Gogar Station Road - Resurfacing & Cycle friendly improvements?

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Gogar Station Road - Resurfacing & Cycle friendly improvements?

(108 posts)

Started 10 years ago by HankChief
Latest reply from neddie

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Gogar Station Road resurfacing GSR

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HankChief
Member

See previous thread

Long story short - A dreadful rat run of a road (narrow bendy 40mph limit and just awful road surface) which is a key link from the canal to the A8 cyclepath (RBS, Airport etc).

Through pressure on CEC including presenting at transport committee in June 2013, had reassurance from Lesley that it would be fixed in 2014/2015.

Update:

Consultation has now been pushed back to October 2014 with construction planned for February 2015 due to resource constraints (both design and construction). We were previously told August consultation and October construction.

A disappointment that we now face another winter of dark commutes dodging potholes and dangerous overtakes.

I don't know whether to be concerned about this comment
We have further investigated the potential to improve conditions for cyclists on Gogar Station Road and extended this to include options for traffic calming should cycle lanes not be feasible.

At least we will be able to have our say at the consultation, but I'm not sure I want a road full of traffic calming conflict points.

Posted 10 years ago #
Kenny
Member

Surely there isn't enough room for cycle lanes, especially on the bit that is to the North of the railway line?

Posted 10 years ago #
HankChief
Member

What I was hoping for was cycle lanes down both sides but no centre line painted. Effectively making it appear narrower and so slowing speeds without the need for chicanes or speed bumps.

Posted 10 years ago #
sallyhinch
Member

This sort of thing was what was suggested originally:

English version

Dutch version

Posted 10 years ago #
Kenny
Member

The fact that you can see that all 3 vehicles in the English version are in the cycle lane is a concern... Personally, that looks like road design which would make things worse, especially considering the twisty nature of the road in question.

Posted 10 years ago #
HankChief
Member

Borrowed from Chdot's thread.
"

Conclusion

The data recorded in this study and subsequent analysis shows that there was a statistically significant reduction in vehicle speeds as a result of removing central markings on the carriageway.

It is important to note that not all roads would be suitable for removing central markings, particularly where the markings highlight a particular hazard. If the technique is being considered, careful analysis of the site will be required to determine if it is appropriate.

"

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/centre-line-removal-trial.pdf

Posted 10 years ago #
chdot
Admin

(As seen previously on HC's Tweet.)

Posted 10 years ago #
HankChief
Member

As originally retweeted by SRD.
I couldn't work out the URL for it on my phone - so thanks Chdot.

Posted 10 years ago #
I were right about that saddle
Member

@HankChief

Thanks for your efforts on this one. That road is an accident waiting to happen. Apart from anything else it is a rat run used by people late for their flights from the airport.

Posted 10 years ago #
HankChief
Member

Latest update is that we're definitely getting GSR resurfaced in February - Which is good news!

The bad news is that they have yet to design any infrastructure to make it more cycle friendly. Without this we'll have a smooth fast road that still won't be pleasant or safe to cycle on.

I've now spoken to cycle officer who now has this as a 'priority' and is drafting up designs, which will be shared with me (& other stakeholders)

Time is pretty tight to get things designed, safety audited and agreed by the end of the year.

I only hope that CEC will be brave about putting in some decent infrastructure and not a watered down 'solution'.

As a reminder of what it is like, here is an excellent video from greenroofer.

http://youtu.be/DQk9SxgeaZM

Posted 10 years ago #
kaputnik
Moderator

@Hankchief excellent work there. Given the winding nature of the road, with the high walls which cut down the site lines but the "rural" feel which makes people drive it like a race track, I do wonder what they might come up with.

I suppose it's not going to be widening the pavement and making it shared use...

Posted 10 years ago #
Kenny
Member

I rather unusually cycled down it at speed in the dusk last evening. It was somewhat terrifying as I couldn't see the potholes clearly. I ended up just having to hang on and hope.

Posted 10 years ago #
HankChief
Member

Kenny - welcome to our world... summer commutes aren't fun but winter commutes are terrifying...

Posted 10 years ago #
chdot
Admin

@ HC

Why can't this ratrun be shut?(?)

Posted 10 years ago #
I were right about that saddle
Member

@HankChief

Again, many thanks for what you have achieved here, even if it isn't what we might ideally want.

The police firearms people were training in the empty bungalow complex on the East side of the road yesterday. Didn't feel like the odd stray round would make the journey materially more dangerous.

Posted 10 years ago #
I were right about that saddle
Member

@chdot

Broiler farm, scrap yard and police training facilities? Ah! You mean close it in the middle? Good idea.

Posted 10 years ago #
HankChief
Member

@chdit - Council willpower to upset the car lobby.

No reason it couldn't be shut or made one way.

Although if it was only open Southbound, that would be unpopular with RBSers coming from Balerno, whereas Northbound only would annoy the Balerno-ites by stopping them using the RBS bridge to get home from the Airport.

Greenroofer has a cheap solution of putting a bollard in the middle of the Railway bridge.

Posted 10 years ago #
I were right about that saddle
Member

To be fair, the very existence of the RBS office is predicated on cheap petrol and aviation fuel. It's not the fault of the employees that it's hard to access otherwise.

Posted 10 years ago #
cb
Member

Hmm, if a driver occasionally uses GSR as a rat run but drives slowly, responsibly and, crucially, carefully around/near cyclists does that actually improve the life of cyclists on that road? Hypothetical question.

Posted 10 years ago #
Greenroofer
Member

@HK - Yes, and it's a very cheap solution. Not only would you need just one bollard in the middle of the bridge, but it would mean you could do away with the traffic lights on that bridge and (probably) on the one near the A8.

A one-way route would let you do away with both sets of lights...

Posted 10 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"

As you may be aware, the City of Edinburgh Council plans to commence the resurfacing of Gogar Station Road in April 2015. There has been a history of requests for improved cycle facilities on Gogar Station Road due to the north-south links offered from the Canal and A71 to the RBS HQ and A8.

Following our investigations, I am pleased to confirm that a design has been reached which includes the removal of the road centre-line with advisory cycle lanes over the majority of Gogar Station Road between the RBS HQ and the railway over-bridge (linking to the south shared use footway). This is a relatively new approach in the UK on rural roads and we are now confident that it is suitable for trialling on Gogar Station Road.

In representing stakeholders and route users, I have attached layout plans for your information and comment. Please note these are draft designs and minor changes can be expected to the signage in particular. Apologies for the relatively short notice, however, I would be grateful if you please return any comments by Friday 13 February.

It is hoped that the new road layout will reduce traffic speeds and improve the conditions and visibility of the on-road cycle route. The narrow traffic area will create some uncertainty for drivers and in-turn reduce speeds, with drivers expected to travel in the cycle lanes only when safe to do so. Following implementation, traffic speeds will be evaluated and, if suitable, a reduced speed limit will be progressed. We hope the traffic speeds will reduce sufficiently to meet the criteria of a 30mph road. A robust evaluation is planned for the trial which will consider collisions, speeds, conflicts and user feedback.

"

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3nt3i0l5tcuf02q/P9_2_017_001_Layout%20and%20signs_V3.pdf?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2t7sf8fpgp8g72u/P9_2_017_002_Layout%20and%20signs_V3.pdf?dl=0

Posted 9 years ago #
SRD
Moderator

well done hankchief.

you should write a case study on how to effectively engage council (I suspect wearing a suit rather than a pirate costume may have helped...)

Posted 9 years ago #
HankChief
Member

Really pleased to see the consultation with cycle lanes and no centre lines.

There aren't many roads like it in the UK (although plenty on NL), so it has taken some bravery by CEC to propose this.

I strongly believe that with the cycle lanes and plethora of signs this will clearly show to drivers that this is a space to be shared with cyclists. This should bring down the speeds and reduce the close passes.

The resurfacing will also mean that cyclists can ride at a faster pace and in a straighter line therefore better placed to 'manage' the vehicles passing them, which should reduce the risks and make it a more pleasant experience.

There may be bits if the proposal that people dislike or think could be done better but the overriding sentiment is that CEC are trying to make this a more cycle friendly stretch of road and are pushing boundaries to make it so.

I would encourage forumites to welcome this proposal by responding to the consultation and copying in their own councillors to show that we, the voting population value this kind of approach and want to see more of it.

We've come along way in 2 years, from the initial response of it not qualifying for resurfacing due to the many lumps and bumps not being deep enough to merit it, to this excellent proposal. Bravo CEC.

Posted 9 years ago #
cb
Member

Should also make it more pleasant for pedestrians, of which there always seem to be a surprisingly large number on the few occasions I go along there.

Posted 9 years ago #
I were right about that saddle
Member

@HankChief

Well done. Well done indeed. Makes me want to get another bit of work at Gogarburn, just to have a reason to skim over your silky new tarmac. Just ordered a new suspension fork for the ratty nineties hybrid too - GSR and the McClimate really did for the previous one.

Do you think they'll fix the smell from the broiler farm at the same time?

Posted 9 years ago #
HankChief
Member

Formal feedback on the proposals to paul.matthews AT edinburgh.gov.uk

Wouldn't hurt to copy in your councillors/Hinds/Mcvey/Burns as well.

Posted 9 years ago #
gembo
Member

Is consultation via e-mailing paul? Is that the sole method?

Posted 9 years ago #
HankChief
Member

@gembo: I think so - it's not entirely clear. That's why I suggest copying in your councillor to make sure that your views get to them.

Posted 9 years ago #
gembo
Member

Yes good shout H. The cycling team need as much support as they can get from fellow cyclists.

Posted 9 years ago #
Greenroofer
Member

I've sent in my thoughts. I used words like 'bold' and 'imaginative'. I was going to say 'courageous', but realised that had a hint of Yes Minister about it.

One thing that is a concern is that the plan doesn't mention the double yellow lines that are currently all the way along the road to stop RBS staff using it as an extension of the Gogarburn car park. I'm hoping this doesn't mean they won't be reinstated.

Posted 9 years ago #

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