CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure

"Priority system for winter gritting routes"

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  1. chdot
    Admin

    "

    The Council operates a priority system for the treatment of roads, pavements and cycle paths within the city boundary. Certain major roads, known as trunk roads (for example the A720 City of Edinburgh Bypass, the M8 and M9), are the responsiblility of Transport Scotland.

    "

    http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/1291/roads_and_pavements-adverse_weather_plans/361/winter_road_and_pavement_maintenance/2

    Cycle paths not actually mentioned in priority list or on useful map.

    Details not finalised or...?

    Or DIY!

    "
    Quoting the reference number of a particular salt bin when possible, please contact us to::

    report a salt bin which needs re-filled, or has been damaged

    request an existing salt bin is re-positioned or removed

    request a new salt bin.

    "

    http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/1291/roads_and_pavements-adverse_weather_plans/361/winter_road_and_pavement_maintenance/1

    Posted 13 years ago #
  2. "The Council operates a priority system for the treatment of roads, pavements and cycle paths"

    Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!

    That's a good one! Cycle paths on the priority list. Oh those jokers at the council. They've got the BEST jokes!

    Posted 13 years ago #
  3. amir
    Member

    Midlothian priorities can be downloaded here:

    http://www.midlothian.gov.uk/info/1523/transport_and_streets

    Strangely the A6094 east of the new A68 is not covered. I couldn't see a map on the East Lothian site.

    BEAR has a map showing the gritting vehicles in motion at
    http://se.bearscot.com/Winter+Portal/

    Posted 13 years ago #
  4. Morningsider
    Member

    Page 7 of the winter maintenance plan states:

    "Nineteen access ramps to the cycle route network across the city will be included in the Winter Maintenance Service. Twelve access ramps will be treated as a priority, in line with Pavement Category 1 routes, with the other seven ramps treated in line with Pavement Category 2 routes.

    On-road cycle paths will be treated in conjunction with the road on which they are located.

    Treatment of the off-road cycle routes across the city will be undertaken when resources permit."

    I love it - grit the access ramps to the off-road routes, but not the routes themselves.

    Posted 13 years ago #
  5. chdot
    Admin

    "Page 7 of the winter maintenance plan states:"

    Missed that, is there a direct link?

    Posted 13 years ago #
  6. chdot
    Admin

    Midlothian prioritises schools -

    Posted 13 years ago #
  7. "I love it - grit the access ramps to the off-road routes, but not the routes themselves."

    That's priceless. We were chatting about this at work the other day. The last couple of years it has taken at least 2-3 weeks for the cyclepaths to be clear of ice after ALL of it has disappeared from the roads.

    Posted 13 years ago #
  8. Morningsider
    Member

    chdot - you can find the winter maintenance plan at:

    http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/1851/city_of_edinburgh_winter_maintenance_plan

    Posted 13 years ago #
  9. Arellcat
    Moderator

    "Treatment of the off-road cycle routes across the city will be undertaken when resources permit."

    Not nonsense at all. CEC obviously knows that the whole cycling population of Edinburgh is represented by CCE, and all of them have been buying spikey tyres this year.

    The bit along at Ravelston Dykes was a deathtrap for anyone not fitted with at least three wheels.

    Posted 13 years ago #
  10. slowcoach
    Member

    Strangely the A6094 east of the new A68 is not covered

    The A6094 crosses the boundary between East Lothian and Midlothian at the new A68 (despite the boundary shown in the Road Gritting Routes map).

    grit the access ramps to the off-road routes, but not the routes themselves
    - not somewhere I've been in recent winters but aren't the ramps much steeper than the main parts of the routes? So people who might struggle along untreated main parts could get stuck/fall over at the off-ramps if they weren't treated?

    Posted 13 years ago #
  11. chdot
    Admin

    "aren't the ramps much steeper than the main parts of the routes? So people who might struggle along untreated main parts could get stuck/fall over at the off-ramps if they weren't treated?"

    Good point.

    Will have to get a list...

    Posted 13 years ago #
  12. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Midlothian prioritises schools

    Should read Midlothian prioritises driving to schools

    Posted 13 years ago #
  13. chdot
    Admin

    "Should read Midlothian prioritises driving to schools"

    True, though I think they use buses more than Edinburgh due to larger catchment areas.

    I expect they do paths/pavements near schools too, which Edinburgh didn't last year.

    Posted 13 years ago #
  14. "So people who might struggle along untreated main parts could get stuck/fall over at the off-ramps if they weren't treated?"

    Like chdot says, if there's a list then we'd be able to tell. But, what it might also do is give the false impression that the route has been treated, so someone rides down/up/along the ramp, sees the path hasn't actually been treated, figures 'I'm on it now I might as well continue' and comes off.

    Last year there was a VERY bloodied girl walking along the Innocent having come off her bike and cracked her head. All on a perfectly flat part of the route. When it's icy it's certainly just as possible to come off on the flat as on an access ramp. I just think it makes logical sense if you're going to grit the access that you do the actual route you're giving access to. Treating access only is encouraging people to use a 'facility' that isn't safe.

    Posted 13 years ago #
  15. chdot
    Admin

    This is not guaranteed to be the exact/total of relevant ramps that are on the current 'winter' list.

    It was compiled 3 years ago so expected cycle usage may have increased...

    Anyone remember if this were done last year, and how early into the 'deep freeze'?

    At least they won't need to do the Russell Road ramp this year (they did last year but can't remember when).

    Click for bigger

    Posted 13 years ago #
  16. DaveC
    Member

    Hmm I notice the nmber of complaints. Perhaps if we complained to a central service when the paths become blocked (and complain in bulk) we may see a better service?

    Posted 13 years ago #
  17. chdot
    Admin

    "Perhaps if we complained to a central service when the paths become blocked (and complain in bulk) we may see a better service?"

    Why wait...

    Not sure how accurate/relevant the one complaint is - though I believe it was about someone who was injured rather than just 'complaining'.

    Posted 13 years ago #
  18. chdot
    Admin

    "
    TWO young Edinburgh entrepreneurs have created a computer system to predict which areas need cleared and gritted before the first flake of snow has even fallen.

    "

    http://www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-evening-news/edinburgh/around-the-capital/innovation_to_keep_firms_on_move_in_winter_1_1948309

    Posted 13 years ago #
  19. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Wonder if the cooncil can programme it to bring out "city chambers" at the top of the list...

    Posted 13 years ago #
  20. wee folding bike
    Member

    This guy says it will be cold again.

    http://markvoganweather.blogspot.com/p/long-range.htmlv

    Posted 13 years ago #
  21. chdot
    Admin

  22. kaputnik
    Moderator

    If I were to get a run of the following printed as cards, who thinks it would be a good idea to send them to our local councillors, with a little message on the inside reminding them about what the priorities should be if they really want to keep people moving around town this winter?


    Season's Grittings by kaputniq, on Flickr

    Posted 13 years ago #
  23. crowriver
    Member

    Wonderful idea!

    Posted 13 years ago #
  24. Kappers, you have mail about this. Finding some time of my own again and have decided to get all belligerent and pro-active on this issue. ;)

    Posted 13 years ago #
  25. spitters
    Member

    I don't have any time of my own, seriously, bike has lain out of action for a week with a flat I haven't had time to change. Tubes bought on Saturday so hopefully tonight.
    I will happily send one of these to all my councillors
    BUT
    Kaputnik - you need to make this more accurate - add in a few neds beating the unattended snowman to death. Make one of the streetlights broken. Change the old lady's stick so that it is being waved in anger at the cyclist on the pavement.

    Posted 13 years ago #
  26. kaputnik
    Moderator

    you need to make this more accurate

    Yes I'm taking full advantage of my artistic licence by making it a winter utopia where the pensioners aren't afraid to go out in the snow :) and the cooncil workers smile as they go about their day!

    But the point I think I was trying to get across - the "utopia" of cleared and gritted paths - shouldn't be unachievable.

    Posted 13 years ago #
  27. It isn't unachievable.

    If you live in Scandinavia.

    Posted 13 years ago #
  28. spitters
    Member

    Don't they get snow every year though?
    Problem we face is council get in trouble if they spend too much cash on winter gear that sits dormant for 3-4 years then gets used once and goes back in the shed...
    Though this year I think they have the justification they need after the snow we had last year.

    Posted 13 years ago #
  29. 'snot just snow though. The last 4 years I've been commuting on the Innocent for 2-3 months it is an ice-laden mess.

    Posted 13 years ago #
  30. Arellcat
    Moderator

    Poking about on CEC's gritting schedule map as above, and note that the Innocent Path still isn't a priority.

    Interesting reading though:

    "
    4 December 2011 - Between 6pm yesterday and 6am this morning 21 gritters used 178 tonnes of salt to salt all Priority 1 roads. This morning 9 priority pavements were salted and the remaining 11 will be salted by the end of today. We have gritters going out tonight to salt Priority 1 roads and maintenance Task Force staff have been reassigned to winter maintenance duties.

    "

    A hundred and seventy-eight tonnes! In one night! Crivvens.

    Posted 13 years ago #

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