Here is the start of the path down to the NRIE (or whatever it is called this week) showing that it is definately shared use.
Just around the corner is a sign telling you to dismount at a barrier that does not exist.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
THAT RIE path
(91 posts)-
Posted 14 years ago #
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I think they meant 'steps' but they hadn't any prepared signs.
Steps = sudden barrier for most cyclists!
Mind you looking at the CC Parklife article I would be very concerned that someone might sue.
Lord Bannatyne's ruling in the case of Iain Anderson versus Historic Scotland. “It was accepted by counsel for the defenders, as I have said, that if I held that the cause of the accident was the entry of the bicycle into the drain and attached gully which then caused the pursuer to be thrown from the bicycle then the defenders were negligent both at common law and in terms of the Act. He accepted, as I have said, that the siting of the drain and gully immediately adjacent to the cycle track was an obvious danger and that if that were the cause of the accident then the defenders should be found liable…“
He also noted that the path was narrower than it should have been. Historic Scotland lost the case and had to pay out damages of £5,750.
the siting of the drain and gully immediately adjacent to the cycle track was an obvious danger
It would follow that placing steps on a cycle way is more dangerous. The get out will of course be that is is no longer a cycleway at that point.
Which of course was covered by a previous post....!
The footpath (not a cycle path) you are referring to was designed and built as such as part of the project facility for which we received planning permission and it is our responsibility to maintain.Anyway it is a complete mess - I doubt whether the signage is legal as cyclists are actively encouraged to enter the path with no logical way out.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Further replies to MSPs
From Consort
"Over the winter months due to severe weather conditions we have experienced deterioration of the footpath.
As the weather is now improving we are planning to repair as necessary, indeed these works commenced this week."
From NHS Lothian
"I can confirm that I passed your letter to our Chief Operating Officer, Mr James McCaffery, as he has operational management responsibility for the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and asked him to investigate this matter and provide me with a detailed report.
Mr McCaffery reports that NHS Lothian have recently undertaken an assessment of the footpath as there has been deterioration since the bad weather over the winter months. The footpath (not a cycle path) you are referring to was designed and built as such as part of the project facilities for which we received planning permission and I can confirm that it is the responsibility of our private sector partners, Consort to maintain this.
Mr McCaffery confirms that when the weather has improved, planned maintenance will be undertaken to repair any damage and new signage will be installed asking cyclists to dismount as they are currently damaging the culverts.
As you will be aware we have had requests from various parties to install a cycle path, Mr McCaffery advises that this has been discussed on site by Consort, NHS Lothian, the University of Edinburgh and the City of Edinburgh Council. The City of Edinburgh Council did undertake a topographical survey a few years ago to see if the gradient of the footpath could be reduced but the proposed cost of at that time (approximately £140,000) was deemed to be cost prohibitive as the travel survey undertaken demonstrated minimal use of the footpath at that time.
Mr McCaffery advises that currently there are discussions underway over the planned changes to the site, namely the reprovision of the Royal Hospital for Sick Children to Little France. As a result, there will be many changes to the road infrastructure and NHS Lothian are planning (with our colleagues) to review the cycling provision on the site. NHS Lothian positively encourages people, particularly staff, to walk and cycle to work where possible."
What does "where possible" mean?Posted 14 years ago # -
Of course use of the path was minimal - maybe if they improved it, use would increase.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Bizarre!
Posted 14 years ago # -
What does "where possible" mean? It means they want to stick their fingers in their ears and say "we haven't heard anyone asking for it".
Posted 14 years ago # -
"Not quite treacherous enough I would say since I managed to get down with only mild terror and no loss of limb. A good dose of rain will soon sort that out. "
Well my brilliant and insightful prediction turned out to be true. Shock. This is how it looks now.
Interestingly, the sign about the invisible barrier has been swung round by someone so it is visible in the other direction. Where it makes a bit more sense as it could apply to the crossing. Except that it is a toucan crossing with a bike sign. Ah well.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Min
How does the reality compare with the official report of a couple of weeks ago?
"As the weather is now improving we are planning to repair as necessary, indeed these works commenced this week."
Posted 14 years ago # -
Well I am guessing the shovels of sand were the works that had commenced. So I would have to say that the "repairs" are pants.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Update-Signs have appeared at either end of the stepped part of the path saying "cyclists must dismount".
Not "please". "Must".
Posted 14 years ago # -
"
Dear all,RHSC (Sick Kids) is (eventually) being relocated to the RIE site, but there is currently a PAN to put its car park there first. The RHSC will be located on the site of the existing car park, which is being moved to a more peripheral site, and another 350 spaces added to cope with RHSC demand (which apparently will not be available for use until RHSC opens).
The point for us is that, as this is transport related, we can seek as a condition, the upgrading of the path over the hill to Craigmillar, which at present is interrupted on the RIE side by a series of steps, and surface quality is poor.
The Agents, Montagu Evans, are running a series of public info events for this pre-application stage. Dates and locations are as follows:
Mon 26 Apr RHSC - main reception 10am-5pm
Tues St Johns Hosp Livingston 1.30 - 5.00pm
Wed Craigmillar Library 1 - 7pm
Thurs Western General ( Anne Ferguson building reception) 9am-1pm
Fri 30th Apr RIE - main mall 10am-5pm
Tues 4 May Royal Edinburgh Hospital - Mackinnon House 9am-1pm
There should be something here to suit everyone.
Cycle access is the main issue, but we could also ask about cycle parking and ensure it's adequate and in a good location.
Peter Hawkins CTC Lothians
"
Posted 14 years ago # -
It looks as if someone has tried to snap the sign at the top of the path in two. But not the one at the bottom, presumably because they would be easily seen doing it!
Posted 14 years ago # -
A couple of days ago I noticed some white sprayed lines along this Stairway of Death. This morning there was a white van blocking it.
Could something be about to happen?
Posted 12 years ago # -
It didn't. But something could be about to happen to Consort owing to their gross incompetance actually putting patients lives at risk.
Perhaps if we get rid of this massive neckbreaking millstone then something might get done about the path eventually?
Posted 12 years ago # -
Here's what I reported in 2002 for LUHT
The most obvious feature of missing infrastructure is pedestrian & cycle access from Craigmillar. This is an issue quite likely to be resolved by those wanting to walk to the site directly, with or without the approval of management, as field paths run parallel to the fenced boundary the entire length of the East side, and across much of the Northern face (picture) for which a provision appears to have been made. The path parallel to Craigmillar Castle Road shows no signs of being ready in the immediate future and conditions for walking and cycling on this road are extremely hazardous both through its alignment and width, and its poor condition in many places.
With such circuitous routes from Moredun, and non routes from Craigmillar it seems very unlikely that the proposed pedestrian target for modal split will be met - this situation will equally suppress the cycling figures, since the linkage in this direction reaches out to areas with excellent potential for cycle commuting in terms of distances and gradients. This shortfall also needs urgent attention as there is major risk of a serious collision between a car and pedestrian or cyclist on Craigmillar Castle Road. (at that time with site still being prepared for opening, there had already been on incident on Craigmillar Castle Road)
The hospital had further classic stupids reported - carpets in clinical rooms! (these had to be replaced with hygenically cleanable flooring surfaces)
Checking my 2002 pictures the steps have had no attention since they were installed, and the precast concrete gullies, replicate the wheeling ramp detail used on many North Edinburgh path accesses (Ferry Road on to Granton Path being one).
Fundamentally a key option for many of the low paid ancillary workers who need to live close to their place of work should be Craigmillar, which could be just about walkable, if a decent route had been delivered, and easily cycleable - again if the developer and management had actually considered these modes as important means of access
Posted 12 years ago # -
The hospital had further classic stupids reported - carpets in clinical rooms!
The front doors are a joke too. They originally had a set which did not open when it was windy. They have since been replaced with revolving doors which cease to revolve whenever anyone tries to walk through them. Genius.
Peronsally I think the management should all have to push babies in pushchairs up those steps every day until they get it fixed.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Min - could you do some handlebar flyering for POP at the RIE???!!!
Posted 12 years ago # -
I can certainly do some (have done some already), there are waaaay too many handlebars for one person though!
Posted 12 years ago # -
"Fundamentally a key option for many of the low paid ancillary workers who need to live close to their place of work should be Craigmillar, which could be just about walkable, if a decent route had been delivered"
Of course it was planned that there should be a FLAT route from the hospital to Greendykes alongside the Niddrie Burn which would have been used by staff and 'customers'.
There's even a big gate in the big fence at the back of the hospital.
Of course the hospital authorities assumed that most path users from that direction would have ill intent. The council's authorities failed to insist (in the Planning Conditions) that the gate should be open - in much the same way that they failed to specify a ramp rather than steps.
The original intention was that Craigmillar Castle Road would be shut to vehicles. But the locals thought this was a bad idea and it was scrapped.
Consequently something like £120k had to be found to build the path and crossing that goes to the top of the steps.
Of course this had to come out of the Cycling budget for that year so other planned improvements elsewhere were postponed.
Posted 12 years ago # -
@min - someone else offered to do some out there too. I agree there are so many bikes, exactly why its so important to do it.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"
David Miller @BBCDavidMiller@NicolaSturgeon tells @bbcgms she backs NHS Lothian 100 per cent in dispute with Edinburgh Royal Infirmary PFI provider, Consort Healthcare.
Retweeted by Nicola Sturgeon
"
Of course this is about the electricians who turned off the power early so that an operation had to be completed by torchlight.
There doesn't seem much chance that Consort's PFI deal will be scrapped, but they might want to do something to make them 'popular'.
Posted 12 years ago # -
@chdot...mmm well that would be the plan but Consort frankly have had so many things that have gone wrong in recent months, I really don't think that they are that bothered about rectifying them. Apart from security and cleaning staff having to double up to keep tabs on each other the scandal about them not have Scotland Disclosure/PVG certification I cannot see much else having improved. We were supposed to have a "black start" last week but this was postponed due to a transplant operation taking place at the time specified, because they are terrified that the back up generators will fail to kick in like they have on numerous other occasions. They only fix things that come to public attention. They are not worried about losing the contract...we are leasing the building from them for 25 years.
Posted 12 years ago # -
The hospital had further classic stupids reported - carpets in clinical rooms! (these had to be replaced with hygenically cleanable flooring surfaces)
There's actually quite a bit of research which says carpets are better than hard floors, because if you get liquids - bodily fluids etc - on a hard floor, it runs everywhere and spreads the contamination. If you get liquid on a carpet it stays put and can be shampooed away.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"
There's actually quite a bit of research which says carpets are better than hard floors"
Makes sense - especially if carpet tiles used.
Though think another issue was trolleys + wheelchairs being harder to push.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Latest -
"The rebuilding and surfacing of the path has been included as a planning condition of the new hospital (Sick Kids)."
Apparently there is a requirement for this to go in at the beginning of the works for the site (don't know when these are scheduled to start).
Posted 9 years ago # -
"don't know when these are scheduled to start"
I spoke to someone who's wife works at Sick Kids, they are also in the dark - keeps being rescheduled apparently.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Well apparently planning permission to build the Sick Kids has only just now been granted.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Email:-
You will be aware of a number of construction works taking place on the site. These works are being carried out in order to prepare the site for the new co-located Royal Hospital for Sick Children and Department of Clinical Neurosciences, which will be built on the site of car park B.
Part of this programme of works includes a required upgrade to the existing footpath on the north side of the site. This upgrade will include a new purpose built combined cycle way and footpath therefore improving access and enhancing safety.
In order to complete these works the contractor requires to temporarily close the whole route on the RIE site for around one month (please see the plan above, there are also copies at all three receptions for people to view). The contractor plans to complete this work in January 2015.
Ooh!
Posted 9 years ago # -
"The contractor plans to complete this work in January 2015."
Perfect time of year to do this kind of work!
Could/should have been any time in last 15 years (approx).
Small cheer from/for all those who have complained/campaigned (on and off) over that time.
Posted 9 years ago #
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