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CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News
"Tram line blackspots for cyclists identified"
(10 posts)-
Posted 11 years ago #
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I read that article, too, and sent it to our Transport Convenor, Lesley Hinds.
Last week I had asked her what the plan was to address the clear safety issues at Haymarket and I was pleasantly surprised to hear that Ms. Hinds had visited the junction last week.
However, one week on (as we know) nothing has changed.I sent a follow up email to Ms. Hinds yesterday, with no response, and I've sent a link to the above article to her today. I think that the final section "Chaos at the station" sums up the situation perfectly.
I haven't had any response to this week's emails but I do intend to continue pushing for a response.
In the meantime, the only thing I can think of is that we start photographing / filming transgressors and sending the results to the council taxi office.Posted 11 years ago # -
Does anyone know the angle that you're forced to cross the tracks at the east end of Princes St where it turns up to St Andrews Square? I go along there regularly and is be surprised if it was 20 or 30 degrees for the first turn, if you are keeping to the left. I'm always very wary about this, but as it's so shallow and at a pinch point with the pedestrian crossing, making a dive to the right to get between the tracks and increase the angle seems very risky.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I've found that keeping to the left is treated by an impatient driver as an opportunity to overtake just when you're preparing to jig right to cross the first track. Even if you're waving at them to keep back. So now I move between the tracks as soon as I can after the lights at Waverley Bridge. That way I can safely cross the second track without fear of being splatted by a car behind.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Sounds like a good plan. I'm surprised that this area isn't mentioned more as I think it's a woeful design.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I have already identified the tramline blackspot. It runs from Haymarket Yards to York Place, i.e. the whole mile and a bit of on-road tram running, where there's not one smidgin of consideration been given to how cyclists will interact with it.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Isn't there some law like "gross negligence manslaughter" that would apply if a cyclist died in one of those blackspots?
After all, the council are well aware of the fact these areas are dangerous. They can't argue they didn't realise the risk.
And, if there is a law, wouldn't it be individual councillors - e.g. Ms Hinds - who would be prosecuted, rather than the council?
Posted 11 years ago # -
@gibbo I'd imagine the response to that would be to ban cycling around the tracks, rather than coming up with a sensible solution.
Posted 11 years ago # -
@twq Probably, but maybe the shame of banning cyclists from a stretch of NCN1 would lead to a proper solution longer-term?
PS I've banned myself from cycling in these areas already. It's simply not safe.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I'm not cycling these routes either, *but* I think we need to keep pushing the threat onto the only people who can effect a change.
I have little time for Lesley Hinds, or her predecessor (the hapless Gordon Mackenzie), but the only way to keep them focused is (in my opinion) to play out the possible consequences of inaction.
I would hope that any human being would act, knowing that someone could be seriously hurt or killed. If that fails, though, then I have no problem playing the I-will-send-every-correspondance-between-us-that-you-ignored card.Sometimes I wonder whether I'm little better than the Evening News comments-section screamers, but we need to speak up on this. I won't post Ms. Hind's email address here, but it's readilly available on the Edinburgh Gov website - please feel free to send your voice/opinions to the single person who is ultimately responsible for transport in Edinburgh.
Posted 11 years ago #
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