@neddie: I thought you needed a unique phone number for every twitter account?
You may be getting confused with Whatsapp, which AIUI identifies the user's account solely from the phone number.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Scottish Govmt announces £10m for pop up cycle/walking lanes
(3661 posts)-
Posted 4 years ago #
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Nope, this is something I actually tried on Twitter
Posted 4 years ago # -
I got a picture text message at the weekend. Mate looking at a second hand bike.
Came as a surprise because I didn't know my phone could display them.
@neddie is never confused. I need to say that now, before it all kicks off.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Collected some more wands from the undergrowth. Now have nineteen over a period of two weeks. Only a fraction of those removed.
Somebody is systematically (though casually) trying to obliterate the Old Dalkeith Road lanes.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Does anyone have any experience of the Ferry Road cycle lanes? A friend shared a photo on Facebook showing that the double yellow lines stop opposite all the traffic islands and we couldn't work out why they had been done like that. Has anyone any ideas?
Posted 4 years ago # -
@fimm: It might have something to do with Highway Code Rule 243:
Rule 243:
DO NOT stop or park:
...opposite a traffic island
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/waiting-and-parking-238-to-252
However, since this is a "DO NOT" rather than "You MUST NOT" it is not specifically an offence in itself, unlike parking on double yellows (Rule 238).
Note that Rule 243 also advises against stopping or parking "where you would obstruct cyclists’ use of cycle facilities". See also Rule 140: "You MUST NOT drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a solid white line during its times of operation." So it is an offence to park in a solid-white-line cycle lane, and yet a good percentage of the Comiston Road ones have DYLs too, even though most of the length of the cycle lanes is also 'semi segregated' with wands as well.
I think it comes down to the fact that most drivists will likely recognise that parking opposite a traffic island is a bit obstructive (primarily to other drivists, of course), whereas the majority of them DGAF about cycle lanes so need to be actively reminded. But it does seem inconsistent vs the Comiston Road implementation which has solid white lines delineating the cycle lane and wands and DYLs even opposite traffic islands.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Anyone parking at a traffic island on Ferry Road would likely be fully blocking traffic (which is itself illegal) and would probably quickly find their vehicle shifted.
I wonder if the preference in such situations is to omit markings in order to help visually separate the crossing point?
Not sure about the discrepancy with Comiston Road - perhaps there's just enough width on Comiston Road that someone could park there?
Posted 4 years ago # -
"Councillor David Hunter" now I see
@algo, chipwrapper seems to have given up proofreading captions. The other glaring error in the same caption is of course that Craigs Road is not going to be closed. I suspect this lie was fed to them though rather than being written by them.
Posted 4 years ago # -
The agenda for Thursday’s Council meeting is dominated by questions on SfP.
https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=150&MId=5592
Posted 4 years ago # -
"chipwrapper seems to have given up proofreading"
It's been years since they bothered doing any at all, AFAICS.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@neddie, the twitter signup process currently has an option to use an email rather than a phone number.
The EC anti crew give the impression of having a team of semi anonymous people with anonymous twitter accounts which like to complain about any anonymous account which supports the LTN. It's not clear how many of them there are running these accounts.
It's headed up by David and he is the one who gets his name splashed across the papers. Of course he lives in one of the cul-de-sacs at the end of Craigs Road so the level of traffic on Craigs Road does not affect him. He does not appear to have any interest in avoiding all the new houses from driving along Craigs Road.
As others here have pointed out this is not about getting a consultation as they already have that (the TTRO process) and changes have been made prior to it even starting. It's all about protecting the status quo as part of motoring's war on society.
P.S. Please don't assume that they are not reading this forum.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@acsimpson, good points and at the end I think it very likely that this thread is certainly read by those of a different persuasion.
Posted 4 years ago # -
“Please don't assume that they are not reading this forum“
I would hope anyone interested in rational discussion is!
‘We’ don’t exactly agree on everything or the best way of doing things, OR slavishly agree with what CEC does!
‘We’ are not thinking ‘bicycle users are more important than everyone else’.
One great thing about CCE is that over 10 years it’s attracted people who actually know what they are talking about.
Additionally there have been many ‘nervous cyclists’ that have been helped with advice and encouragement.
There has also been a growing awareness that ‘we need better’. It was never about ‘just get more experienced and deal with the traffic’.
As for being a secret cabal that controls certain councillors and the whole of CEC - ha, ha, ha. (CCE isn’t good at humouring the paranoid - should we try harder?)
This simple fact is that for 60 years, and more, driving has been “normal”, “the normal”. This didn’t exactly happen by accident - mixture of post WW2 optimism and desire for better, ‘modern’ etc. PLUS the vested interests of oil companies, motor manufacturers and road builders.
Things change, some people and institutions resist.
The East Craig scheme may not be great, it may not have been handled well, but it’s just a small example of how things ARE changing - too slowly of course.
It’s a shame that there has had to be a serious health crisis to speed things up (slightly), but there are plenty of other health related reasons for encouraging walking and cycling AND MAKING IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO CHOOSE TO DO SO.
Hi to anyone reading this.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Hi :)
Posted 4 years ago # -
A DECISION on whether to go ahead with the controversial Low Traffic Neighbourhood plans for East Craigs is set to be postponed until the council can receive legal advice on whether its proposals go beyond what is allowed as a response to Covid.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I’m sure they will be able to find someone able to give that advice.
Will they remain anonymous...
IF ‘it’s not legal to use Covid money’, would any part of this be invalid or just up to CEC to use different money?
Posted 4 years ago # -
It seems Kevin Lang has managed to take an action without consultation. He's blocked me on twitter.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Posted 4 years ago #
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It's nothing to do with the money. This is active travel funding, if the SG are happy with what it is being spent on (or Sustrans who dish out our cash on behalf of the SG) then that is simply not an issue.
I think the question relates to whether the LTN meets one of the three criteria for using a TTRO, which in summary are:
1. Road works
2. The likelihood of danger to the public
3. Litter picking and cleansingSpaces for people TTROs are justified under the second option - the danger being the possible spread of Covid-19 due to a lack of space for social distancing as streets are currently configured.
So, does an LTN help remove that danger? There is evidence that LTNs reduce traffic levels, encourage walking and cycling and help reduce air pollution. Initial evidence from temporary LTNs in London looks good (authorised under the exact same system). I reckon the Council could mount a pretty robust defence of any challenge here.
While disappointing, I suppose it is prudent to wait for advice. Ultimately, the anti's would have to mount a judicial review of the decision to proceed - which could be very costly for them if they lost.
Posted 4 years ago # -
That’ll be the same Kevin Lang who complained that the Burnshot Bridge replacement was delayed because of additional consultation....
Posted 4 years ago # -
Ah
But
There’s good consultation and bad consultation...
Then there’s ‘not enough consultation’ (often characterised as “no consultation”).
Then there’s consultation fatigue.
Consultation is often a sham.
Widespread belief ‘it doesn’t make any difference’.
Where things are changed it is often clear it was a bad proposal in the first place.
Too often the consultation is cynical or limited - consulting on details not principles (even when the proposal are - arguably - against Gov policy - eg much roadbuilding).
As for LTNs and TTRO, the process is just not FFP.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I’m confused by the position of the antis:
1. they say that the area is already low traffic, so doesn’t need these changes (I tend to agree)
2. they say that the plans go beyond legal powers (dunno) and aren’t a response to Covid (dunno)
3. They want the council to consult with them and make changes they suggest.The third point contradicts the others.
From the outside, my view is that the council had some plans on the shelf which they could adapt (sensible) but have as usual made a hash of the implementation.
The antis are worried about the impending developments to the west but want to keep their driving freedoms while keeping their new neighbours out. Asking for changes to the SfP LTN plans allows them to bypass the usual consultation/construction process which would take years.
Ultimately everyone loses.
Posted 4 years ago # -
“
Study reveals world’s most walkable cities
Walking improves health and cuts pollution but most cities still dominated by cars, says report
“
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2020/oct/15/study-reveals-worlds-most-walkable-cities
Posted 4 years ago # -
Edinburgh very walkable is tiny
Though my in-law in Australia could not cope with hills, or walking, bad back. Or probably the futon we gave him to sleep on back in the day.
Posted 4 years ago # -
St David's very nice, even for lazy people.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Appears that the Council legal team agrees with the East Craigs lawyer that the LTN plans are going beyond what’s allowed, at least if Tory councillor Jim Campbell is to believed.
Why is Edinburgh so bad at this?
Posted 4 years ago # -
@stickman beacause there is no overall majority in the council and the SNP and Labour are wary of the Tories who are against change
Posted 4 years ago # -
@ g
Don’t think that’s the point.
Whatever the politics, this is about the law/its interpretation.
Historically Edinburgh councils have been legally cautious - conservative even.
More recently (particularly for planning issues) timid, fearing challenges or SG overturns.
It’s possible that councillors ignored legal advice over this (perhaps on the basis that no one would sue), but after the meeting in the park that would have been an unwise strategy IF there was any doubt about defensible legalities.
It’s possible no one asked for a legal steer until now, if so I’d blame officers and politicians.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@chdot, ok, seeking legal advice after a decision that emergency powers allowed the go ahead?
We are all just speculating and I doubt the Councillor spinning this is neutral.
Some councils have spent very little of this Scottish govt funding.
Some issues the council proposes are vehemently resisted and the council backs down
Sometimes we berate the council for not going far enough
@stickman asks Why is Edinburgh so bad at this? I am trying to tease this out and Suggest the lack of majority for any party is key. unlike Glasgow which has always had bloc control and very belatedly this bloc has turned a little towards cycling infra though it all gets a bit edinburgh out bears den way.
Turning to the voters. Many of them want to drive their cars wherever they like and park wherever they like. The tories are the party for these voters.
Turning to t(e Scottish Govt, they have policies they insist on controlling then suddently will Swivel and say the council is responsible
Turning to the lawyers they charge by the hour and you can often get another lawyer to give the opposite advice and then we are off to court.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I will compare and contrast with Paris. Dense urban core where only the very rich have cars and with a popular directly-elected socialist mayor. Tip-top public transport. Surrounding areas heavily car-dependant get no vote in city matters.
Imagine if Edinburgh City was bounded by the Meadows, the Seat, the Botanics and Roseburn. This core would shut Princes Street and have a street market there no worries.
Posted 4 years ago #
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