I live in his ward, know the area and I'm more than willing to suggest it and take him around. Doubt he'd take me up on it but I've asked him.
EDIT: that was quick. Said he already walks and cycles the ward on a regular basis.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Roseburn to Leith consultation begins (and the debate continues!) CCWEL
(5559 posts)-
Posted 8 years ago #
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i think it would be really handy if someone could film the bus lane and see if the bus even enters it at all except for stops. happy to loan my contour roam 2 out, if anyone can do the filming.
i can help with the editing/uploading if needed - i'm no expert, but can probably manage it.
Posted 8 years ago # -
It'd be useful to get that Alistair K Grant out for a cycle ride too, to try and pedal some of that inflammatory hyperbolic phrasing out of him.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@srd: I've got hours of footage from travelling along there every day. The West Coates bus lane isn't essential. Delays occur at the Roseburn junction and then at Haymarket Terrace where the taxi rank takes up the inside lane (where the path would go)
Posted 8 years ago # -
Where to find Toni G over the next few days -
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdpuPeUWoAA82ES?format=pjpg&name=large
Posted 8 years ago # -
If you look carefully at the photo you can Edinburgh's very own "anti-cycling clown" Cllr Ross. He's on the right, second row, holding up a jaunty yellow placard, between the '0' and the '1'. That smile is priceless.
Judging by the number of generously proportioned tummies in the assembled SNPers (MSP candidate excepted), they could all do with getting out on their bikes a bit more.
Posted 8 years ago # -
The West Coates bus lane isn't essential. Delays occur at the Roseburn junction and then at Haymarket Terrace
Agreed.
Yesterday eastbound on Roseburn Terrace at about 5pm I counted about 25 cars, and every single one of them was in the right-hand lane and waiting for a chance to turn right into Roseburn Street. The bus lane and subsequent straight-on lane to West Coates was completely empty except for me. Traffic westbound was busy, and moving slowly.
Loading bays westbound were suspiciously empty.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I wonder what would happen if the lights were changed so that eastbound and westbound traffic went separately, rather than at the same time as now? The e/b phase could be longer as there are rarely more than about 8 cars queueing at the lights westbound even at rush hour.
Posted 8 years ago # -
They could make the existing Right filter last longer I suppose, without any need for any work on the overall program. At the moment there's Straight On Eb&Wb (allows for pedestrians to cross between the bar and Tesco), Full Green Eb and Wb, Full Green and Right Filter Eb, Red Wb, but this last bit often seems rather brief.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Yes, the right-turn phase is very short and usually results in cars jumping the lights.
Posted 8 years ago # -
So as SRD suggested, I stopped for a few minutes to film the West Coates bus lane this evening. This is 5.30 - supposedly peak rush hour. Would reducing the road to three lanes and reallocating the bus lane to a cycle lane really cause delays?
This is quite a tedious video and I got bored hanging around, although spot the cars parked in the greenway on Haymarket Terrace and also the van stopped at Roseburn Terrace.
Posted 8 years ago # -
The most shocking thing in the video is the truly dire state of the road surface. Huge cracks, potholes, badly patched utility trenches, etc. Terrible.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Amusing (but scary) quote from Neil at IAM on this link re the congestion along this stretch. Sorry if it's already been posted!
Posted 8 years ago # -
I did a bit more filming at lunchtime. Nothing that will be new to anyone here: West Coates is down to two lanes because of parked cars, hardly any traffic, delays at Haymarket Terr because of the taxi rank and cars parked in the loading areas.
If anyone is interested here's the link:
Posted 8 years ago # -
Jeezo! Hell hath no fury like a man who has the funding for his pet project cut by the council. A shiny A4 news sheet has dropped through my door, very high quality printing, urging people to sign the new anti petition. Still full of the same half-truths and scaremongering, but Gregson and his mates are certainly putting their all into stopping the Roseburn section.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Some of the shops have new posters and a link to the new petition up.
If anyone is interested or would care to join in, a few of us tried to respond to him over here:
Frankly, I don't think there is much point on the comments page of a newspaper but it felt vaguely cathartic to try and make some positive points.
Posted 8 years ago # -
At least PG has explained why he is against this -
"
The blessed cycle track will not make my journey by bike to work any safer.
"
Posted 8 years ago # -
It won't make mine any safer either (since I don't go near it). Doesn't mean I can't think it is a good idea!
A shiny A4 news sheet has dropped through my door, very high quality printing
That sounds neither soft nor absorbent. Shame. :-(
Posted 8 years ago # -
I think there is merit in talking to shop keepers.
I was speaking to a customer of one of them who was inside when Mr Gregson popped in to speak to them about it.
Apparently, it was the third time he had been in that day and they were very "yeah, yeah, whatever you say..."
So I wonder how much of shops signs etc. is due to his pester power rather than genuine concern.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Maybe if they get fed up enough with him there will be a backlash?
Posted 8 years ago # -
He really is obsessed though isn't he? It is quite scary that someone could work themselves up into a frenzy in this way. I think the shopkeepers are wrong to fear the cycle lane, but I could understand why they might be agitated by it. But for someone for whom the new layout will hardly affect much, even if he is driving..... Something odd going on in his brain if you ask me.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I must admit, as concerned as I am that his influence might scupper this plan, I also find myself becoming concerned for his mental welfare. :-/
Posted 8 years ago # -
If all his claims were accurate and fears justified, I don't see CEC caving in for the sake of this collection of shops.
They may (justifiable) care more than they did for ones along the tram route (esp on L Walk), but not really an issue about turning 'a vibrant shopping area into a desert'.
The simple fact is that the council doesn't have much obligation towards individual shopkeepers and their business models.
The concern about 'removing the bus lane' is the one that needs to focused on. Realistically any delays to buses will be non-existent or slight (as long as they are not held up by right turning vehicles), but the cycle lane should mean more people cycling - some will previously have driven.
Need to be other initiatives to reduce traffic on route (not the IAM solution).
Posted 8 years ago # -
"The blessed cycle track will not make my journey by bike to work any safer."
Well that's me convinced. I'm going to go all votey-against the path because it will not make my journey by bike to work any safer either.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Hear hear.
Down with things that aren't for MY benefit.
Posted 8 years ago # -
One for the cognitive dissonance thread: a comment on his new petition:
I have real concerns for the school children at Roseburn Primary. Lack of safe crossings and increased congestion is only going to make an already busy road even more dangerous
Posted 8 years ago # -
That one should convince the council it's making a big mistake.
Better get Cllr Ross on the case.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Need to be other initiatives to reduce traffic on route
Yes. This ^^^
Far too much [private motor car] traffic is being drawn into Haymarket.
Most of it is making cross-town journeys e.g. along to Lothian Rd then Melville Dr->Queens Dr or Queen St->Leith. (There can't be that many parking in the city centre, as it's expensive & limited)
Posted 8 years ago # -
"There can't be that many parking in the city centre, as it's expensive & limited"
Well actually if you're talking commuters, there's quite a lot.
Don't know if employers charge - or if it's taxed as 'benefit in kind'.
I think Sarah Boyack tried to tax workplace parking and Jack McConnell stopped her.
Posted 8 years ago # -
We need a workplace parking levy like in Nottingham. Could pay for more public transport initiatives and cycle lanes.
Posted 8 years ago #
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