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CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Road layout changes in the west end at Ryans bar? (Also Haymarket)
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Posted 11 years ago #
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Cycling Edinburgh (@CyclingEdin)
12/10/2013 11:23
@edintravel @edintravel_liveIs there lots of nice new pedestrian and cycle infrastructure?
citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.…
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EdinTravel Live (@edintravel_live)
12/10/2013 11:48
@CyclingEdin There's a few news ASLs :-/"
Posted 11 years ago # -
The right turn into Queensferry Street after coming west from Princes Street is a little bit worse than the Topshop pinch-point section for having-to-go-right-over-to-one-side-of-the-lane-to-cross-the-tracks-as-perpendicularly-as-possible, and the channel to the left of the tramlines across the top of Lothian Road is way narrower than the equivalent at the RSA. The right-turn from Morrison St to West Maitland is best dismounted and walked round to save three minutes. There's nowt at the north end of Torphichen Place to say "you can turn up here now if you want".
Posted 11 years ago # -
Just tried the junction at Haymarket. Now I need to cross the tram lines twice when on my way home.
The lanes were a bit confusing on West Maitland street. It was previously all four in one direction. Now it is two, tram lane, then a contraflow tram/bus lane.
The angle of crossing Haymarket -> West Maitland is okay, but the West Maitland -> Torpichen is shallower than I'd like. Traffic had better get used to me weaving all over the place.
Didn't notice any new ASLs as I was behind a bus.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I dropped into the Tescos in Haymarket Terrace on Friday after work. I commented on the fences having been removed round the station and the assistant said I was the first person who had mentioned it!
Posted 11 years ago # -
Just back from a test ride (in the rain!), so I plan on sharing my experiences and thoughts on the layout later. Suffice to say, it wasn't much fun!
Posted 11 years ago # -
In the wet and rain, so I was playing it safe and tried to cross over the tram lines at Haymarket as close to perpendicular as I could. The problem was the car behind me saw this as me crossing into the left lane, and they cut past me pretty close as I was straitening up into the right lane.
The two tram lanes must come to 6-8 meters width in total, to cross truly perpendicular to the lines would put you across the two lanes of cars as well.
I'll put my money on an accident within two weeks.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Beginning to sound like the 'diversion' route will be the preferable route for cyclists!
Posted 11 years ago # -
Hmmm. West Maitland to Torphichen Street in the rain isn't exactly a barrel of giggles.
Posted 11 years ago # -
That's the one I've been worried about.
I'm wondering whether it is a good idea going through it tomorrow morning when everyone will be unfamiliar with the new setup. Might take a different route and try it when it is quieter or when I've done a recce on foot.
Any particular tips or warnings?
Posted 11 years ago # -
@ Stickman
I'm trying to upload videos to Youtube for the first time and it's taking a lot longer than I expected. However...
I went from Palmerston Place onto Torphichen St, which effectively the same angle of attack to the tram lines as going from West Maitland St. Not something I'd enjoy in heavy traffic to be honest, at least on the road bike with slick tyres. Morrison St to Haymarket was worse as I'll explain when I have the videos to hopefully show the problem.
Posted 11 years ago # -
It's like the east-end pinch-point TopShop-area line-crossing, except you have to go much further to the left of the right-turn lane and do both sets of tracks in a single swoop.
It won't be helped by PHC pseudotaxis steaming all the way through from West Coates at 40mph, just because they now can.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Hmmm.
May take the MTB then. Wider tyres will at least make a spill a bit less likely.
Posted 11 years ago # -
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Annie Barr (@AnnieB728)
14/10/2013 08:34
maybe @on_lothianbuses x12 driver needed more help with change@haymarket-Stopped at green, went through red&had2ask other drivers the way!"
Posted 11 years ago # -
The Taxi rack at Haymarket is open. The ASL at the front of it has the potential to be a real source of conflict between cyclists and taxi drivers (if taxi drivers encroach upon it when the lights are red) or it could be a benifit to cyclists as it looks as though it gets a green when the traffic on the main road is at red, so you can work your way round to Haymarket Yards with only some taxi behind you... it is going to be 'interesting'.
I was running a little late this morning so I didn't stop to observe, I'll have a proper look this evening.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Had a brief sortie this morning. Turned right from Charlotte Square onto the endof Princes Street, then right off the end of Princes Street into Queensferry Street. This is barmy, having to cross two sets of tram tracks at a very shallow angle instead of being able to loop past the front of Ryan's because in that direction it's now Buses Only. There will be a counter argument that there's the bike cut through at Register's House, but then there are the cobbles and the oft-blocked-by-parking dropped kerb.
Then came up Palmerston Place (nose-to-tail traffic) doing a right, then left up Torphicen. Again, horribly shallow to cross the tracks.
My advice, avoid the tram tracks if you can, there's going to be a major incident at some point.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Yep, did West Maitland to Torphichen this morning.
As pointed out, shallow angle to get across the tracks, requiring a last minute cut across to be sure you don't get stuck in the track.
Although thanks to the lorry driver who was right behind me from the lights and kept a good bit back. Don't know if he was as confused as others on where to go or if he was just being a careful and considerate driver. Hopefully the latter.
Well done Edinburgh Council, another step along the way to being a Model Cycling City.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I came in from Haymarket to Torphichen St this morning. Was actually OK, took the corner deliberately wide to cross tracks.
The angle doesn't look so favourable going the other way from Morrison St, we'll see on the way home.
Posted 11 years ago # -
That taxi rank is certainly a conflict zone with the ASL.
Once a taxi has picked up a fare from the station, in order to move away from the rank and allow the next taxi up to the front of the queue, it HAS to move into the ASL.
There's a nice coffee stand outside Haymarket. Just stop, have a coffee and watch the nightmare unfold.
Besides - the rank is only big enough for 3 or 4 taxis. However, there were over half a dozen there this morning, all backed up onto the double yellow lines. In fact, when I approached, they were backed up back into the main road so that I had to skip over the tram tracks and into the right side of the lane just to get past. Which makes a mockery of the fact that the bike lane goes into the taxi rank so that cyclists can get a better angle to cross the tracks later on.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I saw the Haymarket taxi rank ASL with my own eyes on Saturday. Still can't believe it!
Posted 11 years ago # -
could someone get a picture???
Posted 11 years ago # -
Off to Maplin in a few minutes so I'll Flickr it on my way past...
Posted 11 years ago # -
Out of interest. Why would you want to leave the Main road to go into the taxi rank?
Posted 11 years ago # -
@stiltskin maybe it's for cyclists coming out of Haymarket?
Posted 11 years ago # -
Its for peds coming out of the station crossing to the traffic island, innit.
An invisible zebra crossing. With cycle conflict.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I think it's a mis-guided bit of infrastructure to 'help' cyclists.
If you're coming from the east, you can nip down there on the left of the island and then get a head-start in front of the taxis with a much easier angle over the tram lines before they turn left down Haymarket yards. Otherwise you have to try and hop over them with the main west-bound traffic trying to get past.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I'm heading home that way and that picture has left me very confused.
I'm sure it will all make sees when I see it in the flesh
Posted 11 years ago # -
My word... It does look like an attempt to provide a Dutch/Danish sort of scoot-round-the-traffic-and-get-an-advanced-green lane and ASL. But as ever the execution is a little... Hmmm....
If the lights are green I'm unlikely to want to use that lane round that island - the possibility of a taxi coming out straight in front of me is ridiculously possible, and there's a likely increase in pedestrian conflict.
That said, people may assume that cyclists will use the lane, so pedestrians may simply step out from the island, seeing there's nothing else coming other than a cyclist.
If the lights are red and there's not a taxi blocking the ASL then it could be genuinely useful, but if the lights change, and there is a taxi there. So it's a pretty narrow possibility of usefulness.
Posted 11 years ago # -
But as ever the execution is a little... Hmmm....
Quality?
Posted 11 years ago #
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