CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".
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Today going down to the bottom of the ramp at Waverly station where there's a gate for going through with a bike. I didn't expect the resistance of the gate to be so strong and it slammed back into the side of my leg. There's obviously some bumpy/sharp edges on the gate because I got a scrape that drew blood.
Am I just being clumsy or has anyone else had problems with the gate?
It definitely has an unnecessarily strong spring.
This has been mentioned on here somewhere previously. Almost a two person job
I was remarking to Tulyar yesterday that the gate's spring is really a bit strong. I once had to womanhandle the torpedo through it (on account of needing to buy train tickets). You have no idea just how incredibly difficult it* was.
Larger gas springs sometimes have a valve towards the piston end that allows one to bleed pressure out of the system in order to fine tune it for the application at hand. Normally a small flat screwdriver or allen key. I wonder if this particular spring is so equipped?
* The buying of said tickets proving an order of magnitude less difficult.
I have been through that gate a few times with the Brompton and have not particularly noticed a problem. I'll try and pay more attention next time. I probably bump it out the way with the Brompton front bag or something.
Going in ok - but needs unnecessary force.
Leaving - real pain.
I had to get through it with a heavy ebike and fully loaded trailer (luggage and 4yo) and it was a three-person job. One to hold the gate and two to get the bike and trailer round the angles. On the return trip we discovered that the loading gate (directly opposite the foot of the ramp) was unlocked so we just went straight through it no problems.
The gate is a pain. It sprung into the back of my bike the other day and bent the mudguard stays out of shape. Took a while to re adjust
It does beg the question - why is there a gate there at all?
If injury or damage caused worth logging this with the Network Rail Office, on Platform 1/19 side of main building.
A few reports & they'll notice this.
I've never had a problem with it, but perhaps my folder is easier to get in and out because it is short?
It was obviously designed and decided on by people who do not cycle and have no interest in the welfare of cyclists.
I have used the loading gate a few times before I was told off. If everyone used it all the time, and there was a mass of complaints about the 'bad' gate, maybe something would be done?
TBH the gate itself is no problem in comparison with the entire setup. The ridiculous loading area itself; the speed bumps across the cycle lane; the police parking their vehicles in the cycle lane; the huge obstruction caused to foot passengers by the loading area/turning circle and associated barriers; the ludicrous queuing system barriers for ticket machines right next to the cycle gate.....I could go on.
Given the almighty burach that Network Rail have made of that area of the station concourse, the piddling cycle gate hinge is a tiny and relatively meaningless detail.
It's almost as though they think that making the time spent on foot as short as possible for van drivers restocking a few retail outlets is more important than making it relatively easy for the vast majority of rail passengers to get to their trains from Princes Street...
It's almost as though they think that making the time spent on foot as short as possible for van drivers restocking a few retail outlets is more important than making it relatively easy for the vast majority of rail passengers to get to their trains from Princes Street...
i'd remove "almost as if" - the outcome seems to demonstrate that this is in fact their intent.
(A properly laid out station would give over that whole ramp to pedestrians & bikes - separated, of course - as it's the easiest way in to the station from the N and W. No-one actually WANTS to deal with layers of steps / escalators / lifts / walkways, I am guessing. Deliveries would come in the other way at fixed times and in smaller vehicles.)
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