Nice bollard test. Impressive amount of damage to the truck at "only" 50km/h = 30mph(ish).
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
George Street Improvements
(1175 posts)-
Posted 9 years ago #
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It's interesting to reflect on the difference between the bollards outside the airport terminal and the ones you see in town.
One is intended to stop vehicles, the other is intended to give the impression that it might stop vehicles.
Posted 9 years ago # -
the other is intended to give the impression that it might not be seen.
Posted 9 years ago # -
The bollards at the airport (and at Waverley too) will be PAS68/69 rated. They will stop a 7.5 tonne truck dead at 50mph, and still remain intact. That will go for the rising bollards and road blockers too, where applicable. These are an anti-terrorist specification for the critical national infrastructure, but they're useful for keeping skip lorries out of cash depots too.
I don't think the riding bollards outside the City Chambers will be to that sort of anti-ram standard. The ones on George Street are probably designed specifically not to damage/resist anything that drives over them, less the cooncil get sued.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Maybe if they had installed more than one measly bollard per entrance/exit they might be more visible?
Still won't stop chancers or drivers who are "just following the sat nav", but the resultant damage to the vehicle would be a bit more of a deterrent.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Thought I'd add this in case it ever disappears from CEC site
"
George Street update: Cycle path on its way
An initiative to open up one of Edinburgh’s most historic thoroughfares to pedestrians and cyclists is taking shape in the city centre.
The project to increase pedestrian space on George Street has been underway since June, and will be officially launched after the Festival.
As part of the developments, which aim to make the area more attractive to shoppers, residents and tourists, a cycle path and one-way traffic system is being installed on the street.The new cycle lane, which will be complete by the end of July, is currently under construction and will be open for use by cyclists in time for the Fringe.
However, during the busy festival season, when George Street hosts some of the Fringe’s largest event venues, the cycle lane won’t be fully operational. During this time there will be temporary arrangements in order to ensure access is maintained.
Once the Festival is over, residents will fully experience the new-look George Street for the first time, with the one way system, cycle path and increased and improved pedestrian space remaining in place until July 2015, when the scheme will be assessed.
Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport Convener, said: “Changes to George Street will create a much more inviting and relaxing space for residents, shoppers and visitors, and it is exciting to see these coming together.
“While changes to some parts of the street may look complete, we won’t be formally launching this until early September, when we will see the full effect of the transformation.”
Improvements will also see the installation of 68 new decorative planters, many of which have been Made In Edinburgh from traditional wrought iron by local apprentices at Inch Nursery as part of the Edinburgh Guarantee Scheme.Planners have ensured minimal changes to parking for residents and visitors, with spaces in the centre of the street, separated from new cycle lanes by rubber kerbs and decorative planters, and residents’ parking maintained in the design.
Proposals to develop George Street were first agreed as part of a wider city centre vision at October’s Transport and Environment Committee and final designs were drawn up after a six-week consultation held with stakeholders and the public.
This entry was posted by Media Team on 18/07/2014.
http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/blog/newsblog/post/566/george-street-update-cyle-path-on-its-way
Posted 9 years ago # -
I've noticed that there are no armadillo things around the motorcycle parking pays, and quite frequently see bikes and scooters going down the cycle lane against the intended flow of vehicular traffic.
This evening, I had to take avoiding action as a high powered motorbike pulled out from the parking bay opposite The Dome and accelerated into the cycle lane, to find itself face-to-face with me coming down it. From the lane point of view, he was on the wrong side - regardless of the fact he should never have been there. Fortunately at least his visor was up so he got a pretty strong idea of the profanity I yelled directly at him as I swerved out of his way.
This is not some sort of "following the satnav" innocent mistake, this is the intentional and I am sure regular habits of certain pilots of these machines.
I might start using my helmet camera again, just for George Street.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I went along west East today about 2pm and followed it even the zigzag AcrossThe roundabout as has little studs now to indicate route and it all flowed rather nicely.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Tried GS again tonight (west to East) That's probably one a week for the last 5-6 weeks.
TBH, I think its OK. Generaly good but with a few annoying issues.
My BIG issue with it is that I reckon it takes me about 3 times as long as it does going along Princes Street.
PS it is from now on I think
Posted 9 years ago # -
I happily take the extra time (almost entirely from the Hanover Street crossing, the odds of which are stacked heavily against the cycle lane), to avoid Princes Street and all its buses, taxis and trams. It's also much better than the potholes, aggressive vehicularists and lungfuls of fumes to be found on Queen Street.
The chicanery necessary to get out of it at either end is what does for me.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Aye, Princes Street can be terrifying. So unless I'm really rushing I'll prefer George Street, it's worth it for the relative peace and quiet.. Charlotte Square transition is pretty straightforward, if a bit hairy due to the heavy traffic. St Andrew Square is more complicated and puzzling, especially coming from Dublin Street.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Access from Charlotte sq easy, traffic lights at Hanover junction slow (if red stay on North side?) exit onto traffic island then take pedestrian crossing to turn right for waverley. Works well now with the wee bollards. Other routes not so great but if going east west normally I cowgate it or if heading northwest I often use the hillside to wheeched down to NEPN.
If a journey can be likened to clock times I will take the roundabout twenty to the hour until twenty past the hour on the NEPN as it is nice rather than the more direct anti clockwise route. I will also detour to use the lovely path at saughton.
The straightest route can be a little quicker but I go more for overall experience. Never use princes St if I can avoid it, do not like jousting with buses.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Went along today at 10.50a.m. Lights all in my favour. It was a total joy.
Posted 9 years ago # -
East - west?
I was at the Hanover Street ones for almost 2 min.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I was wrong (no really).
Seems north side of StAS is two-way.
Don't remember seeing these in daylight!
Posted 9 years ago # -
If you don't catch them then you've got to wait the full sequence round all of the other roads (so three sets of green before it gets back to the bike). If they'd banned cars completely then you'd only need one green sequence for motorised traffic (cos north and south could go at the same time), and Bob's your uncle, it would be much much quicker.
When it works it really is a joy. I still don't get / like the midway shuffle. East to West in the AM I don't bother with it and stick to the road. West to East in the evening I will use it because the traffic tends to get clogged nearer to St Andrew Square.
The over-riding sense of disappointment remains the lack of connection either side. You get half a mile of nice segregation, with difficulties to get there and get off. It's fine if like gembo or me you are happy in traffic (though not Princes Street, I also avoid) and can deviate from the path early to hit the ASL at either end, but as an encouragement for the non-cyclist to cycle it's an abysmal state of affairs.
Posted 9 years ago # -
East west yes, works better I think and previous two times been outwith main commuting time and really easy. First I did get caught at the Hanover lights. But this time I watched them and they were changing to green so took the twirl. If had changed from green to red as I was approaching I would have stayed on the north side.
Don't have problem at either end as I am coming through the ginnel at west register house and round Charlotte square and onto george street and then on the way off going down to waverley which also works very well.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Aye, that's my problem heading west cos I'm turning to go to Princes Street/Lothian Road, and the only sign at the end is to turn right towards Queen Street. Got to scoot between the planters (keeping an eye on the traffic desperately making the lights before they go red).
Posted 9 years ago # -
"West to East in the evening I will use it because the traffic tends to get clogged nearer to St Andrew Square."
Makes sense - just a shame that so many cars emerge around 5!
Was there mid afternoon. This guy overtook me as I took photos. He did the "shuffle" and was well ahead will he was waiting for lights. He was turning into Hanover Street so was perhaps his optimum route.
Posted 9 years ago # -
"that's my problem heading west cos I'm turning to go to Princes Street/Lothian Road, and the only sign at the end is to turn right towards Queen Street."
Think the new signs have highlighted the 'truth' - it's about an east - west route towards Haymarket/NCN.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I've been using the centre section, Hanover St to Castle St, pretty regularly. What I've noticed is the relaxation that comes from not having to be constantly thinking about whether a driver behind will be trying to overtake. I never knew how on edge I normally am on the roads until I didn't have to be.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Bollard at St. Andrew Square end has taken a dunt, and is over at a drunken angle.
Bollard at Hanover Street (east side) is now gone. 3 lonely rawlplug-looking things in the ground. There's a cone which keeps getting moved away (I assume by enterprising white van persons) so I keep putting it back over the hole each morning.
There was a Transit and trailer blocking the path alongside one of the wine wigwams at the west end of the street this morning. Turns out it was the people who were maintaining the ornamental planter boxes, the trailer was full of pansies and they were slowly driving along a group of workers in hi-vizes dealt with the boxes. I know that vehicles are allowed onto cycle paths for maintenance purposes, but there would have been less obstructive ways for them to do this than slowly driving up the middle of the path where a neighbourning structure makes getting around difficult.
I also noticed an HGV tractor unit parked up in one of the bays with its wheels hard against the rubber armadillo thing, which looked to be bending under the load. I hope these structures are designed to do this and bend back afterwards, otherwise they might not make it to the end of the "trial".
Posted 9 years ago # -
Last night:
1) Cycle lane blocked by cranes putting up Christmas lights. No warnings/signs/whatever, of course.
2) I didn't notice any knocked over bollards. However
3) Boyfriend had an interaction with a bloke driving a car in the cycle lane on the section between Castle Street and Charlotte Square. To quote Boyfriend:
"I told him he shouldn't be there. He objected to me touching his car. I objected to him touching me - he was poking me on the arm."Driver was heading away from Charlotte Square, we were heading towards it. I'd got left behind and when I caught up the bloke drove off. What puzzled us was how he'd got his car into the cycle lane, as the bollard at the Charlotte Square end was definitely there. I can't remember about the Castle Street one.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Drive over the top of the rubber kerb in a parking space. You could get one wheel through the gap and bump over with the other. Saves going ... (actually where would you go?) if where you want to be is further along George Street or in a Queen Streetly direction.
Posted 9 years ago # -
"What puzzled us was how he'd got his car into the cycle lane"
Maybe he was parked and just drove over the "armadillos"?
Posted 9 years ago # -
George St bollard count. 2 standing; 2 lying down hazards; 2 gone completely; 2 gone leaving metal lump hazards.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Must have been a lot of drivers "just following the sat nav" then.
Posted 9 years ago # -
"
Lesley Hinds (@LAHinds)
17/11/2014 10:52
@cyclemor3 @CityCentreLeith @CyclingEdin @POPScotland @edinburghpaper need to get approval from emergency services for any proposals"
Posted 9 years ago # -
So, from East to West
Number 1 is deceased and partially gone
George St bollards 17/11/14 by blackpuddinonnabike, on FlickrNumber 2 is but a memory
George St bollards 17/11/14 by blackpuddinonnabike, on FlickrNumber 3 saw Wingpig ride by without it in sight
George St bollards 17/11/14 by blackpuddinonnabike, on FlickrHalfway along and number 4 leaves an additional metal hazard
George St bollards 17/11/14 by blackpuddinonnabike, on FlickrNumber 5 is having a lie down
George St bollards 17/11/14 by blackpuddinonnabike, on FlickrYay! Number 6 standing proud!
George St bollards 17/11/14 by blackpuddinonnabike, on FlickrAww, number 7 lets the side down
George St bollards 17/11/14 by blackpuddinonnabike, on FlickrPhew, the last one is still in place!
George St bollards 17/11/14 by blackpuddinonnabike, on FlickrPosted 9 years ago # -
Looks like some people still trying to drive round and round george St looking for a parking space? Or the system is too complicated for some people (you do see a certain lost demographic driving into blocked off zones.
There seems to be a gradual warming to the george street route on here. Well that is my reading of the posts. It can work we need to support the council by writing in, as I have said before as car drivers saying how much better it is for everyone now george street has become pedestrianised. The whole shopping and dining experience is soooo continental. Perhaps they should consider the same for the rest of the city centre?
I am anticipating resistance to the trial so we need to be pluralistic in our support, not just we like it as cyclists (or indeed moaning about it as that will get it taken away)
The much shorter section on the royal mile, ironically outside the council chambers has worked as pedestrian area. So there is precedent.
Posted 9 years ago #
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