CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure

Penicuik pinch points

(7 posts)
  • Started 9 years ago by friskiffla
  • Latest reply from Lezzles

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  1. friskiffla
    Member

    My partner and I were driving through Penicuik this weekend (I was passenger), which we haven't done for a while. We noticed that there have been changes made the the road layout including a wider cycle lane (we think) which unusually continues past the traffic islands.

    My partner was taken by surprise by the narrowing of the road at said traffic islands i.e. he felt there wasn't enough room to stay in the 'car lane' but didn't know he could encroach on the cycle lane. So he braked fairly suddenly coming up to the traffic island as he figured out what to do.

    We had a debate about the design of the road along this stretch - we generally agreed that it is confusing and dangerous because all the markings lull people into a false sense of being guided, which is then shattered e.g. at the traffic islands. I wondered what the opinion is amongst folks who cycle/drive on it more regularly?

    Posted 9 years ago #

  2. kaputnik
    Moderator

    We noticed that there have been changes made the the road layout including a wider cycle lane (we think)

    You're right. If you look closely, you can see the advisory, painted-on lanes are on their third incarnation, each a few inches wider than its predecessor.

    It's not great, there's signs up in Milton Bridge warning not to pass cyclists at the island pinch-points, if you need a sign to say that then you've designed your "cycle lanes" wrong.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  3. Lezzles
    Member

    Penicuik is an odd set up for bike lanes. As you head into Penicuik from Gowkley Moss they have tried to put in bike lanes but they've made the car lanes too narrow for the cars to pass one another comfortably if heading in opposite directions. This means most cars drive with at least 1 wheel in the bike lane - sadly this erodes the value of the bike lane as most cars considerate it optional.

    Despite that I cycle into Penicuik weekly and have never had any bother from cars passing me too close - even at the traffic islands (which really shouldn't come as a surprise to car drivers).

    Posted 9 years ago #

  4. Snowy
    Member

    they've made the car lanes too narrow for the cars to pass one another comfortably if heading in opposite directions. This means most cars drive with at least 1 wheel in the bike lane

    I've got a sneaking suspicion that this is a good description of how Gogar Station Road will be after the current resurfacing work.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  5. PS
    Member

    they've made the car lanes too narrow for the cars to pass one another comfortably if heading in opposite directions. This means most cars drive with at least 1 wheel in the bike lane

    Does the fact that they are uncomfortable make them slow down a bit?

    Posted 9 years ago #

  6. Dave
    Member

    Sounds very Dutch - they have many roads designed like this IIRC.

    Given the two options (cycle lane disappears at pinch point, giving motorists priority and suggesting cyclists are going to disappear, or vice-versa) I know what I prefer.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  7. Lezzles
    Member

    Does the fact that they are uncomfortable make them slow down a bit?

    Oh no! The speed limit is 40 going into Penicuik so they do 42. The speed limit in Penicuik is 30 (but used to be 40) so they do 42.

    Posted 9 years ago #

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