Needed to cycle to the airport and back today. When returning, I got up to the Glasgow Road and went along the pavement towards Maybury, but then the pavement stopped. At this point, I had to choose between cycling on the dual carriageway, or crossing to the pavement on the south side of the dual carriageway. I think I'm a confident cyclist, but I took the latter as the road looked just too scary. Do many people go on that road?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
Airport to Maybury Casino
(24 posts)-
Posted 10 years ago #
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The official cyclepath goes under the dual carriageway at the airport junction. You then you can cross back over on the RBS bridge to get back to the North side.
From what I can see it's a fairly even split between people on the cyclepath and people on the road.
The Cyclepath isn't great and the cooncil have plans but no funding to improve it (yet). Hopefully when they do they will also improve the signage, which is pretty poor.
There was a thread on here in the last week or so about the Newbridge to Maybury section.
Posted 10 years ago # -
"The Cyclepath isn't great and the cooncil have plans but no funding to improve it (yet)."
http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10194
http;//citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11303#post-127565
http://edinburgh.cyclescape.org/issues/817-cycle-access-to-edinburgh-airport
Posted 10 years ago # -
Arriving at Newbridge heading east this morning, I decided to tackle the Glasgow Road all the way to the Maybury Casino for the first time. I hadn't had a close pass up to that point (about an 1hr 45), but holy cow, I had quite a number during that 10 minute dash past the airport, despite deliberately trying to ride so people didn't squeeze past me using the same lane. I think at least 6 cars buzzed past me while still fully in the same lane as me.
If I had to do that every day, I suspect I would take the extra couple of minutes and stick to the (terrible) path.
Posted 10 years ago # -
The cycle path from the airport to Gogar isn't the worst of it, it's the bit west of the airport that's atrocious. East of the airport I'd definitely take the cycle path. In fact, I'd still take it west too as that road is just dangerous. M8 speeds on a wee dual carriageway.
Posted 10 years ago # -
I cycle the A8 everyday to and from the airport and have noticed that if I ride in an "aggressive" lane position cars drivers give me more space. I think that if I can get a driver to turn their steering wheel they will give me more space, if I cycle in the gutter drivers will wizz past in my lane. Cycling the path during the autumn and winter months is in my opinion more dangerous due to leaves and sticks all over the path.
Posted 10 years ago # -
The conventional wisdom is that drivers will pass about the same distance from you as you are from the edge of the road. Your experience seems to bear this out.
Posted 10 years ago # -
I cycle the A8 everyday to and from the airport and have noticed that if I ride in an "aggressive" lane position cars drivers give me more space. I think that if I can get a driver to turn their steering wheel they will give me more space, if I cycle in the gutter drivers will wizz past in my lane. Cycling the path during the autumn and winter months is in my opinion more dangerous due to leaves and sticks all over the path.
hmm. I do the same & I really don't have a problem with the path condition. You obviously have to watch it at the Goagarstone Road junction, but to me it seems infinitely safer than the road where I see any number of close passes.Posted 10 years ago # -
The conventional wisdom is that drivers will pass about the same distance from you as you are from the edge of the road. Your experience seems to bear this out.
http://www.drianwalker.com/overtaking/overtakingprobrief.pdf
Unfortunately one of thre few studies to look into this does not support conventional wisdom.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Obviously I still get some close passes but if I ride a meter or so from the edge of the road any car that doesn't change course will hit me, as would be the case on any road. By riding further out the driver needs to make a decision and hopefully that is to change course and with any luck this will bring around a decrease in speed. I have had a horror pass where I was overtaken by a single decker coach as it level pegged with another coach in the outside lane but that was by far the worst and usually my mile on the A8 is ok.
Posted 10 years ago # -
If only the council had been constructing some kind of flattened straight surface for a new transport link located away from the A8 between the airport and Gogar to which a cycle path could have been appended.....if only.....
Posted 10 years ago # -
I most often stick to the path along the A8 - particularly in the winter when I worry about my visibility on the road along there. However, in lighter weather - and especially if I'm on my road bike rather than my cross bike - I will plough straight up the road. Is it only a mile ... feels longer!
When I'm on the path I'm quite often passed by a fast, confident cyclist on the road. I wonder if that's you, paul.mag? Whoever it is doesn't appear fazed by the traffic, anyway.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Come to think of it, why is the A90 path getting all the work and the A8 is getting nothing? Is it because the A90 path leads to a town that's still in Edinburgh City Council, but the A8 path leads to West Lothian?
This is a thing I've seen with roads, too - where they lead to a council or national border, they're often crappy and under-maintained.
Posted 10 years ago # -
The last I've heard from CEC is that they have plans for the A8 cycle path but no money (this year).
How comprehensive those plans are and when they'll get the money is unknown.
Perhaps we should write a list of the current issues so they know what sort of job is required. ..
Posted 10 years ago # -
Posted 10 years ago #
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@stickman I know, I'm actually quite tempted to cycle up the tram track one of these days. I imagine that the piece of tarmac between the tracks would be lovely and smooth.
@dg145 if the cyclist is wearing a luminous yellow backpack and has a black and green road bike then yes.
Posted 10 years ago # -
I have to go to the airport later - I'm still a tad confused about how to tackle the gogar roundabout - is it a case of using the dual carriageway under the underpass, or go around the roundabout in bits very slowly? Sorry if this has already been answered - just want to be sure. I'm happy with being assertive if necessary.... it's just this sign I find a bit odd for example:
Posted 10 years ago # -
Posted 10 years ago #
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thanks chdot - good idea - if I have time I'll go up from Hermiston...
Posted 10 years ago # -
Posted 10 years ago #
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great - thanks a lot! Very helpful.
Posted 10 years ago # -
@algo I do this everyday and use the roundabout( I don't use the underpass due to having to get to the left hand side after you emerge from it) I go past B&M making sure that I am am not in the slip road to the B&M car park then after getting up the hill move to the furthest right hand lane and stay in this lane through the 2 sets of lights before moving to the left lane at the 3rd set and then continuing on the left as I rejoin the A8. As you exit the roundabout there is a dropped kerb on your left that you can use to get onto the shared path which you can then follow to the airport.
Posted 10 years ago # -
thanks a lot! That's great advice. As I've got a big rucksack I might try and go the route that chdot suggested, but it depends on whether I get my work done in time - if I'm late I'll go your way!
(Still not sure I get why that sign is on that lamppost though)
Posted 10 years ago # -
"(Still not sure I get why that sign is on that lamppost though)"
I did wonder if it has been mis-composited onto that lamppost from others when the images were stitched together, but it's also visible from the lanes leading onto the roundabout. Presumably it dates from the days when there was a cursory foot-route all the way around the outside of the roundabout, prior to the manglings.
Posted 10 years ago #
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