CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".
IT’S TRUE!
CCE is 15years 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.
There was a man in a shiny suit with a wee handheld video camera at the Seafield Road/Seafield Street junction this morning. He appeared to be walking the route a bike might take* over the crossing from the north, past Mum's, and onto the road by the giant bins. I'm guessing this is the council up to something, rather than someone making a "Cyclepaths of East Edinburgh" DVD.
(*were it being pedalled someone who actively enjoys "It's a Knockout" style obstacle courses for bikes)
Oh meant to say that No.1 son and I have been using the Seafield path several times a week. Definitely much better than it used to be. Except the railway bridge. The toucan crossing at Seafield Place takes an age to change, too. Otherwise it's good.
I've got a reply from the council about the Leith Links chicanes. They were incorrectly installed and will be moved to give a greater space to ride through.
"They were incorrectly installed and will be moved to give a greater space to ride through."
Mmm not sure that's entirely 'the point'.
Clearly CEC needs to have someone inspecting the works while they are happening!
Which one was done 'properly' (first time) this year????
I also wonder how much CCE is 'noticing' before CEC and how much the council wouldn't notice/wouldn't bother to 'correct' if 'we' weren't around!?
I think a new thread or even forum section to post council replies might be useful
"They were incorrectly installed and will be moved to give a greater space to ride through."
Aye, we've heard this before with the Crawford Bridge. The chicanes on the Crawford Bridge are now 'correct' but still a royal pain, especially when going 'uphill' ie. east to west.
The point is, the chicanes shouldn't be there on the Leith links path, or the path should divert away from the school entrance.
My thoughts on the new segregation-with-barriers section on Leith Links:
http://barneysbikeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/segregation-and-shared-use-paths.html
Wingpig - I didn't even know that path existed although I took the steps a few times. I now continue on the main path (ie to the right if the benches as your video starts) for about 200m, then take a left. Gets you to the top of the road you come out at the bus turning circle and is much easier
Yes. I had wondered if the guerilla path was suffering from lack of use since the new level access was built.
@wingpig, that looks like fun - not. I presume you're on a cross bike there? Fine for that and MTB riding. Haven't given that path a second look since the new entrance was opened.
I recall taking the steps a few times in the olden days before the path was resurfaced - bally nightmarew.
Normal road-ish bike: Kaff frame, 23 front and 28 back.
That looks quite good, except for the lamp post. Presume it was stranded when the widened the path? Certainly safer for youngsters to be sticking to the footway. Once the new houses are built on the site of the old Eastern General, I daresay many cyclists will prefer to take the footway rather than mix it with increased traffic.
Noticed yesterday that the growing desire line past the chicanes at the school on the Links is now to avoid both sets altogether, across the grass.
Paolobr, that's the route I take: just completely bypass the chicanes and dodgy rumble strips.
All very well now, while the weather is dry. What about in the depths of a wet winter? The desire line will become a muddy quagmire.
The path needs redesigning.
Hi, As a Porty resident - and forum lurker - I've been interested in this thread and coincidentally my new commute is Porty to Queensferry Road. I've only done this route a few times - following pretty much the cyclestreets, green route.
Anyway I was hoping for any advice from people who use this route (or parts of it) on a few points:
1) Is it really worth using the cycle path from the old Eastern over the crematorium to the Links or is the road quicker/ok there.
2) The area outside the primary school as discussed by others is a joke, I've taken to cycling around the fences - is there a better route from Porty direction to the bottom of the Water of Leith? Preferably a way to avoid the cobbled streets that lead a merry dance around Water St/The Shore to the bottom of the WoL cycle path?
4) Further along, crossing from Eildon Terrace to Inverleith Terrace - the signs recommend to get off and walk/cross at lights. The other wee path leading to Warriston Cres is pretty awful, any way of avoiding this?
I'm hoping that some handy hints will avoid me opting for the car instead.
Thanks!
"1) Is it really worth using the cycle path from the old Eastern over the crematorium to the Links or is the road quicker/ok there.
2) The area outside the primary school as discussed by others is a joke, I've taken to cycling around the fences - is there a better route from Porty direction to the bottom of the Water of Leith? Preferably a way to avoid the cobbled streets that lead a merry dance around Water St/The Shore to the bottom of the WoL cycle path?"
1: Depends how fast/fighty/fit you're feeling. If I fancy some trees instead of traffic I go on the path, but then I'm rarely in such a massive rush that I need to stay on the road in order to not go too fast on the path.
2: I usually go through the chicanes, but then I'm rarely in such a rush that not slowing down for them would make me critically late.
2: To avoid the cobbles, go up the railway path at Seafield Street, take it in the other direction to get to Easter Road at Thorntreeside, go through Tesco's car park (nice and slowly, but you're missing out some guaranteed delay on Duke Street) then walk out of the old Waterworld exit onto Leith Walk (and then across it) to join Great Unction street then turn off down Coburg St to the WoL path or go the other way on Leith Walk, go through Jane Street, go along Bonnington Road then join the WoL via St Mark's Path to avoid all cobbles. Or just go along Salamander/Baltic/Bernard/Commercial then join the NEPN at Hawthornvale, watching for vicious idiots at the last two traffic-island pinch-points.
Thanks, I'll look up those directions. I'm always in a rush - and looking for the quickest, easiest and best solution! :o)
What winpig said; and...
I normally just continue along Seafield, rather than the path to the Links - but if there's a funeral on I don't!
I've been doing Prom - Seafield - Hermitage Pl - Easter Rd - Gordon St - Jane St - Bonnington Rd - Broughton Rd for ages, but over the past couple of weeks have been doing the Lochend Path from the old Eastern simply because I got so sick of Bonnington Rd.
I always take the path from Seafield to the Links. Partly cos I'm not rushing, but mainly because it's a lovely path. I particularly love the way it opens up for the descent to Leith Links.
I also just ride round the crappy chicanes and tactiles at the school. I notice that loads of pedestrians do the same!
I just ride the awful bit along the cobbled streets to the WoL. Definitely the worst, most dangerous part of the journey.
The roadside barriers on the Seafield bridge have been replaced and the poles holding the chevron signs that made the path so narrow have been removed.
Not sure when this was done, a temporary change of digs had me on the North Edinburgh path for the last week so I only saw it yesterday, but it looks like it's still work in progress. Hopefully the chevron poles won't return.
Work has been going on over the last few nights. Reserve judgement until it's completed!
Aye, cycled this way yesterday. Great to have the full width of the path!
Hopefully they will not seek to intrude further into the path. Needs to be resurfaced also.
All good so far. Here's hoping!
@Wingpig - I tried out the Seafield Slope this morning (going up) and this evening (coming down). Both times were fine until I hit the knotted mess of tree roots about half way. First time required some serious shifting of weight to avoid a swift tumble down the slope. Second time I hit it, wobbled, swore and then rolled onwards. Knobblies kept me going.
I'll be riding that a bit more often methinks... bit of CX practice!
Pleased to be able to use the full width of the path at the Seafield bridge today (even though it's not that wide!)
Apart from the red and white temporary fencing being gone, it still looks much as it does in Urchaidh's photo above.
"
Edinburgh Council, in partnership with Sustrans, has been developing the final phase of cycle route proposals from Leith to Portobello which is planned for construction in March 2015. This final phase mainly includes path improvements across the west side of Leith Links. As key stakeholders and representatives of those affected by the works, I attach the final designs for your review and comment. These designs have been developed in collaboration with the Leith Links Steering Group.
You will note that there are 2 options for a new section of path at Links Gardens Lane which I would be grateful for your views on in particular.
Attached are the following plans:
1) St. Marys Primary School gates: Proposals to widen the current sub-standard chicanes, additional tree planting and improved markings. The current arrangement is restrictive for cyclists and pedestrians leading to cyclists using the adjacent grass.
2) Links Gardens Lane: This area of path is expected to have high volumes of pedestrians and cyclists which would benefit from a wider path, however, a relatively rare willow type tree is limiting the path width. As such there are 2 options:
a. 3m wide un-segregated path: a narrower mixed shared use path which requires no tree removal.
b. 4m wide segregated path: a wider path split between pedestrians and cyclists, however, requires the removal of a single willow type tree.
3) Links Gardens: widened footway to accommodate 4m wide segregated path.
4) Path between Links Gardens and Duncan Place: widened path to accommodate 4m wide segregated path.
5) Path between Duncan Place and Wellington Place: resurfaced path 3m wide (width is restricted by mature trees on both sides).
These proposals will be on the agenda at the Leith Links Steering Group meeting, which is being held on Wednesday 17th December at Leith Academy, please let me know if you wish to attend. Otherwise, if you have any comments can you please direct these to my details provided below by 31 December 2014.
Regards
Paul
Paul Matthews I Professional Officer (Cycling) I Strategic Planning I Transport I Services for Communities I The City of Edinburgh Council I Waverley Court, Business Centre C.2 I 4 East Market Street I Edinburgh I EH8 8BG I Tel 0131 469 3700 I paul.matthews@edinburgh.gov.uk
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That's all well and good, but what about the Seafield Road bridge? The path there desperately needs resurfacing...
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