I'm sure I've heard of plans/proposals somewhere to remove the Potterrow flyover. Must have ben something to with the University's long term scheme for the Bristo Square area (knock down Mandela Centre, add another buliding next to Infomatics? If that comes off, then the whole Forrest Road triangle would be up for grabs.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh
Deliveroo suicidal cyclists
(77 posts)-
Posted 7 years ago #
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Oh no, how could they possibly knock down this iconic monument to 1960s plans for high-speed urban travel?!
Posted 7 years ago # -
My memory is always dodgy, but ISTR that the conditions for granting planning consent for the Informatics complex included the eventual demolition of the Potterrow flyover, to be replaced by a smaller more direct road, running through what's now the student/medical/business centre, which was also to go. The idea was that the South College bit of the "campus" was currently cut off from the George Square bit and that a more open and pedestrian space would help unify them. I have no idea whether there's still a long term plan for that area which resembles this, or not, and actually I have no idea how you would find that out.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Bound to be someone on here who can remember/find a suitable link!
Posted 7 years ago # -
How about this PDF?
The dog leg is removed to make a simple 90 degree turn - just a top down plan, so doesn't really show that it will be "at grade", but I think that's the case.
Robert
Posted 7 years ago # -
Can't say I was aware of any changes to Potter row. A quick google search "Potterrow flyover" brought up a few docs from 2004 - 2007 era
CEC document about general overall plan for area (2009)- http://goo.gl/QNk8xj
http://www.scotsman.com/news/163-150m-campus-roads-revamp-1-1343141
Appleton Tower External Cladding - repairs to cladding completed in
2009, however repairs have a limited design life. A final over-cladding
phase is envisaged which may also incorporate a new entrance onto
Chapel Street;
Buccleuch Place - on completion of refurbishments in George Square
tenement properties in Buccleuch Place will be vacated. UoE will bring
forward updated proposals for discussion with the Council at the
appropriate time;
Potterrow North - the sequence of works required to realise the Potterrow
North proposals involve the vacation and demolition of the existing
university building at Bristo Square. Actions to facilitate this process are
underway, with the proposed relocation of the Business School to the
Adam Ferguson Building. To maximise the development opportunity and
progress the realisation of a new urban form outlined in the masterplan, the
realignment of Potterrow (the fly-over) carriageway will also be necessary.
The university will develop proposals in consultation with the Council and
other stakeholders to determine a viable and supported way forward;Posted 7 years ago # -
Interesting plan @Roibeard and vast improvement on 1970s disaster. It doesn't address the Forrest Road problem, although that isn't university so I can see why it's not included. As in my post a few upthread, if this plan were combined with closing Forrest Road completely to motor vehicles, it would create a bike and pedestrian way as far as Candlemaker Row (and the Forrest Road shops would benefit) making it much more comfortable to get to the High St, and hugely quieten the whole area from Chambers St to the Meadows.
Posted 7 years ago # -
@IH
I often look at Forrest Road as what could be an easy win. It's a nice looking street, and would be moreso without the cars (and the Greggs lorry which is always illegally unloading).
Looking at the link to Candlemaker Row, looks like it would be pretty easy to run a segregated lane from the foot of Candlemaker Row down Grassmarket, along Kings Stables Rd to Lothian Road... Easyish win to the West End? Obviously as well as, not instead of, proper arterial routes up the bridges, George IV, Princes St and Lothian Road
Posted 7 years ago # -
That's a cool idea @newtoit. I can't see a good reason for Candlemaker Row to be open to motor vehicles, and then as you say, an easy win for a route to the west end via Grassmarket and King's Stables Road. And from there you can imagine links to a proper West to East route going along Shandwick Place and Princes Street, and another one across to Queensferry Street. Ah, fantasy cycle route creation!
Posted 7 years ago # -
can't see a good reason for Candlemaker Row to be open to motor vehicles
Candlemaker Row has a no entry sign at the bottom "except for busses". So all delivery vehicles have to drive in from the top.
Most of the buildings on the west side of George 4th Bridge "load" off Candelmaker row. Better to load of quiet street than block up George 4th.
It's a bus route (2 and tour bus) Bus could drive up Victoria Street but no way to drive down in to the grassmarket. No other option for diverting it other than Pleasance. Yes you could divert via Lauriston Place but that would remove buses completely from Grassmarket (might be a good thing)
Only route for prison vans in to back of court buildings.
You could make it bus only 10am - 5am though (prison van = bus as I was told when pointing to no entry sign)
Posted 7 years ago # -
I've posited an almost entirely opposite proposition in the past. Make Candlemaker Row open to all traffic, and instead completely close Victoria Street/West Bow. It would be a fabulous street without the parked cars, and rumbling on the cobbles.
Posted 7 years ago # -
I find the candlemaker row junction with George IV very dangerous as a pedestrian or cyclist, which is why I'd advocate shutting it.
Posted 7 years ago # -
New thread?
Posted 7 years ago # -
You'd probably need to put in a full set of traffic lights at the top of Candlemaker Row to allow traffic to exit. But that could tie in with Chambers Street and create good place for pedestrian crossings.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Or continue the existing thread(s):
http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14431&page=3
Posted 7 years ago # -
^^^ what Fountainbridge said.
Proper lights, controlled junctions, tying in with closing Forrest Road, and the Chambers Street pavement widening - it could actually become an absolute haven for pedestrians (and may have the added bonus of putting off drivers from using the area if they have lights to control Candlemaker and Chambers, which were previously free-for-alls).
And removes the pedestrian danger from the top of Victoria Street as well - as well as turning the bottom section into an extension of the pedestrianisation of the Grassmarket, and removes the pedestrian issue around the monument that drivers seem to have great difficulty in understanding how to go round it.
Win-win-win?
Posted 7 years ago # -
but that would remove buses completely from Grassmarket (might be a good thing)
Not if you live there?
High concentration of council / social housing in/off Grassmarket, very low car ownership, I understand quite a lot of older residents. Don't see how removing the only bus through this area would be a good thing really.
Posted 7 years ago # -
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-37802386
"Uber drivers have won the right to be classed as workers rather than self-employed."
Does this affect Deliveroo, Jinn etc?
Posted 7 years ago # -
"Does this affect Deliveroo, Jinn etc?"
GMB is now going to be working on other areas where there is some question about widespread self employment.
Of course Theresa May has also made noises about protecting people on zero hours contracts etc.
We'll see...
Clearly there will be some drivers/delivery people who 'like the flexibility of choosing when to work', but I suspect there are many more struggling to make a living and get 'minimum wage' for the hours they actually work.
I was actually quite shocked by this news from yesterday -
"
TRANSPORT union RMT has warned that it will take further action if the Scottish Government doesn't deliver on its promise to intervene after it was revealed workers on the publicly-funded Northern Isles freight vessels are being paid as low as £3.66 per hour.
...
Seatruck chief executive Alistair Eagles said on Friday that the company had nothing more to say on the matter other than what was included in a prepared statement.
It read: "The freight ferries Helliar and Hildasay have been operating successfully for many years on the lifeline service to the Northern Isles. The Seatruck Ferries vessels are on long term charter to the concession holder Serco/Northlink.
"Under the current legislation the national minimum wage (NMW) is not applicable to the crew of these vessels. The crew are not deemed to be 'ordinarily working in the UK' as they are working on a non UK flagged vessel, are not UK residents, do not pay tax or NI in the UK and start and finish their tours of duty in their home countries.
"The vessels comply with all relevant legislation and operate a reliable high quality service. Seatruck Ferries operates worldwide shipping market where NMW application in isolation would place the company at a serious disadvantage in relation to its competitors."
"
http://www.shetnews.co.uk/news/13521-low-pay-on-ferries-unacceptable
Posted 7 years ago # -
I was speaking to some of the shop crew on the DFDS ferry from Newcastle two years ago. Most were from Sri Lanka and recruited via an agency, from where they are flown over to do a 6 month live on stint on the boat. All the money however paltry goes home, because they're basically living for free. They then spend the 'next six months at home' but realistically I imagine that means going and working for a different agency.
Posted 7 years ago # -
"
James Cassidy (@grendel1970)
01/10/2016, 21:37
@CyclingEdin Lost count of the number of #Deliveroo bikes I've seen in Edinburgh tonight.
Entirely unprofessionalhttp://pic.twitter.com/ME4Qx2AjhE
"
Posted 7 years ago # -
Is he meaning unlit Deliveroo cyclists, or just all of them?
Posted 7 years ago # -
And why is he moaning to CyclingEdin about it, instead of Deliveroo?
Posted 7 years ago # -
Must have seen a thread on it.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Deliveroo dude beside me on Fountainbridge. I'm waiting to turn in to Semple Street heading for the Grassmarket. He fires straight across the pedestrian island and on up through the lights the wrong way.
I'm going through the lights at Lothian Road and he appears coming down the pavement and back onto the road across the right turning traffic to join me. Lost him when he hit the pavement half way down West Port.
Must have been following pedestrian directions?
Posted 7 years ago # -
Posted 6 years ago #
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“
More than three quarters (78%) of self-employed people – such as Deliveroo and Uber drivers – on a low income in London will be more than £4,000 a year worse off as a result of universal credit, according to a study by the Policy in Practice consultancy.
“
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/mar/25/universal-credit-self-employed-benefit-slash
Posted 6 years ago # -
“
Nick Freeman, the traffic lawyer who calls himself Mr Loophole, has joined well-known helmet cam cyclist Dave Sherry in calling for the government and police to crack down on delivery cyclists who break the law. The pair says that riders working for Deliveroo are some of the worst offenders and have released one of Sherry’s videos as an example of what they mean.
“
Posted 5 years ago #
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