"George Street doesn't exist in isolation" - partly talking about demolition/reconstruction of St. James centre/quarter.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
George Street Improvements
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Posted 9 years ago #
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Some people saying bit confusing various design studies.
Research continuing - looking at 'purpose of street, how people get around etc.
Lots of consultation, more over next few months, results "taken away by experts"
Encourage people to get involved
Results will last for decades.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I'm sure @edinburgh_taxi would be happy if there was some connection between George Street and St James/4 for cyclists to keep the pesky things out of their way going past Waverley Bridge.
One thing I forgot to add in my feedback was that a permanent solution would hopefully not have the cyclists' stop line for the westbound lights in the middle of what still looks exactly like a pedestrian crossing, with dropped kerbs and thos slidey stud things.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Decking and Marquees won't return after September.
"Not right solution"
Posted 9 years ago # -
Now Lorna Shaw - survey results
Posted 9 years ago # -
Question time
Complaint about Rose Street 'missing' - should be "hidden gem"
IMac - will be part of overall scheme - also some evidence of more traffic going through lanes.
Not convinced Edinburgh comfortable with trials
Posted 9 years ago # -
Man from New Town CC - reassured that symmetry returned and decking & marquees going
Want more buses on G St
Want parking removed from centre blocks.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Man 'my cycling experience transformed - in spite of wiggles round statues and maybe being sworn at by taxi drivers
BUT 'no way to get from Lothian Road'
IMac valid criticism about 'how to get there' "statement piece".
Rest of network still to catch up
Posted 9 years ago # -
DdF
Overall satisfaction high
Don't know if interviewees representative (bike and car)
City centre vision "not once mentioned Princess Street" "George Street great if on your route"
Mention of NCN suggests about tourists - most cyclists local
IMac "fair set of observations"
Should probably reassure - lots of designs going on - trying to get safe routes but also about pedestrians and festivals - trying to factor all in
Confident will get better
Only part of experiment that gives sleepless nights is cycle safety on GSt - trying to get back symmetry
Posted 9 years ago # -
Man from Central Taxis - agree difficult to get around.
Concerned about 'looking at space by Frasers' - perhaps should have been thought about before creating
Difficult to get from Lothian Rd to Queensferry Street
Main concern seems to footfall in G St
Taxi rank no use/unused
Posted 9 years ago # -
Chair of Essential Edinburgh
Fact we are all here and interested is fantastic
Some risks taken
Some like some don't
Want fantastic space - like some other euro cities
St James massive dev - threat to whole city centre so need to do something for George St etc
Winners and losers - more winners
Posted 9 years ago # -
Man from New Town CC - ...
Want more buses on G St
I think the concern here stems from traffic being displaced from George Street into the New Town, specifically Albany Street and Abercrombie Place, which I can understand.
I do not, however, think that that in itself is an adequate reason to divert mahoosive buses along George Street if the aim is to make George Street a pleasant place for people to be.
Diesel fume belching double-deckers one foot from a pavement blocked by bus-shelters does not represent an improvement of the public realm.
Posted 9 years ago # -
IMac - Finance crucial - talking to people within CEC...
Hill Street resident - direction of this terrific
Speak mainly as pedestrian
Admirable cycling lobby
No one really to speak for pedestrians
Want clear cycle routes through but not at expense of pedestrians
IMac will be better when clear route - minimal physical ped segregation
Other person - cyclist - better when marquees go
IMac wanted to change cycle routing during trial but told 'too difficult'
Posted 9 years ago # -
Small row about replacing marquees with different sort of outside eating
One man against using public space for private gain!
Posted 9 years ago # -
IMac don't think had sufficient info in place on day one of experiment
Posted 9 years ago # -
Year long hiatus after September - TROs etc
Posted 9 years ago # -
I must've missed something. When was the survey of George Street visitors carried out?
The results from Q11 are pretty telling.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I believe the survey has been going on throughout the trial.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I must have missed something too. What is Q11 and what were the results?
Posted 9 years ago # -
Presume refers to this -
Posted 9 years ago # -
OKay thanks, I looked through your photos but missed this!
Posted 9 years ago # -
Posted 9 years ago #
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After meeting thoughts -
Some people within CEC definitely 'get' what could/should be done BUT there are other people with different agendas.
It's clear that the experiment has been a success in many ways - including finding out what 'doesn't really work'.
That included the marquees (for various reasons) and the dodgy (cycle) routing round the statues (not popular on here!)
It's also clear that it's not (primarily) about 'cycling' - in spite of being spun that way on various occasions, which might suit the council but is not particularly beneficially for 'cycling' or really encouraging people to cycle to/around the city centre.
It's also about pedestrians and 'festivals' - i.e. not (particularly about 'a convenient through cycle route' - even if/when there is ever a "through" from Leith Walk to Haymarket - or wherever).
As DdF pointed out, 'not about NCN or tourists or (just) east to west.
Design consultants are expected to be appointed in next few weeks. They will then consult - before the current experiment is over.
So if you care about the city centre - not just finding a 'safe' route through it - contribute to the consultation!
Posted 9 years ago # -
The slide "Do you think the changes to George Street have achieved any of the following?"
seems to suggest that people in the second quarter were less positive about it than people in the first quarter? (Fewer Yeses, more Don't Knows)
Posted 9 years ago # -
"seems to suggest that people in the second quarter were less positive about it than people in the first quarter"
This was mentioned.
Conclusion seemed to be partly season/weather related.
Don't know if surveys done same time/place each week. Also not that many people so slightly 'random'.
I'm surprised that 'cycle satisfaction' was so high - but there really aren't many users on bikes, so maybe it's just those who go out of their way and want to be 'positive' to encourage MORE(?)
Posted 9 years ago # -
Was anyone here surveyed? I travel that road at least twice a week but always post-8pm so wouldn't expect to be flagged down by someone with a questionnaire.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I've probably used it every week, 3/5 days of the working week since it's been open, core commuting hours 8-9AM out, 5-6PM home. Never so much as seen any sign of clipboard-wielding officialdom.
Posted 9 years ago # -
"
The City of Edinburgh Council is seeking to establish design principles and options for George Street to shape the future place-making of George Street following the end of the current Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO).
The appointed consultant will focus on the analysis and assessment of existing data to establish the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to George Street. The will include assessing key themes including heritage, place, function and movement. Consultation workshops may be required to review that analysis. A summary report would be produced.
It should be noted that the maximum budget for these works is £25,000"
http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR204827
Posted 9 years ago # -
I don't know what genius decided dumping piles of foot-wide concrete blocks in the cycle lane right where you're trying to turn in or out of it is a good idea. But they deserve some sort of numptie of the year award.
The blocks are clearly being moved to allow vehicle access, so not working in that respect, which means they're randomly jumbled across the entrance/exit to the paths at various points, making negotiating past them quite a challenge. So not only don't they do what they're intended to do (keep vehicles out), they make it harder for cyclists than it already is.
Don't even think about trailering through. I'll grab a few photos tomorrow and email the powers that be.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Photos from Saturday of each junction - https://flic.kr/s/aHsk9uSw6n
I thought about the placement of the blocks and wondered if some had been moved. I think it may appear some of the blocks have been moved but haven't - there's just not a suitable place to put them.
I did lean on one of the blocks to see if it would be easy to move and it wasn't.
I'd like to think the extra signs will be enough to keep most vehicles out. Delivery vans will always ignore the signs though as they have a god given right to drive anywhere.
Posted 9 years ago #
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