CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure

Cycle path in Inverleith Park

(42 posts)
  • Started 10 years ago by Kim
  • Latest reply from Colonies_Chris

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  1. chdot
    Admin

    @CC

    Very generous change of view - though as you say -

    "But of course it would have been even better not to have paid to build it and then later pay to remove it"

    Assuming the decision to build was a mistake, how to avoid it happening again?

    If it wasn't really a mistake, how to deal with further complaints?

    Fortunately there is virtually no chance of blanket bans on cycling in parks.

    So the future must include -

    Anticipation of objections (preferably at design stage) and do a sensible amount of consultation.

    Better/coherent design ideas/standards for dealing with 'potential for conflict'.

    Education to 'stop' Lycra louts.

    And/or education for people who fear problems where there are unlikely to be any.

    Meanwhile elsewhere - 'no room for cycling facilities on most Edinburgh roads in case it interferes with traffic flow'. Not about "potential conflict" - more like 'constant daily conflicts involving real danger'.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  2. chdot
    Admin

    "it should be possible to come up with suggestions on how to spend the budget in a better way?"

    Perhaps, we'll all have our pet projects

    But the basics don't happen - filling in potholes quickly and properly, repainting lines when they fade a bit - not when they have disappeared.

    There is real reluctance to 'inconvenience motorists' - especially by removing parking (even on top of cycle lanes).

    There is real ignorance/panic about how/where to do 'shared use' and almost no idea about segregation.

    But the case here is about a modest change being introduced and then torn up because someone (who probably should have been consulted first) thought there might be a problem.

    There is something odd about such a degree of influence.

    Council didn't even try adding chicanes - maybe 'we' have frightened them!

    Posted 10 years ago #

  3. stiltskin
    Member

    There are three aspects to this topic which grate. Firstly the speed with which this decision was taken and who was consulted. The suspicion is that the 'Friends' aren't just friendly with Inverleith Park. Secondly that this is money that has just been wasted....again and thirdly, how was the decision taken and what grounds? Granted there may be problems with speeding cyclists, but given the widths of the paths in the park, what real difference does this small path make. None at all I suggest.
    Instead it comes across as a knee-jerk reaction to appease an influential pressure group based on no evidence at all which just depletes the funds available in the cycling budget. Pathetic!

    Posted 10 years ago #

  4. Murun Buchstansangur
    Member

    Let's be clear here, cycling is very much a minority activity in Inverleith Park. I've rarely met another cyclist there. My usual route included the desire line junction in question, but I only used it a handful of times (<50% of trips) as on the others, there were pedestrians on it. Even so, it was useful - potential conflict at the crossroads was avoided through a choice of routes being offered.

    The other cyclists I have observed there have been travelling at modest speeds by NEPN shared path standards. Whatever this is all about, I doubt an objective observer would drag cyclists into it, and I for one will be keeping a close eye on where FoIL take it from here.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  5. chdot
    Admin

    "I for one will be keeping a close eye on where FoIL take it from here"

    You mean you expect them to call for more restrictions on bikes - or other things??

    Posted 10 years ago #

  6. chdot
    Admin

    http://foodiesfestival.com/event/edinburgh-inverleith-park

    Posted 10 years ago #

  7. chdot
    Admin

    Of course there was a plan for a ROAD through Inverleith Park -

    http://www.gcat.org.uk/blog/?p=682

    Posted 10 years ago #

  8. crowriver
    Member

    Presumably FoIL consulted their members?

    "Friends of Inverleith Park was set up in 2002 by a group of local residents who love this great public park and want to protect and enhance the park as a green space for the local community and all the residents of Edinburgh.

    Friends has around 300 members representing a cross-section of park users, mostly local residents who use the park as their recreational space and really care about looking after it.

    In 2006 we became a registered charity: Charity Number SCO37313.

    The charity's objectives set out in its constitution are simple:

    To promote, for the benefit of the public, the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of Inverleith Park.

    To advance the education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of Inverleith Park."

    Posted 10 years ago #

  9. Colonies_Chris
    Member

    Recently the road markings around Inverleith Park have been repainted - much needed in many cases. One effect has been to refresh the pavement arrow that directs cyclists from Carrington Rd into the park via the gates rather than the new (last year) specially made cycle link a couple of metres south of the gates. I've tweeted north Team about it -

    https://twitter.com/north_team/status/521672223749586944

    Their reply: "Intention is 'cyclists enter through gate as using the new path involves travelling around corner with poor visibility' " Utter madness. You build a bit of cycle infrastructure, then decide it's too dangerous to use it, and instead force cyclists through a narrow gap between two gates that faces in the wrong direction and has a sort of half-gate that you can only get through by dismounting and holding it open. Is this the result of another intervention by FoIP?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  10. chdot
    Admin

    "You build a bit of cycle infrastructure, then decide it's too dangerous to use it"

    Of course this is 'two different bits of the council", but that 'infrastructure' corner was a bad idea.

    Glad someone admits it.

    http://www.citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13169#post-160175

    Posted 10 years ago #

  11. gembo
    Member

    Tried that path last week to get to Broughton high, was good.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  12. Colonies_Chris
    Member

    I complained to CEC about all the new bits of cycle infra in Inverleith Park being removed or allowed to fade away. Just got a response today.

    ----
    CYCLING AROUND INVERLEITH PARK
    Thank you for your email of 2 November 2014 regarding the above issue.

    We are looking to reinstate suitable road markings and signage at the east exit of Inverleith Park, onto Arboretum Avenue to make clearer the more direct route for cyclists to Stockbridge, and the shared use nature of the path to pedestrians.
    (There was an arrow painted on the road to direct cyclists onto a bit of shared use path to avoid the nasty right turn. It was removed only a few weeks after it had been painted on. No explanation of the removal.)

    Regarding the ‘shortcut chord’ – this had not been intended specifically for cyclists. Rather it was to tidy up this part of the park where pedestrians had worn away the grass. This change met with significant local objections and was subsequently removed.
    (But I remember it was specifically signposted as a cycle route)

    We shall also review the road markings and signage at the East Fettes Avenue access to the park and renew / revise these where appropriate.
    (Absolutely no promises on this one then. Cyclists will continue to be directed into the park through a closed gate you have to dismount to open, when there's a new purpose-built path link just 5 yards south of it)

    It is intended that this work shall be completed before the end of March 2015.
    I hope that you find our response helpful.
    Yours sincerely
    Allan Tinto
    Transport Officer (Cycling)

    -----

    Posted 10 years ago #

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