Cycling this route every weekday, the new painted cycle lane is routinely ignored by drivers of vehicles large and small as you come past Missoni hotel, blocking the way for cyclists to reach this busy junction. The markings are nice and clear but there is something screwed up about the layout that must encourage drivers to ignore them. Drivers can see they have to move left to avoid the right-turn lane which appears in front of them, taking many of them into the cycle lane. I guess the paths could be painted in red, might help a little - but it is the layout that needs changed if there is any hope of making this junction cycle friendly again.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
George IV Bridge High St Lawnmarket Junction cycle lane
(8 posts)-
Posted 14 years ago #
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I know it's rubbish! and the thing is rarely does traffic turn right there so whay does everyone feel the need to keep left? I can drive my van through there without entering the cycle lane so why can't eveyone?
Posted 14 years ago # -
Andrew - probably you're more familiar with this than most, but in any case, here's some photos from a short stop-over in rush hour after the lane was built:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48848632@N08
(The buses do particularly "well").
Posted 14 years ago # -
I guess the paths could be painted in red, might help a little
Couldn't make it any worse. At least when someone decides to drive on it there is no doubt that it is a bike lane. At present it's a waste of time trying to educate drivers as the layout is lost on them.
50/50 chance of using it. If there are buses then forget it.
Posted 14 years ago # -
For a City which wants (or at least claims to want to be) cycle friendly, that is a very badly thought out junction. It show everything that is wrong with cycle lanes currently.
Now before this starts a row, I am not saying that all cycle lanes are a bad thing. Properly implemented cycle lanes (and other cycle infrastructure) is a good thing. It is just that when the infrastructure is done badly it can make things worse than if nothing had been done at all.
To be fair to the drivers of buses and other large vehicle, because of the right turning lane, they are really being squeezed. It would be far better for all concerned if the right turn lane wasn't there.
Posted 14 years ago # -
It would be far better for all concerned if the right turn lane wasn't there.
We lived without the right turn for around a year while the hotel was being built. I would though want to keep a right turn for bikes. Cars can go round by St Giles St.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Well i used the right had turn lane today, much to the annoyance of the taxi rode round at the the top of Victoria street. Have to agree with all its not really terribly useful.
/excuse the 3 week old bump.
Posted 14 years ago # -
So would you remove the 'new' cycle lane or widen it?
A right hand for bikes only lane would be useful to enhance the no through traffic nature of High St maybe.
Posted 14 years ago #
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