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Princes Street (again)

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  1. chdot
    Admin

    "Re-design' options have already been the subject of the longest thread on this site.

    This recorded a couple of crashes the day after Princes Street re-opened with tram tracks in place.

    Yesterday there was the 'training session' which seems to have attracted many people who post here!

    I went down and took some photos. My main conclusion is that safety would be greatly improved if there was an Advance Stop Line at the Waverley Bridge junction.

    This is part of the problem.

    This is where there should be an ASL.


    Making it easier to get ahead of buses.


    Avoiding situations like this.

    Simples.

    All photos taken in a five minute period.

    Of course if this was 'on the Continent' there would be special traffic lights to allow cyclists to get a head start.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  2. Kim
    Member

    Nice to see that you photographed some of the cycle trainers in action.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  3. chdot
    Admin

    Not deliberate.

    I didn't recognise Andy until afterwards.

    Were the women training?

    Posted 14 years ago #

  4. Kim
    Member

    Getting back onto topic: at minimum there need to be ASLs at all of the traffic lights. The most dangerous junction currently is at The Mound for cyclist travelling west bound along Princes Street, as this is a pinch point. The is also a problem that cyclist are restricted in they ability to manoeuvre by the tramlines, this is going to be a serious issue, if there is not separate provision for cycle.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  5. LaidBack
    Member

    How on earth a 'utility' can be left unmarked and unfinished in middle of road is beyond me.

    I would have put barrier of some sort at end of rails to make all road users realise that the tracks are now there.

    Of course this would cause pinch point but so be it.
    Buses and cars would recognise that there is a danger.
    Bikes could then choose to cross tracks later on.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  6. chdot
    Admin

    I only just realised this morning that one of the issues is that there used to be three lanes. Thanks Google.

    Sources close to Princes Street say "the three lanes will be permanently down to 2 due to the tram lines curving in from St.Andrews Square."

    So cyclists are being disadvantaged without adequate (or is that any?) allowances.

    Sources also confirm that "ASLs are planned" at all the junctions "in the final design".

    Timescales unknown. Just suggests that 'they' are really only thinking about the tram and not its consequences.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  7. LaidBack
    Member

    http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/opinion/Talk-of-the-Town-Ride.5911478.jp

    Is this true?

    Cycle story at top of right hand page. So we do count in the entertainment section at least.
    Seriously though the margin of error isn't much and hope the injury has been over-dramatised for the enjoyment of the bike/tram hating readers.

    Just chatting with the guys at The Bicycle Works and in between tales of bunny hopping etc they do reckon the current non-arrangement is bad.
    One guy there says that motor bikers are taking it easy too. The Mound crossing in the wet can allow your back wheel to slip out if you power up (or whatever they call it). I'd keep to as direct a route as possible.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  8. chdot
    Admin

    Well someone did come off on Sunday by Castle Street. Think we'd know on here if it was one of the trainers though.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  9. spytfyre
    Member

    who fell? someone who was training me? was it the memory of my shorts?
    My routes don't take me near it but it was good to check it out
    out: http://sportypal.com/Workouts/Details/56801
    and to provide some variety, get some car free route and avoid bloody steep glouscter street
    home: http://sportypal.com/Workouts/Details/59432
    about 13km a day with the trinity/ferry rd/roseburn path being my relaxation routine on the way home
    sportypal is a fun thing if you got a GPS phone

    Posted 14 years ago #

  10. Kim
    Member

    That is a some what exaggerated report...

    Posted 14 years ago #

  11. cb
    Member

    "another fan of the two-wheel form of transport"

    Who writes this stuff?

    Posted 14 years ago #

  12. spytfyre
    Member

    Kim - if exaggerated and you have proof complain to the press complaints commission and make them print a
    retraction?

    Posted 14 years ago #

  13. LaidBack
    Member

    "another fan of the two-wheel form of transport"
    do they mean micro-scooters?

    I phoned Clarence about the 'unfinished utility' and they told me to phone 0800 328 3934 Trams for Edinburgh.

    They say they are going to do something... took my number and may phone back.

    ASL idea is good one although that bit will be blitzed after New Year as the tram lines head into St Andrew Square.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  14. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    It's the fact that STILL nothing has been done is odd. People HAVE fallen off, and have been hurt (including broken bones). They've been informed by many people of where the dangers lie, and it has been covered in the media.

    So if someone falls off and really does themselves a VERY serious injury, there can be no argument that they were not aware of the problem...

    Posted 14 years ago #

  15. Kim
    Member

    I suspect that now that there has been a training session TIE feel they need do nothing more. Sadly I don't think it is that simple...

    Posted 14 years ago #

  16. kaputnik
    Moderator

    I think the TIE approach is to let people come a a cropper on the tracks on the grounds that "they won't make that mistake again".

    Once 10,000 or so people have made that mistake and introduced their face to the asphalt, we should be in a better place.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  17. Kim
    Member

    For those who are interested there is now a video about the tram/cycle training session, from Edinburgh Tram TV.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  18. spytfyre
    Member

    yeah, pretty sure I am in that video at some point and was not asked for my permission...

    Posted 14 years ago #

  19. chdot
    Admin

    2001

    Posted 14 years ago #

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