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Scottish Govmt announces £10m for pop up cycle/walking lanes

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  1. Morningsider
    Member

    "Concerns were raised" about:

    1. Drivers and car passengers getting in/out of cars parked in floating parking spaces being hit by cyclists.
    2. Elderly people being unable to gat a haircut or messages.
    3. SfP measures "kill[ing] the high street"
    4. Bus users alighting at floating bus stops being hit by cyclists.
    5. Toxic emissions affecting pupils at South Morningside Primary.
    6. Increased congestion.
    7. The measures being anti-democratic.

    So, as far as I am aware:

    1. This has never happened.
    2. This has never happened.
    3. This has never happened.
    4. This has never happened.
    5. It's the same as it always was.
    6. There has been no significant increase in congestion..
    7. Measures implemented by a democratically elected council using laws passed by Parliament and based on guidance produced by the Scottish Government is not "anti-democratic"

    Posted 3 years ago #
  2. Stickman
    Member

    @Morningsider:

    1. There has been one report of a toddler who ran into the cycle lane after being taken out of a car being hit by a cyclist on Lanark Road.

    Without diminishing the seriousness of this, I would contrast the reaction from Concerned Locals with that following the tragic death of Xander Irvine, which was basically “sh*t happens”.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  3. Morningsider
    Member

    @Stickman. Thanks, didn't know about that. Although (without wishing to downplay any injury to a small child) I would say that a toddler running into a cycle lane is a better result than them running into the carriageway.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  4. gembo
    Member

    @stickman, tragically that is correct analysis.

    Some drivers actually support the measures, just not in the places they are currently as they find they have to drive a little slower and park around a corner which is unacceptable as they did not vote for them. Which is a bit of an inconvenience. Similarly they would like to do something to save the planet but again this is an inconvenience.

    The down side of being required to carry out endless consultations is the Webberians use this to say there is no democracy.

    Now whilst democracy is largely for the rich, the idea that not agreeing with something in a consultation means it won’t happen is 100% gammon thinking.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  5. twinspark
    Member

    Weeding at the kerb is surely easier without parked cars? - I know because I've been weeding "our" section of pavement and it's easier when my car isn't parked there....

    Personally I'm uncomfortable with a lack of space for pedestrians - this is more likely to make me shop online.

    Some shops in Bruntsfield / Morningside, I no longer use. They pursued petitions against SfP (one even looking for me to sign even although I'd had to tether my bike to a street pole directly outside as no bike parking and was standing there with a cycle helmet under my arm!) and therefore don't value my custom as a non car user (funnily enough I do also drive!) so I shop elsewhere!

    What has impressed me a lot is the number of people I see cycling up and down our relatively quiet street and also the number of people not walking on the (unobstructed) pavements but actually actively using the road so that they can distance... Surely that's a demand?

    Later this year, there is a Climate Conference - Pollution fell during the lockdowns (particularly the first) yet some politicians seem to be failing to make the connection between reduced motorised transport / increased cycling and walking having a positive impact?...

    P.S. I did note in one of the many flooding pictures posted yesterday, there was one showing a street planter / SfP measure... Fuel for the gammons!

    Posted 3 years ago #
  6. Dave
    Member

    Some shops in Bruntsfield / Morningside, I no longer use. They pursued petitions against SfP (one even looking for me to sign even although I'd had to tether my bike to a street pole directly outside as no bike parking and was standing there with a cycle helmet under my arm!) and therefore don't value my custom as a non car user (funnily enough I do also drive!) so I shop elsewhere!

    I wish there was a site where you could find out all the businesses that prioritised their driving customers (or even just their suppliers' delivery drivers) over our safety. Then I could guide my spending accordingly.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  7. chdot
    Admin

    This any sort of issue in Edinburgh?

    Removing private vehicle lanes is a hard fight under normal circumstances, but when Uber gridlocks whole regions by pouring private vehicles into the streets, it becomes politically impossible.

    https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/10/unter/#bezzle-no-more

    Posted 3 years ago #
  8. Morningsider
    Member

    @chdot - not anything like the issue it is in North America. In Scotland, Uber drivers and cars are subject to the full private hire (or taxi) licensing regime. This makes it harder and more expensive to become an Uber driver than in many other countries.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  9. chdot
    Admin

    Good to know!

    Posted 3 years ago #
  10. chdot
    Admin

  11. Morningsider
    Member

    @chdot - I don't understand that article. TfL are "building" a cycle lane? I thought the purpose of cycle lanes was to have something to consult on. I didn't realise they could then actually be built.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  12. chdot
    Admin

    Well indeed.

    TfL has ‘status’ that most LAs would love to have.

    Of course TfL is not responsible for most of London’s roads.

    Some boroughs not keen on cycle routes.

    May be a political thing…

    Posted 3 years ago #
  13. Yodhrin
    Member

    London, now Glasgow as well - if the council/SG don't shove the political opportunists and NIMBYs the <rule2> out of the way and get on with things soon, Edinburgh's going to be a punchline in years to come; they can plow through the city for years to install trams(and I like trams btw), but god forbid the Almighty Motorist give up any streetspace for cycle lanes.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  14. Dave
    Member

    Was trying to look on streetview for west approach rd. lane closure (building flats?) but no such luck. Any pics anywhere?

    Posted 3 years ago #
  15. Stickman
    Member

  16. Morningsider
    Member

    Yay - all the widened pavements (apart from about 10m across from Waitrose) are to be removed! The short stretches of segregated lane are to be replaced with (drum roll) advisory cycle lanes. The excitement doesn't end there! Next month's meeting will consider:

    ...options for the reopening of the road [Braid Road] in both directions, including analysis of impacts on traffic levels, resident connectivity and vulnerable road users walking, wheeling and cycling.

    Add in the cheeky removal of the Forrest Road/George IV Bridge lanes and family cycle trips into town just got a whole lot more..what - exciting?

    Posted 3 years ago #
  17. gembo
    Member

    @morningsider that is not balanced

    What happened to Lesley being willing to meet people halfway?

    Has that being corrected to Lesley lying down and letting Tory Scum and Tartan Tory Scum trample all over her?

    Also where are the Greens? I thought they held some kind of influence within the coalition or is that just a lie too?

    Posted 3 years ago #
  18. CycleAlex
    Member

    "Installation of 1.25m
    mandatory cycle lane

    Cycle lane marking should
    improve access for cyclists
    and reduce obstructions

    Cycle lane will
    discourage close
    passes."

    About that.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  19. LaidBack
    Member

    @Dave I have pic of the lane and bus stop removal on Approach Road. Can send you it although was trying to get a better view from Grove St. Taking one lane away has no effect on this road other than no 22 bus stop before Subway.

    The removal of George IV Bridge lanes very regressive. Pavements are rammed.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  20. ejstubbs
    Member

    Hermitage Terrace eastbound-only restriction seems to be bundled in with the "review" of Braid Road. That strikes me as being a bit sneaky: as far as I know the one-way for Hermitage Terrace was proposed and in plan for implementation before the pandemic kicked off - SfP merely brought it forward.

    Removing segregation and replacing with white paint ("advisory" or "mandatory" cycle lanes), as mentioned in a number of places in the report, just means removing any kind of effective cycling provision (and they probably know that).

    As an aside, on a recent foray in to Morningside from Fairmilehead I encountered at least five contractors vehicles illegally parked in the Comiston Road cycle lanes. They were all using the gaps in the wands left for access to driveways as parking spaces, ignoring the DYLs. A number of them were also partially blocking the footway. It was basically back to pre-pandemic BAU for contractors. I suspect a failure of enforcement is partly to blame, similar to what happened during earlier phases of the lifting of lockdown restrictions.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  21. Morningsider
    Member

    @gembo - yes, didn't make clear that my earlier comments only apply to plans for Morningside. Just kind of annoyed that we are about to lose every bit of progress made in my neck of the woods - in an area with almost no provision for cyclists at all.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  22. Stickman
    Member

    @Morningsider: I’m pretty hacked off that they are prioritising ripping out the extended pavements on St John’s Road. Supposedly that is going to help with traffic congestion. Prioritising people driving to West Lothian (and East Craigs) over Corstorphine residents.

    It became necessary to destroy the town to save it.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  23. chdot
    Admin

  24. Murun Buchstansangur
    Member

    Well, it was a nice little earner for the wandmakers while it lasted. What’s going to happen to all that expensive, little-used plastic?

    Guess that’s the 2022 local election campaign kicked off. Don’t forget to drive your single occupant vehicle right into the polling booth.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  25. Yodhrin
    Member

    I can't decide - is it that they think we're morons, or that they simply don't care enough to put any effort into their transparent lies? Or perhaps they really are themselves morons enough to believe in magic paint? Perhaps I should set up a stall outside the council offices hawking charms and lucky trinkets, I could make a fortune out of the gullible numpties.

    If Morningside Road has "insufficient road space" for wand-segregated cycle lanes then it's not wide enough for "mandatory" cycle lanes, since cars aren't supposed to use those either.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  26. chdot
    Admin

  27. neddie
    Member

    I think it's fair enough that they pull the George IV lanes out, because an ETRO needed to keep them isn't compatible with a TRO for the upcoming permanent scheme.

    I really wish they wouldn't bother with mandatory painted lanes - these are worse than useless, and no doubt sub-standard width.

    As a softener, they ought to accelerate the construction of the canal to Roseburn path as a North/South alternative, though. (Construction was/is due to start this autumn, I think ???)

    Edit:

    • Contract award – mid-September 2021
    • Main works commence – mid-October 2021
    • Main works complete – mid-October 2022

    from http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15762&page=16#post-347517

    Posted 3 years ago #
  28. SRD
    Moderator

    my thoughts (as posted elsewhere) on the KGV bridge and mound cycle scheme:

    Puzzled by rationale for removal being that a permanent scheme is planned? But three points (1) every single day so many wands go missing /have to be replaced. (2) the section in front of NLS is dodgy, especially when wands go missing (3) there really does need to be some loading space somewhere on the bridge - I don’t see why it can’t be on the middle strip? (4) the candlemaker row turn needs to be shut if the northbound lane is to be made safe.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  29. chdot
    Admin

  30. Frenchy
    Member

    I made it halfway through the first paragraph. I don't recommend anyone bothers clicking it.

    Posted 3 years ago #

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