Yep NStD only realistic option - unless you are so traffic averse you want to try the quiet option here!
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
George Street Improvements
(1175 posts)-
Posted 9 years ago #
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@Gembo From Charlotte Sq I am coming on at the north side
The right turn from the north side of Charlotte Sq onto N Charlotte St/East side of Charlotte square is a bit tricky - and not that well signed/painted? Not really a good piece of infrastructure for out-of-towners? From West Register House, going round the north side of the square makes the most sense as you avoid the right turn into George St - as you say, turning left into George St is much easier.Posted 9 years ago # -
"Wait for the lights by the demolition hoardings" - in my experience these ones don't trigger when it's "just" a cyclist waiting.
Posted 9 years ago # -
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@EDIWorstDrivers: Taxi driver blatantly uses cycle only lane #GeorgeStreet #Edinburgh http://t.co/0tUksnw2Pf http://t.co/oBFRi8BeyP @SustransScot @CyclingEdin
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Posted 9 years ago # -
Went along on Friday deliberately twice,found it ok,not perfect,peds wandering about on cycle bit,tingting,sorry,but the ends are a bit crap,got off and walked,must admit,the pub/eats tents are crap for such a nice street.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I found quite a few people on the George street lane, still better than a few weeks back when was tables and chairs in the way.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I took it on the way home on Friday. When entering from Charlotte Square, you have to watch for a drain cover right in the middle of the painted "funnel" / mouth of the lane.
It's pretty inconvenient to have a slidy metal cover right where you're expected to make a turn, it's even more inconvenient that the tarmac around it is badly broken up.
I found it daft to be sitting waiting at the lights just before the turn, unable to make a cyclists-only left turn and having to wait for the general traffic green.
Posted 9 years ago # -
This could fit into any number of posts, todays poor parking, poor taxi driving or this one.
Cycling along George St eastbound this morning between Frederick St and Hanover St approaching the new cyclists traffic light junction. Taxi was parked directly across the junction blocking the enitre road.
Gave him a shout that he was blocking the route, he inches forward a few feet waving me on (I point to the red light indicating I can't). He then opens his window and shouts that he was only letting a passenger out to which I remind him that he was blocking the road and no-one could get past in either direction!!
I could see him ranting about me to his passenger, then shouts out his window again 'I've got a wife and kid to support if you're thinking about reporting me to the cab office'....guilty complex much?? *sigh*
Posted 9 years ago # -
On George street just now it's seems very good but may be few more bike parking spaces be nice
Posted 9 years ago # -
Was sat having some drinks in the outside bit at Le Monde on Saturday early evening and have a few observations; it seems that pictures of bicycles are not sufficient to show that the path is for bicycles, not pedestrians. The sensors on the lights are a great idea and tend to change quickly, but these are constantly being triggered by people walking along the cycle path meaning if a bike comes along soon after, they are left needing to wait for quite a while!
On a couple of occasions I have also come across cars in the lane... how difficult is it to see that a path is for bikes, not cars?!
From what else I have seen, I share others' concerns that it is destined to be poorly utilised until there are actually proper connections at each end to get between George St and anywhere else.
Posted 9 years ago # -
A lawless taxi driver playing the "family to support" card would make it a certainty that I'd send in a complaint.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Cycled it this afo for the first time. Have to say I thought it was ok. Not perfect, but good enough.
I noticed you couldn't attach a lock to the planters, that looked to be the only parking. Agree with Ed1 - need more parking. Connections @ each end would be nice too.
Posted 9 years ago # -
My main gripe is definitely what happens at each end. It feels like you have to make it up as you go along.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I share others' concerns that it is destined to be poorly utilised until there are actually proper connections at each end to get between George St and anywhere else."
I did wonder this as well, it seems like an oasis of Amsterdam, great to ride on, and gives tourists the impressions of good progressive infrastructure somewhere elderly and children could cycle, yet to get there you have to "dodge bullets" through busy road junctions.
However tend to think over times these links will come, as it sets and example, and now highlights the weakness of the connections. I tend to think can only be a good things I did a few laps of it as it seems nice to be able to cycle around the center with out "complications" felt quite continental shows what possible. I too encountered a car in the cycle lane may be better signage needed.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I share others' concerns that it is destined to be poorly utilised until there are actually proper connections at each end to get between George St and anywhere else.
This is the risk - that it "fails" as a pilot due to underuse and gets reversed.
I'm not sure how that can be avoided - any vehicular cyclists out there want to put together a rota? I can start by offering to take my family along it twice on a Saturday...
Robert
Posted 9 years ago # -
@Roibeard
It will not be reversed.
What are the chances of all those eateries giving up the extra square footage of outdoor space they've just gained?
To CEC's credit, they knew that getting the businesses on board in an irreversible way would guarantee a cycle lane.
Now if only they could do the same for George IV Bridge and Forrest Rd
Posted 9 years ago # -
Now the eateries have their extra space it would be good if they would return a bit of pavement to pedestrians. Yesterday peds passing Le Monde had to navigate the limited space between open air tables&chairs and covered tables&chairs, which Le Monde had further narrowed by means of a sandwich board.
Surely the presence of the whacking great greenhouse dining area is adequate advertising of their wares and negates the need for the walkway-blocking advert?
Posted 9 years ago # -
Usual depressing Edinburgh driving
BMW in bike lanePosted 9 years ago # -
Why did the poster of the BMW in the bike lane feel the need to edit out the reg plate? These people should be 'named' & shamed...
Posted 9 years ago # -
@edd1e_h image w/ reg plate was sent to the council. I'm all for naming and shaming for things this obvious!
Posted 9 years ago # -
What is the deal with the huge pick-up behind the BMW? Why are they not being criticised?
Posted 9 years ago # -
Leslie Hinds has just said on twitter that bollards are going in....
think that will increase cyclist usage?
Posted 9 years ago # -
"think that will increase cyclist usage?"
Perhaps - presumably it's to stop rogue taxi (etc) drivers(?)
Posted 9 years ago # -
That's good news: will stop the rogue drivists.
Haven't cycled on George Street since Festivus. Must find an excuse to head along there soon!
Posted 9 years ago # -
"Must find an excuse" -
To experience the full pre-bollard glory?
Posted 9 years ago # -
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In the late-1860s, as the building work began, George Street would have resembled a straight country road with fences on either site. It was to be another two or three decades before all the houses in George Street were built.
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http://www.george-street.com/history.html
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public spaces at the two ends of George Street: St Andrew Square at the east to represent Scotland and St George Square to the west to represent England. In the end the western square was named Charlotte Square after the King's wife, possibly to avoid confusion between two Georges.
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Posted 9 years ago # -
I used George Street this morning and yesterday evening. This morning there was a Transit van parked in the lane at the west end, as some men disassembled one of those wooden decking things (there was plenty of room by the kerb on either side, but no, they were alongside, in the lane).
Yesterday there was a Connect van (half a Transit) driving out of the most easterly block behind a cyclist. Naturally the drivist expected me to get out the way for it.
Then there was the big gang of pedestrians who stepped out infront of me at an out-of service crossing when I was on the green cyclist light (after just negotiating the van) jabbing their fingers at the non-existant green man.
Then there's the barking mad suggesting that cyclists heading west go round the south side of the Thomas Chalmers statue (at Castle Street), while those heading east go around the north side. It seems that at each of the junctions with cross streets on the grid, they've managed to come up with a different solution, rather than pick one that works.
And don't get me started on all the official street clutter of thoughtlessly placed two-tier planters that block the line of site at each junction and those abandoned grey display boards that are the perfect size and position to hide pedestrians lurking behind them and about to step out into your path. The hidden safety fencing between some of the planters is asking for someone to ride into it thinking they can ride between them.
I still don't know what the proper procedure for an easterly exit onto St Andrew Square is meant to be once you have been directed up onto the island. I just have a good look around for approaching vehicles and make a dash for it.
I really do like and support the concept of a well executed cycling lane on George Street, but really the council have outdone themselves beyond their usual levels of silliness in making this as complicated and un-user friendly as possible.
Posted 9 years ago # -
@kaputnik, Heading east I tend to ignore the switchover halfway and join the motor carriageway. This puts you in the right place for the lights at the end of the road and exiting St Andrew's Square onto York Place. The apparently suggested crossing onto the square (via Toucan crossing) seems not only pointless but dangerous to pedestrians.
Posted 9 years ago # -
More cars driving along the lanes this morning. Westbound from Hanover St past Assembky rooms. Are there any hours when access is permissable along them?
Posted 9 years ago # -
I had issues this morning and this evening (cycling to and from work) with cars coming along from Hanover Street westbound, I don't think they realise?
Also when you're heading eastbound, the cycle lane encourages you to use the toucan crossing at the end but then the cycle lane ends, where do you go from here?
Most annoying! Think I'll stick to Queen Street.
Posted 9 years ago #
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