I can’t think of any ‘new’ lanes that weren’t previously advisory or (in a few cases) mandatory paint lanes
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News
South West Edinburgh in Motion
(132 posts)-
Posted 3 years ago #
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@SRD - Comiston Road lanes are "new" but I agree that the great majority seem to be existing painted lanes. I deliberately picked a low figure, so it couldn't be used to discredit the result.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Crewe Road South/Pennywell Road/Silverknowes Parkway/Dundee Street/most of Duddingston Road are also new. George IV Bridge/Craigmillar Park are both bus lane conversions so technically there was some level of infrastructure there.
Posted 3 years ago # -
good points! Thanks morningsider & cyclealex!
Posted 3 years ago # -
Earl Grey St also a bus lane conversion northbound. Southbound it's the left-turn/Lauriston Place lane, but I didn't see if the bus lane for turning up Home St has been converted for general use, which would make the bike lane sort of also using bus lane space.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Whatever the ‘mileage’ (new or old) hardly ‘redresses the balance’ much.
It seems that some people are just determined to minimise their personal inconvenience - mostly related to their ability to deposit property in a public place or avoid having to drive a bit further (thought they liked driving?)
What is less justifiable is the way some politicians are siding with them.
Apart from the sideshow of ‘is it legal’ it seems it’s either tribal anti-SNPism or support for the ‘motoring majority’ against those who happen to ride bikes (ignoring a larger number who might if it was ‘safe’).
Of course everyone knows people who ride bikes are just weird (unless they accept ‘the way things are’ - like PG). People who cycle and drive (as appropriate) are probably doubly weird(?)
People defending their privilege is ‘normal’, but 2020 has shown that (some) people are at least considering things - with a hard core digging in and (elsewhere) taking up arms.
Not pretty.
Will pass (if the planet doesn’t fry first). It should be possible to take pity on people who wish to defend the mostly indefensible, but it’s difficult.
Bigger picture is people are dying because of bad infrastructure, driver behaviour and inactivity.
The status quo is never an option - things change - some things are worth preserving, but there are contexts and (everyone) can’t always get what they want.
Of course ‘we’ (individually and collectively) can be wrong, stand up for our own privilege etc.
I think it’s true that on occasion downtrodden ‘cyclists’ have downplayed the needs of pedestrians, but compared with all this it’s a relatively innocent mistake.
If you are involved - sending in responses to endless consultations, organising things like Bike Buses (for the next generation) or just ‘hoping for better’ - keep going. Don’t let the privileged bullies win.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Those guys are going to become insane if they persist with the Spokes and Sustrans control Edinburgh thing.
Posted 3 years ago # -
"It seems that some people are just determined to minimise their personal inconvenience"
As epitomised by the total chancers parking In the "parent with young child" priority slots outside Meadowbank Snozberries this afternoon. Single occupant middle aged males, mostly.
The roads today were utter chaos. Lots of impatient drivers racing each other fifty yards to the back of the next queue, jostling for position, cutting each other up, doing u-turns and blocking all lanes, etc. Not nice to cycle in. At all.
If I require any last minute purchases the morrow, I think I shall go by foot instead.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Yeah back of Meadowbank Consumer Palace was mad with the cars. All crazy and trembling and twitchy like they had motor palsy.
Posted 3 years ago # -
“become insane“
Well, perhaps ‘alternative sanity’ might be a useful explanation.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Drove downhill under the WoL/Canal bridge on Lanark Road today and there is a scarcely legible banner which says something like "Single Lane, Minimal Parking" and lots of even less legible text underneath.
Perhaps designed by the graphics design wing of the survey company?
Saw a man on the pavement staring at it, possibly trying to cross the road and thinking "I should be so lucky".
Posted 3 years ago # -
Now one of them wants what Spokes and ‘us’ want -
https://twitter.com/rob_earl/status/1341827926812200962
(Thread)
Surreal.
So, all the anti-LTN stuff is about ‘COVID money legality’, ‘proper consultation’ and a bit of (hyper local) ‘don’t inconvenience us’.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Look at all the caveats: full consultation, local agreement, “subject to traffic flow assessments”.
It’s straight out of the Tory’s handbook. “Of course I support cycling projects, just not this particular one” - repeat ad infinitum.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Hmmm - anyone who claims to support cycle infrastructure "where makes sense and affordable" and makes it reliant on "agreement of local residents" does not support cycle infrastructure.
Posted 3 years ago # -
"where makes sense and affordable"
Yeah that was a good one.
But the wider point (which no doubt they would refute), is that in a world where all his was taken seriously, decent walk/cycle infrastructure would save money in all sorts of ways.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Maybe after 40+ years of evidence-based campaigning his “Get Edinburgh Moving” group may get what he wants. I suspect once the East Craigs saga is over we won’t hear from him again.
Posted 3 years ago # -
“I suspect once the East Craigs saga is over we won’t hear from him again.”
Not so sure, seems to be enjoying promoting himself.
Posted 3 years ago # -
“
where local residents on board and traffic flow makes sense
“
Posted 3 years ago # -
Absolutely this. They are filibustering and will argue every single point, in the hope that people will grow tired of the argument and give up, or that councils will get cold feet. They are not engaging in good faith and should be ignored.
https://twitter.com/darrenb00879719/status/1341767892438839296?s=21
Hunter does not care about pollution, cycling or road safety. Only cares about maintaining his driving privileges
Posted 3 years ago # -
He’s been very upset about people drawing links between his campaigning position and his employer’s industry. He wasn’t so sniffy when making allegations about @Hart’s_Cyclery’s motivations for supporting safe cycle routes.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Whilst the “Hunter” thread has been entertaining, I’m not sure it’s helpful to amplify his views by engaging.
Per the previous quote, he is best ignored as a selfish crank
Posted 3 years ago # -
“he is best ignored as a selfish crank“
Yes I’ve stopped responding.
BUT it was good seeing all the people responding to the nonsense with facts.
Clarified what he really thinks and how illogical most of it is.
He cycles too you know... (he says).
His sidekick is a bit more random. Bit like Simon Parker - wants all on-road parking banned.
‘When do you want it?’ - ‘like, about now(?)’
‘How?’ - ‘Dunno’
Posted 3 years ago # -
Apologies for my part in all the spam over the last few days. That pair are puzzle and I struggle to leave a puzzle unsolved.
I think it's fairly clear now that DH wants the status quo, even if he doesn't realise what he's describing is the status quo, i.e. safe cycling only where it doesn't impact on anyone.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Remember, you cannot convert active opponents. It’s better to spend your energy motivating passive allies to become active allies.
Posted 3 years ago # -
@neddie
Also useful to move active opponents into passive opponents. Takes skill but can be done. Deactivate the other side's activists.
Posted 3 years ago # -
“Deactivate the other side's activists”
Now that really sounds like war!
Hard to know how much they imagine they have Trumplike followers - whatever’s is put on Twitter is gospel/to be agreed with...
But other watchers are being educated/entertained.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Now that really sounds like war!
Learning from this year for me was that 'we' have been in a war all along. Our polite campaigning and fact-based engagement were in fact just bouncing off the six-inch thick armour of the car lobby.
The pandemic forced them to use their tanks to rip out existing cycle lanes and set up pressure groups.
Posted 3 years ago # -
This sums it up really.
All about a skewed view of the importance of the imagined majority and more importantly the validity of their view/right/needs/desires/privilege (like he knows!)
A belief that (other) people’s views don’t change even when facts/circumstances do.
No understanding that if you actually show (or install!) something different, people might like it.
Etc
“
A lot of the steps I’ve listed will make cycling safer. It’s not 0% or 100%. I believe local residents & all road users should be taken into consideration, because (& I know you’re not saying this) it isn’t all about cyclists. Far greater number are vested in road access & flow.
“
Posted 3 years ago # -
Flow is made up
Traffic volume is the issue
Psychologists wasted many years trying to persuade racists about the wrongs of segregation in the US of A
Government Switched tack in the late 1960s and went with enforced behaviour change and then attitudes followed.
See also my beloved parliament building and even The Trams
Posted 3 years ago # -
“See also my beloved parliament building and even The Trams”
You mean things that get done without ‘public permission’?
Posted 3 years ago #
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