Apparently they are keen to hear about people cycling in and out as well as within.
Mention barriers at Straiton?
Lack of cross border routes generally?
Potential for new routes around Millerhill/Straiton?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News
"Help inform our active travel strategy". (Midlothian)
(47 posts)-
Posted 8 years ago #
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Done, thanks. Also mentioned the barriers, chicanes and other obstacles on the Gilmerton-Roslin path.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Talking with the organiser of the Edinburgh control for LEL, he said that he managed to get the cooncil to remove some of the barriers on the Roslin to Gilmerton path at least for the event. I'm looking forward to seeing how permanent this is.
Plenty of riders got a little lost on the path despite signing (just by the farm in Roslin) - it gets confusing there with multiple tracks. Not world class!
Posted 7 years ago # -
I can only think of a couple of barriers on that path - there's the nasty one at Dryden and then a gate near Loanhead which is normally (but not always) open. There are bollards on the bridge at Bilston Glen as well.
If they've removed the Dryden one, then hopefully it will remain removed as it isn't one which can just be picked up and then stuck back after.
Posted 7 years ago # -
The Dryden one was very annoying. Always had to stop for that and usually ended up clanking something (my leg or bike). Should be illegal on various grounds
Posted 7 years ago # -
Gate at Loanhead fully open, for now anyway. It's normally part open creating a chicane, but you don't have much room to negotiate it.
Last night I took my daughter along from Loanhead in the bike trailer to meet an uncle who is participating in LEL. I wouldn't have been able to do that without manhandling it round the gate if it has been in its normal position.
Dryden is a complete mess, absolute disgrace. On suitable bike you are easier cutting down to the other path through a gap in the fence. But that is useless for anyone not on a cross/mountain bike.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Cycled along the Gilmerton-Roslin path today, and was pleased to see that the Dryden barrier still hasn't been put back.
It is sitting next to the path, though. Whether this is because they plan to put it back at some point, or just haven't taken it away yet, I don't know.
Will fire an email to Midlothian council saying how much better the path is without it.
Posted 7 years ago # -
"Will fire an email to Midlothian council saying how much better the path is without it."
Good idea!
Posted 7 years ago # -
Frenchy, we came that way yesterday and I also noted how nice it was not to have the chicanes.
There's quite a bit of mud on the path at the northern end. Doubtless the chance of getting that removed is zero. I'm a bit wussy about slippery surfaces at the moment due to an unfortunate incident involving a ford and my own stupidity.Posted 7 years ago # -
I've been told that the Dryden barrier will be going back up (don't know when).
The police have asked for it to be put back due to some people taking motorbikes onto the path.
Bleh.
Posted 7 years ago # -
The police have asked for it to be put back due to some people taking motorbikes onto the path.
The police should be catching the motorbikers. Instead, they call for infra that affects all of the legitimate users.
I will be more than 'a put bit out' if the Dryden chicane is reinstated in a form other than what was removed, which through a quirk of design was unexpectedly torpedo-friendly.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Does the torpedo fit under the barrier?
Posted 7 years ago # -
I always find the attitude of the authorities touchingly naive in thinking that a bunch of "pleasant young lads" who have stolen a motorcycle with the ultimate intention of destroying it will be the least bit deterred by the thought that it might get slightly damaged whilst lifting it over such a barrier.
Posted 7 years ago # -
That is bad news, we walked back from Roslin last week and commented on how easy it will be now to push a pram or cycle along to Roslin without the incredibly badly designed barrier to negotiate.
If anyone has an email address for a person at the council to contact about this please let me know.
Posted 7 years ago # -
If anyone has an email address for a person at the council to contact about this please let me know.
PM coming your way.
Posted 7 years ago # -
“
The police have asked for it to be put back due to some people taking motorbikes onto the path.
“
As enforcers of the law(s) perhaps they should be more aware of laws about access.
10-15 years ago ‘community safety’ (an alliance of parts of CEC and the Police) were planning/demanding barriers on paths in several places around Edinburgh.
Fortunately City Development (as the Department was called then) said no.
Posted 7 years ago # -
more aware of laws about access.
I've been trying to find out what exactly the law is. Is it illegal if a person on a wheelchair can't get past? What about a handcycle?
Can anyone help?
Posted 7 years ago # -
Posted 7 years ago #
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At one point Lothian Region was quite keen on trying to limit access without actually making it impossible.
They created complicated pens with in and out gates.
I used to call them pram traps.
When they were planning the path from FiveWays to Canonmills, they even planned to put one half way down the longish flight of steps from Ferry Road.
Fortunately a key person (who still works for CEC) saw sense.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Sounds like barrier will now be replaced rather than...replaced...
Uhh, like, replaced with a new (probably staggered) barrier, rather than the current barrier being re-placed on the path.
People (especially those with unusually shaped bikes) may wish to make it clear how widely spaced the new barriers should be for them to be able to use the path.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Please - was the idea of making this as much a shared celebration of what MSP's and cycling advocates have achieved in the past year,(and a nudge to keep MSP's eager to keep delivering) as the original intention of a call to action?
A Parliamentary - Picnic on Pedals (and feet) might embrace the mood, and I wonder if the owner* of the adjacent (and rather large) garden (which they open to the public) might want to join in?
(* and wife of the patron of SYHA/patron of CyclingUK if I recall correctly)
We might also invite people to join the event like Anita Langenhoff, whose father Vic, a senior journalist with a major Dutch daily paper, framed and launched Stop de Kindermoord after her sister was killed in 1971 by an allegedly hung-over driver who was fined the equivalent of £20 for taking a young life. (To read more see Chapter 2 of Peter Walker's Bike Nation - he was selling & signing copies at CyclingUK Scotland AGM & I suspect there may still be some copies - unsigned - that could pop up at the next Spokes event?)
Posted 7 years ago # -
Was that supposed to go in the Pedal on Parliament thread?
Posted 7 years ago # -
I did wonder!
Posted 7 years ago # -
Midlothian council officer told me this morning that the draft active travel strategy will be out for consultation very soon, possibly next week.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Midlothian council officer told me this morning that the draft active travel strategy will be out for consultation very soon, possibly next week.
This should be released this week - possibly today.
In other Midlothian news:
- Midlothian Council will be upgrading an existing footpath to create a cycleway (for walking and cycling) from Hardengreen Roundabout to the existing cycleway near Hardengreen Cottage along Dalhousie Road B6392. The link will provide improved connectivity and increased road safety for cyclists travelling to Eskbank railway station and into Dalkeith, linking to the NCN route 1 and 196 in Eskbank.
- ML council has also set up an (online) Active Travel Forum, for the aims of which are to:
- provide an informal channel for active travel issues to be discussed among members and with council officers
- consider barriers to walking and cycling in Midlothian and develop ideas to overcome issues
- provide information and resources for walking and cycling in Midlothian
Let me know if you're interested in joining.
Posted 6 years ago # -
“The link will provide improved connectivity and increased road safety for cyclists travelling to Eskbank railway station”
This is of course the reality of “Transport”.
How many years was the Borders rail line in the planning??
Posted 6 years ago # -
Well thats about 200m of tarmac in total currently used by a tiny percentage of Midlothian residents. Meanwhile they completely ignore other areas of Midlothian heavily used by cyclists but under real danger from cars e.g. Straiton, Hillend - Bush, routes in and around Sherrifhall/Dobbies.
I'd be interested in joining a Midlothian forum.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Of course the real problems are other routes onto Hardengreen roundabout
Posted 6 years ago # -
@Lezzles - I've PMed you.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Active Travel Strategy now published for consultation: https://www.midlothian.gov.uk/directory_record/22518445/midlothian_active_travel_strategy_draft_2018-2021/category/182/current_consultations
Posted 6 years ago #
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