings at Pilrig Street are so incredibly tight since the redesign that it's nearly impossible not to 'jaywalk'.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Just saw a left hook near miss at on Brunswick St here
The car was being driven fast enough for me to take a sharp breath and look away because it would have been nasty but the cyclist got their brakes just in time
Don't know why this junction doesn't hook the lane in a bit like Albert and Iona St but it's materially less safe for it.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I lobbied quite hard to get this junction closed entirely but it was left open "as eventually the right turn will be banned due to the tram stop"
In that case, this is what it should have looked like
Posted 6 years ago # -
Do try and contact someone about that. It surely wouldn't be too difficult to get some of the bright red paint used on the tram bike lanes put across that junction as part of snagging works.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Emailed the project and cc'd spokes
Posted 6 years ago # -
Does anyone know what is happening re bollards? All went quiet
Posted 6 years ago # -
@HankChief "Disappointment" doesn't begin to describe it.
Posted 6 years ago # -
"You'll have had your segregation."
Posted 6 years ago # -
Council in top form as always. This IS Edinburgh, after all.
Posted 6 years ago # -
"I've asked why not."
Presumably "no budget"?
Posted 6 years ago # -
We need a guerilla segregation committee
Posted 6 years ago #
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