Sparras can sense the impending doom and move on
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Canal latest
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Posted 7 months ago #
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Found the planning - https://citydev-portal.edinburgh.gov.uk/idoxpa-web/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=SD3YWIEW0GY00
Looks like they will leave 1.5m to widen towpath in the future.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Is the mini still in the canal?
Posted 7 months ago # -
It was yesterday... A couple of cones had been put in the back seats on Tuesday, presumably to help boats navigate behind it.
Posted 7 months ago # -
“
And the city council faced having to pay Scottish Canals to lease the air above the canal, costing at least £821,000 over a 50-year term. It was also unclear who would have legal responsibility for maintenance of the new bridge
“
Posted 7 months ago # -
I thought that I posted about the Mini having been removed from the canal a few weeks ago, but maybe it ended up in another thread (the post, not the Mini) or maybe I meant to but didn't for some reason. It has been removed now anyway.
I spotted a Scottish Canals vehicle parked by the canal at Wester Hailes and a couple of canals people looking at the most broken part of the towpath last week so I asked if they were planning to fix it as I was passing and they confirmed that they were. In retrospect, I should have stopped to find out more about the timescale and whether they plan to fix any of the other broken areas. The sink hole near the footbridge to Colinton Dell has been refilled with stones and is a bit less of a danger again just now, but the paint at Kingsknowe has mostly now faded away without any work having been done.
Work is ongoing on theconstruction of a new school by WHEC, including a large crane that appeared within the last week.
Posted 5 months ago # -
“
The charity has participated in many projects to try and connect people living in the city of all ages digitally, ensuring their social inclusion. One of the programmes they were very much involved with was All Aboard – “a canal boat run by People Know How in collaboration with Polwarth Parish Church. The boat hosts unique trips on Edinburgh’s Union Canal for community groups and organisations to improve wellbeing, socialise and discover new experiences while surrounded by nature in the heart of the city”.
“
https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2024/10/edinburgh-charity-to-make-all-staff-redundant/
Posted 5 months ago # -
Huge man with bulging hazel eyes eating a packet iof Walkers Cheese and Onion Crisps and not blinking but threatening to chuck a poor wee lassie into the canal.
The lassie’s mum caught up and asked him if he was the canal pusher.
THis enraged him. Scary, nasty bully with mental health and processing issues
Previous pusher on bike and more aqueduct way
This pusher Who thinks the path is just for walkers, ignorant that it is the NCNR75 more Meggetland - Harrison Gardens.and Meggetland.
Posted 4 months ago # -
I also noted the linked articles about teenage canal pushers at Wester Hailes. Not sure which is worse: neds chucking bricks at buses and fireworks at police, or feral youths pushing folk in the canal.
Posted 4 months ago # -
@gembo- that's a very upsetting story.
Posted 4 months ago # -
A work colleague got pushed into the canal a couple of weeks ago, but in this case it was 'just kids' rather than adults with issues.
The colleague came across a group of youngsters on the towpath around Wester Hailes, and moved to pass them on the canal-side of the towpath. As they want past, one of the kids (possibly on the spur of the moment) pushed them into the water, whereupon the kids scarpered.
The police were apparently surprisingly interested in the case, presumably because it's behaviour they want to nip in the bud.
Moral of the story - keep your electronics in a waterproof bag and don't pass suspicious characters on the canal side of the towpath...
Posted 4 months ago # -
I forgot to report that I spotted police in a boat who were presumably fishing for evidence related to a crime near the Bridge 8 Hub one morning a few weeks ago.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Hmm, I can't remember where the works near the lifting bridge were discussed previously, but seemingly not here. Anyway, it has become apparent that the industrial-sized cable protector running across the towpath between the lifting bridge and the temporary works offices is there to protect cables from trucks being driven over them, not just a range of active travellers. This morning a truck was blocking almost the entirity of the towpath between the works offices and the canal. Some people were negotiating the edge of the canal side of the truck, but I and others were advised to squeeze between it and the offices.
Posted 2 months ago # -
The truck driver had to open his door actually over the canal. I wondered if a concerned citizen might ask HSE to take an interest.
Posted 2 months ago # -
Scroll down for key surface info for cyclists
Seen on Scottish Canals FB page:
Historical discovery alert!
Whilst carrying out towpath improvement works in Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, a 200-year-old historical wall was discovered!The wall survived under the modern surface and behind a concrete wall that was built during the 1920’s, and although our research indicated that it may have survived since 1822 when the canal opened, the amount and condition was a pleasant surprise.
The sloping masonry suggests that the wall was constructed to protect the canal embankment from the wash of passing boats. Similar examples survive at other locations on the canal.The current concrete quayside wall was built when the two historic basins, Port Hopetoun and Port Hamilton were infilled and the new canal terminus created.
The wall is being archaeologically recorded and will be left in situ under the new surfacing for future generations.
Scottish natural stone paving will be laid to create a SMOOTH surface to improve accessibility for all users, and new lighting will increase community safety for towpath users and boaters.
Posted 2 months ago # -
Hopefully SMOOTH and GRIPPY! I find that the SMOOTH surface near the school can become quite SLIPPY at the first hint of frosty or icy conditions compared to much of the rest of the towpath.
Posted 2 months ago # -
sheesh. cyclists. never happy!
Posted 2 months ago # -
“cyclists. never happy”
Yes/no
People who ride bikes are generally happier than if they didn’t.
In terms of ‘complaining’, some things (like with everything else) is partly about ‘entitlement’.
But with things like surface/ice/danger it’s about experience and knowing things could be done better.
To what extent expecting to be able to ride safely everywhere/all the time is ‘entitlement’ and how much it’s dealing with years of being told ‘we want more people to cycle’ - and experiencing daily reality - is an open question!
Posted 2 months ago # -
yeah, my post needed a 'crying laughing' emoji.
I totally take jdanielp's point. I just thought that it was hilarious after a bunch of posts saying 'I hope they get rid of the cobbles' , this would be the first reply...
Posted 2 months ago # -
Personal choice
Personal safety…
Posted 2 months ago # -
I used to enjoy those cobbles on my MTB but always avoided them on the hybrid. Once it is done I will happily give that route a try on the hybrid, although I think that crossing at the lifting bridge will continue to make the most sense for my commute. That being said, if the demolition work on Lower Gilmore Place which will presumably be followed by more building work in due course makes it difficult again, I will appreciate an alternate option!
Posted 2 months ago # -
@dave also suggests that heading east there will even be a third route through the new hooses.
accessed maybe from turning left instead of right at the Liftbridge junction then quick right
In my head this might need a Ramos at the other end where the odd sports bar used to be - behind the Biketrax No More building. But I may have picked this up incorrectly.
Lot of trees down on WoL an even some on Towpath according to a Rathoite I was speaking with today
Posted 2 months ago # -
There is a tree fully across the canal just next to the railway bridge at Kingsknowe, but not blocking the towpath like the one that fell last year at Polwarth. A small tree looks like it had fallen on the towpath close to the pedestrian bridge to Colinton Dell, but it has been dealt with reasonable well already other than minor protrusion of the remains slightly onto the towpath.
There are quite a few trees down at Heriot-Watt University, and the flimsy roofing has blown off several of the biycle shelters.
Posted 2 months ago # -
One of the boat sheds has roofing issues
That tree meant to be tallest in Edinburgh that went down in Botanics - 100ft
There is one taller than that I worry about across the road from me
Big one has fallen right across rioiver at JuniGreen
Posted 2 months ago # -
I think there was a tree down on the Canal path in Polwarth - before the park - but it must have been cleared? I can no longer see over there!
Just to add on to the cobbles saga, I walk along there more then cycle, so delighted cobbles are going away.
Posted 2 months ago # -
The cobbles were in a very bad state,
Puddles everywhere and big craturs.
I noticed the bollards for tying narrowboat ropes to has been piled up [possibly it reuse or mayb e just to chuck]
Posted 2 months ago # -
I have encountered the balaclava e-bike gang a couple of times recently on the canal towpath. On one occasion I was cycling home from work and ended up pulling over to the side of the towpath away from the canal to let them pass because their lights were so blinding. The second occasion was at the weekend when I was walking back into town from Fountainpark, also in the dark, when I realised that they were approaching from the lifting bridge. I was walking by the water on that occasion and did consider darting across to the other side of the path before they passed in fear of maybe being pushed in, but in the end I played it cool and was left to my own devices.
Posted 1 month ago # -
I have also spotted at least two lights shining away from the depths of the canal on my dark evening commutes recently.
Posted 1 month ago # -
I also should have updated on the tree remains situation. The towpath is completely clear again by the pedestrian bridge to Colinton Dell, which is a relief because there remains that were protruding onto the path were actually a bit of a hazard in the dark. I had noticed the remains of the tree that had come down in Polwarth at the east part of Harrison Gardens where all the sports pitches are. That was more of a hazard at head height for taller people. I didn't specifically notice it this morning, but that might be because it has been tidied up as well now. I will try and remember to look out for it later on to confirm.
Posted 1 month ago # -
Frosty and icy today! I had a slippy moment when a pedestrian veered in front of me at Kingsknowe and I tried to brake, but felt myself sliding... I automatically made an impending doom noise, which fortunately prompted them to move back out of my way and I rolled/slid by without incident. At the near edge of Wester Hailes I squeezed past someone who was trying to fix the GPS mount on their bike after having fallen off, but they said that they were otherwise ok. At the far edge of Wester Hailes I was passed at speed by another cyclist who then proceeded to fall off at the notorious 's' bend by the pedestrian bridge. They kindly shouted to warn me about the ice as I approached. I debated briefly between trying to stop and dismount or just continuing to pedal/roll through slowly, deciding on the latter and got away with it. They had to put their chain back on, but otherwise said that they were fine.
Posted 1 month ago #
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