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Cyclist Down - NEPN leaf mulch

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  1. kaputnik
    Moderator

    A warning to all NEPN-ers about the leaf mulch on the path and to take care, an unfortunate lady came off her bike infront of us on the mulch as it slid out underneath her when she tried to brake. Her husband just called me back to say her arm is a clean break right through so she's been sent home with a lot of painkillers.

    Anyway, the story goes, we were cycling to Homebase on the NEPN and were approaching the bridge that takes Clark Road. The cyclist in front of me slowed down and stopped and I noticed the bunch of teenage boys hanging over the parapet. I heard her warn them not to drop anything over the bridge. We slowed under the bridge in case anything was about to be dropped, but came out the other side OK. I looked back to see more lads hanging over the other side. As I looked back around, the cyclist approaching me suddenly slid out and came down heavily, to the guffaws and jeers of the spectating schoolboys who were told in no uncertain terms to clear off.

    The lady was obviously hurt, and myself and the 2 other cyclists who had been there tried to offer what help we could. Fortunately she lived nearby and I called home for her and her husband was round in 5 minutes to help.

    We stayed with her and helped the bike back to their car (headset seemed wobbly for those concerned about the bike).

    Anyway, I got a call back this evening to thank me for what help we had been able to offer and it's a break. He said he'd be calling the police as there's been quite a few reports of things being dropped off the bridge there (both the lady who came down and one who stopped both said they'd had piles of leaves through over and spat on). He also said he'd be calling the head at Trinity as it's likely these were pupils from there who had been waiting for the bus at the stop on the bridge.

    I've reported the path for sweeping and will be tweeting and/or mailing the local councillors here to draw it to their attention.

    So take care on the mulch and when passing under the bridges.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  2. Luath
    Member

    Sounds nasty Kaputnik, kudos for helping out. As you are probably aware, Chas Booth has been taking an interest leaf clearing (or lack of it).

    I used my foot to clear a thick deposit of leaves from under one of the brings round there (possibly Clark Road) on Wednesday. I had wondered why there was an accumulation at that particular spot, hadn't considered that they had been thrown from above.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  3. nevelbell
    Member

    I messaged @Edinburgh_CC about the NEPN mulch today. They said they have passed this over to their waste team to action and respond.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  4. Rosie
    Member

    The tiny bit of painted path round the Roseburn Street/Russell Road junction has always been a mulch mine, but this year it has been kept astonishingly clear. I would guess it's the post rugby game street clean up.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  5. HankChief
    Member

    Don't tell @Biketrain but I put the midget leaf clearers into action on the East Craigs paths today as it didn't look like anyone else would do it and it was ridiculously deep & sloppy.

    See tweet for pictures.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  6. Diarmid
    Member

    I've logged a request today for the council to clean/sweep the Roseburn Path particularly around Ravelston Dykes where flooding/ leaf mulch and freezing conditions have made this stretch positively dangerous. I have witnessed 2 accidents in the last 2 months here - one looked like a broken arm! Can we launch a coordinated post to fix my street - maybe embarrass them into doing something.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  7. unhurt
    Member

    @HankChief - I believe @gembo was having a leaf clearance issue in his garden recently and might be interested in hiring your midget work crew.

    P.S. Do they do chimneys?

    Posted 7 years ago #

  8. HankChief
    Member

    We'll consider all offers of work.

    The going rate is quite steep: a packet of jammy dodgers, a go at the playpark and a hot chocolate when we get in.

    It also needs to be cycleable from our West Edinburgh base. Yesterday's location was chosen as en route home from the swimming pool & if our collection of bikes didn't look weird enough, having 2 snow shovels, a rake and a brush sticking out a pannier raised a few (more) eyebrows.

    All in a day's work at Hankchief-Daycare. :-)

    Posted 7 years ago #

  9. gembo
    Member

    @unhurt, not in garden, front yard, leaves belonging to both your mother and your brother had blown in.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  10. LivM
    Member

    Leaf mulch has been accumulating again (who'd have guessed?!)on NEPN - I've raised a job with @edinhelp on Twitter to get it swept. 912794 is the job number.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  11. the canuck
    Member

    Thanks Liv.
    I get the feeling that the roads teams haven't worked out that paths need a different approach than roads. a leaf blower would have been a good idea a few weeks ago.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  12. CocoShepherd
    Member

    Is anyone aware of who to contact regarding leaf mulch on the NCN1 route at Dalmeny? The Killiecrankie path is particularly treacherous.

    Also the slight bend where the B924 meets the A90.

    Not sure if these areas are under the jurisdiction of Edinburgh or not?

    Posted 5 years ago #

  13. Frenchy
    Member

    http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/directory_record/1104804/borrowman_square

    I don't know how up to date this is, but suggets that the council isn't yet responsible for maintenance of the Dalmeny bit.

    They are responsible for the B924 section: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/directory_record/1104486/b924

    Probably worth trying to get a local councillor on the case?

    Posted 5 years ago #

  14. CocoShepherd
    Member

    Thank you Frenchy. I've logged a couple of road/pavement defects using the council website on the off chance that such reports are acted upon.

    In the mean time I'll try to bend the ear of a local councillor as you suggest.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  15. CocoShepherd
    Member

    All four local councillors have been emailed:

    Councillors within the ward of Almond
    Graham Hutchison
    Kevin Lang
    Norman Work
    Louise Young

    Found here (for future reference) https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/site/scripts/whos_my_councillor.php?postcode=EH30+9AQ&find=Find+now

    Posted 5 years ago #

  16. dedekay
    Member

    Leaf mulch, or possibly oil, caught me out on the path at Davidson's Mains 2 weeks ago. My wheels shot out from under me without warning and I went down hard on my left hip, fracturing it in the process. I'll probably be off the bike until the New Year, so take care everyone.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  17. gembo
    Member

    Oooh @dedekay bad one, hope recovery goes well

    I took a right skite on the tactile paving at east end of meadows before the 50 yards of segregated path. I was avoiding a pedestrian to my left and oncoming cyclist to my right so probably applied the brakes which is bad idea. The tactile pavings face the wrong way for bikes (possibly alerting the visually impaired sweeping with a stick that they are erring into the bike lane??)

    To make matters worse the tactile pavings are also broken so more of a zig zag

    I am off to report this now

    Posted 5 years ago #

  18. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @gembo

    Thanks. I skited (skat?) on that last week on the way to my rendez-vous with the cowardly skip collector.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  19. gembo
    Member

    response speedy - also maybe slightly too positive. I have written back saying broken not roughed up

    We’re aware of the issues regarding slipping corduroy paving in the Meadows and there was a programme to rough them up. Perhaps SB (the engineer) can advise us on where we are with that.

    I agree, they are the wrong way around but according to the Guidance on the Use of Tactile Paving Surfaces they are correct. I believe this document is being reviewed.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  20. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    The tactiles are the worst surface in the whole of Edinburgh bar the polished drain cover on Dundas Street where you can spin the rear uphill in the rain.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  21. LaidBack
    Member

    @dedekay - Sorry to hear that, sounds very nasty. Best wishes on a full recovery.

    The mulch season is something we all expect but always catches people out. Over the summer you get tuned into the bike you ride and forget that even with wider tyres the contact point and weight on them is very small and relatively light.
    I've already had one slam down earlier in year off an e-bike so am now being very cautious.

    The tactiles are bearable when shortened. Longer ones grip both wheels and that is a real 'tramline' hazard. One wet, mulchy days best to go round briefly.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  22. sallyhinch
    Member

    Those tramline tactiles are apparently not easily detectable by the visually impaired (unlike the 'braille' ones) - this came up when we did our street walks with visually impaired pedestrians this summer.

    Apparently the guidance is in the course of being revised - not sure how it will be possible to feed in that kind of issue.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  23. minus six
    Member

    still gamely chancing my arm thru the preposterous A90 mulch on 23mm race slicks and a pokey wee led front light

    just cant quite face up to the inevitable first winter bike switch, any more than i can face signing up to some grim half-witted works x-mas luncheon

    Posted 5 years ago #

  24. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @bax

    I'll be hosting an Overlander lunch at the summit of the Gaick pass on the 23rd. You can't cook a turkey on a Trangia. Said the doubters. Bring drugs.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  25. minus six
    Member

    roger wilco, iwrats -- jah mo be there

    this jaunt is crying out for my psilocybin ipa

    west coast hops, east coast hallucinogens

    lets get brexit done

    Posted 5 years ago #

  26. minus six
    Member

    back to the A90, then

    an esteemed member of this parish, with an otherwise exemplary record, offered a lurid post a couple of months back praising the council for perceived A90 path maintenance

    but the photo must have been of the kirkliston slip, on the other side, the side that no-one of sound mind uses

    for the regular side that we all use was as usual absolutely choka with kevlar-bursting hawthorn branch debris

    and not forgetting the burnshot bridge contractors signage debris still routinely all over the shop like a cheap suit

    Posted 5 years ago #

  27. minus six
    Member

    ah this thread is NEPN, not A90

    alright alright i'll get me coat

    Posted 5 years ago #

  28. the canuck
    Member

    "The mulch season is something we all expect but always catches people out."

    I've said it on Twitter, i'll say it here, if drivers were expected to just adapt to conditions like the paths, and wait weeks for clearing, there would be riots.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  29. gembo
    Member

    Will be bad on the frozen mulch at the meadows today. I might use the road. Then cut back up tot he 50 yards of actual segregated path I have taken a big detour to use.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  30. LivM
    Member

    Leaf mulch on NEPN still not cleared although I've been reporting it for about 3 weeks now.

    I've also reported the slippery ramp up to Ravelston Dykes. It's not been cleared but someone has spray painted all the root infiltrations - maybe they're planning to resurface?

    Posted 5 years ago #

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