CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting

Cycling on Rose Street

(22 posts)
  • Started 11 years ago by deckard112
  • Latest reply from Kenny

  1. deckard112
    Member

    Need some guidance here folks.

    I cycle down the part of Rose Street from Hanover Street to St Andrew Sq in the mornings and today was shouted at by two 'contractors' in a colouful manner that I was going the wrong way.

    I responded to their challenge in a similiar way (in an attempt to speak in a language they understood) but...this got me thinking about two points -

    1. Is is legal to cycle in a pedestrianised area? (in general and also Rose St specifically)

    2. If it is legal to cycle on Rose Street are we obliged to follow the directtion of other traffic i.e. East to West?

    Welcome your thoughts/advice!

    Posted 11 years ago #

  2. chdot
    Admin

    As far as I understand it's a 'proper' one way street, so bicycles are only 'allowed' in one direction.

    This may or may not change when they tart the street up again.

    Historic Note: It's about 40 years since 3 people were prosecuted after painting yellow lines there as part of a 'pedestrianise Rose Street' campaign.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  3. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    What chdot said.

    So chdot, were you one of the three?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  4. chdot
    Admin

    Nope.

    One is an award-winning journalist/documentary maker. Don't know what happened to the others.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  5. kaputnik
    Moderator

    I've always been of the view that if you can drive a honking great lorry down the "Pedestrianised" Rose Street (for "access") purposes, then it's perfectly safe to cycle it in either direction.

    Why would there be cycle racks in the middle of Rose Street (well, there used to be at least) if you weren't allowed to cycle on it?

    The pedestrianisation signs do not mention bikes on them either, so again never felt any reason not to cycle.

    According to the Cycling Embassy of Great Britain website however, cyclists need to be specifically exempted from pedestrianisation areas if cycling is to be legally by the book.

    Have to take it easy though as it's usually busy. Particularly with the innebriated

    Posted 11 years ago #

  6. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    "Why would there be cycle racks in the middle of Rose Street (well, there used to be at least) if you weren't allowed to cycle on it?"

    Kappers, I think the point was that it is legal to cycle down it, but it's a one-way street, so you can't go both ways (in the same way that lorries can go down it, but only in one direction).

    Posted 11 years ago #

  7. lionfish
    Member

    The ATAP said that the council will get together a list of one-way streets that cyclists will be exempted from. The deadline was September 2011. I emailed Hinds in June, and they said they'll still be on-track to implement the changes. I've still not yet been sent a list. From the letter (10, July 2012):

    Due to resource pressures, the Active Travel Action Plan action to draw up a programme of exemptions for cyclists on one-way streets has not yet been undertaken and is therefore not currently available. However, it is intended that this work will be completed in the next 12 months and we consider that it will still be possible to reach the target for implementation of 2014. Please note that the programme will need to take into account the individual circumstances of each street and identify whether an exemption can be implemented safely. The implementation of any exemptions will also be subject to the approval of the necessary Traffic Regulation Orders which are subject to statutory consultation.

    So their new deadline they've set themselves to make a list is 10th July, 2013 (instead of September 2011). Also I find it odd they're not wanting the view of any cyclists etc on this topic. SRD - I heard you're on the cycling forum (or whatever it's called) in the council now - maybe you could get hold of any such list they've come up with?

    Anyway, Rose street is surely a prime candidate. Although I avoid it as it's usually too busy. ot: The joiny bit near the bus station through the posh shopping area has annoying 'no cycling' signs, but it's one of the few ways a cyclist can link from Leithal Walk to George Street...

    For those who need the detail!
    ATAP, Appendix C. Page 46.
    C11: Compile programme of exemption of cyclists from one-way restrictions by September 2011 and implement programme by April 2014

    Posted 11 years ago #

  8. wingpig
    Member

    "The joiny bit near the bus station through the posh shopping area has annoying 'no cycling' signs, but it's one of the few ways a cyclist can link from Leithal Walk to George Street."

    I think the owners can do what they like there as it's not a normal council-operated road, so I always walk it.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  9. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    "The joiny bit near the bus station through the posh shopping area has annoying 'no cycling' signs, but it's one of the few ways a cyclist can link from Leithal Walk to George Street...2

    Sadly that bit is not in the remit of the Council as it's a private street, so the owners can stipulate it and are under no obligation from the Council (I very much doubt it was in the planning obligations) to allow cycles through.

    EDIT: beaten by 27 seconds!

    Posted 11 years ago #

  10. lionfish
    Member

    Thanks wp and anth :)

    Posted 11 years ago #

  11. DaveC
    Member

    'That Jointy bit'

    That'll be where I work, Multrees Walk.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  12. kaputnik
    Moderator

    It's still quicker and safer to dismount at Multrees walk, push through, and remount, than any of the "alternatives".

    Posted 11 years ago #

  13. crowriver
    Member

    Also I find it odd they're not wanting the view of any cyclists etc on this topic.

    Well, not really. It fits with the dogma that seems to have been adopted:

    "Thou shalt implement ATAP alone; Thou shalt not add any other bits, nor deviate from ATAP; Lo, even though cyclists gnash teeth and wail about Leith Walk and the QBC, thou shalt hold fast. Turn the other cheek and carry on regardless."

    Posted 11 years ago #

  14. deckard112
    Member

    Thanks for the advice folks.

    I work in a building in St Andrews Sq but enter it from one of the lanes at the back of Rose St where our underground garage is and where I can safely leave my bike.

    Looks like I'd be better taking the marginally longer route of going right along George St and round to the other end of Rose St. No great biggy really.

    @Wilmingtons Cow - that's the crazy thing though is it's pretty dangerous with all the delivery lorries speeding straight along the pedestrianised area and they expect everyone to dive out of their way (which is essentially what happend to me this morning).

    Posted 11 years ago #

  15. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Exactly, not much of a 'pedestrianised' area is it?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  16. crowriver
    Member

    all the delivery lorries speeding straight along the pedestrianised area and they expect everyone to dive out of their way

    That final score now in:

    Princes/George/Rose street traders, 3; Pedestrians/cyclists, 1

    And one half-time scoreline:

    Leith Walk traders/motorists, 4; Pedestrians/cyclists, 1

    Posted 11 years ago #

  17. cc
    Member

    except the Leith Walk traders lose the match because they're scaring away all those potential customers.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  18. chdot
    Admin

    "except the Leith Walk traders lose the match because they're scaring away all those potential customers."

    Continued at http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=7945&page=11&replies=301#post-93887

    Posted 11 years ago #

  19. AKen
    Member

    Exactly, not much of a 'pedestrianised' area is it?

    In Melbourne, they have a pedestrianised area that is entirely free of traffic.

    Apart from the trams.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  20. fiets
    Member

    Don't know how to link this to my previous post re rose st.
    Essential Edinburgh are planning markets along various sections. The rack removal was the initial part of this plan at the Charlotte square end. Although they replaced it when I pointed out it would be missed (the 'wheelbender'- there's a photo of it on here somewhere!), i gathered that the plan is to replace them at the intersections and pedestrianise this section. It's a pain for those of us that work there and all this has happened without any consultation with the businesses. No idea how it's enforceable with the trucks racing along in the mornings...

    Posted 11 years ago #

  21. crowriver
    Member

    Here's the previous thread with photos of the new wheelbender rack:

    http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8324

    No idea how it's enforceable with the trucks racing along in the mornings...

    Remote control telescopic bollards? Or maybe just ones that fold down as required...

    Posted 11 years ago #

  22. Kenny
    Member

    'Tis funny as I had the exact same thought as the OP's point #2 the other week as I cycled the wrong way up Rose St while waiting for one of my daughters to get out of a rehearsal. I felt "wrong" doing so, and thus cycled at walking pace, so my subconscious must've thought that it was a 1-way street, much like what seems to be the majority here.

    Posted 11 years ago #

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