Certainly a recumbent but I couldn't see the frame for the rider.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
"GOLF COURSES PATH IMPROVEMENTS, BARNTON"
(338 posts)-
Posted 10 years ago #
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I rode home on Tuesday on my recumbent but I have a bright Florecent Orange top on the back of my bike, with a white helmet and red ortlib pannier on the right.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Finally went through there on Saturday. There are, what, five sets of rumble strips in all? :-o
Unlike those on the NEPN at Maidencraig Crescent, these are actually set lower than the main surface. I can't believe they've settled like that so they must have been laid lower. Nice to have consistency!
The path itself seems nice so far though.
Posted 10 years ago # -
*** WARNING ***
The Council have installed large chicaine gates at the east end of the path, at the foot of Barton Ave.
This means as you freewheel down the hill towards the nice wider path you are slowed down by the chicaine.
I note they are not locked closed so if someone were to buy some beefy padlocks and lock them open..... [whistles...]
Posted 9 years ago # -
Yep,noticed this delight on the way home. And no high viz warning sign on it. Will be nice for anyone new to that route in the winter!
Posted 9 years ago # -
Do they conform to the normal CEC design of too close together and gaps too small.
I assume they also leave plenty space for an errant dirt bike to get round them on the dirt.
Posted 9 years ago # -
They're fairly well spaced, I would say I might have gone through at 15mph or so?
Things are made a bit tricky by the non-compliant paving tramlines that have been put down a few feet beforehand. Why has the message on that still not gone out?
"Cross the tramlines as close to 90 degrees as possible", they tell us...
Posted 9 years ago # -
Oh great. That'll be a right PITA going in either direction. I imagine the uphill will be even more inconvenient than downhill, as the tight turn means you're likely to lose momentum and wobble. That's what often happens to me going 'uphill' through the eastern Crawford Bridge chicane. Try it with a child on the back in her seat! Great fun, NOT.
Posted 9 years ago # -
It's not really all that surprising is it? I think I've reached the path at 27mph just freewheeling from the top of the hill. This was before the improvements and being a chicken, I slowed a lot for the path. I never liked the camber on the top part. So, if lots of people are doing that now, there's likely been pressure that "something must be done" to slow these people down.
It will be a pain going up (which is the only direction I use the path in these days).
Posted 9 years ago # -
Where are all the nearly unavigable chicanes on city streets to "do something" about vehicles that may or may not be going too fast?
Posted 9 years ago # -
"Where are all the nearly unavigable chicanes on city streets to 'do something' about vehicles that may or may not be going too fast?"
Posted 9 years ago # -
Chicanes are the curse of the shared use path... I wonder if speed tables would be a better bet?
I assume there's no chicane at the west end of the path, despite it being the more narrow and conflict-rich part of the path? :-o
Posted 9 years ago # -
You mean like these in Transport Scotland "Cycling by Design" guidelines:
The tools are there ...
Posted 9 years ago # -
The Paisley Crescent chicanes are almost there, just need the cycle ramp between the bollards.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Can they not just spend the money building the paths, then worry about the chicanes, flashy lights and tactiles later?
Posted 9 years ago # -
I took a picture of the gates at Barnton but the mobile app won't give me the blumin links. Search photobuclet and Dave Crampton for a picture.
Posted 9 years ago # -
This one
Serious bit of metalwork
I can't work out how to resize it - sorry
Posted 9 years ago # -
What sort of tactiles?
Council says supposed to be round topped tactile paving "to warn pedestrians leaving path they are about to enter a carriageway without a crossing facility"
Posted 9 years ago # -
Tactiles are 'in line' not perpendicular to travel.
The gates are not locked with padlocks. Can be easily opened. But this would leave two posts in the middle of the path.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I sort of see the reasoning for the chicane as it is a very fast section but the lines of sight are excellent there so it is unlikely that it really improves safety.
I must admit the challenge is probably going to be seeing how fast the chicane can be traversed, it's going to end badly...Posted 9 years ago # -
Wonder if a tandem would fit through it? Difficult to tell from that angle.
I can confirm that the chicane gates on the Crawford Bridge are Ute-able, as I rode my Ute through them this afternoon. Ute not quite as long as a tandem, but with the big panneirs it is quite wide. So I suspect a tandem would probably fit, but haven't tried it yet.
I wouldn't want to be doing the "uphill" chicane on Crawford Bridge carrying a lot of heavy stuff on the bike, though. I can imagine a fully-laden commuter or tourist would find the Barnton gates challenging uphill too.
Posted 9 years ago # -
"I sort of see the reasoning for the chicane as it is a very fast section"
I presume you mean 'it's there to slow people down'.
That is certainly the intention of CEC - and presumably the Transport Scotland guidance which they are using.
But I see three flaws with this approach (especially as "the lines of sight are excellent").
1) there is an assumption that cyclists won't slow down to a 'safe speed'. Might be true, but is a chicane best/optimum option?
2) will it stop cyclists from speeding up again? I would hope that cyclists would 'ride to the conditions' - especially if there are pedestrians around.
3) chicanes restrict the available space artificially and are likely to increase (potential) conflict if there are pedestrians around.
Or am I just being cyclerist and expecting minimal (too few?) restrictions on shared use paths??
Posted 9 years ago # -
"Wonder if a tandem would fit through it? Difficult to tell from that angle."
Supposed to have been installed at the recommended 3 metres spacing, so presumably.
Can't remember what tactiles there are on Crawford Bridge - look like blisters in photos(?)
Surely there should tactiles on the other side too to warn about the fences!?
Posted 9 years ago # -
"Or am I just being cyclerist ..."
Substitute speed bump for chicane and driver for cyclist and if it reads like it was written by the Association of British Drivers then you're being cyclerist.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Perhaps.
I'm trying to decide if 'objections' here are just 'we don't like having our fun/rights messed with', or it's a solution to a problem that doesn't really exist, or a poor solution making things worse in some circumstances(?)
Posted 9 years ago # -
Couldn't it be the least bad solution to a real problem?
Not that I'm saying it is. It's just the missing option.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Chicanes don't slow down racing bmx-ers but they do inconvenience parents with kids on bikes, etc.
What chicanes do is push users into more constrained spaces. We know exactly what drivers do at pinch points. Why would we wish that on pedestrians?
I was discussing this with some ped advocates, and said -50 years or so ago When cycling rates were much higher we didn't need all these chicanes, why do we now? I would very much like us to return to a more relaxed riding style, but we are reaping the whirlwind of the intervening years.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Multiple choice....
Yes - but I don't think it is!
Haven't been on that path since it was upgraded. I presume it's the only chicane on the whole length?
BUT, backtracking for a moment - do pedestrians go through the chicane?
If so that is a serious missed opportunity with all that land available.
If there is a separate pedestrian route at this point, my main objection goes!
Posted 9 years ago # -
"we are reaping the whirlwind"
You mean 'everyone' goes faster or motors have taken over most of the space?!
Posted 9 years ago # -
Precise quote: "If I go back to my childhood I don’t have any recollection of feeling threatened by cyclists – but most cyclists then were on ‘sit up and beg’ bikes with – at most – three speed gears. The ‘push speed to the limit’ tendency was not much evident – and of course, cyclists didn’t feel so threatened by volume / speed of vehicles, so that defensive / aggressive mode of cycling had not developed"
Posted 9 years ago #
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