CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".
IT’S TRUE!
CCE is 14years old!
Well done to ALL posters
It soon became useful and entertaining. There are regular posters, people who add useful info occasionally and plenty more who drop by to watch. That's fine. If you want to add news/comments it's easy to register and become a member.
RULES No personal insults. No swearing.
Article on bbc website, union street in Aberdeen and
Hope st in Glasgow heading list.
Article then points out third of Scotland's car journeys are shorter than two miles and car engines do not work optimally at such distances. Ministers are urging us to walk or cycle
"Ministers are urging us to walk or cycle"
Which ones??!
Paul Wheelhouse on tackling air quality bit of the article.
Unspecified ministers urging us to walk or cycle.
On the bbc website article the conclusion by Minsiters is to encourage cycling and walking on the EEN site the conclusion by the commenters are tht the only solution is to create more road options and indeed remove bus lanes to get the traffic moving.
I prefer the conclusn on the BBC
This piece made the BBC News on TV at 10.30 pm. Conclusion, tucked away quickly at the end, Ministers suggest walking or cycling short distances
SG approach to engendering widescale change in behaviours seems to be: "Please walk or cycle short distances. Please. Oh go on. Pleeeease. Pretty please."
Meanwhile in our dearly beloved Chipwrapper;
"Bus lane Cameras are a money-making racket for the council"
If the bus lane cameras didn't turn a profit the story would be "Incompetent council LOSES MONEY on hated bus lane camera tyrrany"
I know because it was a savage chipwrapper campaign of this kind which made the council increase the residential parking charges from practically zero to the point where they paid for themselves.
PS I would be inclined to reject chips that were wrapped in that paper. I shall never again give Scotsman Publications my business even in that indirect way.
I shall never again give Scotsman Publications my business even in that indirect way
You're not the only one. It's circulation and financial performance and headed in only one direction. As it gets closer to inevitable demise it gets more rabid in an attempt to shift a few more copies by stirring up some local controversy.
"campaign of this kind which made the council increase the residential parking charges from practically zero to the point where they paid for themselves"
Don't remember that, but the idea that such 'services' must only break even is a bit odd.
Apart from the hysteria about 'a tax/attacks on hard working motorists' is the idea that councils should never 'make money' on anything?
Clearly some services 'lose' vast amounts - eg schools (or is that investing in the future...)
All of this is paid by 'taxpayers' with a mix of centralised and local taxes.
There can be infinite discussions about 'free' healthcare or buses or swimming pools etc - all are possible with political will (helps to have public support) and enough cash - but is making a surplus (above operating costs) from people breaking the rules such a scandal??
Seeing as the thread is drifting anyway - if one is driving along a road where there is a bus lane that is not in operation, and it is clear from the signs that it is not in operation, should one then drive in the bus lane (because it is the left-hand lane) or not (in order to continue to give buses priority)?
When the lanes aren't in operation, I drive in them. As a cyclist, I'm probably more aware of the hours of operation. I frequently get glared at or hooted, but I was taught to use them, so I do.
I'd usually avoid driving in bus lanes outside of their hours of operation to a: leave them empty for cyclists and b: reduce the number of lane-change manoeuvres required to get round all the parked cars, the bus lane from Straiton to Cameron Toll being a perfect example.
I tend not to use them as they often disappear, meaning traffic has to merge, or you have to move out to pass a bus. I reckon a key factor in traffic safety is predictability, so anything that leads to changing lanes should be avoided if possible. If the normal traffic lane is flowing fine, why bother going into the bus lane?
"Meanwhile in our dearly beloved Chipwrapper"
And did you spot the highly appropriate advert on the bus in that piece?
I shall never again give Scotsman Publications my business even in that indirect way
That means you'll also have to avoid clicking on any links to their online version to avoid driving up their ad revenues :)
About driving in bus lanes out of hours: Technically you should drive in the left lane if not overtaking or about to turn right, so yes you should drive in the bus lane. Very few others seem to though. It also safer (for you) to be further left (less chance of a head on collision).
Pragmatically though, it's a good idea to leave it clear for cyclists and to avoid lane changes around parked cars
edd1e_h: yup! That's my plan :)
If you are now learning to drive, you are told you must drive in the bus lane when it's out-of-hours. Otherwise you can be seen as causing an obstruction!
I do it relisgeously as it seems to annoy taxi drivers who now can't use it as their own personal undertaking lane.
If you are now learning to drive, you are told you must drive in the bus lane when it's out-of-hours
I've heard mixed messages about this. I had a few lessons 5 years ago, never went anywhere with them, but I do remember my instructor being absolutely insistent about driving in the bus lanes when you can, he'd really call me out for it if I didn't. Being then a very, very new learner, trying to read the times of operation on the signs among trying to do everything else was a bit much.
I'm doing some lessons just now, going for my licence this time, and my current instructor is much more relaxed about it. He's based up in the Currie test center area and his advice for doing the test up there at least is to stay out the things. There's no shortage of bus lanes, some with different times from another, and in his view you're better not taking the risk of getting caught out. If you have somewhere like the Calder road dual carriageways and the bus lane is both empty and available there's no issue with using the space. Very different to the usual case where you have stopped/parked cars, buses, bikes etc in the lane and you might find yourself cutting in only to have to come out again 10 seconds later.
Thank you for the advice, everyone.
I saw a cyclist wearing what looked like a gas mask today.
I find the advice of that Currie driving instructor a bit odd. You could take the same view of the speed limit and drive everywhere at 20mph just to be on the safe side, but you'd quite rightly fail your test for doing that.
I find the advice of that Currie driving instructor a bit odd
It came up when I was outside a bus lane but noticed I could be in it, he said that although he knows the official rules about using all the carriageway where possible, he's had to fail quite a few people in tests for mistakenly driving in the lanes. I think it was more about being cautious and assuming you can't drive in them if you aren't absolutely sure otherwise, rather than never using them at all. Speed limits are easy enough, trying to decipher bus lane times in a possibly unfamiliar area while under pressure is a bit harder I've found. I have my practical coming up soon so I'll definitely be clarifying it. I think driving in the lane when you're not supposed to is a straight fail, whereas not being in one when you could is a minor fault.
Getting back the original subject of the thread, Scotland's most polluted streets.
If anyone is interested in getting involved in research on the level of exposure to air pollution cyclists experience when riding in the city, please get in touch.
I think the gas mask thing is more of a political statement than of any benefit
"
Two more areas of Edinburgh are to be placed under special pollution monitoring because air quality is so poor.
It emerged today that areas around Slateford Road and the South Bridge/Nicolson Street corridor will be added to the watch list of streets breaching legal standards.
"
I notice quite a few dust/particle mask wearers on the NEPN in the morning.
For bugs, I've always assumed.
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