Thought this should have its own thread. Consultation pages here:
https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/design-cycle-walk-mcdonald-road/consult_view
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
McDonald Road improvements - consultation
(29 posts)-
Posted 7 years ago #
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Thanks for posting: I've been waiting for this.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Survey duly completed! :)
Posted 7 years ago # -
Not that impressed :(
Have filled the survey with hopefully constructive suggestions.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Nothing in this plan will convince me to return to McDonald Road.
Downhill, all the conflict points are maintained and I'm really not convinced by the detail at the bottom (the crossover section from a scalextric track springs to mind).
Uphill, while the extra bypasses are nice, I really hoped we were progressing beyond painting narrow lanes next to parked cars.
The "Total spaces gained" hints at how compromised this is.
Posted 7 years ago # -
I echo the comments above. While it's nice to get the missing bypasses to the buildouts put in, apart from that it's just more paint and a rather confusing solution at the Powderhall end to get to the St. Marks Path.
I had also expected some improvements to be part of this scheme along Brunswick Road from the original advertising for the scheme, can't see anything to that effect here, maybe that's some distant, far-off masterplan.
Posted 7 years ago # -
I tried to fill in the survey but ragequit out of frustration with the questions. I seriously need to explain my view that I would like better walking infrastructure? Are pedestrians some alien entity that the council don't know how to deal with? Do they not have legs themselves?
Posted 7 years ago # -
I also echo that the main problem for me is at the McDonald Road/Broughton Road junction, and getting to and from St Mark's path. Basically this hasn't changed.
What would the Dutch do in this situation? Can't help thinking they would do it better. It would probably look like zebra-type crossings from either McDonald Road pavement going across to the north side of Broughton Road, and cycle-only lights that allowed cyclists to cross directly from the McD Road cycle lanes to and from the path, with all motorised vehicles stopped. Pedestrians would have absolute priority so a cyclist exiting McD Road who wanted to turn into Broughton Road would have to give way to any pedestrians on the zebra. Probably not compliant with British road traffic law though.
Posted 7 years ago # -
While looking for a Dutch example, I happened upon this: http://www.transport.gov.scot/report/j185500-04.htm#pinchpoints
Posted 7 years ago # -
"Where space permits, a cycle bypass should be provided, as shown in Figure 4.4, to avoid the cyclist being impeded by adjacent motor vehicles"
Good idea!
McD Rd has a sample!
Most bypasses I have ever seen are absurdly narrow and usually full of grit, grass and glass!
Posted 7 years ago # -
Unambitious and fails the 'would you take your kids down here' test
Posted 7 years ago # -
The bypass going SEast on McD Road is in good condition; I always use it.
Whisper it though, those bypasses are actually identical to floating stops, and they're positioned at crossings too. If they're acceptable, well...
Posted 7 years ago # -
The one in mid Calder works well.
The one in drylaw has a car parked right at it. So you can't use it which is good as it is like the ones ChDot describes
Posted 7 years ago # -
"one in Mid Calder" where?
Posted 7 years ago # -
From c30c60 on another thread:
"A reminder that the Mcdonald Rd consultation closes on 4 Sep. (How do I create a neat text link?)
https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/design-cycle-walk-mcdonald-road/consult_viewI don't see anything that will make the road more pleasant and I was slipping into ranty style by the end. "
Posted 7 years ago # -
Erob - Oops, thanks for reposting!
Posted 7 years ago # -
I can't get too motivated about this. Some welcome improvements along McDonald Road itself, but the main issue is the junction at Broughton Road and getting to and from St Mark's Path. Not much done here.
Posted 7 years ago # -
"Not much done here."
The paint gives out before reaching this end, where the steepening slope and westward flick of the end of the road are not addressed in the slightest. I tried to cite other situations/consultations/workshops in my response.
Posted 7 years ago # -
I'm trying to get an ear to talk improvements - both achievable in the scope of this scheme and also a more flagship change to go on the waiting list
Posted 7 years ago # -
I spoke about this to a council officer at the Lower Granton Road consultation. He said they had feedback that the road was hard to cross for pedestrians accessing the school so they were planning on signalising the junction, which should make it much better for cycling too.
I also mentioned the conflict caused by cycle lane + general traffic lane being squeezed through pinch points. It didn't seem like anything was likely to happen on that front.
Posted 7 years ago # -
If it's being signalised then they can put in a full Dutch-style junctiohahahaha
Posted 7 years ago # -
Signals on every leg means that it should be a big improvement for bikes too. Look forward to seeing the revised plans.
McDonald Rd at large is somewhat beyond sorting if, as suggested to me by Cllr Lewis Richie, the trees protecting the segregated parking bays are an immovable force. Fixing that is a much, much more expensive proposition.
Posted 7 years ago # -
https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/design-cycle-walk-mcdonald-road/consult_view/
Changes to be included:
Full signalisation of the Broughton Rd/McDonald Rd junction.
A zebra crossing to second school entrance on McDonald Rd by Blandfield
Junction tightening and continuous footways across Bellvue Road, McDonald St,
Papermill Wynd, Blandfield and Hopetoun Cresent.
A tiger crossing (a Zebra crossing that can also be also by cyclists) McDonald Road at Dryden Terrace and Hopetoun Street.
New tree planting, where possible at junction tightening/continuous footways.
General de-cluttering of signs and street furniture, including removing ‘keep left’ bollards’ at build outs.Posted 7 years ago # -
Does any or all of that represent and satisfy the views of anyone on here who commented?
Posted 7 years ago # -
Certainly seems to be a significant improvement on the prior proposals. Very positive.
Can't actually recall what I asked for in detail, but I do remember the junction with Broughton Road needed sorting out: seems they have paid attention.
Good stuff!
EDIT: Found my comments in the report. Seems I was trying really hard to be constructive and positive: extra Brownie points earned then. :-)
Posted 7 years ago # -
Good changes but, unless I'm misunderstanding, none of it helps with this: streetview (or the next one down).
This is very weak for what will be a link between NEPN and the EW segregation.
Posted 7 years ago # -
AECOM's scope seems to be to make low cost interventions and 'fixing' McDonald Rd was never really in question.
I'm glad the Broughton Rd junction is being fixed, I'm really pleased to see more continuous pavement in the city, but the rest of the plans are just fixing the paint up to what it should have been when the current era of cycle facilities went in
Posted 7 years ago # -
@Rob, yeah pretty sure I asked for the build-outs to be fixed so cyclists have cut-throughs all the way. Alas, looks like it's not going to happen and we will be "human traffic-calming devices" for the foreseeable... :-(
Junction with Leith Walk *should* be improved soon too.
Of course, none of this would be needed much (apart from local access) if they'd just convert the now disused Powderhall railway line into a shared use path to link up with NEPN...
Posted 7 years ago # -
Skimming through the responses I see all suggestions to address the issue at pinch points got the "The Council
has to work within available budgets" response. Unsurprising, though somewhat disappointing the budget isn't available.Hopefully they have a long term plan to provide an 8-80 link which involves the Powderhall line.
Posted 7 years ago #
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