CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Leisure

Sustrans Routes Sub-Topic?

(11 posts)
  • Started 12 years ago by Wilmington's Cow
  • Latest reply from chdot

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  1. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Can I suggest a new sub-topic of 'Sustrans Routes'? The reason I make the suggestion is that for-good-or-bad Sustrans really is a first stop for many getting back into cycling looking for routes. For the Edinburgh and surrounding area it might be useful to have up-to-date actual-real information on routes, as well as local knowledge on what surfaces are like and so on.

    For example, it would be worth people knowing that the route that follows the John Muir Way is a bit of a trial on a road bike. Conversely, we cycled route 764 from Dunfermline to Clackmannan at the weekend and it's superb.

    Having had a wee search I can't find a really-this-is-how-it-is guide to various Sustrans routes. I do wonder if a nationwide 'real-Sustrans' site would be good (and could use a much better mapping tool than Sustrans use themselves!). Hmmm, I've got an idea brewing here...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  2. chdot
    Admin

    "much better mapping tool than Sustrans use themselves!"

    Yes well I've mentioned the unfortunate fact that (for whatever reason) Sustrans prefers OS to OSM mapping and its iPhone app doesn't have a journey planner.

    For now, the optimum is for people to update OpenStreetMap and make sure things like surfaces are recorded as accurately as possible.

    ALSO upload photos to CycleStreets which then get displayed when people plan routes.

    Perhaps Sustrans should encourage its volunteer rangers to do this too.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  3. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Good idea. I've not really embraced OSM (though used Cyclestreets at the weekend to check the start/end/route of 764 (because OSM actually marks the numbers of routes very identifiably on the map, which again Sustrans (bizarrely) does not).

    Posted 12 years ago #

  4. chdot
    Admin

    "I've not really embraced OSM"

    It's fairly straightforward - and much easier now that the base satellite image is Bing rather than Yahoo.

    There's STILL lots of stuff to be added/amended.

    I added a couple of informal paths around the Gyle recently - and I know there are others that I'm not quite sure enough about to add.

    Keep adding cafés and bike parking.

    There's an Edinburgh group page - http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Edinburgh - people actually meet too!

    All this information can be used by anybody and is the basis for Cyclestreets being able to do its journey planning (with http://www.cyclestreets.net/api) in its own apps (iPhone and Android) + BikeHub ones and several London cycle hire apps (Boris Bikes).

    Sustrans could have a journey planner (the CycleStreets one really is the best and most appropriate for anything to do with encouraging cycling) - and wouldn't even need to use OSM if Sustrans really thinks OS is 'better'.

    Any Sustrans Rangers on here?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  5. cb
    Member

    I used the Sustrans site recently to check out the progress of the Oban to Fort William route and, for that, I liked the fact that they were using OS mapping. OSM mapping is next to useless compared to the OS for some/many purposes.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  6. ruggtomcat
    Member

    yeah, on the OS maps you can see the horrendous gradient sustrans is trying to direct you up...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  7. chdot
    Admin

    CycleStreets has recently introduced a mobile version of its web site - http://m.cyclestreets.net.

    With the journey planner http://m.cyclestreets.net/journey it's easy to toggle between OS and OSM - AND between quietest, fastest and balanced.

    Not as elegant as the iOS and Android apps but works well on any 'phone with the Internet.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  8. SRD
    Moderator

    email from sustrans today:

    "New Sustrans routes see massive increase in walking and cycling" Our latest monitoring stats show the demand for community walking and cycling routes is huge. Commuters, school children, families and local businesses all benefit.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  9. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    @SRD, that's exactly where I see the benefit of Sustrans, and where the focus should be. Creating useful routes in towns and cities that can be used by people as an alternative to other modes of transport.

    Off road leisure routes in the country are good, and to be welcomed, but if they're to live up to their name, Sustainable [/i]Transport[/i], I feel that really is more about giving people options that may not have otherwise existed for commuting.

    As for signs along existing roads, I guess it might make route-finding a little easier, but is it really something that will get more people cycling? Genuine question. If someone in a city wants to ride to work then surely they know which roads are quiet and which are busy?

    Within Edinburgh there are so many opportunities with old railway lines and the like that anything else just feels like fluff (especially when, as mentioned on another thread, double yellows are being removed to put in car parkign on what is supposed to be part of the Quality Bike Corridor).

    Grump.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  10. chdot
    Admin

    "We all know many people would like to make their local journeys by foot or bike, but barriers including railway lines, rivers and busy roads can get in the way, especially for those less mobile or less confident.  Providing direct, traffic-free routes is crucial to encouraging people to get around and leave their cars at home."

    Once again Sustrans does what it is REALLY good at - building new links/route - AND getting money to do it - notably the Lottery money for Connect2.

    it must realise that people don't just use Sustrans routes (and anyway they have to get to them) so I remain mystified as to why they don't use/promote CycleStreets as a Journey Planner.

    Must be some secret Bristol v Cambridge rivalry!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  11. chdot
    Admin

    As mentioned above -

    "Today, we're very pleased to announce the beta mobile HTML version of CycleStreets – written by me, project-managed by Martin, and funded by Cycling Scotland."

    http://www.cyclestreets.net/blog/2011/09/08/mobile-web-site

    Posted 12 years ago #

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