CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure

Black metal railings

(42 posts)
  • Started 11 years ago by andy@storybikes
  • Latest reply from steveo

12

  1. Dave
    Member

    I don't see the point in them. If you can get a family bike (be that a trailer, a tandem or longtail, whatever) or something adapted for disability like a handcycle though them, it would be easy to get a motorbike through too.

    It seems perverse to block access for the less able against a largely nebulous fear of motorbikes. For instance, I've been using NEPN for over five years and there are numerous points where you can just drive right on. Never seen a single motorbike.

    There's a footbridge over the canal just before the bypass which has brutal gates (I got through by grabbing both rails and using my SPDs to lift the bike up and swing it around, and even so it was tight).

    About a hundred yards along from this the towpath has level access for motorbikes. Madness.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  2. fimm
    Member

    I have, once, seen a motorbike (or it might have been a scooter) on the NEPN. It was dark, IIRC, and must have been about 8pm ish. I only thought about getting the number plate when it was too late.

    I agree, the chicanes in various places make no sense for restricting motorbikes. I think some of the ones on the towpath are there are a result of (perceived or actual) cyclists going too fast?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  3. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    I assumed they were to prevent children running straight out onto the road.

    There used to be a no cycling sign at just one side of the bridge so pedestrians heading east would get angry at cyclists heading west who had no idea what the problem was.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  4. PS
    Member

    I assumed they were to prevent children running straight out onto the road.

    +1

    Or cycling straight out onto the road/pavement.

    Particularly useful at the end of vennels etc where high walls mean you cannot see approaching peds on the pavement you're about to cross, like here on Dick Place.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  5. stiltskin
    Member

    Living next to the NEPN, I have to say that motorbikes are a fairly regular occurrence. Normally after dark, but in the summer quite often when it is still light.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  6. Kenny
    Member

    I've seen motorbikes on the NEPN - or more accurately, those little child-sized motorbikes, not a full-on 600cc thing. But I don't think that is the sole purpose for these black gates. Instead, I think the point of them is to slow down cyclists if you are coming to a point where you should be going slower. They have them before bridges near town on the canal footpath, and they do the right job there.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  7. wingpig
    Member

    Just in time for lighter evenings: Leith Links chicanes now reflectorised...


    IMAG0804 by wingpig, on Flickr

    Posted 11 years ago #

  8. chdot
    Admin

    http://www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-evening-news/latest-news/musselburgh-bridge-closure-causing-mayhem-in-town-1-2953892

    Posted 11 years ago #

  9. kaputnik
    Moderator

    If/when the council take it over, it should be open permanently as the cycle route.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  10. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    'twas indeed mayhem apparently. Didn't see it myself as we went in the other direction, to the Meadows Festival and Tang's.
    By train.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  11. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Utopian Plan:

    Council buys it
    Lowerable bollards installed
    Cycle Route bridge removes 'conflict' from 'pedestrian' bridge
    Bollards lowered for 'traffic' on race days etc

    Posted 11 years ago #

  12. steveo
    Member

    More likely:
    Council complains it can't afford it.
    Sustrans provides matched funds.
    6 months later after "pressure" from locals bollards are removed completely.
    Traffic readjusts and race days are chaos again.

    Posted 11 years ago #

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