CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh

I need to know everything :) (new Edinburgh resident/cylists)

(54 posts)

No tags yet.


12

  1. rider73
    Member

    Hi All!

    First - what a great Forum - i've tried to read as much as possible and soak up some great information.
    Nice to see Edinburgh has some great infrastructure for riding (comparing it to where i am at the moment - Inverness, its a lot better!)

    So, i'm moving to Edinburgh and am in 2 minds about where to live.
    1) i like countryside for running and cycling so think about living in the South East side?
    2) i also like a "bit of city" like nice cafe's bars cinema bakers shops etc
    build on top of that wanting to commute by bike....
    in terms of my commute at the moment,
    i currently ride a 25mile one way commute (a bit of up and down in it too) on a out and out road bike, on quietish roads on the way in (7am) but busy on the way out (4pm)

    i'm pretty aware you have a lot more traffic than us and a "bigger" rush hour too - so am concerned about being further out of the city and having to come in/out on very busy roads....again a factor in location...

    think thats it for now - i'm sure you get these questions all the time!!!!!

    any help at all much appreciated!

    Posted 6 years ago #

  2. chdot
    Admin

    Welcome

    Where will you be commuting to?

    Posted 6 years ago #

  3. rider73
    Member

    Doh!!!!!

    i knew i forgot something :)

    Crewe road / ferry road :)

    Posted 6 years ago #

  4. Roibeard
    Member

    It's been a while since someone posted this (not originally me!):

    30 minutes from Crewe Road

    I doubt that it is entirely accurate, but it makes for a nice visualisation (and perhaps eyeopening to those who don't cycle!).

    Robert

    Posted 6 years ago #

  5. CycleCommute.CC
    Member

    I commute to Crewe Toll from West Lothian and the roads are fine. Quiet if you leave early and in the main wide enough so you get plenty space (99% of drivers are actually pretty considerate). It gets worse the closer to city centre you get but I guess there are ways around that.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  6. DaveC
    Member

    Move to South Queensferry. By the sea/estuary. Views of the bridges, yet in the country side in less than a few minutes. Separate cycle path into Edinburgh with little traffic as it passes through residential cul-de-sacs. No too far from work ~30 mins max. Choice of off road (cycle paths & quiet country estate roads) on the commute. Choice of nice bars and cafe's, shopping etc.. Right on the doorstep of central Scotland leading to the Highlands. Perth is ~30 miles away. Served with a railway and plenty of busses.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  7. Klaxon
    Member

    Ok, it's not countryside, but I'd suggest you give Leith (specifically Shore area, but others available) a good look if you want to make the switch to living in an area with urban amenities.

    From either Coburg St or Hawthorevale (six/half dozen) you have a traffic free, tree lined railway corridor the entire way to Crewe Road

    It's the most relaxing 3 miles you can find in Edinburgh. The main path continues on to Murrayfield Stadium. There are many variants of this path network for running (lots of loops can take in Water of Leith / Botanics / Inverleith Park), and the route out to Portobello Prom is high quality if you go via Leith Links.

    The shore area has the bars and bakeries you're after and Ocean Terminal for the cinema and clothes shops. ASDA, LIDL and Tesco are closest groceries.

    Biggest of all factor is there's still homes at every price point.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  8. SRD
    Moderator

    happened to see this on twitter (posted by a cyclist) https://twitter.com/suemckeeks/status/872415506854293505

    looks nice!

    Posted 6 years ago #

  9. Klaxon
    Member

    SRD that looks lovely. Wish I could afford it!

    Here's a map with all the North Edinburgh paths marked on, thick blue lines are the off road routes:

    https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/7965/north_cycle_and_walking_routes

    Moving house is your only chance to have full control over your commuting route! May as well make it a good one? :)

    Can agree with the suggestion of South Queensferry if you would prefer suburban to urban.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  10. paddyirish
    Member

    SQ thirded- you have Dalmeny, Hopetoun and Dundas estates as your playgrounds...

    Posted 6 years ago #

  11. chdot
    Admin

    Tweek above link to "fast" and SQ is 30 mins -

    https://map.bikecitizens.net/gb-edinburgh#/!/2/1/55.97352,-3.236778/*,30

    (Musselburgh too.)

    Posted 6 years ago #

  12. rider73
    Member

    everyone - thanks so much for the info so far - i've taken a look at some of the links which are excellent thanks.

    i will be renting for a while, so i'll take a look at the suggestions above for rentals and start taking it from there...

    Posted 6 years ago #

  13. rbrtwtmn
    Member

    For really comfortable riding in Edinburgh you still have to behave like a rat in tunnels behind the skirting boards - but the good news is that there are quite a few of these. The downside is of course that these routes have been forged out of spaces where people also want to do reasonable things like walk to school or walk the dog... all the same see the resources below:

    Of course not everything showing up as a cycle route will be fun if you're used to distance and speed. Edinburgh's Quiet Routes numbers 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and many parts of National Cycle Network Route 1 are good for steady speed (all railway path based).

    The other cycling routes are of varying quality - either being made up of winding routes through the back streets (useful enough in some ways) or there's the canal towpath (NCN 754) which is over capacity at rush hour - and NCN 75 to the southwest, which is often too muddy for commuting journeys.

    Of course most of these are limited by darkness in the winter - although the busier sections stay popular through rush hour.

    Ignore the following:
    The John Muir Way route (it's very much for leisure or very slow commutes) and the route marked RR which is made up of signs on busy roads and has nothing to offer.

    For getting right out the city NCN 1 is pretty good to the west of Edinburgh.

    Some of the best road biking country outside the city is to the East. Flat enough with a sufficient network of country roads.

    You did say 'everything' didn't you?

    Posted 6 years ago #

  14. wingpig
    Member

    Buy a Spokes map. The thick purple lines are your friends.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  15. Frenchy
    Member

    the route marked RR which is made up of signs on busy roads and has nothing to offer.

    Not to defend the infrastructure on the RR (or lack thereof), but I think it is the best way of getting between the SE and the SW of Edinburgh (I'm not really familiar with it west of Colinton).

    Posted 6 years ago #

  16. rider73
    Member

    Hi All,

    once again thanks for all the info. a few more Q's....

    Does anyone have any experience of the Borders Railway for commuting - perhaps as far as Tweedbank, but i've no experience of that area...

    i'm pretty torn about
    - living in the city close to work - is it easy to ride out after work to the country lanes?
    - slightly out of the city and commute to work by bike
    - way out of the city , cheaper rent, and commute to work on train and ride after work.
    one of the things i sometimes do here in Inverness is either ride in and train out (with my bike) or vice versa - but the trains here are not very full so its not an issue bringing a bike on board, i can imagine its quite different in Edinburgh - for example could i ride in (30+miles) and train it out at 6pm with my bike - i suspect NOT!

    Posted 6 years ago #

  17. Klaxon
    Member

    The Borders railway is an extremely good service when it runs well, and extremely bad at coping with disruption. It starts early and finishes late - first train is in Edinburgh for 7am.

    YMMV trying to take bikes on (class 158s so only 2 spaces).

    Posted 6 years ago #

  18. rider73
    Member

    Thanks @Klaxon and @rbrtwtmn for such great info!!!! more food for thought!

    Posted 6 years ago #

  19. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    I'd stay in Snecky if I was you. What's the big draw to Edinburgh?

    Posted 6 years ago #

  20. gembo
    Member

    @rider73, you could ride in 30 miles from Carluke (one north Berwick train a day) or shotts hourly service. The trains on the slow line have hooks to hang up the bikes yu will always get a space

    One problem with this plan is you will be living in shotts.

    Braehead always strikes nme as a pretty south Lanarkshire village. Has a pub, nice wee primary school. You would need to scoot down to carstairs for a train. Cycling home would involve hills.

    In all of these scenarios you are nearer Glasgow than embra.

    The Fife commuters also do as you describe - mix of trains and cycling.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  21. rider73
    Member

    Hi All,
    I'm back for more advice! sorry! :-/ ;-)

    how would the riding be from Dalgety Bay (south end) as I am looking at 3 flats around that area this weekend,
    the plotting routes guides seem to suggest an 1h 20mins ride to crewe toll, (yet its only 12 miles!) i'd be getting in for 7.30 so i could make that quicker i assume by using the main roads at around 6.30am?

    the area has the advantage of the express buses and trains and the Park&Ride too - so perhaps a foldup bike might also be good! :-) n+1 !!!

    anyone live out that way? i kinda like the look of it to ease me into edinburgh for the first 6 months of life here...plus longer weekend cycles up the coast?

    ps. do P&R places have places to lock up bikes??

    many many thanks once again!

    Posted 6 years ago #

  22. Frenchy
    Member

    I can answer some of those, but hopefully some of the Fifers will answer in more detail.

    I've a relative who lives in Dalgety Bay, and I've cycled there a few times. It's a pretty nice way to go, although I'm not sure what the state of the roadworks at Ferrytoll is like at the moment, or just how nice navigating onto the Forth Road Bridge will be in the future. 1h20 is rather pessimistic if you're a regular cyclist - there's no reason you should be slower on this route than any other.

    Dalgety Bay has trains roughly every half hour, but Inverkeithing is only a couple of miles away and has trains every 10 minutes or so.

    Ferrytoll P&R has lockers for bikes (as does Dalgety Bay train station, in addition to dozens of racks), but I've never used one so can't comment further.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  23. panyagua
    Member

    Hi @rider73

    There are a fair few regular commuters from DB to Edinburgh, including a few on this forum - myself, DaveC, paddyirish (with apologies to any others I've missed out).

    It's an excellent place to commute from because you can ride much of it on traffic free paths. I commute to the city centre and it generally takes me just over an hour each way (occasionally less if I'm feeling energetic). One of my local mates commutes to Crewe Toll almost daily, and it's a bit shorter - 20km approx so probably less than an hour in most cases.

    I'd be happy to chum you in to show you the route, and/or could share a Strava trace so you can follow it on a map.

    Ferrytoll P&R does have bike lockers but I'm not sure if there are any generally available. If you're going to Crewe Toll your bike is probably more useful at that end because it's a long walk from the express bus stop or train station. Some people drive over the bridge to (say) Cramond Brig area and cycle in from there, but you probably wouldn't save much time doing that - just energy.

    Happy to answer any other questions and I'm sure others will chip in too.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  24. panyagua
    Member

    Frenchy's reply came in while I was typing mine. Regarding the roadworks at Ferrytoll, they are a bit of a pain at the moment and cyclists seem to be well down the list of priorities when it comes to getting things finished, but ultimately (assuming the path at least has its tarmac surface reinstated) things should improve, especially once the bulk of heavy traffic moves on to the new bridge.

    DB station no longer has bike lockers - they were taken away when the new Abellio double decker rack was installed. Probably secure enough though as long as your bike is not too valuable.

    Another thing I should add - the commute is probably one of the most scenic cycle routes into a major city anywhere, especially if you take the lovely diversion through the Dalmeny estate (which has tarmac and 'gravel' options).

    Posted 6 years ago #

  25. DaveC
    Member

    Move to DB (St David's) and you'll have a collegue who you can chum in with, thought he (not on this forum) tends to get in slightly later and leave around 6. Its an hour door to door at a steady pace.

    As Panyagua says, plenty of rider do this commute from the bay, you'd have a ready made group to head to the pub with on a Fri after 9pm, and Fife is a great county to live in. OK, its not as cosmopolitan as Edinburgh, and I have to point out its a new town essentially does not have the quaint atmosphere but Dunfermline is just up the road, and Edinburgh is a nice distance away so you don't feel you are on the doorstep of work 24/7.

    I'd recommend coming down, one day and trying the commute into Edinburgh before you commit. You could see the flat at the same time, and if we are free we can ride in and out with you, so you know the ride/route/score.

    Dave C

    Posted 6 years ago #

  26. rider73
    Member

    wow - thanks for that great advice DaveC/Frenchy/panyagua!

    ...nice rides into work is what its all about and of course a Friday night pub gathering!!!!
    ... so this is looking more and more like a great option...

    i am coming down tomorrow to see the flats so i'll take DAVEC's excellent suggestion and i'll bring my commuter bike in to do the ride and check out the directions before hand.

    If a strava/gps/kml file is available that would be great, otherwise i'll use the cycling routing websites to get directions / options.

    Many thanks!!!

    Posted 6 years ago #

  27. panyagua
    Member

    @rider73

    This is my normal route in:

    https://www.strava.com/activities/1113412736

    This uses the North Edinburgh Path Network (NEPN) which is the most stress free route to get into the city from the outskirts. To get to Crewe Toll instead, you can either turn off onto the Telford branch of the NEPN (at 22.0km on my trace) or you can miss out the NEPN altogether and turn onto Silverknowes Rd E at 20.2 km, then onto B9085 Ferry Rd. The latter is more direct but uses a busy road.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  28. panyagua
    Member

    Oh and if you do test the route, beware of confusion around the bridge roadworks on the north side which may not show up in routing websites etc. Basically you have to follow an unmade path alongside the route towards the (old) bridge, then cross the slip road at a pair of metal 'doorways' (I kid you not), continue by the large 'gyratory' to the off-slip on the other side of the A90, then contraflow up the slip road (it's coned off) with a crossing (more doorways) a short way up. Then when you get across the bridge, turn sharp right down the ramp and follow it round under the bridge and up the other side. Then you're back on course. Look carefully for signs, where they exist, and if in doubt I'd advise waiting for a passing cyclist to show you the way (you shouldn't have to wait too long).

    Posted 6 years ago #

  29. rider73
    Member

    THanks @panyagua - not sure i'd go as fast as you but thats a great route.
    may i ask why you go down the far side of the bridge (west side) instead of the east?

    Posted 6 years ago #

  30. paddyirish
    Member

    East side is shut to cyclists at the minute. they always shut one side. Hopefully the East will be reopened soon.

    +1 to everything panyagua and DaveC say., especially on Dalmeny Estate...

    Posted 6 years ago #

RSS feed for this topic

12

Reply »

You must log in to post.


Video embedded using Easy Video Embed plugin