So can you now cycle up Leith St from Leith Walk and take the left down Calton Rd towards Arthurs Seat ? I was thinking of heading down for a couple of laps tonight and used to go that way (a long time ago).
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Events, rides etc.
Idea - Leith St cycle lane closure - memorial event?
(91 posts)-
Posted 5 years ago #
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@redmist When I passed last night, Calton road was still marked "road closed". I don't recall if there was space to cycle that way, but you could dismount and go over the pavement (which is far from ideal, obviously)
Posted 5 years ago # -
Thanks, I may go for a look anyway, it'll be post rush hour so may not be too bad hopping over the pavement.
Posted 5 years ago # -
@redmist Definitely you can do that. Calton Road is 'closed' to motor traffic but there's a gap for cyclists - I've been using it to access the station every morning.
Posted 5 years ago # -
every time i pass those 'road closed' signs, i want stickers that say 'to motor traffic only.'
Posted 5 years ago # -
Turning right from Leith Street to Calton Road - allowed?
Saw someone doing this last night, and it looked wrong because there was no way for the driver to know if pedestrians crossing Calton Road had a red or green light, but I also couldn't see any signs saying it's not allowed.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Interesting question! I'd say "not" but then I'd also say there's a lot of things that don't work about that setup and many other things that are being done in direct contravention of posted signs (left turn at top of Leith Street, right turn at top of Calton Road). Traffic chaos, etc.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Yep, this was all predicted during the process of objecting to the TRO (that process still awaiting a 'hearing' IIRC).
All the result of designing roads to allow vehicles to enter and exit the new mahoosive underground car park of ESJ, and explicitly to be able to go to and from Calton Road.
On the plus side, they are widening footway on Calton Road and there will be a signalised crossing at top.
Posted 5 years ago # -
The Calton Road footway and lights have all been active for a little while. They are clearly designed on the assumption that right turns aren't allowed (and this is confirmed by the TRO.) However, there's no signage to indicate this (unlike the many no right turn signs coming out of Calton Road.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Thanks all; I have emailed a councillor.
Posted 5 years ago # -
"The Calton Road footway and lights have all been active for a little while."
Yes, seem to recall using them at least once. Not more often as I'm on holiday thus no commuting for me (yet).
Posted 5 years ago # -
I have emailed a councillor.
Response from council (paraphrased):
...the junction at Leith Street/Calton Road layout is temporary and there is no suitable position for mounting traffic signal heads for traffic heading northbound on Leith Street. This layout was approved on the condition that the developer installed physical measures along the centre line of Leith Street to prevent vehicles turning right into or out of Calton Road.
We instructed the St James contractors to rectify the issue. They have now installed a line of cones along the centre of Leith Street, which solves the problem.
When the St James is completed traffic signals for northbound traffic will be installed, allowing removal of the cones.
Interested in whether this actually solves the problem, and how often the cones go walkabout.
Posted 5 years ago # -
They popped up a week or two ago, and I haven't seen any evidence of damage (or motor vehicles making illegal turns) yet.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Have I missed a post that explains why even the meagre cycle provision on Leith Street is not available to use yet?
Posted 5 years ago # -
@jonty - good to hear, thanks.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Now if only we could do something about the steady stream of traffic turning left into Waterloo Place as well ;)
Posted 5 years ago # -
Yesterday on the commute home I noticed the Cycle Lane Not In Use barriers had gone, though I couldn't tell whether this was because of #StormAli or theft or official action.
Anyway I examined the paths for the first time to see whether I should use them. It became clear just how useless they were - I could travel from Calton Road to the Omni then be left high and dry (or wet #StormAli). Then where am I supposed to go?
Posted 5 years ago # -
@dougal Oh,I forgot to mention that - I noticed that too and was going to bring it up with @edinhelp.
That's why the cycle lane was closed apparently - because there's nowhere to go if you're heading Northbound until Picardy Place is complete.
Posted 5 years ago # -
It's a perfectly usable option to go up the hill if the signs are gone
Posted 5 years ago # -
Strangely I didn't notice an open access point when I went up to the station this morning. Maybe I'm just blanking it or maybe the lane is still blocked just outside the Omni?
Posted 5 years ago # -
Just needs one or two cones moved
Posted 5 years ago # -
All the barriers were back today. The plot thickens!
Posted 5 years ago # -
I was considering using the cycle lane to jump the lights, since I spotted the green cycle light on the pedestrian crossing - however, I'm really not sure how cyclists are meant to cross the junction from one section of cycle lane to another, since the lane just ends before the toucan crossing.
I presume the pavement is shared use between the end of the cycle lane and the road, but it's really not clear, and I decided I didn't want the inevitable hassle of pedestrians shouting at me for "cycling on the pavement".
Posted 5 years ago # -
Yes, the pavement shared use at the crossing with little signs etched into the pavement. This was raised as a serious issue in many objections at the TRO/RSO phase...but by that point the slabs were already on the ground.
I think the pedestrians might have a point when the lane is closed though. I don't see why they couldn't at least open it partially with appropriate signage to indicate that it is one-way up to Greenside Row.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Is the road crossing still a toucan crossing even though the cycle paths are closed at either side?
Posted 5 years ago # -
@dougal There's still a green cycle light that comes on with the green man, so I presume so.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Money was spent on creating these cycle lanes, you'd have thought they might have thought it through a bit more carefully, even, you know, looked at what they do in the Netherlands: make things easy instead of making them bladdy difficult.
Posted 5 years ago # -
#ThisIsEdinburgh
The ultimate question is ‘when it’s all finished will it make sense/work’?
An easier question is ‘when it’s all finished will it be world class’...
Posted 5 years ago # -
It's back! (For three weeks only, down as far as Calton Road with dismounts either end.)
With Leith Street shut again, Waterloo Place and the whole Bridges corridor is that little bit calmer again. However, interesting to pay attention to traffic flows in light of recent discussions about displacement/evaporation. The right turn onto Chambers Street from George IV bridge took me quite a while this morning, and yesterday evening I got yelled at for taking the lane coming round from Bristo Place into Teviot Place for the first time in years. Swings and roundabouts...
Posted 4 years ago # -
Yes, judging by the state of the Mound this morning, I'd say that traffic hasn't figured out that it needs to evaporate, yet...
The whole junction of Mound / top of Market St was blocked to the point nothing could move.
Posted 4 years ago #
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