CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure

WARNING - cones, bottom of Argyle Place

(272 posts)

123…10

  1. SRD
    Moderator

    To be fair, as soon as it was pointed out to the elected officials, they agreed that something needed to be done (how long that's will take is another matter).

    But a bigger question is why are the officials responsible for this work not planning and implementing things beforehand - esp given all the requirements of giving people notice etc?

    This seems a very clear case where they have simply not considered non-motorised traffic at all., and given that it is one of the most used pedestrian crossings, and near several schools, that is simply pathetic.

    I will ask for clarification on the procedures at the next traffic forum meeting.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  2. kaputnik
    Moderator

    @SRD indeed it is not a slight (for once) on the elected councillors, the very fact that they do have to get involved in minutiae like road works speaks volumes of the council roads department.

    I don't expect that councillors should have to be pestered every time the roads department makes a mess of things, there's far more important things that they should be doing, but it seems its the only way you can get a few crumbs of concession thrown your way in Edinburgh.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  3. steveo
    Member

    On the other hand, the elected officials should have put down bye laws or regulations that ensure non motor traffic is considered years ago. Its not really a surprise the roads dept only considers traffic but the councillors should have a more <groans> top down view, including the "little people".

    Posted 11 years ago #

  4. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Exactly, the council should be considering synergies to create a holistic approach to incentivise a broad brush approach cascading its findings to stakeholders thereafter devising implementation timetables to create best practice and in the round have a level playing field for all users ensuring a results driven collegiate response that sees our pencils sharpened.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  5. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Promote that cow to head of deliverance and paperclips at Department for Administrative Affairs.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  6. Iratesheep
    Member

    I also feel vaguely aggrieved by the fact that these massive road diversion signs are placed on the pavement, blocking the path for all pedestrians.

    (Hidden by all the double parked vans anyway, like it matters).

    Posted 11 years ago #

  7. cc
    Member

    The temporary crossing still hadn't appeared when I negotiated the mess this morning.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  8. steveo
    Member

    Temp lights and "when red light shows stop here" signs in place when I went by half an hour ago. Lights hadn't actually been wired up yet. Baby steps.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  9. Snowy
    Member

    I've lived within a few hundred yards of Melville Drive for about 17 years now. Subjectively, I think it's a lot busier now than it was in 1996. On bad weather mornings, it's just a car park at the Tollcross end.

    Melville Drive is obviously viewed as a bit of a godsend for a lot of car drivers, magically transporting you a good distance through the city centre with minimal traffic lights. Despite the rush-hour reality.

    Aside from the issue of insane speeds (I was passed by a taxi at 11pm the other night who was doing about 50mph), the fact is that Melville Drive is seen as primarily for cars. There's a relative scarcity and infrequency of bus services that use the route and in terms of road space used, I'd surprised if buses took up even 1% during rush hour.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  10. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    And yet, on the section that is actually within the Quality Bike Corridor (it was on the initial maps and then those lauding its appearance) they've put in a bus lane (no problem with that) and taken out the bike lane on the opposite side in order to fit it. On the Quality Bike Corridor.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  11. remberbuck
    Member

    Anyone else wistful that the Danny Macaskill video now shows a part of history?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  12. fimm
    Member

    @SRD it is good that you "...will ask for clarification on the procedures at the next traffic forum meeting." because if "think about the needs of cyclists and pedestrians" isn't on the list of things they have to tick off on thier List Of Things To Tick Off then thay won't think about cyclists and pedestrians.

    It does bug me quite a lot that roadworks signs always seem to get put on the pavement. I moved one near Haymarket once that was in a completely stupid place, and I was tempted to do the same with a whole lot on the Gorgie Road except there were actually men working there at the time and I didn't fancy getting into an arguement with them.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  13. Arellcat
    Moderator

    ...ensuring a results driven collegiate response that sees our pencils sharpened.

    That's the civil service way. This is the correct way:

    http://www.mhpbooks.com/books/how-to-sharpen-pencils/

    Posted 11 years ago #

  14. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    "I moved one near Haymarket once that was in a completely stupid place..."

    I've moved quite a lot that have been put in the bike lanes - always ensuring I also don't block the pavement! Difficult sometimes to satisfy all, but there are ways of being sensible about it.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  15. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    For instance

    Posted 11 years ago #

  16. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Observe crossing now in (a rather inconvenient) place.

    Observe sign blocking most of pavement.

    Observe cycle lane now blocked.

    Why do we bother?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  17. Kim
    Member

    If we have a cycle culture in this city, they would have though about planning a diversionary route and directed people on to it. Also providing safe conned off access to and from the off road route they have now blocked, but of course pedestrians and cyclists don't count...

    Posted 11 years ago #

  18. SRD
    Moderator

    I agree with all of that. On the other hand, I am deeply relieved that these lights went in before anyone got hit trying to cross.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  19. fimm
    Member

    Right, CCE guerilla (ugh, spelling) action to move that lot into the car lane?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  20. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Can I say, by the way and however minor the council's gesture of the temporary crossing is, a big well done / thankyou to SRD, chdot etc. who have taken it upon themselves to pester the relevant cooncil persons to actually get something done about this. It may be inconvenient and badly thought through, but it's now a lot more safe at least.

    Further proof, as if it is required, that CCE works.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  21. chdot
    Admin


    Meanwhile in Ackney

    Posted 11 years ago #

  22. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Not sure how safe. In five minutes I saw one person very close to gettIng knocked down and loads completely confused and using the crossing anyway only to be confronted by the barriers (not clear in the dark and rain).

    Watch this space, some 'guerilla' diversion signs being made tonight to put up tomorrow morning. The temp solution is a shambles; but well done all kap mentioned for the outstanding efforts!

    Posted 11 years ago #

  23. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Poster


    CrossingMMW by blackpuddinonnabike, on Flickr

    Posted 11 years ago #

  24. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    My view (for what it's worth).

    Posted 11 years ago #

  25. Dave
    Member

    Great post, WC.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  26. Snowy
    Member

    +1, WC

    Posted 11 years ago #

  27. Dave
    Member

    As well as tweeting* Anth's post in the direction of "la hinds" (for some reason this always reminds me of Rumpole), I've added my own two-pennyworth in support: http://mccraw.co.uk/edinburgh-model-cycling-city/

    * I'm trying to make an effort to get into twitter but it's pesky. Not sure why I find it a bit weird.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  28. chdot
    Admin

    Key extract from Dave's post -

    "

    For once you have to feel a bit of sympathy for the city’s councillors here. They can’t be expected to personally supervise every piece of works, yet they are ultimately responsible for the public’s wellbeing.

    Hopefully some serious taking-to-task is going on behind the scenes, but…

    This. Is. Edinburgh.

    "

    Posted 11 years ago #

  29. chdot
    Admin

    "
    Gavin Corbett (@gavincorbett)
    14/02/2013 07:31
    @CyclingEdin my colleague @nigelbagshaw took up the issue of provision for non-motorists at temp lights at the most recent Transport Cttee.

    "

    Posted 11 years ago #

  30. Min
    Member

    * I'm trying to make an effort to get into twitter but it's pesky. Not sure why I find it a bit weird.

    @Min@Dave@CityCyclingEedinburghForum 14/02/13 07.38
    #Because@by#the#
    time@you#have@Min@Dave@CitycyclingEdinburghForum###
    ploughed@throughall#the@obnoxious#formatting...@Min
    @Dave@CityCyclingEdinburghForum

    @Min@Dave@CityCyclingEdinburghForum 14/02/13 07.39
    #to@ftry#and#figure@
    out@what#you#are@meant###to@be@reading~you~have@
    forgotten@why#whydopeoplekeepforcingtwitteronme

    Posted 11 years ago #

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