I think this was designed using spare parts from scaletrix and hot wheels sets
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Haymarket
(113 posts)-
Posted 8 years ago #
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edd1e_h - completely agree. The car lane narrows having widened at the junction. I watched every single car clip the cycle lane there as they passed
Posted 8 years ago # -
Am I the only person who can't see the pictures? (Not that I really need to, I've seen the thing in the flesh...)
Posted 8 years ago # -
Not only have they taken away the benefits of the ASL for right hand lane users like myself, into the junction the previous two lanes have been merged into one. This means I am now "squiggling" across the tram lines returning into merging traffic.
They have turned a poorly designed accident blackspot into a potential deathtrap.
I cannot think of a more appalling or dangerous attempt by CEC to "improve" the city's cycling infrastructure.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I cannot think of a more appalling or dangerous attempt by CEC to "improve" the city's cycling infrastructure.
And presumably spent a hefty chunk of cycling budget.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Just had a quick look to find when the first mention of these plans occurred (six months ago). Due to the surfacing it's possibly even worse than expected. Implemented just in time for the peak of the psychotic taxi festival, too.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@wingpig Thanks for finding the plan. It seems to me that implementation is per the plan, which exception of non-standard "cyclists stay in lane" sign, which who knows might come later. I agree the surface is very poor, but my main concern about it is its durability. If it wears badly and disintegrates, it will be a major hazard and the tram track won't allow you to move outside it.
Having to rejoin the lane of traffic after the station is a problem irrespective of whether this cycle is there or not. An earlier thread suggestion was to make the inside lane a mandatory bus lane - that would at least ease the hazard of having to rejoiin the traffic.
I think cycling in the outside lane through the junction is even more dangerous, because of the possibility of traffic on your inside and a shunt from the rear.
The orientation of the westbound track as seen on the plan in wingpig's post, has caused this nightmare. It slews across left (why?). If it had stayed more parallel with the eastbound, it would have left more space on the left for bikes, and the angle of crossing both sets of tracks would have been much safer.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I think this was designed using spare parts from scaletrix and hot wheels sets
^^This comment just won the internet :)
Posted 8 years ago # -
It looks like they are trying to reduce the number of complaints by killing as many cyclists as possible.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Just remember all, any criticism is 'harsh' on people who are trying really really hard.
Why is it at every turn they basically just decide 'we know best' and ignore all good advice, as well as best practice from other places? They always whine about 'yes, well we DID consult on this' when complaints flood in, but what they don't say is that they basically ignored every single little bit of consultation that came their way.
Presuming there's still not a diversion in place on George Street either (sod it, I'm riding home that way).
Model. Cycling. City.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Model, as in, Not the real thing.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"Presuming there's still not a diversion in place on George Street either "
Well, there's a media release... http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/blog/index.php?path=blog/newsblog/post/872Posted 8 years ago # -
Interesting, well I'm heading east at 5ish, so will see what state it's in then!
Posted 8 years ago # -
Posted 8 years ago # -
Aha. There's now a right-lane-merge-to-left arrow. Technically, being in the middle Morrison lane then affords priority over traffic mergin from the right lane AND more space to use to approach the tracks (without bothering the red surface) but anyone who has ever gone towards the hill opposite the entrance to Pollock knows how well-heeded merge/priority arrows are...
Posted 8 years ago # -
No matter how it is painted, an advisory cycle lane is not the answer to the problem at Haymarket.
Sadly, the red lane in the photos above isn't even an advisory cycle lane, as it should have a broken white line down its right hand side.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Some more pictures from the end. They've half scrubbed the dashed lines making the car section supposedly one lane to the end of the red bit. You can see the buses cut onto the cycle lane though
Posted 8 years ago # -
IH said: I think cycling in the outside lane through the junction is even more dangerous, because of the possibility of traffic on your inside and a shunt from the rear.
I disagree, I take the outside line after passing the Haymarket tavern as soon as I can, buses and coaches tend to be on the left and you almost certainly need to join the rh lane to pass the bus stops adjacent to the tram stop anyway.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I think in trying to remove the lane markings they've made sitting in the outside more dangerous. The buses are keeping left but the cars are staying central and pulling into either lane without looking
Posted 8 years ago # -
That surface looks awful. But on the plus side, it really is red! I'm deeply unimpressed by the red chips that we have in most places, at least this cycle lane will be visible when it's raining. Apart from this everything looks truly dreadful about this junction...
Posted 8 years ago # -
I've been watching cyclists coming through the junction on my way out of the station. At 6pm ish there's always been a little peloton of 4 - 5 coming through. Most of them do seem to be following the red tarmac.
I really don't want to know what that tarmac is going to be like once it starts eroding...
Posted 8 years ago # -
Well. I used it this morning, for sheer bloody-minded "let's try it and see" (I'd normally go via Melville Street and Glencairn Crescent, emerging on A8 after Haymarket, to avoid it entirely).
Thoughts.
1 / it's still an unneccessary long and round-the-houses diversion with 3 long waits at red lights just to get from Athol Place / Torphicen Place / foot of Morrison Street. Seeing as W. Maitland street is off-limits to cyclists westbound.
2/ the surface is bad. In places it's lumpy, in others its glossy
3/ the lane has been laid wrong, in the bend it narrows considerably, creating a very difficult turn. They've been out with spraypaint already to mark where it should have been laid.
4/ as suspected, merging traffic is dangerous and difficult. It's a bit of a challenge to try cross the tracks, prepare for a left turn but be looking to your right. You basically have to keep going and hope the vehicle coming from Morrison Street leaves room and space. Unsurprisingly I found myself in a standoff with a taxi that refused to either slow slightly or give any leeway. This is despite me leaving the lights at foot of Morrison St. ahead of them all. The new diversion forces you to slow right down, demotes your place in line as the traffic is accellerating away from a junction.
I wouldn't reccomend anyone bothers with the stupid new lane. It's safest in my opinion to keep right and hold the line. Horn-tooting taxis be damned, it's safer to be infront of them with them stuck behind you than it is trying to merge in with them further ahead.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I used the lane tonight.
The surface is very rough and feels like it will break up easily.
It's pretty much on the same line that I've been using for the last year, although it does get very sharp at the end. I've got used to looking out for vehicles behind.
Horses for courses, and choose the route that you are comfortable with.
Posted 8 years ago # -
From the council:
"Thank you for your email outlining the issues with the coloured surfacing at Haymarket Terrace.
The contractor was unable to complete all instructed works during the short window they had last week when the weather was suitable and the trams were not running. Assuming the weather holds out, the contractor is due to return this Thursday to complete all remaining works and remedy a number of issues identified last week including the slick finish at a number of locations on the coloured surfacing."
I'm going to reply and ask about the exit path from the lane and get the to look at any new comments on this thread
Posted 8 years ago # -
@Stickman - indeed, what we've got are 3 or 4 different and entirely sub-optimal routes here and people picking whatever feels best (least worst) and safest. What we need is 1 safe route, not this rubbish plethora
Posted 8 years ago # -
Oh.
Posted 8 years ago # -
My.
Posted 8 years ago # -
God.
Posted 8 years ago # -
What happened to the spokes approved segregated proposal that actually looked like a decent solution to this mess? Seriously. Actually really angry now.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Hart's, I imagine it is filed next to every other bit of decent infrastructure that spokes has designed in the past few years.
Somewhere between the "We can't be bothered" and "We know better" sections.
Posted 8 years ago #
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