To focus the minds of Lothian Buses on the benefits to traffic flow of a segregated cycle infrastructure, might I suggest that all cyclists using a bus&cycle lane start by taking the centre of the lane and holding that position, in the interests of safety of course, regardless of the delay to any following bus. A few days of that and Lothian Buses might start to understand the short sightedness of their position.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Roseburn to Leith consultation begins (and the debate continues!) CCWEL
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Posted 8 years ago #
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taking the centre of the lane and holding that position,
Surely that is the only way to safely ride the bus lanes?
Anything closer to the gutter encourages in lane passes from Taxis & Buses.
This is why I'm against sharing them with motorbikes as they can try to squeeze through the gap when you're not expecting it.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Lothian buses acknowledge that they are struggling to maintain their schedule as is and existing junctions are not working. That is, the traffic is not flowing as there is too much of it and too much of it that is not behaving well. The answer they propose then is to support the status quo which they acknowledge isn't working.
Why have they changed their previously pro cycling stance? Surely a bus company would want to promote the advantages of using the bus or tram over the car for the individual drivers and indeed for everyone using the roads?
Posted 8 years ago # -
This is what is most frustrating about the opposition to the plans. The status quo isn't working, but they don't want to let it be changed...
Posted 8 years ago # -
"Why have they changed their previously pro cycling stance?"
Simple answer will be change of personnel, though I have no idea whether any change is by staff or the board.
The latter should set the 'tone', though if they are provided with 'evidence' that this cycle track would delay buses they would probably accept it.
Perhaps some of these people need to be engaged with -
http://lothianbuses.com/about-us/our-company/meet-the-management-team
Posted 8 years ago # -
Though of course LB is 'below' TfE.
This is from Wikipedia, so I don't know if it's up to date (can't find info on TfE site).
"
The board of directors of the body is chaired by Lesley Hinds. She is joined on the board by transport spokesperson Joanna Mowat, and city councillors Nigel Bagshaw and Steve Cardownie. Three non-executive directors have also been hired: solicitor Ann Faulds, academic Steve Cassidy and transport specialist Tony Depledge.
"
Posted 8 years ago # -
Murrayfield Community Council meets again on Tuesday - 7.30pm Murrayfield Parish church hall.
On the agenda
7. Roseburn-Haymarket cycle-route proposal (including meeting with Sustrans on 26 April)
8. Roseburn Park Improvement Plan (P Gregson in attendance)Posted 8 years ago # -
@Hankchief - meeting with Sustrans - any more info on that?
The Roseburn Park proposals look good to me except for the idea of re-routing the cycle path behind the buildings. There's no space for that. I don't think that idea is held very seriously.
Posted 8 years ago # -
The comments from the park consultation now on the friends' website: http://www.friendsofroseburnpark.org.uk/
Worries about cyclists and other "undesirables".
Posted 8 years ago # -
Actually fairly positive and constructive comments on the whole to the consultation.
And I never knew John Lennon wrote Rain in Murrayfield.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@ Stickman - I noticed the one about cycle stands.
Posted 8 years ago # -
The comments section makes for 'amusing' reading...
BMX bikes would be flying up and down the street on the way to the park. Too dangerous with elderly people and children in
the areaYep, it's all those kids speeding up and down the road causing the danger... What elephant?
Posted 8 years ago # -
Looking forward to the cycle path speed bumps. Not!
Those grumbling about "speeding BMXs" will be cursing the speed bumps when old folks start tripping over them and fracturing limbs...
In summary, the consultees want teenagers to off to Saughton Park with their BMXs, basketball and BBQs. We'd like a new play area for young kids (fair enough). A nice cafe that nobody will use please, and will close after a year. Oh and make cyclists' journeys so circuitous and littered with obstacles that they prefer to use the road...
Posted 8 years ago # -
And we can't have any football pitches because there might be...
...bad language.
Oh the horror!
Posted 8 years ago # -
I don't mind these BMX riders knocking people down as long as they don't interfere with my off-the-lead dog but the way they then use the corpses for bunnyhop-practise can be a little heartless. Perhaps there could be a regular shuttle service to take youths to a scabbier park somewhere else, or perhaps a large pit into which the wrong sort of youngsters could be herded?
Posted 8 years ago # -
The BMXers at Saughton Park don't give any trouble to those wandering about the gardens for instance. They turn up to the park, do their tricks and go home. I do wonder if Roseburn needs a BMX park when the one at Saughton is close and on a safe route.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Has the sainted greasy spoon owner been consulted about potential competition in the park? Down with this sort of thing!
Posted 8 years ago # -
"I do wonder if Roseburn needs a BMX park when the one at Saughton is close and on a safe route."
Quite. Seem to recall saying this too upthread.
Anyway, seems unlikely to happen given the minority level of support in the consultation...
As to the cafe idea, are there any public parks in Edinburgh save the Meadows that have a cafe actually in the park?* I can't think of any. I can't see it generating enough business to survive, frankly.
* - not including spaces right in the centre e.g.. St Andrew Square, Princes Street gardens, etc.
Is the Pavilion cafe still going on the Meadows or has it closed?(I see it's still going, and now takes credit cards apparently.)Posted 8 years ago # -
Does the Cramond Foreshore actually count as a park? If so, then the Boardwalk Beach Club has recently opened there.
Posted 8 years ago # -
There's been some sort of cafe at Cramond for a long while, IIRC. Not counting the pub round the bend of course...
This article seems to confirm it. "...the building’s interior – which previously housed a rundown cafe and takeaway..."
http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/new-boardwalk-cafe-brewing-up-on-cramond-coast-1-4076741
How about "reasonably priced if down at heel"? That's what I remember.
"...converted into a top-of-the-range eatery, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the beach and Cramond Island."
Presumably with top-of-the-range prices too match? That's not "regeneration", it's gentrification.
Take a packed lunch to Cramond next time, folks. Unless you're feeling flush.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I was in there yesterday - it was packed but pricey. It's good that the building's back in use - for years it was just the kiosk that was open where you could buy a caramel log and a cup of tea to enjoy in the rain. Cheaper - but not really making much of the location.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"for years it was just the kiosk that was open where you could buy a caramel log and a cup of tea to enjoy in the rain. Cheaper - but not really making much of the location."
Yep. Though I do recall there being a cafe open in the "summer" months too. That I suspect will be the issue with the new "top-of-the-range eatery": highly seasonal demand, with the place empty in the autumn and winter. Unless they successfully market it as a "destination venue" so folk park at Silverknowes, brave the blasting horizontal sleet and howling gales coming off the Forth, to dine with magnificent views of storm waves lashing the barriers...
Posted 8 years ago # -
@crowriver
Saughton has a coffee & ice-cream van which does good business on fine days. The Vanilla Pod van up in the Pentlands emerges depending on weather/season. An ad hoc business mightn't do too badly, so if anyone wants to run a part-time kiosk, good luck to them.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Tbf, i reckon a decent venue in that location could probably make a go of it on 9 months business a year - always seems to be fairly busy even in Spring/Autumn, ime.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@Rosie, I could see a van or similar doing fine, after all if trade declines they can pitch up somewhere else. Converting the toilet block seems unviable to me, but if somebody wants to give it a go, good luck to them!
Posted 8 years ago # -
Vanilla pod is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the summer and Saturday and Sunday in the winter. Check out there Facebook page for which soups and specials they are doing (er, except this weekend, they are not there). Obviously if the weather is howling it won't be there.
Vanilla pod is great. They gave me a loyalty card. But then I know them well. Both milli vanilli and pea pod.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Another cracking MCC last night.
@Rosie gave an empassioned speech on being a non MAMIL and not wanting to be 'brave' to commute to work or do her shopping.
The meeting with Sustrans is just PG and his friends rather than being official MCC.
Consultation results will be published next month with Council Officers coming to the next MCC on 31st May to present.
Will be going to Transport Committee at end of August.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Well done to Rosie. Anything else worth sharing from the meeting or just more of the same from PG?
Posted 8 years ago # -
Hankchief, I see you are perhaps using satire to help you get through these meetings. Probably fewer side effects than powerful hallucinatory drugs which i would certainy feel like afterwards.
A truly heartfelt thanks to you and Rosie for going to these fora
Posted 8 years ago # -
@ Stickman
Other people were more amenable.
The idea of a BMX track in Roseburn Park is unpopular and was dropped. The plans for the Park were generally approved of with not that much moaning about cyclists. Credit to PG & the other Friends of Roseburn Park for putting in the work and chasing the funds.
I'll feel quite warmly towards him when I first see a flowering meadow there...
Posted 8 years ago #
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