CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure

George Street Improvements

(1175 posts)

  1. KarenJS
    Member

    Thought I heard something on the radio the other day saying they are going to put George Street back the way it was, did I hear right?

    Posted 8 years ago #
  2. chdot
    Admin

    Pretty much (for now)

    "

    NEXT STEPS FOR GEORGE STREET

    As the George Street Experimental Traffic Order comes to a conclusion after the summer festival in 2015 (with work to return the street to its former layout taking place through September 2015) this meeting will also be given an update on “what next” for George Street.

    "

    http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12983&page=26#post-188603

    Posted 8 years ago #
  3. KarenJS
    Member

    Thanks, also just found another thread with a bit more info.
    http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14657&page=2

    Posted 8 years ago #
  4. chdot
    Admin

    Ah yes thread overlap, conflict even!

    I probably should have cross-referenced sooner.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  5. chdot
    Admin

    Minutes of George Street Quarterly Public Stakeholder eeting

    Date – 15 June 2015, Venue – West Drawing Room at Assembly Rooms, George Street,

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/btov652shoyzqgz/minutes%20of%20george%20street%20quarterly%20public%20stakeholder%20meeting.docx?dl=0

    Posted 8 years ago #
  6. chdot
    Admin

    Mini-Kelpies mentioned on this thread before, now they are about to arrive -

    "

    This weekend, the sculpture will be placed at the junction of Princes Street, Shandwick Place and Lothian Road for the duration of summer, as part of the capital’s drive to celebrate Edinburgh’s new-look West End sector.

    "
    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/what-s-on/edinburgh-festival/mini-kelpies-statue-set-for-edinburgh-s-west-end-1-3814106

    Posted 8 years ago #
  7. chdot
    Admin

    "

    An independently-led design process is already underway, and has been specifically set up to involve residents, businesses and all other stakeholders who are interested in the future of George Street.

    Open days will be held by independent designers Ironside Farrar during the summer, where anyone will be welcome to drop in and give their views. The purpose of this work is to agree design principles and examine a range of options for George Street’s layout.

    The first public drop-in will be all day on 13 August in the Roxburghe Hotel.

    "

    http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/blog/index.php?path=blog/newsblog/post/872

    Posted 8 years ago #
  8. wingpig
    Member

    "Cyclists may travel through the site at any time."

    I'll mention that to the fluorotabard operatives installing the decorative hedges.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  9. If you fancy some Twitter mischief the company responsible is @Universalarts - so have mentioned to them the Council statement that UniversalArts had committed to maintaining eastbound passage AND that both directions say to use the one way Hill Street.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  10. wingpig
    Member

    It's the 5th today, so according to the signs on the big concrete blocks taking up half the remaining footway, it's now only closed daily from 6:30pm to 6am. I wonder if cyclists can really cross the site at any time...

    Posted 8 years ago #
  11. Hmmmm, I wonder too.... The sign seemed pretty definitive....

    Posted 8 years ago #
  12. kaputnik
    Moderator

    It's even more thoroughly closed off today.

    Also, the power cables for the bar are running from the assembly room across the road, protected by a plastic trunking (sort of stuff the fire brigade put to protect their hoses) that will qualify as the worst speedbump in Edinburgh.

    I took the camera today to film the journey. Will actually try the "diversion" around Hill Street on the way home.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  13. mogwai1375
    Member

    I'm confused - didn't the Council say the cycle lanes would remain open, or did I just completely make that up?

    Posted 8 years ago #
  14. wingpig
    Member

    The document on the Council's website says:

    "The street’s two-way cycle lane will be reduced between Castle Street and Frederick Street until 31st August.

    Events promoter Universal Arts has committed to retaining the eastbound cycle facility, which will be routed around their performance area and bar.

    The westbound carriageway will remain open to drivers between 6am and 6.30pm from 5th to 31st August though will close outwith working hours. Cyclists may travel through the site at any time."

    My emphases. "Reduced" does not, to me, mean the same as "obliterated", especially when qualified by "retaining the eastbound" further down. Perhaps the definition of "the site" needs clarification, if cyclists are required to go along Hill Street, which is some distance from George Street, implying that Hill Street is also part of the promotor's temporary bar.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  15. mogwai1375
    Member

    Thanks wingpig. I understood the 'routed around' bit to mean that we'd still be able to cycle on George Street. Certainly the bit about 'travelling through the site at any time' would imply they shouldn't have put those signs up.

    I really dislike the cobbles along Young/Hill/Thistle Street and try to avoid them whenever possible, would hate to think I might be forced to use them for a month...

    Posted 8 years ago #
  16. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Just realised. Signs on the barriers heading West also suggest diverting via Hill Street.

    Except... Hill Street is one way, so you'd have to cycle through a no-entry sign and against the traffic.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  17. wingpig
    Member

    I've sent that page from the council's website to the printer: I shall equip myself with the printout when preparing to travel home along George Street prior to 18:30, lest any fluorotabardists or decorative hedges seek to impede me in a manner inconsistent with published documenation. If they're not going to observe the "daily from 18:30 to 06:30" on their big sign on the concrete base they really ought to shift the damn thing, as it's not doing much for the north footway where it is at the moment.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  18. "Except... Hill Street is one way, so you'd have to cycle through a no-entry sign and against the traffic."

    I tweeted @Edinburgh_CC and @Universalarts about that very thing last night.

    I've also suggested where signs should be put to actually be effective (i.e. before you get to the barriers, especially westbound when you travel quite some distance along before finding you're suppose to turn around and then cycle the wrong way along Hill Street).

    'Thinking' appears to be in short supply around all of this.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  19. dougal
    Member

    I will be impressed if the council get back to you WC, they totally ignored my query on Twitter about it yesterday.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  20. paulmilne
    Member

    Isn't the George Street cycle lane two way? How can you talk about an "east-bound" lane?

    Posted 8 years ago #
  21. kaputnik
    Moderator

    The council "got back to me" when I first tweeted a picture of George Street stating that the George Street lane was closed.

    They asked "please can you let us know where this is".

    le facepalm.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  22. dougal
    Member

    Maybe they've outsourced social meedja? To a bot?

    Posted 8 years ago #
  23. "I will be impressed if the council get back to you WC, they totally ignored my query on Twitter about it yesterday."

    They actually got back initially saying they'd "passed it on to the relevant team". Nothing back from @Universalarts yet.

    Will take a walk over at lunchtime to see if it's all still in place then get onto them again.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  24. gembo
    Member

    @WC - I could meet you and you could interview me for the new website?

    Posted 8 years ago #
  25. Two birds, one stone, cracking idea (I must get on with those things and start PMing people!).

    Had taken advantage of Vulpine cheapness before you mentioned it this morning by the way, should arrive today *impatient*

    Posted 8 years ago #
  26. gembo
    Member

    I am suppiosed to be getting a discount then (Refer A Friend stylee). Actually, they will probably send me it retrospectively (they are friendly compared with Rapha). I have been bigging up this forum to them and this forum's little sister

    I have meeting at 13.30 so if was to be today would need to be earlier (can be any other day and I also want to get to TIlls to check mural and buy yet another copy of Catcher In THe Rye)

    Posted 8 years ago #
  27. Tomorrow might be easier for me too actually....

    Just hoping the jacket fits! I'll blame you if not, obviously...

    Posted 8 years ago #
  28. gembo
    Member

    if it arrives, we can both wear them tomorrow? but if warm they will be too hot

    Medium fits me, large should fit you?

    Posted 8 years ago #
  29. Managed to pop by at lunchtime and have retweeted the Council and Universalarts, again pointing out that the Council had stated the eastbound lane would be maintained, but UA had blocked the entirety, and asking which if them is wrong.

    Signs still there (at both ends) stating cyclists should use Hill St. No signs further back to indicate the road will be blocked.

    One salmon run cyclist eastbound.

    And as has been pointed out, there are massive concrete blocks to hold down tent-like structures that are right up to the kerb, so I don't think there's any chance of the lane being maintained.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  30. kaputnik
    Moderator

    If a self-supporting (i.e. no guy ropes) marquee had been used, there would have been room for a salmon-run on the south side lanes of George Street.

    But the Marquee people obviously know better than that and can guarantee that there's no sideways rain for the next month that would render their sideless structure useless.

    I seem to recall a great deal of money, trumpeting and hot-air was expended for the roof provided over the Inverleith tennis competition to weatherproof it, only for it to be washed out and cancelled by sideways North Sea rain.

    Bus stop designers take heed.

    Posted 8 years ago #

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