Chdot for that to work stations will need some secure and weather proof cycle storage. No point leaving your bike on Friday if its either going to be rusted solid or missing on Monday.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News
Avoid FRB tomorrow
(404 posts)-
Posted 9 years ago #
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True, might only be realistic at Waverley.
I presume some Fife stations are 'safe' for leaving bikes during the day(?)
Posted 9 years ago # -
"
Yesterday the streets of South Queensferry were eerily quiet when the Evening News visited.
"
Posted 9 years ago # -
Some Fife stations (Dalgety Bay, Inverkeithing, not sure about others) have fully enclosed cycle lockers. My bike is in one right now - I hope. It would help if selfish people didn't leave their padlocks on empty lockers, but there are usually a few free. I'm surprised more people aren't cycling to the station, to be honest, given that parking is difficult. Maybe they don't like the darkness/wind/rain/cold...
Posted 9 years ago # -
"... for that to work stations will need some secure and weather proof cycle storage"
There are loads of old unused shipping containers around - could be used as a temporary measure, even if it means taking up some parking spaces?
Posted 9 years ago # -
First word from the Minister specifically referring to cyclists and it is not encouraging. Kudos to Cara Hilton for persisting...
Posted 9 years ago # -
A friend who works in Ratho has left a bike with a friend in Dalmeny and takes the train to there. I need my hybrid bike to take the wee one to nursery, so need it on this side of the water. Don't want to leave the new one out and unattended overnight.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I notice that some of the trains on the Ardrie - Bathgate line are marked "3 carriages only on this train" on the departure board, which I assume means 1) there were usually 6 and 2) the other 3 are "elsewhere" ;-)
I'm very glad this isn't affecting me. A woman who sits in our office lives in Fife and was talking about how long it was taking her. (When I 1st got together with Boyfriend of Fimm, he lived in Cowdenbeath; I did do Cowdenbeath to Livingston North a couple of times.)
Posted 9 years ago # -
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In essence, there is a risk of further damage until FRB repaired therefore on balance not safe to
allow pedestrians and cyclists over (in event of further structural damage), and in due course the
remedy work will begin and all efforts should remain with it being a live work site. Exemptions
have been very carefully considered, and a full travel plan in place as communicated "OK, now we know. The bridge is broken, and might break some more, not because of the weight of any potential cyclists, but because it is already broken. Settled now. :)
Posted 9 years ago # -
I notice that some of the trains on the Ardrie - Bathgate line are marked "3 carriages only on this train" on the departure board, which I assume means 1) there were usually 6 and 2) the other 3 are "elsewhere" ;-)
They're usually 6-cars, however given that these units are electric, they won't be in Fife if they've been displaced. They don't have electricity north of the river.
Posted 9 years ago # -
"Settled now"
Yes and no.
"on balance not safe to allow pedestrians and cyclists over (in event of further structural damage)"
So 'high risk' of bridge getting worse? - but not so high as to exclude ambulances.
"in due course the remedy work will begin"
So it's not really 'all' a building site just now.
In short -
Too much hassle to accommodate people.
Posted 9 years ago # -
"They don't have electricity north of the river."
That's shocking
Posted 9 years ago # -
Oh you mean on the railway...
Posted 9 years ago # -
The trains heading the other way last night appeared to have an engine at either end so I presume they are now running round the circle in either direction rather than using the figure of 8 which Kaputnik talked about earlier.
Posted 9 years ago # -
"So it's not really 'all' a building site just now.
In short -
Too much hassle to accommodate people."
And how will this be different when it comes to replacing the expansion joints and doing a proper job on the broken truss once the new bridge is open? Better get used to not cycling across the bridge for a long while.
Posted 9 years ago # -
But not so broken that it can't safely support the weight of 16+ gritters. If there was ANY danger of the deck collapsing then I doubt this would have been allowed. Or at the very least I hope the gritter drivers got danger money.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-35043327
"Too much hassle to accommodate people." about sums it up I think.
Posted 9 years ago # -
They're probably happy to ignore the tiny squeak that is the cycling lobby asking to be considered a special case when compared to the deafening roar they would have to endure from the driving lobby were such a special case to be made.
Posted 9 years ago # -
"...happy to ignore the tiny squeak that is the cycling lobby..."
And only a tiny proportion of that is even making noise. A quick lurk of CTC, and other bike forums, and no-one really is speaking about this, a few comments here and there, no 'discussion'. I'm also on 5 Fife based cycling facebook groups, and the issue of the bridge closure has not been mentioned once on any of the pages.
This is the only noticable place where there seems to be sizable concern. Of course, for those with concern it is a huge issue (and only a small proportion of commentators on here are physically affected), and that concern is certainly genuine, but I don't get a sense from the affected cycling community in general that this is a really big issue.
Posted 9 years ago # -
They're probably happy to ignore the tiny squeak that is the cycling lobby asking to be considered a special case when compared to the deafening roar they would have to endure from the driving lobby were such a special case to be made.
@Cyclingmollie
You nailed it, 100%.
Posted 9 years ago # -
just to throw my bit in...
I cycle to work, Fife to Edinburgh, for the fitness aspect really and in this post-apocalyptic era of the FRB closure I have been so far taking the train...and assessing...what I can do.
I have just been getting the normal train I would get on a non-cycle day and have been in at work for 9am; no dramas apart from a de-camp at Haymarket to pick up a different Waverley-bound train(although I understand I am a lucky one in that I can walk to home/work at both ends of my commute within 15/20mins).
Having assessed my options I think I *could* get a bike on at Rosyth on the normal train I use (I call it the Hogwarts Express; it is an old-y type thing) and get off at Dalmeny to continue my cycle. The problem is that I don't think I could get the bike back in the evening. Dalmeny looks pretty darn busy (when I pass) and I don't believe I'd get the bike on. I wouldn't want to leave a bike at dalmeny overnight/weekend so I think cycling is out until I come up with something else (I have thought of cycling Edinburgh to Gyle, and getting a train there, as opposed to Edinburgh - Dalmeny but not confident I know the route too well and how busy the Gyle will be).
An option I'm doing tomorrow is to jog to town from Dalmeny; its not going to be pleasant when I lug my sweaty body on at dalmeny at the end of the day but I don't care :0)
Posted 9 years ago # -
FETA seemed to think that it could keep at least one walk/cycleway open during work to the truss end links.
The FETA Capital Plan to 2023/2024 (1) lists all proposed major refurbishment and repair work to the Bridge for the next 15 years, including work to the truss end linkages, and confirms that:
"Intermittent closures of the footway/cycletracks would also be required to carry out some of these schemes. However, one footway/cycletrack will remain open at all times."
Now, I appreciate this is a different situation from scheduled repair work. However, it would seem to indicate that it is possible to carry out major engineering work to this part of the bridge and keep at least one walk/cycle route open.
I can't imagine the powers that be think the bridge deck is in danger of collapsing into the Forth - unless Amey employ an elite group of Kaimikaze gritter drivers. So, to me at least, closing the bridge to cyclists and pedestrians seems more a matter of expediency than necessity. Although, I would be happy to hear otherwise from someone in the know.
(1)http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/download/meetings/id/26086/capital_plan_to_20232024
Posted 9 years ago # -
@beano
I wouldn't recommend South Gyle. Even in normal times, the trains are pretty full by the time they get there, and if any cyclists do manage to squeeze their bikes on there, it would be to the accompaniment of a great deal of tutting. I'm like you, I cycle to work for the fitness benefit, and because I enjoy it.
If the bridge re-opening date starts to recede into 2016, I may be caught browsing the Brompton website...
Posted 9 years ago # -
@panyagua - yeh I have almost dismissed the 'south gyle' option. My only thought was the metal cage (former mail carriage?) that appears on the Hogwarts and whether that 'could' accommodate a cycle...I haven't seen what its like in that metal cage, probably full of people, but I want to eyeball it myself.
I know cyclists/peds are not going to get the exemption but it would be nice if Scotrail/Transport Scotland could keep a part of some carriages free for bikes (say, 1 train per hour having a bike zone) but I guess that wouldn't generate enough income for them.
Posted 9 years ago # -
It may transpire that FETA being a public and therefore possibly more public-spirited body had a more helpful attitude to access for peds, etc, than AMEY. We will see.
Posted 9 years ago # -
And only a tiny proportion of that is even making noise.
@Baldcyclist there might only be tiny amount of folk making a noise but this is often case. How many Edinburgh cyclists are on here, Spokes members or turned up a POP? But they all benefit from the hard work of dedicated activists. I'm sure every one has benefited from stuff that others cared enough about to really shout about/die over if you go far enough back.
Besides that whilst many people have simply adapted, a little more lateral thinking could have made the transition easier. A footpath and buses running at either end would have taken the pressure of the railway. There are those for whom the train isn't a great option or didn't want to drive to the station but the walk is too far. Given the enormous detour it would have been far more efficient in buses, diesel and time.
To speed things up they could have had hire bikes at either end.So yeah Jack you're alright that doesn't mean it couldn't be better.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Beano, I've seen two cyclists try to get on at South Gyle and both had no chance For the train I got on.
I got the the Gyle for the 1702 Cowdenbeath Train which was rammed on Monday when I just squeezed on and Tuesday I failed to get on.
There was some room on the 1723 to Kirkcaldy on Tuesday and I got a seat - the Hogwarts was delayed, so don't know how that went. Again a lot of people got on at Dalmeny.
If I worked in the city and I was going to try to get a bike on the train heading back to Fife in the evening, I'd give up on the homeward cycle and compromise by taking a scenic route from Dalmeny into town. I would get on the Hogwarts at Waverley (it doesn't stop at Dalmeny) and be on it before most people join at Haymarket or the Gyle. I would also expect to get a few hostile comments...
Posted 9 years ago # -
If Paddyirish is right and this state of affairs extends toward March/April, then we really need to get vocal now.
I can't see any reason why AMEY shouldn't be ferrying cyclists over in the flat bed trucks, like FETA used to do, and AMEY themselves did on the first day of partial bridge closure last week.
We know the expedient reason they aren't doing so, as per Cyclingmollie's observation, but it really shouldn't be allowed to stand.
We need to turn up on bikes mob-handed for a photo shoot.
I don't know of any scot journo that would portray that in a positive light, but there are some media savvy people on this forum that could possibly think this over.
Lets not give in to small-minded moto-centric parochialism.
The future of this bridge belongs to us, and the powers that be need to be reminded of that.
Posted 9 years ago # -
@panyagua
I thought about the Brompton option too, but am at least 10kg North of their max weight limit. The plan (not submitted to the Finance Committee) was that I would lose weight by cycling, (it has been working slowly) and get one when I reached that target, but that will have to be put on hold...
Posted 9 years ago # -
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A TRIAL ferry crossing from Rosyth to South Queensferry was held on Sunday as transport bosses investigate ways of alleviating the chaos caused by the temporary closure of the Forth Road Bridge.
The owners of the Maid of the Forth, a 225-capacity vessel normally used to take tourists to Inchcolm Abbey, confirmed last night they were in discussions with transport and port authorities over providing a commuter service.
"
Posted 9 years ago # -
What would the point in that be? Maid of the Forth can't carry cars, so will be useful to get to Sth Queensferry, but for commuters into Edinburgh?
Posted 9 years ago #
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