"Also, the A7 is going to get new cycleways, footways and bus stops from the Hardengreen roundabout to the roundabout at Dobbie's."
Interesting
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
A701 "Relief Road"
(115 posts)-
Posted 7 years ago #
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I just....wait....what??
There are currently 2 roads from Penicuik to Edinburgh in the morning - the A701 and the A702. Both come to a standstill miles from the bypass because of the high density of traffic.
In the last 5 years we've lost 2 bus routes. In fairness they've put white paint down to encourage cycling to/from Penicuik but because the road is so narrow its encouraging cars and lorries to pass within inches of your handle bars. I've stopped cycling into Penicuik with my children because of it.
But they think painting a white bus lane onto the roundabout (where buses weren't even being held up) is going to improve traffic flow??
You just can't make it up!
Posted 7 years ago # -
So I emailed the contacts at the council Frenchy gave me. Have had a really prompt reply (within 2 hours) saying that the changes to lanes on Gowkley Moss roundabout was in response to a cyclist who got hit.
"In essence the I can confirm the markings were changed following a cycling accident on Gowkley Moss Roundabout. The cyclist from the Bush was hit by the car at the A701 Penicuik entry onto the roundabout. Previously on that approach there were 3 lanes, one for left turn to Roslin , one straight ahead to Penicuik and a ahead and right to Penicuik/Bush. At the time he explained that traffic generally queued in the middle lane but on occasion some Penicuik bound traffic used the outside lane at speed to beat the queued traffic and the traffic merge at the A701 and that was where he was hit on the roundabout. To combat the higher speed approach to the roundabout and to avoid the merging by cars on the Penicuik exit during the evening traffic peak period, the extended bus lane was introduced.
As you will be aware roundabouts are not generally good for cyclists in terms of road safety and I would be interested where you are cycling from. If you are coming from Roslin there is a new cycle path round the northern edge of the roundabout that emerges at the existing Toucan crossing across the A701. That links up to the old road and links up to a cycleway along Bush Loan Road. That would avoid using the circulatory carriageway of the roundabout. Additionally if you are cycling from Edinburgh then you could dismount and use the toucan crossing, the old road and the Bush Loan cycleway would avoid the roundabout. I have attached a plan showing cycle routes avoiding the roundabout."
The map shows that we can now use an off road spur from Roslin across to the A702, use a toucan crossing and then pavement all the way up into the Bush. I must say I hadn't realised this was now a shared path - I'll have to go looking for signs because I use this route almost daily and hadn't realised they'd changed their designation.
So in a way - major kudos to Midlothian council for trying to make the way safer for cyclists.
Posted 7 years ago # -
@lezzles, yes This was cleared over the summer. I took it from Roslin. It is only maybe two hundred yards and branches off from the pavement. Basically a bicycle bypass of that terrible roundabout. Coming out as the MIdlothain council person said, at a toucan crossing.
A small But good thing.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Yes I know the spur well and was hopeful when it was tarmaced (sp?) that it would be shared use. I've just never seen any signs that say I can cycle on it.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Dismounting to use a toucan crossing is a bit odd, but other than that it sounds like an improvement. Reality may differ, of course.
Can you share the map?
Posted 7 years ago # -
Am I right in thinking that that roundabout was the only/main thing built for/in advance of the previous version of the A701 ‘improvements’ plan?
Posted 7 years ago # -
How do I embed something like the map? Do I need to save it somewhere to do that? Sorry luddite here
Posted 7 years ago # -
“Do I need to save it somewhere to do that?”
Yes unless it’s already on the Internet, then just link.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Reality may differ, of course
You'd better hope no-one is waiting at the bus stop when you want to reach the toucan crossing.
The crossing is two-stage, with a partly staggered island. I don't ever bother with it.
If ever there was a big roundabout with huge amounts of space, and large radius, flowing entries and exits, that could be Dutch-ified it's Gowkley Moss.
Posted 7 years ago # -
I don't think I could have told you that there was a crossing there. I would just have assumed it was for pedestrians only anyway.
Posted 7 years ago # -
I would not use it going in to Roslin but coming back t is good.
Posted 7 years ago # -
SO I cycled the whole route this morning and as I suspected there are no signs to say any of this is now shared use. I took a few photos so I could show the council. Its a little slower when you bother with the toucan - I may just do the route I normally use when walking which is the traffic island on the A702 right at Gowkley Moss.
And yes Fimm I agree - its the perfect roundabout to dutchify. I wonder if we'll have any push to do this if they confirm the new High School for Roslin, Loanhead and Bilston is going to be built in the Bush Estate.
Hoping this link to the map I was sent works
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ROh1AzzXRHQPKPEL2Posted 7 years ago # -
Hoping this link to the map I was sent works
It does, thanks.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Thanks Lezzles, the map pulls the thread together nicely
Posted 7 years ago # -
For those who weren't at Spokes' meeting on Thursday.
Cllr Imrie (who is Midlothian Council's cabinet member with responsibility for transport) was talking about this. He said that plans for the existing A701 don't really exist, other than a desire for it to be a sustainable transport corridor. He then explicitly asked for people to send him ideas and thoughts for how this could be achieved.
Posted 7 years ago # -
I did that on the 9th of August, and he said he would chase up the active travel team but haven't heard anything back yet. Maybe they fell off their treadmill desks or something.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Does anyone know if Dave Kenny is still the Midlothian Council cycle chap?
Posted 6 years ago # -
He is.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Was there last year.
Unless you want him, “Bogdan Handrea, Midlothian Council’s Active Travel Officer” might be more useful -
https://www.midlothian.gov.uk/news/article/2233/active_travel_team_walk_away_with_top_prize
https://mobile.twitter.com/BogdanHandrea/with_replies?lang=en
Posted 6 years ago # -
I've been conversing with him about the new cycle path they're laying between Roslin and Gowkley Moss but he's not replied to my recent emails (or my dads).
They've almost finished laying it but oddly haven't made the on-ramp in Roslin suitable for bikes. You have to get off your bike, bump it up onto the pavement, push it along a bit and then start cycling. I took a photo last night that i can try and link
Posted 6 years ago # -
Does this link work? https://photos.app.goo.gl/4nzDfirXwyJ8c6ys2
Posted 6 years ago # -
Yes, link works. Just needs a dropped kerb in the foreground? Should be straightforward, unless vehicles are liable to be parked in front of it.
Dave Kenny responded this week to an email I sent him.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Agreed it should be easy - just want to make sure its looked at before the heavy machinery departs hence trying to find out if Dave is still around. Have also tweeted the council in hope.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Lezzles, whereabouts did you take your photo? I've not lived in the area for all that long but thought I had the measure of the cycle routes. Maybe I've just been too busy haring along the road.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I've not lived in the area for all that long but thought I had the measure of the cycle routes.
I think you can be forgiven for not knowing about the ones that aren't finished yet! Pretty sure this is along the north side of Roslin, the path will go from the medical centre to the bowling club (I think). Photo might be from Marmion Avenue.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Frenchy you're very close. Its meant to connect to the Loanhead/Shawfair route though it has a bit of a circuitous route through the village.
Basically from the railway tunnel under mainstreet across the back of Moat View up to Gowkley Moss. There is another paved route to the doctors surgery but you have to come back into the housing estate to get onto it.
I'll soon be able to get to work in the Bush Estate almost entirely off-road.
Posted 6 years ago # -
This is when you need one of those 3D maps. Its the purple line that is being tarmaced but you can't get onto it from Mainstreet - it starts in a tunnel under main street. There are steps from Mainstreet down to the path but you'd have to lift your bike over a wall to get it down the steps.
Best off following the yellow 28 to the pub, turn right up Main street, go left into Pentland view terrace and hook on at Marmion avenue.
Though a housebuilder has just put in for permission to do build houses on the fields and the farm track to the north (a purple) is also expected to be tarmaced then for bikes.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Ta! I'm currently trying to formulate a response to that consultation, so this is useful to know.
Posted 6 years ago #
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