CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".
IT’S TRUE!
CCE is 15years old!
Well done to ALL posters
It soon became useful and entertaining. There are regular posters, people who add useful info occasionally and plenty more who drop by to watch. That's fine. If you want to add news/comments it's easy to register and become a member.
RULES No personal insults. No swearing.
"2012 A90 path highlighted by 3 MSPs in March 29 Scottish Parliament debate on cycling, including Fife MSP Helen Eadie who calls it a “disgrace.” This provides the opportunity for another major Spokes lobbying effort – see April 1st news item and circular to members in Fife and north-west Edinburgh [txt 5k]."
http://www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress/documents/members-campaigning/edinburgh/a90-forth-bridge/
Yeah, improving this route has been 'required' for years!
Discussed here last year -
http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2071#post-21844
Seem to remember suggesting that campaign be called E2F.
Seems to have been several threads mentioning improvements some of which have happened and others still outstanding. Snappy E2F, connoting that it is not too far, or difficult, only one letter removed!
The 1 point whatever billion deemed necessary to "improve" this transport corridor for motor transport can surely be used to emphasise the point further.
Government thinks that Scotland will fall off the face of the earth unless more cars and lorries can be routed across the Forth so surely same goes for other forms of transport. If 10% of journeys are to be by bike, there has to be capacity for 10% of them to be made by bike along key corridors.
Helen Eadie said (at about 09:55):
"We must get serious about providing facilities for cyclists. The cycle path from Fife to Edinburgh along the A90 is a disgrace. It is no wonder that many cyclists refuse to use it and instead take their chances on the roads.
The cost of upgrading the path would not be too onerous for the Scottish Government to meet. No public body, including City of Edinburgh Council, appears to be willing to take responsibility for the path, but it is time that someone did so, because many of my constituents cycle regularly from Fife to Edinburgh."
I've never used it, but from the photos shown on the Spokes article, it looks jolly narrow. I wonder if anyone on a trike or handcycle would find it safe (or possible) to navigate?
There are many serious problems with the Burnshot-Dalmeny section of the path, which render it dysfunctional for many Fife commuter regulars, although typically most seem to persevere with it for the first year or two before finally giving up and switching to the gauntlet of the Kirkliston Rat Run / B800 combo.
I use is most days, and yes in places it is very narrow and has tree roots under the tarmac. The stretch which runs parallel to the off ramp on the A90 south bound to meet the Kirkliston road is the worst stretch. The path either side of it is ok but could be improved. The worst stretch I pointed out above is terrible at night in winter as when riding to Fife or South Queensferry, has cyclists on the same side as oncoming vehicles which serverly limits vision especially at the stretch where the path is sunk so that vehicles are actually at eye level.
Further out the path has been made wider and there are threads on here with photos.
There are alternatives which mean riding on the road, including Standingstane road and left onto the road between Kirkliston and Craigiehall/Cramond Brig which does have some fast moving traffic at rush hour(s).
Another alternative is to ride through Dalmeny estate which is tarmac the whole way but drops to sea level and has a steep rise in either direction which can be off putting.
A particularly bad stretch is up from Ferry Toll on the path to the bridge. Both pedestrians and cycles have to share a 2m wide path with cycles in both directions as well as pedestrians who are walking up to cross the bridge.
Helen Eadie is a very great supporter of cycling and I ride with her son in law (who wrote large parts of her speech and is standing as a councilor in Dalgety Bay, Hillend and Inverkeithing), in the past Helen was responsible for pushing for cycle paths through our consituency and the Fife Coastal path.
I'd certainly disagree with the blanket advice of Spokes Planning Group encouraging the avoidance of Barnton Junction and Queeensferry Road.
I've used it for years with no problem, and its infinitely preferable to mixing it with dog walkers on some manky "round the houses" shared use path.
I use that 'round the houses' and prefer it to the busy road with perminantly queuing double columns of vehicles in either direction. Suppose each to their own.
Last time I used the A90 path to Queensferry was a few years ago. The only stretch I recall being really bad was an incedibly narrow, bumpy, tree root plagued section by a stone wall, with trees on the other side and a steep bank down to the road below. Appalling.
Subsequently I've used the Kirliston road before turning off up the hill to Queensferry. Much better surface, but some very fast vehicles there and not always great lines of sight on some of the bends.
We were planning to cycle that way as a family tomorrow, but I suspect it will be a bit too cold for the wee ones in the morning, judging by the forecast. Difficult decision anyway: bump along on the path or roll the dice on the fast Kirkliston road?
If you do not use the Kirkliston turn off and continue straight on past the entrance to the Dalmeny estate you do still encounter the section as described above by crowriver, but this is what you have to look forward to later and this is all the way to the B924 turn-off to S. Q'Ferry. Note how close you are to the traffic with no barrier separating you from vehicles thundering along at 70mph, including artics, lorries and coaches...and although the path is relatively okay there are some rough bits and dropped kerbs that are not particularly low. Also note utilities covers that are raised...and that should another bike be coming the other way, there is not a great deal of room to pass, and you inevitably have to slow down to almost stopping to get past.
@Liz, I'd forgotten that bit. The Kirkliston road suddenly seems appealing.
Just go via the Dalmeny estate, there are basically no cars, good surface too. The only problem is it's a bit more hilly, but nothing to worry about - that's the way I would go unless I was in a blazing hurry.
The Kirkliston road is also quite agreeable, there is loads of width by and by and the traffic when I would do a rush-hour loop was also fine. Just don't ride in the gutter (standard advice).
@Dave, for some inexplicable reason I've never gone that way. If it's not too cold tomorrow, may give it a try. Will test out that route at some point in the near future anyhow, even if the family bail out tomorrow (looking likely).
Daves route through Dalmeny is an alternative I sometimes use.
Has Liz turned into Claggy Cog? Or have I missed something?
That fooled me at first but it is true. Nice choice of new name though maybe I should come out as A V Lowe now...
I must confess to taking the Dalmeny Estate detour on today's commute, and found it delightful.
This off-road dithering about on the way to work might catch on with me after all...
You must log in to post.
Cycling in Edinburgh Flickr group
Video embedded using Easy Video Embed plugin
posts