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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-25716086
"We understand that removing private vehicles from the station will do away with a convenience that people have become used to, however; it is our job to balance convenience with the safety and best interests of all of our station users."
If only planners would look at city and town centres in the same way...
What they don't say is that bikes will no longer be allowed to access the station by the south most ramp entrance on waverly bridge. I.e. The one that would allow you to rise to the bike racks.
Instead, if you go down the 'north ramp' you will need to dismount and walk your bike to the racks
@SRD, I wasn't aware of that.
Where are the bike racks these days? Not much of a hardship unless they're really far away.
"Not much of a hardship unless they're really far away."
Still at the back, which is why riding down the south ramp to the taxi turn is 'desirable'. I believe the plan is to have a barrier operated by taxis so presumably some cyclists will tail taxis and hope they don't get hit by the falling barrier.
Others will ride on the pavement.
There was talk of new racks near the Transport Police base, but I doubt if these are in place (yet).
There is also talk of a 'bicycle hub'. The proposed site is by the Calton Road entrance, which may or may not be a good idea - not least because there is no right turn from CR to Leith Street.
"Not much of a hardship unless they're really far away."
They're as far away as you can get and still be in the station.
Agree in principle, not a *huge* hardship, but given pressures of finding available racks and hoofing it back up to the trains (along with general pressure of catching train), I can only see this encouraging people to cycle (or run with bike) thru station and generating conflict.
I don't think it's been well thought through. In fact, I *know* its not been well thought through, because the person responsible seemed baffled when I raised it. It simply had not occurred to them that there was any problem at all in closing south rank to bikes.
Anyone want to do a demo before Monday - one riding on south ramp, locking bike and coming back to barriers to catch train v. north ramp, walking through station and back again? might help generate pressure for the new racks that chdot was talking about.
Aren't the north and south ramps only about 20m apart?
@steveo YES (which is obviously what the redesign folks thought). But the south ramp feeds onto a roadway which takes you around the station to the racks, while the north ramp takes you to a 'dismount' and pedestrian access to the racks. I suppose people who know the station well will walk their bike to the road and remount? but if you are at the north ramp, the 'obvious' route to the current bike racks (which I presume will be signposted) is down a pedestrian corridor.
"Aren't the north and south ramps only about 20m apart?"
Yes but at the bottom of south ramp you can keep cycling.
At bottom of north you have to get off and push.
No great hardship as such.
Will add extra minute or so at a time of stress (train to catch) but also means pushing through crowds coming off Princes Street escalators and with/against people using 'corridor' that goes past left luggage.
Also don't know if they plan to improve north ramp for cyclists.
I think you are supposed to dismount at the barrier and there are usually pedestrians on the 'road'.
Not surprising really, pavement too narrow.
Shouldn't be surprised at such a short-sighted development. Given where the racks are the logical place to allow cyclists is down the south ramp. You're creating conflict, expecially at busy times, by having cyclists ride down the north ramp then walk across the concourse. I know there are people with big cases and so on, so a bike's not that unusual, but even so, if you had the opportunity to remove any potential conflicts.
Gotcha now. South ramp has some pretty hefty looking barriers on it already, I doubt its currently kosher to ride down either. Ignore me, north south confusion...
North ramp has hefty barriers, yes? I think you'd be getting off at the top and walking on the pavement tbh.
They're as far away as you can get and still be in the station.
Indeed, and located far away from all but the North Berwick platform. I believe the round-trip distance from ramp to rack and back to concourse is about 450m (according to internal signage and my own googlemap measurement of the station).
Not quick if you're in a hurry!
I believe the round-trip distance from ramp to rack and back to concourse is about 450m. Not quick if you're in a hurry!
I took unwell on the train back from Glasgow a few weeks ago. I had to get to the toilet at Waverley as soon as possible.
I had to run all the way to the bike rack, faff around trying to find a free space to wedge my bike in and then lock it up, then run all the way back to the main concourse, then run all the way through the booking hall to the toilets, and then faff around trying to get the right change through the turnstiles.
The bike racks would be far better placed where the taxi rank is. And while they're at it, perhaps Network Rail could dispose of the current toaster racks and purchase some decent racks with a spacing of 850mm.
A shorter barrier on the south ramp would sort this, no? Say allowing a 1.5 m gap wide enough for bikes but not wide enough for cars/taxis.
I don't know what the ultimate plans for that big empty space to the east of the booking hall building are. There was talk of space for a market, performances, cafes, bike hubs etc, but I haven't seen any updates for that. Agree that the Calton Road exit is not particularly attractive for bikes, unless we're getting a (much needed) redesign of Leith Street sometime soon.
"sometime soon"
Define soon!!
"A shorter barrier on the south ramp would sort this, no? Say allowing a 1.5 m gap wide enough for bikes but not wide enough for cars/taxis."
This was suggested, but since they've just invested in the new one, it is not likely to be changed any time soon.
Instead we will just get lots of 'cyclist dismount' signs and muttering about scofflaw cyclists.
I'll trundle through with my handlebarcamera at lunchtime.
We could always apply the advice given to speeding drivers; Leave a little early ;)
@steveo
why is it wrong to think that they could actually consider cycles when redesigning stations, especially given that the grand thrust of Keith Brown's integrated transport scheme seems to be 'getting more people to cycle to the station'?
Cycles are considered they're allowed in the station, there is a fair sized rack and we're talking about an extra couple of minutes walking over the current arrangement.
Why does the advice given to private car users become a a lack of consideration when applied to private cycle users. If I were a car user with a disabled passenger I’d think “we’re” all just whining...
"Why does the advice given to private car users become a a lack of consideration when applied to private cycle users."
That's sort of a valid point, but -
There is a degree of whinging here. 'We' don't like 'facilities' taken away. But this is in a climate where 'politically' there is a general agreement that 'more journeys should be by bike' but the people who 'deliver' are stuck in the past - fitting 'cycling' in 'if possible' or perhaps 'if we bother to remember'.
In some ways it's a victory (in a reasonably-integrated-transport-sort-of-way) that taxis are still allowed. The original idea was to 'ban everything' because of extreme terrorism paranoia.
Why does the advice given to private car users become a a lack of consideration when applied to private cycle users. If I were a car user with a disabled passenger I’d think “we’re” all just whining...
I'm lead to believe it's official policy to encourage and promote and integrate active and public transport and to discourage private motor vehicle use. The current set-up feels as if it's been done grudgingly, as an after-thought. It certianly doesn't qualify under the "convenient" and particularly-well integrated boxes.
Although, this is Edinburgh, it doesn't always seem like that!
The bike racks would be far better placed where the taxi rank is.
They used to be along platform 10 in the lee of the south ramp for a number of years. I believe they were moved due to 'security' concerns. Or maybe the railways folk just thought the bike racks looked unsightly and were in the way.
I've only used the racks a few times, and tend to use a Sheffield type near the North Berwick platform as there is rarely any space on the double decker ones. Also you can't fit a tandem or cargo trailer on those beasts.
Yes this adds a degree of inconvenient to cycle users (nothing like the hassle of getting a wheel chair user to the platform) and yes its not in keeping with government policy of encouraging cycle use (is anything in Edinburgh) but we’re talking about leaving a few minutes earlier, can you imagine the tiny violin we’d be playing an EEN commentator if they were complaining about driving to the station!?!
A proper country with a proper policy of encouraging cycle use would just go and make it more convenient to cycle to the station than to drive.
Its been more convenient to cycle than drive to Waverly for some time now, last time I even offered to pick any one up was a decade ago. Family are advised to get a bus or taxi now, friends I meet at the pub.
"... but we’re talking about leaving a few minutes earlier, can you imagine the tiny violin we’d be playing an EEN commentator if they were complaining about driving to the station!?!"
The time wasn't an issue for me, it's asking cyclists to walk across a busy concourse pushing a bike through crowds of people. Just seems an odd thing to do. Time is irrelevant, the possibility of rubbing a mucky chain against someone's legs is relevant.
"Its been more convenient to cycle than drive to Waverly for some time now"
Indeed. I have to pick up my mum when she visits, and always plan ahead for time taken to park and walk from wherever it is I have managed to find a space.
it's asking cyclists to walk across a busy concourse pushing a bike through crowds of people
No it is terminally daft but I presume there will still be pedestrian access from the current ramp(?) couldn't one just walk down that one and continue with the current route just on foot?
I have to pick up my mum when she visits
I believe they have invented some conveyance called a 'bus'. Apparently some of them stop quite near people's homes.
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