Ok, so I've just bought my first bike and I'm planning on using it to commute to and from work on Princes st. I used to ride a lot, but I'm a country girl and cycling in the city is going to be a bit of a change! My question is, how tricky is Haymarket junction to manoeuvre? It's the only part of the commute I have my concerns about...Would like a few tips before attempting it!
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
Gorgie Rd to Princes St
(112 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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Welcome to CCE.
Welcome back to cycling.
Welcome to cycling in Edinburgh.
"how tricky is Haymarket junction to manoeuvre?"
Ah.
Well, one problem is that the layout keeps changing.
It partly depends where you are coming from.
Then there's Shandwick Place where there's no way through for bikes - unless you push on the pavement...
Best advice is try a route or two at the weekend. Take a friend if you can.
Good luck.
Posted 12 years ago # -
not so bad really. you could always cut up and go via Dundee Terrace,then go down to Princes street if you prefer?
Posted 12 years ago # -
At the moment you have to swing either north or south, so it depends whereabout on Princes Street you need to get to. Sneaking off to Fountainbridge then going up Lothian Road then going round Charlotte Square then George Street is one way (unless you go the unofficial emergency-vehicles-only route along PS itsself) but now that the Mound has re-opened you could get to Bread Street then West Port the the Grassmarket then Victoria Street then George IV Bridge then Bank Street then down the Mound. If you insist on going through Haymarket then sticking to the right, going up Torphichen Street then Canning Street then West Approach Road to Lothian Road to Charlotte Square as above is probably easiest.
Posted 12 years ago # -
If it wasn't for the 'tram works' this would be useful -
http://www.cyclestreets.net/journey/to/55.950291,-3.206268/Princes+Street
Posted 12 years ago # -
And the layout changed again today!
But not from the way you will be coming.
The good bit about this is that while the roads may be narrower and bumpier, the traffic is slower, well, on the whole.
It takes caution, but it is not dangerous. I'd start by just following where the the buses go - they all end up in Princes Street eventually - and stick to the normal rules, don't go too fast, look behind, watch the road surface, and remember that buses stop!
And for coming back, when you come to the lights at Haymarket before going up Dalry Road, make sure you are right at the front on the kerb side, which is not where cycle lane takes you.
You'll be fine.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Using random start + stop points, this might give you some more ideas!
http://www.cyclestreets.net/journey/1780671
The green route, which will take a bit of following, is quite fun!
Open Street Map might even have been updated to account for EICC extension work. It would take longer than more direct routes though!
Posted 12 years ago # -
thanks!
Think I'm going to have a practice run this Sunday while the roads are (theoretically) a bit quieter, and if all goes well, Monday will be my first run!
Posted 12 years ago # -
Good luck - might take all day to try all the suggestion!
Let us know how Monday goes.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Custard, although I agree as a concept on the Dundee St, Fountainbridge then cut down option, for someone just getting back into cycling that junction (just pas the Diggers pub)onto the West Approach Road can intimidate (I am fairly relaxed in traffic, but went that way recently and found it a wee bit hairy).
Shame really, as it would be the ideal route.
Posted 12 years ago # -
More general advice (speaking as a woman who only started cycling in Edinburgh a few years ago):
*don't get stuck riding in the gully; we would advise you to 'take primary' -- that is, ride in the middle of your lane when needed.
*don't go up the left hand side of lines of vehicles, especially if they are HGVs. Sadly, until you know your route, I would say that applies even if there is a nice cycle lane painted on, leading you to an ASZ. remember the cycle lanes are just paint; they won't necessarily protect you from idiot drivers.
Posted 12 years ago # -
My tips are:
Cycle defensively - not aggressively.
Cycle on the right of large vehicals. never skip down the kerb side to the front of the queue.
Ride 2 - 3 ft out from the kerb. this will allow you to avoid drain grates. Also if you are over taken too close you have somewhere to get out of their way.
If you approach a pinch point where the width of the lane is limited like a pedestrian island move out to the middle of the lane. This is called taking prime. You won't be overtaken just at the narrowest point where its most dangerous.
Keep looking over your shoulder when you have to, overtake, move out to 'take prime position' also when moving in again and especially when leaving a roundabout to ensure you are not moving into the path of a veh whose driver hasn't seen you.
When at the front of a queue of traffic in an ASL (those red boxes at traffic) ensure the driver behind has seen you by staring at them. They'll notice you are looking at them and notice you! If they have seen you they should not run into you.
Don't be afraid of riding in the middle of the lane with slow moving traffic then waiting in line with the traffic. You don't have to ride to the front.
If the traffic ahead looks dangerous then give it the benefit of the doubt. 3 mins of waiting may save your life.
When approaching a stop think ahead and change down to make it easier to set off.Take your time, enjoy the ride and smile in the knowledge that you are saving money, getting fitter, slimmer & more healthily and your not stuck in traffic with people stuck in cars.
If your in doubt ask on here, there are lots of riders crisscrossing the city only to pleased to ride with you, give you tips and point out things helpfull for you.
Dave C
Posted 12 years ago # -
@Nelly yeah its a fair point.
get some right muppets at that bitPosted 12 years ago # -
I started cycling in May of last year, and I found the Sunday morning method worked best. Once you understand any given junction after cycling through it empty, it's much easier to predict what the cars will do.
Posted 12 years ago # -
+1 for the advice so far, esp DaveC's bit about asking on here!
Oh and you'll soon need to find out where "Peter's Yard" is and develop a taste for caffeine and cinnamon ;-))
Posted 12 years ago # -
"you'll soon need to find out where "Peter's Yard" is and develop a taste for caffeine and cinnamon"
If you went that way every day, you wouldn't need to go anywhere near Haymarket!
Posted 12 years ago # -
"that junction (just pas the Diggers pub)onto the West Approach Road can intimidate (I am fairly relaxed in traffic, but went that way recently and found it a wee bit hairy)."
Yes, though it's slightly better than it used to be since they did the build-out.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Was thinking about West Approach road the other day. In a wierd way, parts of it would make ideal segregated bike lane material (the elevated stretch leading from murrayfield) as there is a lot of space around the road lanes.
That said, its impractical in other spots, so I am not actually advocating this.
Good to muse sometimes, even with no end result !
Posted 12 years ago # -
Parts of it are too narrow to have bikes as well as cars - which is partly where they are not allowed.
BUT a city that really wanted to reduce car use would shut the WAR to motor vehicles!
There are several cities in the world that have removed freeways.
Posted 12 years ago # -
BUT a city that really wanted to reduce car use would shut the WAR to motor vehicles!
Indeed. They should have routed the tram that way, after all it used to be a railway so probably not many utilities to move...
Posted 12 years ago # -
Aw, thank you so much, some brilliant advice here! Can't wait to get started!
Posted 12 years ago # -
Another female cyclist here. Lots of good advice for you already.
I also live in Gorgie, so cycle through Haymarket a bit, however I can't comment on what the junction will look like when they make the changes that are coming up this weekend. At the moment, the way I would ride it when coming down from the Dalry Road would be to sit in the traffic queue at the lights and be in the middle of the lane as the lights change and the traffic moves off. Keep that position until you are through the chicane at the roadworks. Yes, the car behind you will have to wait - but they're only going to have to stop at the next red light anyway. Most drivers are fine, just be assertive. If you get an impatient person call them a **** in your head and forget about them.
Posted 12 years ago # -
DaveC just exactly described my riding style! I would only add about a meter+ space from parked cars.
Posted 12 years ago # -
@ruggtomcat
Thanks for reminding me. Last night cycling along Queensferry road past Stewarts Melville school I overtook a BMW which only opened their door as I was about to pass. Why don't people use their mirrors?
Is short BlueJeansGirl, expect all vehicles to do the most stupid and dangerous thing, and ride accordingly, so their are no surprises.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Like fimm says - be assertive, you get the bus lane all the way down to the lights at haymarket so most of the time you can filter past the stationary traffic )and it is 9/10 times as the lights are biased against east bound traffic here) get to the front and get to the middle, any traffic that passes you will only get stuck when they meet the badly timed lights traffic coming from Morrison Street then the next set of lights, there is a cycle lane in the middle of two lanes so you need to be in the middle of the lane or idiots will cut across the bike lane but you quickly get used to it and can sense when they're about to do it (usually BMWs and 4x4s).
At the moment most traffic is diverted down Palmerston to carry on straight ahead and you have less traffic though some buses and some smarter drivers who know Palmerston is a bad move
It's hard to picture in your head when people type about it so here's a link to a route map
I do this route all the time! - More than happy to meet up on Dalry where it meets Gorgie and you can follow my route. I'm on flexible hours so can be at the bottom of Ardmillan anytime from 7.35 to 9.35 if that suits
There is a map here I would recommend following - get to Rose street then drop down which ever of the Castle Frederick Hanover take you to the part of Princes Street you use
From Haymarket go along West Melville then along Manor Place to the end and straight on at the lights and behind the building (it's cycling route nr 1) round Charlotte Sq to Rose st and then you have a nice quiet finish to your ride.
Ping me an PM message when you will be starting out and a time you can be at the corner of Dalry/Murieston Road and I'll stop when I see you.
Cheeri the nooPosted 12 years ago # -
"...round Charlotte Sq to Rose St..."
Rose St is not currently designated as being a permitted means of heading eastwards, unfortunately. If that sort of thing matters.
Posted 12 years ago # -
good god but you're fast to read that wingpig...
and fast to jump on an oversight, fine, there's the lane further down that delivery vehicles use, otherwise you're no George street and fighting buses and all the diverted lost drivers... I seem to recall turning right into Rose Street a few weeks back (although that was before the tram works changed and the traffic flow altered again) I figure Rose St is mostly pedestrianised, you meet the odd vehicle but it's plenty wide enough and vehicles go very slow due to the pedestrians and their headphonesPosted 12 years ago # -
Hey!
Some friends of mine are joining Bells on Bikes.http://bikeclubsite.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/belles-on-bikes-poster.jpg
We live next to Gorgie road, and she (and the others) often commute the way you're trying to figure out.
Maybe grouping together for the ride might be a nice way to do it??
Enjoy the ride!
Posted 12 years ago # -
I did say "If that sort of thing matters" in case it doesn't, or doesn't enough, or makes the Princes Street nee-nah-lane equally viable for the prudent and careful cyclist. Just that I've seen polices on Princes and Rose Streets and they're doing this enforcement thing shortly...
Posted 12 years ago # -
by 'she' I meant my girlfriend!... who often reads this forum, but hasn't an account on it yet. Hopefully we'll both make it to the 8am coffee @ zazou on the 30th :D
Posted 12 years ago #
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