Thanks. I'm going to avoid it for now as some cyclists are going at dangerous speeds, some on the left hand side, some on the right, some going up, some going down. Throw in joggers, kids, walkers and dogs in the mix and it's an accident waiting to happen.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Holyrood Park: paths, crossings and closures
(214 posts)-
Posted 4 years ago #
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It's certainly one-way by convention, but more importantly is one-way by Spokes map:
It is written.
Even if it was marked as closed from gate to roundabout I'd always go clockwise just so that I didn't annoy anyone unnecessarily.Posted 4 years ago # -
I've shouted at a couple of people going the 'wrong' way, but they were also going inappropriately fast given how busy it was.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I’m a bit of a stickler for the rules so been avoiding it. Speaking of which when will the toad migration be over? I can’t be bothered with dealing with folk pointing out the roads closed and the barriers mean you lose any momentum on that first stretch
Posted 4 years ago # -
@jdanielp I was going at 10mph max even downhill, so you probably didn't shout at me. If you did, apologies, I didn't realise the one way system was still valid even though the road is closed.
Aside from the one way confusion, this road is great for cycling. It will be a shame to see the cars take over again once the toad migration is over. I also think it should stay closed for the lockdown as it provides a good space for people to get their daily exercise and keep social distancing. But the rules should be made clearer at the barriers.
Posted 4 years ago # -
The cones and toad migration sign at the top of the road by the loch weren't there last night. Not sure what that might mean.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I once asked a ranger shutting one of the lower gates if it applied to me, and he said something to the effect of "technically yes but everyone does, so go ahead."
If I was ever challenged by someone official looking on the high road I think I might try claiming that I came in via Meadowfield Park and see what they said. (I might even try actually going in that way one day!)
I get moderately upset by people coming the 'wrong' way but agree that, by my own excuse above, it's OK and I don't shout or anything. I think from a self-preservation point of view I wouldn't do it, particularly given that there's nothing to stop them opening the gates while you're coming round, especially if it's been closed for some quick maintenance or ice.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Posted 4 years ago #
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There's been a motorhome complete with bikes parked near the Palace wall for the past couple of days. Strange sort of holiday.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I'd never heard of Broad Pavement Car Park before but assume it means the one next to the haha opposite the spring, across from the PoPliarment.
Posted 4 years ago # -
“
Only Broad Pavement remains open strictly for use by key workers & visitors with mobility issues.
“
“
New signage at the car park will highlight this for anyone who has driven to #HolyroodPark. Please do not park on the Park roads or other locations in the park – this is illegal.
We know this update will disappoint some of you and affect local residents who use the car parks.
“
https://mobile.twitter.com/HistEnvScot/status/1255872597381742598
Posted 4 years ago # -
HES tugging the forelock to the very end
Posted 4 years ago # -
Probably not, likely to have been a nostril driven stop. Since lock down I have noticed a waft coming from a high proportion of cars.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Posted 3 years ago # -
Pretty sure Holyrood Park has shown as temporarily closed on Google Maps since the lockdown began.
Posted 3 years ago # -
https://twitter.com/HistEnvScot/status/1270309668997541889
From Saturday 13 June, we'll be making some changes to the current road closures in Holyrood Park.
All roads in the Park will be closed to vehicles from 8.30am and re-opened for 6pm on both Saturdays and Sundays.
The High Road remains closed every day, with a one-way system in place for cyclists.
All car parks (except for Broad Pavement) will remain closed every day.
Broad Pavement Car Park is strictly for the use of key workers and visitors with mobility issues.
We'd like to thank everybody who is continuing to use the green space at Holyrood Park safely and responsibly during phase one of the lockdown restrictions.
Posted 3 years ago # -
(The road up from Duddingston was open to cars when I cycled up it on Sunday...)
Posted 3 years ago # -
why not keep them closed Saturday 8:30AM til Sunday 6PM. Why is evening rat running a good thing?
Posted 3 years ago # -
I suspect the influence of the All Powerful Taxi Lobby has been felt. Either that or HES are a bunch of nitpicking jobsworths. One or the other.
Posted 3 years ago # -
They'd maybe say the road closures can only be when they have staff on-site, in case the barriers have to be opened for emergency services. There's plenty of other solutions for that (combo padlock?), but wld be interesting to hear their reasoning.
Posted 3 years ago # -
I wrote to HES last week to express my dissatisfaction at the limited closure of the park and asking them to explain why they need rangers to attend to road closures and why they couldn't leave the roads closed at least overnight Sat-Sun, with barriers across the 'in-bound' side of each road to act as a physical deterrent for all except emergency vehicles.
Some highlights of their response:
As I am sure you will appreciate there is a broad spectrum of opinion and views as to whether the roads, and indeed the car parks, in Holyrood Park should be open or closed. HES is very conscious that where we may take one approach or another to managing the Park there will be a knock on effect elsewhere. For example, closure of the park road leads to increased vehicle numbers in local residential streets surrounding the Park and in addition restricts access to the Park for less able users
Your suggestion of closing the road network to incoming park traffic while leaving the outgoing side of the carriageway open is an interesting one. It is an option that has been trialled in previous years during daytime road closures. Unfortunately our experience of using this barrier configuration when managing the Park roads does not concur with your suggestion. We have not found this an effective deterrent to vehicle drivers. Disappointingly we have regularly meet or observed vehicles that have been driven round closed barriers onto the closed road. As a result of this regular breach of our road closures HES introduced full width road barriers, with a gap to allow cycle access, aimed at enhancing the safety Park users on the closed road.
Any holes in any of this or is it time to give up?
Posted 3 years ago # -
HES are a dead loss. I still think the council could be persuaded to close their roads leading to the park.
Posted 3 years ago # -
It's not the job of HES to worry about traffic being displaced onto surrounding streets, particularly when the Council leadership has called for the closure of the park roads.
Is the issue with emergency access "to" the park or "through" the park? If it is internal to the park then I imagine all emergency vehicles are capable of driving round the barriers - loads of large vehicles for the many events in the park regularly drive on the grass. If it is through the park, then there are lots of alternative routes - they seem to manage when the roads are shut on a Sunday.
There are disabled persons' parking spaces in front of the Queen's Gallery on Horse Wynd. Closing the park roads and car park would not stop disabled people from driving to the park.
Not that any of this will change their mind - heels have been dug in now.
Posted 3 years ago # -
@southsider, it was time to give up before you started. But well done for trying. HES love a motor so long as it has no adverts on it. They are banned
Posted 3 years ago # -
We have not found this an effective deterrent to vehicle drivers.
So because drivers can't be expected to behave, we have to leave the road open? Is that it?
HES need to be shown and forced to understand this thread:
https://twitter.com/LambethLivingSt/status/1272853530232193025?s=20Posted 3 years ago # -
Giant hole in that is that the roads offer no access to the park. You can't park up in them, so they offer no access, and suggesting that driving through the park is accessing it is ridiculous.
Also why have disabled people got more of a right to enjoy a park than people especially children who want somewhere safe to cycle? Especially given that the roads don't even offer disabled access because you can't park in them.
How many people are currently put off using the park? I know I use it far less than I would if it were closed to cars 24/7. Is this just endowment bias of focusing on current customers and ignoring more potential new ones?
(I'd also move to Duddingston village tomorrow if I could use that road as a safe cycle route into town every day)
Just have the roads be dead ends. Emergency vehicles can access all of the road network but cars won't be able to drive through the park. The more the park is partially open to traffic at certain times the more it will be seen as acceptable to drive in it when it is technically closed.
Having emailed them in the past I genuinely think that explaining the logical inconsistencies in their arguments is a good idea, purely from a standpoint that I still wish I'd replied to their nonsense a year and a bit on. More explanation of induced demand and highlighting that road flow on other roads is not the concern of a park manager, that's for the city council and so this environment charity having any opinion on the matter is completely inappropriate from a responsibility perspective, as well as being outside of their area of expertise to comment on.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Car-free Holyrood Park has posted this from Lesley Mcinnes: "Based on the meetings I have had with key officers within HES, there is a genuine desire to consider changes in the Park".
Tommy Shepherd has also tweeted about a "Positive wide-ranging chat" with HES' Director of Corporate Services & Director of Commercial and Tourism.
Somehow it makes it even worse - they know the situation is wrong but still don't act.
Posted 3 years ago # -
“Somehow it makes it even worse - they know the situation is wrong but still don't act.”
Especially when it’s not just ‘pesky campaigners’ anymore.
I’m sure LM is well aware of ‘transport implications’...
Posted 3 years ago # -
Lesley Macinnes & Sustrans met HES recently. HES is said to be keen to be involved in developing the Holyrood/Pleasance quiet route, and in working with CEC on developing sustainability strategies. HES is also in favour of winter maintenance of the paths, and a "positive dialogue" about keeping paths usable during snowy weather is in progress.
If you have an interest in making the Park a nicer place, please contact HES to encourage them. I know it's hard not to be sceptical, but perhaps HES is finally going to do something useful.
https://www.historicenvironment.scot/about-us/contact-us/Posted 3 years ago #
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