Actually to be fair, they agreed with pretty much everything we said but that it was 'out with the scope of the project', which was sort of our point - that the proposals were piecemeal and did little to improve pedestrian mobility along the street as a whole.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Chambers St pavement extension
(68 posts)-
Posted 8 years ago #
-
Latest RDO is only for a small bit of pavement.
Capture by Paul fae Fountainbridge, on Flickr
Posted 8 years ago # -
"Please be advised that on 22nd February, the City of Edinburgh Council will commence road and pavement work on Chambers Street.
The work involves widening the footpaths outside the National Museum of Scotland to create a new “Public Plaza” and road resurfacing works along Chambers Street. We understand that there will be a loss of parking spaces in Chambers Street during the work.
The Council provides updates regarding roadworks & travel disruption at:http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/20089/roads_and_pavements/181/roadworks_and_travel_disruption
"Posted 8 years ago # -
We understand that there will be a loss of parking spaces in Chambers Street during the work.
That's quite a risk. Won't all the nearby coffee shops and cafes go out of business?
Posted 8 years ago # -
Not to mention all the pubs and bars in the area.
Posted 8 years ago # -
It is doubtless safe to assume that local residents and business owners are, as we write, compiling a petition bearing thousands, THOUSANDS of signatures protesting against this misguided, and potentially ruinous, congestion causing waste of council tax payers' cash.
As pedestrians themselves, local residents might also propose a far safer and more practical alternative: simply route walkists along the lightly used footways of the Cowgate, bypassing the busy thoroughfares of South Bridge and Chambers Street entirely. The casual footwear shod louts could then ascend Candlemaker Row and use the already existing pedestrian crossings on Forrest Road to access the museum.
Surely the reporters at the local news sheet will be positively falling over themselves to cover this grassroots up-swelling of popular sentiment and common sense?
Posted 8 years ago # -
safe to assume that local residents and business owners are, as we write, compiling a petition bearing thousands
Looks like you were right. Just noticed an additional TRO on CEC site
5 Extra parking spaces on south side adjacent to new "performance area"
TRO/15/63 Chambers Street
Capture by Paul fae Fountainbridge, on Flickr
Posted 8 years ago # -
I haven't gone in via the Cowgate for a while, so I assume the solid stationary traffic going all the way along Holyrood Road from the Dynamic Earth junction then all the way along the Cowgate as far as the temporary lights near the Subway is a regular daily thing, possibly augmented by people avoiding CHambers Street whilst it's being resurfaced?
Posted 8 years ago # -
Chambers Street is still open both ways.
Cowagte congestion is normally caused by parked vehicles or roadworks bottom of candle maker row.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Buses currently not stopping on Chambers Street i.e. the 45. But the tourist coaches are stopping in the bus stop at the end outside the museum to discharge their visitors, which blocks all the traffic coming west along Chambers Street. As do the selfish nerks who are double parking at the end while they get their little darlings ready for a day at the museum.
I was nearly late for jury duty when I got stuck on Chambers Street last week for the above reasons and the driver refused to let me out! Should have known better and got off on South Bridge.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Chambers Street closed this morning for the works to continue.
Many motor vehicles steaming up and down Royal Mile, through "pedestrian zone" in stead. Retracting bollards all retracted. Lots of ITK vehicles like taxis and royal mail vans.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Yesterday
Posted 7 years ago # -
"@edintravel
*UPDATE* on CHAMBERS STREET (16/05)
It will remain closed for around one week to repair damage found under the carriageway.
#edintravel"Posted 7 years ago # -
I was expecting the road to be a little... narrower.
We're not still allowing room for the parking of half a dozen vehicles in front of the new plaza are we?
Posted 7 years ago # -
"to repair damage found under the carriageway"
', which we never noticed when we quoted for the job'...
Posted 7 years ago # -
It was really quiet and peaceful there yesterday, outside the museum. No traffic, no noise...
Posted 7 years ago # -
to repair damage found under the carriageway.
Worth remembering that Chambers Street was only built in 1870 on the demolition rubble of North College Street, Brown, Argyle and Adam Squares, the original Minto House, the Trades Maiden Hospital, two sizable chapels and the warren of connecting lanes, closes and tenements. It's probably full of who knows what under there and certainly was never intended for the daily punishment of motor vehicles it gets.
Posted 7 years ago # -
"Many motor vehicles steaming up and down Royal Mile, through "pedestrian zone" in stead. Retracting bollards all retracted. Lots of ITK vehicles like taxis and royal mail vans."
The diversion sign pointing left at the end of South Bridge probably doesn't help. Is there another pointing down Cockburn Street?
Posted 7 years ago # -
If only someone had spotted the problems with the Chambers Street surface before they got down to work:
http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2289#post-24656
5 years ago!
Posted 7 years ago # -
@ Morningsider
Well found!
I'm sure there will be a post with photos somewhere.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Many motor vehicles steaming up and down Royal Mile, through "pedestrian zone" in stead. Retracting bollards all retracted. Lots of ITK vehicles like taxis and royal mail vans.
Sadly that's normal every morning. I'm presuming the bollards were raised in the afternoon?
Posted 7 years ago # -
Why is there lowering bollards at both ends anyway? Loading access does not require the area be turned into a through road.
Posted 7 years ago # -
I thought about that a while ago. I'm guessing vehicles turning round would cause a high safety risk as some would need to do a 3-point turn. Also cause damage to the sets due to the lorry tyres scrubbing.
Posted 7 years ago # -
"
*UPDATE* on CHAMBERS STREET (16/05)
It will remain closed for around one week to repair damage found under the carriageway.
"
"
EdinburghTravelNews (@edintravel)
24/05/2016, 18:07
@JJohnston1972 Hello Jane, tomorrow some time is the date we have! ^N"
Today
Posted 7 years ago # -
I've often thought the answer to solving the "loading" problem could be number plate recognition which forces you to be in the area for N minutes. Doesn't require anybody to sign up for permits or charging or anything, just don't lower the bollards for a vehicle that's been on the High Street for less than three minutes. Simple! Does anyone know if it's been done elsewhere?
Posted 7 years ago # -
Edinburgh Airport and Waverley Car Park both have ANPR built into the barrier pedestals.
If you have prepaid parking at either you just drive up to the exit and the barrier lifts.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Yeah exactly - that kind of thing. You could use it for the whole city centre if you wanted to avoid it being used as a through route - people coming to shop/visit people/load/whatever all come in for more than, say, 10 minutes, so why not mark it all as "access only" and fine people, congestion charging style, seen leaving before then? You could even have an app which warned people if they were going to leave early...
Combine it with an app which "books" you a parking space (or tells you there aren't any) as you're enroute to the city, ban people without a booked space or a legitimate need to load, and you'd drastically reduce through traffic along with "looking for a space" traffic. Spin it as a convenience for people who "must" park and a fairer version of congestion charging (as you can't just pay your way out of it).
Probably a bit too complicated though. Oh well.
Posted 7 years ago # -
The final shape of the new Chambers Street is appearing.
My prediction is that there will be lots of blue badge parking on the double lines right in front of the Museum. With parking bays on the other side of the street, this will restrict the width of the street such that larger vehicles/ busses/ coaches/ Mercedes will struggle to pass.
Couple this with the daily anarchy in front of the courts, and it will remain a challenging cycling environment.
The bigger space for pedestrians is, however, a good thing. Although, I suspect that van drivers will find it very inviting for parking.
Posted 7 years ago # -
No cycle lane then -
Posted 7 years ago # -
I'm still trying to work out WHY this was funded. Seems to have been mainly Edinburgh Uni funding it. Yes it's created more pedestrian space but wouldn't class it as useful pedestrian space. Why not carry the pedestrian space along the entire length?
Council street design book says a pedestrian crossing facility should be provided every 100m or so - but no crossing added in centre of street.
The road was more than wide enough for full segregated cycle lanes each side.
I guess we'll see large fences and tents erected in the space over the festival.
Posted 7 years ago #
Reply »
You must log in to post.
posts
