CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting

More of 'them'?

(11 posts)
  • Started 9 years ago by amir
  • Latest reply from Wilmington's Cow

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  1. amir
    Member

    It might be just the effect of winter, but there seems to be far more traffic on the roads at rush hour atm, at least going through Midlothian and East Lothian.

    For instance, roads in my 'hood, Eskbank, have far longer queues than they ever did in previous years. Also when my commute takes me into East Lothian, there are large flows of traffic from Prestonpans and Tranent. Wallyford is quite blighted.

    I can't help thinking this is an emerging 'disaster' brought on by new housing outside of Edinburgh without associated jobs. I suspect that public transport was not properly factored in and in any case people still prefer cars.

    On the plus side there were plenty of cyclists and a few peds on the Innocent.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  2. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    Could the road closure in Newcraighall have anything to do with it? The bridge is being removed this week.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  3. skotl
    Member

    I've been 50/50 bike and car over the last few weeks, for a variety of reasons, and the commute by car (Dalmeny to West End) is horrible right now. Leaving at 08:20 ish it will take me 40-50 minutes to get in when it used to take 20-30 minutes.

    Happily, my bike commute is always 35 minutes rain or shine so it's now much faster (and predictable) for me to cycle.

    I cycled in yesterday, in the p***ing rain and my colleague came in from darkest Fife in his car - took him 90 minutes!

    Posted 9 years ago #

  4. threefromleith
    Member

    The narrowing of the road up by the new Morrisons and the horrendous selfish parking on the very narrow Dalkeith High Street have increased tailbacks up and down Eskbank Road lately.

    Of course. there's only one traffic warden covering the whole of Midlothian, so there's almost no chance of ever getting a ticket in Dalkeith. Council logic is that they 'can't afford a warden for Dalkeith', despite the fact that the warden would pay for him/herself many times over given the way folk park.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  5. amir
    Member

    There are huge long queues on both Dalhousie road and Newbattle Road leading up to Eskbank Toll in the mornings. There never used to be queues on Dalhousie Road.

    I did find a site noting traffic trends - http://www.dft.gov.uk/traffic-counts/

    The siting of the counters isn't always as you would want personally but I expect over the piste it should give some idea. Interestingly the trends from 2000 aren't uniformly upwards at all. The counts include cyclists.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  6. amir
    Member

    Parking in Dalkeith is a little mad - despite the fact that there are free car parks dotted around. There's a lot of lazy people though. There is a loading bay by Boots that both misused and very badly placed. More traffic wardens would be good.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  7. skotl
    Member

    Jeez. Drove in this morning cos picking Skotl Jr. up from the theatre tonight, and it took me 70 minutes from Dalmeny.
    My colleague, who I mentioned ^^^ up there ^^^ took 90 minutes the other day surpassed that with a 2 hour journey.

    All to do with some wazzock who broke down in the outside lane on queensferry road and neither they nor anyone else went to the effort of pushing the car off the road and onto the pavement.

    Back on bike tomorrow!

    Posted 9 years ago #

  8. threefromleith
    Member

    I've recently seen controversial local SNP personage Mr Beattie (he of the 'caught parking his personalised-plated Range Rover in disabled parking bays' fame) using the Boots loading-only bay whilst he and Mrs B pop into nearby shops.

    Next time I'm taking a photo or video. You'd think he'd have learned a lesson the last time his selfish parking got him so much negative press, eh?

    Posted 9 years ago #

  9. crowriver
    Member

    Or just let the train take the strain? Dalmeny station to Haymarket c. 14 minutes...

    Posted 9 years ago #

  10. skotl
    Member

    "Or just let the train take the strain? Dalmeny station to Haymarket c. 14 minutes..."

    I had a decent excuse today as I needed to pick my boy up from the south side. That notwithstanding, when I do drive it's because I have no idea when I'll finish work and can't be a*sed waiting for 30 minutes on a train platform.

    On the upside, I have a parking space in the West End and still cycle 3-4 days a week, rain and shine, so my self-righteous-o-meter goes all the way up to 10 :D

    Posted 9 years ago #

  11. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Had cause today to be in the car (I'm sorry, but train + riding to and from the cyclocross at Lochore was somewhat impractical, especially when factoring in my father-in-law coming to watch, and being caked in mud for the return). Anyway, most 'direct' route took me along Queen Street, and it was hoooooooching.

    Found out the reason for so much consternation... Cars parked on the north side. Loads of them. Presumably for the Christmas lights switch on. Astonishing the effect it has on traffic.

    Posted 9 years ago #

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