Given the pound is in Leith not 15 minutes walk away, it should be enforced at the sharp end of the tow-truck. They could do a roaring trade shuttling back and forth between Leith Walk and Tower Street, they'd soon have both the compound and the coffers filled.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Leith Walk Project
(1166 posts)-
Posted 9 years ago #
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LEITH WALK PARKING BLITZ BEGINS WITH THIRTY SEVEN TICKETS ISSUED
A ‘blitz’ on anti-social parking on Leith Walk has finally started.
Council officials have confirmed that a total of thirty seven parking tickets were issued on the first day of a widely promoted initiative to stamp out illegal parking on the street.
Double parking and pavement parking had become an endemic problem on the street, after enforcement signs and notices were removed by tram workers and not replaced.
http://greenerleith.org.uk/blog/leith-walk-parking-tickets-5174
Posted 9 years ago # -
On Monday night there were three wardens near the top of the Walk just before 5pm and between then they were in the process of booking two cars left in the bike lanes with their magic parking lights on. The rest of the Walk was clear of any illegal parking EXCEPT for the Coop lorry near the foot of the Walk, parked in the bike lane to make a delivery as there were cars parked in the 'Loading Only' bay...
Last night around 5pm - no wardens, and a number of cars & vans double-parked once again and blocking the bike lanes.
Hopefully they were out during the day and the 'blitz' wasn't just a one-day exercise....
Posted 9 years ago # -
"after enforcement signs and notices were removed by tram workers and not replaced"
I hope that's not entirely true.
I was led to believe that because of the regulations for the tram (which was never built down LW) previous rules no longer applied so there could be/was a 'parking free for all'.
Though why it's taken YEARS to sort out is another question which needs answering!
Posted 9 years ago # -
If you spot a double parker, parking in bike lane etc, please do take photos. Even better if you can tweet them CC'ing Lesley Hinds etc
Posted 9 years ago # -
Is it really a great idea to bombard Lesley with photos of cars parking out of regulations on Leith Walk via twitter? I'm not sure what it's really going to achieve as she doesn't have a personal magic wand to stop people committing offences or have their vehicles removed. I'm sure she's very aware of the problem already, perhaps it's better if folks save them all up into an email with dates and times etc. and submit via email to Lesley and the Leith area councilors as evidence of continued problems?
Posted 9 years ago # -
Or create a hashtag, e.g.. #leithwalkparking and tag your photos with them. Then after a while, draw councillors' attention to the hashtag?
Posted 9 years ago # -
@cr
Sounds like plan!
Posted 9 years ago # -
'would appear the hashtag is already in use, for one suitable photo from February...
Quite a few others to be found under #leithwalk which I think is too general?
Posted 9 years ago # -
"
CityCentreLeith Team (@CityCentreLeith)
20/03/2015 09:30
@CyclingEdin @fountainbridge @adamrmcvey @LAHinds From 9-14 March, 91 PCNs issued. 2 Attendants on site permanently just now. ^A"
Posted 9 years ago # -
If only someone had suggested having a segregated cycle lane on the inside of the parking then this wouldn't be an issue. Eh, what...oh.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Yeah, have to say that I've not seen LW so free of double-parking since the initial burst of enthusiasm in enforcing the Greenways when they were introduced last century ;-)
It certainly makes the street *feel* a little safer and nicer than it was.
Posted 9 years ago # -
If only someone had suggested having a segregated cycle lane on the inside of the parking then this wouldn't be an issue. Eh, what...oh.
But that couldn't possibly work because of ... er ... bins, and trees and ... er ... I honestly can't remember how the specialists at the consultation dismissed it, but it wasn't very convincing.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I honestly can't remember how the specialists at the consultation dismissed it, but it wasn't very convincing.
The same way they tried to justify keeping a central
medianobstruction in the middle of the road to "futureproof for the trams" and then quietly backed down when it was pointed out that it didn't seem to be needed for other parts of the on-street tram running.Posted 9 years ago # -
At one of the meetings I went to, a council officer told me (with a straight face) that the North end of Leith Walk just isn't wide enough to fit in segregated cycle paths.
Posted 9 years ago # -
The problem was it wasn't just one official at one meeting.
There have also been proposals where segregated lanes (planned for 'top' of LW) give way to side streets.
Posted 9 years ago # -
The enforcement blitz appears to have worked. Leith Walk is now a paragon of legal parking! Wow!
However, an unintended consequence of this is to be witnessed on adjacent Albert Street, which I had the misfortune to cycle along this afternoon. So that's where all the dodgy drivers have gone! A huge epidemic of double parking; pavement parking; parking at narrowed sections (almost blocking the road); parking at junctions; parking in front of other vehicles parked end on; and so on. Most of these dodgy parkers are careful to avoid double yellow lines. So they are basically all utter chancers.
Reckon the parking attendants could still make a bob or three down Albert Street mind you...
As a result of Albert Street becoming a slalom course, drivers trying to make their way along are often ill-tempered, aggressive, and very impatient with mere cyclists (though you may well say, "What's new?" I felt they were particularly narky along Albert Street).
Posted 9 years ago # -
"
Dear Stakeholders,
Leith Programme Stakeholder Update 70
The Foot of the Walk junction works:
The contractors carrying out the upgrade works to the Foot of the Walk junction (MacLay Civil Engineering Ltd) are making good progress with the current work sections.
· Crown Place to Duke Street – Slabbing completed
· Duke Street south side – Slabbing completed
· Constitution Street/Duke Street corner area and Duke Street north side – Anticipated completion date Friday 3 AprilWork is continuing on the re-paving of the public realm space in front of the Kirkgate Shopping Centre with a significant part of the main area now completed.
Looking ahead in April:
· Continue with ducting installation work, cabling and lighting column relocations
· Commence excavation and slabbing work around Kirk Street/Great Junction Street section
· Installation of pedestrian and traffic islands
· Carriageway resurfacing expected to begin in early MayContractor Public Holidays
The contractors are due to take two public holidays during April and May (Easter Monday on 6 April and Holiday Monday on 4 May). No work will take place on site, therefore, on these days.Traffic Management reminder
For the duration of these works, Constitution Street will be closed at its junction with Leith Walk as part of the traffic management arrangements in place aimed at minimising disruption to traffic flow as much as possible. Local access to this area will be via Laurie Street, Queen Charlotte Street, or Bernard Street. Three way temporary traffic lights will remain in operation at the main Leith Walk junction to control traffic flow.Bus diversion and general traffic conditions information:
Details of the most up to date information regarding any bus diversions and traffic conditions affecting Leith Walk please visit either of the sites below:https://twitter.com/on_lothianbuses
https://twitter.com/edintravel
"
Posted 9 years ago # -
Rumour has it that the 'final draft' of the Pilrig Street to McDonald Road section is about to go out to consultation and will have segregated cycle bits - both ways!
Posted 9 years ago # -
both sides you mean?
Posted 9 years ago # -
Actually don't know the answer to that!
Presume so.
Posted 9 years ago # -
will have segregated cycle bits - both ways!
Shame they didn't start with this bit, then, and extend it north and south...
If I understood her relatively oblique comment, at the Spokes meeting last month Lesley Hinds suggested that this might even include a floating bus stop.
Posted 9 years ago # -
VERY positive moves
Full segregation and bus stop bypasses for McDonald Rd - Pilrig St (PDF link at the bottom)
Bus lanes peak-only with loading only out of hours. Very little 'parking' permitted, reduced to nil with the tram concept. Tram concept shows the bus lane moved to the centre and a central reservation like exists on Princes St.
edit: Squinting a little harder with the magnifying glass shows painted give ways every time the cycle tracks cross side roads. Everyone gives way to each other? So still room to tweak...
Posted 9 years ago # -
Here's what I mean about the junctions. Top is how it looks when you load it in Adobe, bottom is with the 'red chips' removed :>
Posted 9 years ago # -
@Klaxon - that's the Dutch method!
Effectively it means that the cycle route is continuous and vehicles crossing it from either side have to give way.
The junction is set back, so that drivers are perpendicular to the cycleway at the point of crossing it, rather than obliquely drifting across it (cf Summerhall northbound).
Similarly, cyclists will only need to look left/right to see a vehicle approaching the crossing, rather than have eyes in the back of their head, and ears pricked for the classic left hook.
Ideally there will be enough space for one full car length between Leith Walk and the cycleway.
We saw this style of infrastructure in Denmark too, with less of a set-back from the main carriageway, and it was quite an experience to have drivers stop and wait for the cycleway to clear before proceeding - it can be done! And for those that think the Danes are different, we did get shouted at by Danish drivers in the absence of decent infrastructure. People are the same all over...
That said, we might need some "give way to bicycles" additional signage for the locals to get used to such novelty!
Robert
Posted 9 years ago # -
In my experience drivers check the lane they're crossing over but don't look at the road they're entering. It'll take a lot of education... exciting times to be a Leither!
Posted 9 years ago # -
Hmm, can't tell from that what the sight lines will be for right turning traffic. How wide are the cycle lanes? Normally I am travelling at 20 mph plus down hill so I'm not sure that I'd want to use that side if it is narrow. To be honest, if they fix the road surface, I cant see me using that at all, but then I guess it is not aimed at confident commuters or whatever marketing group I'd be segmented into. Are there any plans for improving access to any of the parks or green spaces from Leith Walk? If I lived in the area and was thinking about my kids cycling, that would be more of a priority.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Is it not odd that the corner next to cars joining LWalk is of a small (slow) circumference but the corner for those leaving LWalk to tackle crossing the cycle path is of a big (fast) circumference?
Edit: actually I see I have that wrong - it's just the angle of the sideroad that makes it look so.Posted 9 years ago # -
fascinating stuff. almost regret not living down there anymore (as an aside, we're in the middle of selling our flat on Iona st, which is alleged to have previously been a bike shop that Chris Hoy worked in...pm me if you want particulars....)
Posted 9 years ago # -
Aye, that's more like it. Clearly they have listened to feedback.
Posted 9 years ago #
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