@MeepMeep, aye I remember chatting and then suggesting you might be safer if you went off in front :D.
Shame about your nice new bike, it was still shiny!
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Events, rides etc.
Your Favourite POP28 Moment
(44 posts)-
Posted 13 years ago #
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I have a confession: it was washed especially following my Friday evening commute! How did you end up getting on with the bike, Steveo? When we saw you later on you seemed to have the hang of it alright.
Excellent video, Earthowned - I was further forward in the ride so hadn't heard this wonderful medley rendition.
Posted 13 years ago # -
That must be cheating! :D
Yeah mostly got the hang of it, the first few hundred meters were fraught! Missed the first left turn at the Harrison Road crossroads and had to resist filtering when we caught up with traffic on Polwarth after that we weren't bad.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Favourite bit #1 was realising that I was one of at least five dads from my elder daughter's primary school class. Any other schools manage 20%?
Favourite bit #2 was the frisson caused by the rising bollards on the High Street
Posted 13 years ago # -
"Favourite bit #2 was the frisson caused by the rising bollards on the High Street"
So they got them to retract?
I was at front and cycle cop 'phoned someone - but he didn't seen too optimistic.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Funnily enough I was approaching the first set, and shouting out "bollards" so that those behind would know there was an obstacle, well imagine my amazement at just that point the nearest one to me sank out of sight. Sorry folks, false alarm no bollards...the next set did not oblige!!
I loved all of it from start to finish. It was great cycling along next to kids on tagalongs, chatting, being exuberant.
Admittedly I find the politicians all rather boring and predictable. Lets see if they can deliver!! I left at that point...Part of the reason for leaving was I had got to the Meadows for about 1.30 and it was cold, and also needed coffee, and thirdly I had to take back a couple of guys who had come up from Dumfries and Galloway to our start point because they don't know Embra.
Two points for the organisers when this POP event happens again...can we please have the police co-ordinate traffic a bit better so that the cyclists can stream though lights/junctions unhindered, which would actually cause less friction with motorists (the downside the ride would be over much faster). Either that or shut the roads for an hour at most. Also if you are going to have people addressing the amassed cyclists you need a much louder PA system. I was unaware that there was anything going on for a while...
Posted 13 years ago # -
claggy cog - good points both! By the time we got there, both sets of bollards were down. We had stationed marshals there for exactly that reason.
But on the police/traffic thing: the original application was for an estimated 300 riders. police were warned last last week, that numbers might creep up to 1000, but I'm told their own estimate was to expect 600....so changes had to be made on the day, including roping in an extra contingent to control the bridges crossing. I think they coped pretty well, all things considered.
Posted 13 years ago # -
@SRD - I know that L&B did a grand job on the day, and I am absolutely positive that they were overwhelmed by the sheer scale and number of folk that turned out. I believe also that there were other protests that had just ended and so other police crews were tied up or going off after that assignment. They will know what to expect next time!! Always better to overestimate I reckon...the upside from that was that it did take longer to get to Holyrood and our presence was on the High St longer therefore! Also can I say how great it was to see children out on their bikes and how competent they were and confident, fab....wee scones!
Posted 13 years ago # -
The bollards were down when I went through at the tail. The Lothian Buses van managed through anyway... We did try and contact a number of times to ask to have them lowered as we were aware that they would be an obstruction.
Posted 13 years ago # -
The bollards seemed to indecisive when we passed them - some were up, some were down, and some seemed to popping up a couple of inches whac-a-mole stylee before dropping back down again...
Posted 13 years ago # -
@PS, yep, us too. We were all shouting "bollards!" which was a bit silly but necessary to warn other riders...
Posted 13 years ago # -
I had some lovely chats with parents and kids at work today - a split between those that had made it and had met me, those that were gutted that they couldn't, and those that had seen me from afar as I did the organic megaphoning.
Greenroofer: are you picking up your spy tomorrow? We'll need to compare notes.
Posted 13 years ago # -
For those on the PoP facebook group, there's an amusing video of the indecisive bollards as taken from the top (bottom?) of a LB trike.
Posted 13 years ago # -
@mgj - Craiglockhart P1C perchance?
Posted 13 years ago #
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