I am not sure National Cycle Network is an appropriate name atm. Suggested alternatives:
- national dog walking network
- glass deposit scheme
- barriers r us
- mountain bike network
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Sustrans plans
(12 posts)-
Posted 2 years ago #
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Proposed network
Highly ambitious routes which will take more time to deliver
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For good or bad, a high proportion seem to be in Scotland.
Posted 2 years ago # -
As the article does say, Sustrans are aware that there are a lot of problems with the current network.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I suppose they will publish a drill-down map,so we can see exactly where they will be building.
With Sustrans it's always better than nothing, half a loaf etc but it should not be like that, a piecemeal construction built by a charity. As the article says, perhaps Chris Boardman's Active Travel gang may have more clout in getting this built.
"However, there are concerns that at the current rate of progress – Sustrans, the charity that manages the network, will complete 416 miles of improvements by 2023, and has removed just 315 of 16,000 barriers – the goal of a barrier-free network could take another 150 years." [!!!!)
Posted 2 years ago # -
@amir NCN titles close to truth! :-) Mrs LB worries when we use them although tandem owners have plenty of other obstacles to contend with!
I may be wrong but have feeling that some cycle users really would rather drive their bike to a 'destination hub with cycle route'. Their they take part in a circuit deemed to be safe. Car park will have EV charging and maybe more tar than the actual path. This ties in with holiday at home necessity (covid/brexit/climate/fuel costs).
We did something like that with the Ember E-bus.
Home and local can be interpreted differently though. If you are used to flying with your bike abroad you may consider any where on island of greater Britain to be home/local. You will no doubt drive your bike to a flagship route knowing that your car's footprint is many times less than a 777.
In my view decent routes in and around city should be responsibility of council and ones outwith are ScotGov job.
Having done two return trips to Heriot Watt the other day you can see how far the need to provide safe and direct cycling misses the mark. Calder Road does have huge unused cycleway pavement towards Sighthill. Not worth using in my view. Canal circuitous and not good for cargo bike.Posted 2 years ago # -
This may or may not be on the ‘list’
“
Trust raises formal bid to create new route linking two Perthshire settlements
Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust wants to form the proposed route along one side of the A912 in order to provide pedestrians and cyclists a safe route to travel back and forth between Bridge of Earn and Aberargie
“
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/trust-raises-formal-bid-create-26208117.amp
Posted 2 years ago # -
Cycled that a few times.
"Local politicians have backed the project but critics have previously raised concerns a planned reduction in the width of the road to accommodate the new route could put drivers at greater risk of colliding with oncoming traffic."
Man charged with death of school teacher last year on that stretch.
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/courts/3021195/motorist-jailed-pattinson-perth/Sustrans route avoids this but longer and goes over a massive steep hill at Dron.
Posted 2 years ago # -
“Man charged with death of school teacher last year on that stretch.“
http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=357#post-358551
Posted 2 years ago # -
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could put drivers at greater risk of colliding with oncoming traffic
“
Well yes.
Exactly same objections to Burntisland to Kinghorn pavement widening.
Result
2 miles of great tarmac encouraging people (particularly adults with children) to cycle ‘on’ a road they wouldn’t have considered before.
Probably slightly lower motor speeds, not aware of any crashes…
Posted 2 years ago # -
I think I tried to avoid the A912 when round those parts, used to pass through Bridge of Earn quite regularly. Impossible to avoid completely if heading to Newburgh, as route via Dron eventually meets up with A912 for a short stretch before you head onto the junction with the A913 to Abernethy.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Going to stick my colours to the mast on this one. If the path can't be comfortably negotiated on a road bike with 25mm width tyres then it isn't fit for purpose. File along in NCN room 101 with those horrible chicanes/gates and dogs not on leads.
Posted 2 years ago # -
“If the path can't be comfortably negotiated on a road bike with 25mm width tyres then it isn't fit for purpose.”
Yes but
Perhaps it’s time for three classes of ‘cycle path’/route/network
A, B & C
A - hard surface with no weather/drainage issues. Ideally 3m but perhaps 2m where lower (likely) usage.
B - ‘proper’ routes with some degree of standards that would exclude many bits of the current NCN.
C - everything else, local paths, woodland tracks etc.
Not really interested in aspirations and future plans without some idea of money, timeline and, particularly, ‘maintenance plans’.
Also more willingness to make landowners allow access/improve standards/maintenance OR sanction compulsory purchase.
Posted 2 years ago #
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