CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News
“£19 million to go to Scottish Innovation Centre and mountain biking mecca”
(7 posts)-
Posted 5 years ago #
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Will it have enough car parking?
Posted 5 years ago # -
I think that Transport Scotland should be placing some clear pointers on this to move the production and bike development East to Galashiels, where there are already converging transport corridors, and the residual resources engineering skills with precise & complex machinery (ie textiles - knitting machines etc), with potential re-use of industrial sites, with the relevant services etc.
Ultimately there may well be a through rail line restored to Carlisle, but in the interim there is the main trunk route and regular bus services.
Heriot-Watt's Borders Campus was also in Galashiels, also attuned to the engineering, as well as the artistic elements of the textile industry
Posted 5 years ago # -
Tulyar, why not ask the Scottish Government? Thing is, this project has been on the go for several months at least, and they won't have randomly chosen the site.
But really, Innerleithen? Maybe it's seen as the sleepy, poor relation to Peebles and Galashiels. Peebles is on the bus (and indeed bike/bus) route and Innerleithen is then a short bike ride away; Gala is on the train route, but is a significant 12 or 13 miles away. I suppose in time, e-bikes will demolish that distance for more and more users.
Judging by all the gnarly MTBs on car roof racks that I see most days of the week, people just aren't using public transport to get to places like Glentress. If I were feeling uncharitable (and I am) I would say people simply don't trust public transport. Their confidence at getting bikes onboard is at rock bottom, and since they've all bought cars for the job they may as well use them.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Their confidence at getting bikes onboard is at rock bottom, and since they've all bought cars for the job they may as well use them.
I'm afraid that's me.
Posted 5 years ago # -
I don't think public transport could cope. Two spaces on a bus. Not much more on a train. Much more is needed.
I took a later train than usual to Gala on Sunday (arrived 11am) for a Christmas meal at Cardrona. Only an accompanying friend also had a bike, but the train wasn't highly populated. On the other hand the train going north must have had 6 carriages but looked much fuller. We cycled back - only a little bit further than return to the station but with a big tailwind.
Posted 5 years ago # -
The price is another huge factor, especially with the train. The journey cost in a car which I already own is tiny compared to the equivalent on public transport.
Most people are unwilling to pay more for less convenience. We need to increase the per mile cost of motoring, reduce public transport costs or probably a combination of both.
Posted 5 years ago #
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