Hi Folks-
I note with some alarm that the A90 cycle path North of Barnton appears to have been marked up for roadworks.
Anyone know what the situation is here? Can I expect to see this closed sometime soon?
Thanks!
Duncan
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
A90 Cycle Path Works?
(10 posts)-
Posted 13 years ago #
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Yeah I saw that a while back, and tried to get some info from clarence to see what was planned. Still waiting for a reply.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Why would anyone expect the people who actually commute on a route to be consulted on anything that is done to it?
This is Edinburgh.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Maybe the pope's gonna cycle to the forth bridge.
Posted 13 years ago # -
My usual CEC contacts seem to be on holiday.
Advice is to contact West Neighbourhood Roads team
"
Murray Black
Local Environment ManagerMurray has responsibility for the management and development of Environment Services in the West area. This includes maintaining roads, parks and greenspaces.
Tel: 0131 469 5232
Email: murray.black@edinburgh.gov.uk
"Posted 13 years ago # -
greenspaces?
Posted 13 years ago # -
That's the grass on the roundabouts...
Posted 13 years ago # -
Just got this -
"I can confirm that the Council had BT mark out ducts in relation to coring work on the boundary wall. This has been completed, and no further works are planned at present.
In addition, and as you may already be aware, we are currently working on designs for a scheme to provide a safe and attractive link for cyclists between Main Street West (Dalmeny) and Cramond Bridge, running along the B924 and A90."Posted 13 years ago # -
Ah, that's great news, thanks!
Posted 13 years ago # -
A90 path - council "working on designs for..." Yes, good news, but this particular episode of trying to get a decent Edinburgh - QF/Forth Bridge route has been on the go since 2007! Shortly after the SNP came to power they removed bridge tolls, and in a speech attempting to justify that the Cabinet Secretary John Swinney MSP happened to say (probably inadvertently!) that in connection with the bridge-toll removal "we will continue to invest in public transport ... and cycle links" [the word 'continue' being somewhat suspect in terms of cycle links!!]
Spokes fortunately noticed his statement and took him up on it, eventually also persuading Edinburgh Council to write to the government asking for funding towards the cost of a decent A90 route to the bridge. And, eventually, the govt agreed to pay at least a share of the costs (the amounts to be discussed once the council had done costings). This whole process took about 2 years from Mr Swinney's original statement, and only succeeded due to extreme persistence, many reminders, a good number of letters to MSPs and councillors from concerned individual cyclists, and resulting efforts by various MSPs including Margaret Smith MSP and Patrick Harvie MSP.
Since then the council has been (intermittently!) working on the plans - i.e. that has taken another 1-2 years so far. However, the fact that the council mentioned this quite spontaneously to chdot above is excellent news - it sounds as if they are now really doing something!
It very much needs to be done this financial year 2010/11, as this year, at last, the Scottish govt has increased (rather than decreased) their cycling budget, thanks to the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland - so more money than usual is 'in the pot' for cycling projects. Next year we will be into a whole new level of uncertainty, as funding in 2011/12 and beyond is under severe threat in this autumn's Spending Review.
Another argument for the govt contributing is that this is a major tourist cycle route from Edinburgh to the North - it's not just for local people from Edinburgh council area. [Indeed, if the A90 was a trunk road then the government would be paying the entire cost from the trunk roads budget].
Conclusion - if you are concerned about a decent route between Edinburgh and Forth Bridge/QF then now is the time to write to MSPs and councillors stressing the state of the existing route and the need to do something about it this financial year. http://www.writetothem.com! [it would be appreciated if any letters and replies are copied to spokes@spokes.org.uk].
Posted 13 years ago #
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