CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting

Your tax dollars at work, Manor Place, West End

(26 posts)
  • Started 11 years ago by skotl
  • Latest reply from Instography

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  1. skotl
    Member

    Like many others, I cut across Palmerston Place in the morning, cycle alongside the cathedral and (like slightly fewer others) *may* have been known to turn left and go the not-entirely-correct direction up the one-way Manor Place and turn right into Melville Street.

    Not today, though. Three policefolks stood on Manor Place, stopping cyclists who are on the pavement or are going the wrong way up the one-way street.

    Can't fault their legal point of view, but it does seem a bit OTT, resource-wise.
    Be aware, all, that there does seem to be a crackdown on ensuring that cyclists are adhering to the rules.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  2. Stickman
    Member

    I turn right at that cut through but do sometimes see people turning left, including a bloke this morning. Seems a bit daft to me as you are cycling against traffic and you could get off and walk for the 50 yards it would take.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  3. DaveC
    Member

    I have in the past turned off Palmerston Place, rode along the dirt track on the grass, out along the entry way to the parking, and then dismounted off the bike and walked up the street on the path to cross over to Melvile Drive. So long as you don't cycle the wrong way up Palmerston Place or on the path, I don't see anything illegal?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  4. SRD
    Moderator

    I presume it is a result of policing 'responding to local priorities' ie complaints.

    We should complain more about failure to provide contra-flow lanes as per the ATAP.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  5. Baldcyclist
    Member

    Nah, fair enough, they might have 'had' me had I not spotted the WPC standing on the church steps, and the big Police van parked right next to the rat run. Seemed to be more a case of making a point, rather than actually collaring anyone.

    Point taken, I'll probably use the designated not very far in the scheme of things diversion already in place for road users, rather than the cyclist only rat run, or just walk in future. Shame though, probably took 2 minutes off of my commute, and I felt *bad*.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  6. Coxy
    Member

    I can understand getting nabbed for cycling on the pavement, and going the wrong way down a one-way street. But are they nicking folks for riding on the grass/mud track next to the path past the church?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  7. Radgeworks
    Member

    I used to use the path down the LEFT hand side of the cathedral, which kept things nice and legal for accessing melville st, and off the grass/footway on the Bishops walk, which is the grassy desirelined area on the right hand side we are discussing in this thread.
    However, the cathedral commenced building works on that legal Left side, which is the root cause of this issue, as most cyclists just took "the other path" rather than the more circuitious route along chester st etc. The moral of the story is you are barely "legal" until palmerston place if heading east, then you need to get off and walk down to the crossing,at the big steps where you can legally remount and ride on. (unless you are there earlier or later than the police are about) ;-) R

    Posted 11 years ago #

  8. wingpig
    Member

    Also today: a police had a word with this chump for riding along Shandwick Place. He then walked twenty metres before re-mounting to scootle to Atholl Crescent:
    IMAG1004

    Posted 11 years ago #

  9. Stickman
    Member

    I'd previously asked here about use of the path next to the cathedral.

    Consensus seemed to be the path was fair game as long as you weren't cycling over the pavement to get there. Would be good to get a definitive answer though. Don't want to get a ticking off (or a fine!) from a polis.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  10. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Went that way yesterday. Took the diversion. But definitely another example of really not considering cyclists in the scheme of things because the diversion is awkward - the turn into Chester Street is bikes only, so the traffic isn't anticipating you, and not being able to turn right up Manor Place, but instead have to turn into the middle of Melville Drive just seems a bit odd.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  11. chdot
    Admin

    CEC says -

    "

    The path is shown as private on our system so I would presume that Land
    Reform Act access rights apply. Cycling along footways (aka pavements)
    is illegal although crossing them (perpendicularly) to reach a path is
    not.

    "

    Posted 11 years ago #

  12. Baldcyclist
    Member

    "
    But definitely another example of really not considering cyclists in the scheme of things because the diversion is awkward - the turn into Chester Street is bikes only, so the traffic isn't anticipating you
    "

    Would it be better to have bikes go down to Rothsey Place with the motorised traffic (I think that's what I might have done before discovering the 'rat run', can't remember)? Those seem to be the only two streets available to divert trafic?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  13. Baldcyclist
    Member

    "
    although crossing them (perpendicularly) to reach a path is
    not.
    "

    So if you go a wee bit further up Palmerston Pl, and bump up the kerb to access perpendicular, instead of using the dropped kerb at the crossing and riding along as wee bit, it would be fine?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  14. Instography
    Member

    As ever, my experience has been that if you take it easy and roll along at walking pace, not overtaking, giving way to pedestrians where you need to, there's no problems on that path. But then there's enough chumps like this morning's chump who jumped the lights at the end of Grosvenor Crescent, raced to the entry from Palmerston Place, forcing pedestrians to stop, and then hared along to the end. And that was when it's quiet. At peak times I suspect it's more of a bun fight.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  15. cb
    Member

    Nothing to do with a certain kilt shop being in the vicinity?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  16. skotl
    Member

    I certainly take it easy when going along the path and more often go along the grass part, but it can be a bit of a logjam rejoining the pavement on palmerston place when heading home at night.

    I guess I should do what the law says (red-face) and head along Chester Street morning and evening.

    @wingpig - the rare times that I get the train, I'm amazed at the amount of cyclists that try to cycle along the pavements at shandwick place and haymarket.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  17. chdot
    Admin

    "I presume it is a result of policing 'responding to local priorities' ie complaints."

    Now's your chance to set some new priorities -

    http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11323

    Posted 11 years ago #

  18. Stickman
    Member

    Hopefully this will all be a moot point once the Grand Reopening Of The West End happens towards the end of the month, and we are all diversion-free.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  19. wingpig
    Member

    I thought for a moment that Shandwick Place was open this morning when the straight-on lane going west at the end of Princes Street had things in, but they were all going up Queensferry Street. The gap between the left-hand-side of the road and the left-hand tram-rail looks quite narrow from the ASZ but shouldn't be any worse than the Mound equivalent.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  20. crowriver
    Member

    I presume this has something to do with a recent petition to the Council and associated press coverage? Promises to look into things by prominent councillors, etc. ?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  21. KenM
    Member

    The whole West End is going to become a sanctuary of free-flowing traffic over this weekend, with the removal of the tram roadworks. So, this particular junction shouldn't be a "problem" any more.

    http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/20237/local_tram_updates/1841/murrayfield_to_princes_street

    Posted 11 years ago #

  22. stiltskin
    Member

    ^ yes! it seems a strange time to enforce it at this point: just as the roadworks are about to finish. Where is the logic in that?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  23. skotl
    Member

    Double-yes, and there weren't any rozzers out at the same place this morning.

    FWIW, it worked for me - I've been following the actual road for the last 24 hours :D

    Roll on removal of the tramworks!

    Posted 11 years ago #

  24. PS
    Member

    Why aren't they out catching *real* criminals?

    :op
    ;o)

    Posted 11 years ago #

  25. Baldcyclist
    Member

    Why aren't they out catching *real* criminals?

    Because all of the *real* criminals are still in bed at morning commute time*, so the polis have nothing better to do than hassle otherwise law abiding speeding motorists, and pavement cyclists.

    *Except on Giro day, then all the criminals will all be at the Post Office pleading that they shouldn't be sent to work (would have to get up early, leave no time for drugs and burgling). The Police will likely be hiding round the corner for said miscreants so Tuesday (Is that Giro day?) mornings will be fine to do your speeding and pavement cycling.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  26. Instography
    Member

    You're showing your age with all this talk of Giros. It's direct payments to bank accounts these days.

    Posted 11 years ago #

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