I steadfastly refuse to use any lane I consider too narrow, for the reason stated above. Drivers do often drive right up to the line, so you need that extra "safety margin" (if you can call it that) of some extra space.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Road layout changes in the west end at Ryans bar? (Also Haymarket)
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Posted 10 years ago #
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Editing problems (and various distractions) meant this video only now being added. It's bit on the dark side to say the least as the camera was still set on spot metering and underexposed the recording. But the number of transgressions in 10 minutes was ridiculous. And I didn't even count taxis leaving the back of the queue without even going through the jug handle. What cyclist (or motorist) should be expecting that? (Sadly, all of them I suppose is the answer).
As for a school using the cycle lane as a drop-off... (see the 2:50 mark).
I'm pretty sure the drivers cottoned on to me standing there in hi-viz with a headcam as I saw drivers looking like they were planning U-turns only to change their minds!
Posted 10 years ago # -
It always used to amaze me when the haymarket section of road was closed for the tramworks that, no matter what the council tried to do with barriers and double yellow lines, the taxis would just line up on the corner of Haymarket & ?Rosebury Crescent? no matter what impact it had on all the buses trying to get round the corner.
Most taxi drivers seem to think that they are literally a law unto themselves - it will be interesting to see what they do when this rank is closed; my bet is that they will continue to use it, if access is available, or simply park up on the double yellows outside the station.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Any word on when the rank is being closed?
I always use the jug-handle now the lights seem to be fixed, but for the last three nights the taxis have been backed up beyond Ryries when I've been going through.
Monday night I managed to thread my way past, last night I got off and walked round. Tonight the taxis were so far back that I had to go across the tramlines. First time I'd done that in a while - I'd forgotten just how sketchy it is.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Just came back that way tonight and there was even a private car at the back of the queue, extending out into the road. And I mean a private (not private hire) car!
Posted 10 years ago # -
Going west through it yesterday evening I went on the road, seeing as the right-hand lane of Morrison Street had been clear all the way from Dewar Place. After the red at the end of Morrison St I caught the red whilst the jug-handle exit went green then a red at the pedestrian crossing just after the jug handle then the red at the Haymarket Yards junction, so might have saved about a minute if I'd gone down the jughandle. I'd've also not had to move to the left-hand-side of the lane in order to avoid the nose of the taxi edging into the lane to U-turn into the rank from the eastbound lane, which is what I'm most looking forward to the cessation of when the rank is moved.
Posted 10 years ago # -
There was a copper at the rank this morning and only 3 taxis!
But yesterday I was driving (for my sins) westbound past Haymarket. As usual there was the line of taxis out onto the main road. However, in front of me was a polis-man-on-a-bike just coming up to them. Hooray, I thought, let's watch him nick sone taxi drivers! But no, he just cycled past! :(
Posted 10 years ago # -
Interested to know how the polis-man-on-a-bike negotiated the tracks, jug handle etc.?
Posted 10 years ago # -
He crossed the first lines soon after the ASL. Rode between the tracks until he got close to the taxi-rank exit, and then crossed the remaining ones before the road narrowed. He used a lot of shoulder checking.
Same route as I take. Avoid the jug-handle. But then the taxis were out into the road so he had to cross the lines early
He was given plenty of roon as I was behind him! I imagine he would be given plenty of room normally - especially with the handcuffs on the back of his belt on display!
Posted 10 years ago # -
That's the answer! Everyone head to your nearest toy store (Or Ann Summers!) and buy yourselves a set of cuffs. That's not "impersonating a police officer, surely ;-)
Posted 10 years ago # -
The new taxi rank on the opposite side of the road (Clifton Terrace) is now in operation, but that hasn't stopped taxis spilling out onto the tramlines.
Posted 10 years ago # -
No taxis at all in the rank this morning...
Posted 10 years ago # -
I've had a few problems there, recently.
Going home around 6pm-ish in the dark. Past Haymarket heading East - and normally turn left up Roseberry Crescent.
However, the taxis queuing on the North side of Haymarket Terrace having reached back to Roseberry Crescent, continue being backed up past the junction.
So I'm coming up on their right, turning left on to the crescent, when a gaps comes up in the queuing rank ahead and they all shift forward. Twice they've nearly hit me as I passed in front of them turning left. And yes, I was signalling!
Posted 10 years ago # -
New sign - "Drop off only no rank." Space contained 1 car, waiting for someone I assume.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Posted 10 years ago #
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"...more road markings and signs are needed to make it safe for cyclists."
Thanks, Ian Maxwell. That'll solve the problem.
Posted 10 years ago # -
The left-hand lane for going from Morrison St to Dalry Road now features a prominent soft tarmac repair-hump across the middle of the lane; evidently it had been too smooth for too long. Not something I'd want to go over without knowing it was there in the wet with something chasing me close behind, so FixMyStreeted so that the council can't claim to be unaware of it.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Thank you for the warning, wingpig, I'll keep an eye out for that.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Via the sustrans scotland twitter, I note they've submitted plans for a screened off covered bicycle parking at Haymarket Station for what looks like 86 bikes which is a big improvement on current parking.
Posted 10 years ago # -
That looks great. That is almost quadrupling the current capacity.
I assume the coffee bar next to Haymarket is being ditched/moved (or has it gone already?; not been that way for a while).The only issue I see is that it could be a bit of a scrum getting bikes in and out at busy times.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Only 86?
;-)Yes, the coffee bar that used to be there is now inside the new station. They were giving away free drinks the other day, alas I was in a hurry and didn't have time to queue for one.
Someone somewhere asked about pinch points in the area - unsurprisingly, the problem is just at the corner of the old building where the pavement is at its narrowest.
Posted 10 years ago # -
I really, really resent the fact that Network rail gets Sustrans to do this sort of work, as thought they have no responsibility for getting people in or out of their station. Sustrans says it is because they don't actually own that bit of land, but I still find it unacceptable.
Posted 10 years ago # -
"Spokes has drawn up an ambitious scheme which helps cyclists avoid the tram tracks while also steering them away from other blackspots.
The proposal involves creating a two-way cycle lane on the opposite side of the road"
Posted 10 years ago # -
Nice to see Spokes running with my idea on this very thread from three months ago. ;-)
I should get into the street design consultancy business. Is there any money in it? :D
Posted 10 years ago # -
PS, most of the ideas you post are winners in my book so I'd vote for you.
Posted 10 years ago # -
is there actually a mock up of the proposed plan anywhere? this is my regular commute so would be interested to see how they are going to fit bikes, motorbikes, pedestrians, cars, buses, trucks, trams etc into a finite space
Posted 10 years ago # -
COuldnt see any link for one, also looked on the spokes site.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Posted 10 years ago #
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Definite potential.
Less useful for those going to hay market and/or coming from Dalry rd?
Posted 10 years ago # -
I'd be interested to see how they propose to get to Haymarket Yards and the company car / bike parks down there. Its currently a nightmare but trying to take people along to the Roseburn path then off at the back of Haymarket Yards isn't ideal either.
I do wonder if we need to consider a new coloured road marking for cyclists with a suggested line such as a green line with bike symbols. This could branch with points to turn at the tram lines. The main risk I see now is not the lines themselves as I know which segment to be in and where to move to but in the drivers not realising that the cyclists are going to have some pretty crazy road positioning and swing across the road to cross the lines near 90 degrees. I often see other cyclists turning into the tram stop on the Haymarket Yards end to then cross the tram lines and cycle in the middle of the road. This is probably the safest path but drivers see the position as a left turn rather than a right turn. The second cross of lines at the bottom is also tricky - its also very easy to think you can continue along the tram lines rather than turn right off them. I've seen a few folk find they are cycling right onto the tram only section.
Posted 10 years ago #
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