So as to prevent further thread creep in 'Spotted'
As I understand it, this is the continuing expansion of the Edinburgh Uni district heating system across the central campus.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Edinburgh Uni works on Middle Meadow Walk
(121 posts)-
Posted 6 years ago #
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If so, at least it is for a good cause.
Posted 6 years ago # -
now it is cyclists on a quite lengthy section of the pedestrian side (who knows for how long).
Uni email suggested "The trench will be backfilled and all surfaces reinstated by the end of June 2018."
Robert
Posted 6 years ago # -
At least a few metres of MMW will be snow and ice-free over the winter.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Was a huge artic parked there earlier delivering the pipework. Did wonder what it was for.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Genial chaos this morning. All over the shop. Shows the resilience of active travel though innit?
Posted 6 years ago # -
A not-so-genial-pedestrianating man gave me a cold hard stare for not dismounting there this morning.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I tried a diversion this morning, which adds two sets of traffic lights along Lauriston Place, many speed bumps in Quartermile and a few potholes on Chalmers Street, before rejoining NMW to continue west. The eastern diversion will be far less convenient: the direct route is all the way up Chalmers Street and then a longer stretch along Lauriston Place while the less direct route is NMW then up the QBC.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Was thinking about this over the weekend, and looking at it earlier on today. I'm very much in favour of people walking round this obstruction and not cycling, as MMW is usually quite busy with pedestrians. It's a relatively short period of time, and surely we could put up with a small amount of inconvenience rather than adding to the negative views out there about cyclists already?
I realise we could be pushing for some form of further split in MMW to allow cycling to continue, but given the volume of foot traffic there anyway, it's going to get quite congested (and the space for cycling won't be that great), so is it really worth the effort?Posted 6 years ago # -
@NiallA The problem is that not all cyclists can be |(even momentary) pedestrians, where the bicycle is a necessary mobility aid.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@wingpig - that’s true, and good of you to remind me. However, those of us who are able to stop and walk should do, in my view, in order to minimise conflict.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I've been told by the site coordinator that the council insisted on the "cyclists dismount" wording on the signs. Despite acknowledging the problems, the council has also refused to allow the signs to be replaced.
Posted 6 years ago # -
The 'cyclists dismount' sign had itself been dismounted when I passed this morning. Other more compliant cyclists were pushing their steeds but I cycled slowly and went on the grass a bit to avoid conflict. This thing is manageable without signs.
Posted 6 years ago # -
and went on the grass
Indeed. The footpath could have been temporarily moved over so part on grass (for those that are OK to walk on grass) and part on the tarmac (for those not OK to walk on grass). With the remaining space on the tarmac for a barriered-off cycleway.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@neddie - wouldn’t you end up with a 2-way cycle lane that was half the width of the current lane (with fence feet obstacles both sides)? I’m thinking of the interesting “cycle lanes” we’ve had in George Street at Festival time over the last couple of years...
Posted 6 years ago # -
I went for the Cycle Slowly option, so as not to encourage this sort of thing. Didn't want to appear too compliant. Shutting down the city's main cycle thoroughfare, indeed! Imagine if they tried this stuff in a real, proper "cycle friendly" city. Boardwalk boards would have fixed it, maybe, or doing the work in turbo mode.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I think Spanish students have been cycling through the restricted area. Can't think why else anyone would have spray-painted 'no pasarán' on the carriageway.
Posted 6 years ago # -
iwrats, i missed that graffiti! hit every bit of this construction earlier this week when late for an appointment. (of course).
Posted 6 years ago # -
I cycled slowly and went on the grass a bit to avoid conflict.
As have done several thousand other cyclists, thus forming a well defined desire line. I used it this evening too, on my way home from Waverley.
Posted 6 years ago # -
As have done several thousand other cyclists, thus forming a well defined desire line.
Is that the cycling equivalent of parking large motor vehicles on a pavement and breaking the paving slabs?
Posted 6 years ago # -
@NiallA - Interesting idea. Desire lines are seen when human behaviour does not comply with the design. For non-mechanised transport, it's usually seen as designers not taking into account that people don't travel in right angled routes and that it takes effort to move, so the most efficient route is preferable.
Clearly, driving and parking on the footway is the same thing, where designers haven't taken into account human behaviour.
There is a difference, however, as in one case the solution is to reallocate space for walking into space for driving or parking, the other is to relocate space for plants into space for active travel.
I think the suggestion in this case is more analogous to building a temporary road surface, across a field, whilst the main carriageway is being repaired.
I don't know why this temporary solution hasn't been adopted in this case.
Robert
Posted 6 years ago # -
I'm getting into the habit of avoiding this now so somebody so please report in when it is finished. I took the long way across the Meadows and up the QBC just now, in part to stare at the massive inflatable obstacles scattered around, presumably for some kind of 'fun' run.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Posted 6 years ago #
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Aagh! I trundled down MMW yesterday morning for the first time in a while given that the lights at the crossing at the top turned red just as I was approaching to cycle on along Lauriston Place. This proved to be a mistake since it was incredibly busy with people coming up MMW towards me, although half way past the works I was then met with the yellow digger pictured heading straight up the path towards me so had to bail off the path onto the grass... The works by Leamington Lift Bridge are now also bugging me since there is barely any space left to cycle around.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I had to dodge the entire 30m(?) length of tall metal fencing falling over in the wind into the path this morning - another man was not so quick and it hit him in the shoulder, tearing his jacket. I hope he raised the matter with the single visible contractor who was trying (and failing) to hold one end up.
Considering the still-falling branches as well, the Meadows is perhaps best avoided today until the wind dies down.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I wonder if we're still on for this being finished by end of June, and whether it'll stop surface frost in winter on this section of tarmac.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I haven't seen any work happening there for weeks. Just large unconnected bits of pipe sticking out of the ground
Posted 6 years ago # -
charles rennie mackintosh didn't have to put up with any of this foolish active travel budget nonsense
oh no
he relied on art nouveau absinthe fumes to see him through the hard times
no sustrans nonsense required, for the uncrowned king of glesga
Posted 6 years ago # -
Wow. The surface they put back down over the pipes is really bad. Really lumpy and it looks like the kind of repair that won't last...
I'm not sure they could be bothered to sort the decorative cobbled gulleys out properly either
Posted 6 years ago #
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