CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".
IT’S TRUE!
CCE is 15years old!
Well done to ALL posters
It soon became useful and entertaining. There are regular posters, people who add useful info occasionally and plenty more who drop by to watch. That's fine. If you want to add news/comments it's easy to register and become a member.
RULES No personal insults. No swearing.
Ach we'll have to show you the cycle path in which avoid the A90, much much quieter, no potholes and no traffic lights.
Yes I know about the cycle festival, but have managed to avoid getting caught up in it, for fear of having to organise anything. A mate is organising an event, and I'll be there in the day.
You can try THAT track at Leith Festival this Saturday.
That's the one and those are my trails!
Yes we are having a female and family friendly cycle day as part of the Leith Gala day. Please come along. We have bikes available to borrow, baby carriers to try, the trails for big and small kids and will be leading some local rides.
Hey Zesty, welcome, I cycle in from Ferrytoll most mornings, and from Burntisland sometimes too (not this week as the commuter is burst ;( ).
I commute from Burntisland too.. but sometimes cheat from Inverkeithing or Q/Ferry if I need more sleep or want to get home before 7pm!
Since the diversion was put in place I have been following the 76 route to Queensferry on the CX bike, been really enjoying it, think I will keep going that way even after the works are finished.
Last night, as I was on the skinny bike I took the actual diversion route back up to Dalmeny, must admit I was expecting that hill to be worse given the stories I'd heard about it, but it was actually not too bad at all.
@Kirst77 Do you go over the hill, or along the cycle path to Aberdour?
Must admit to not liking the sections where the loose hardcore is on the path, but really don't fancy that hill at peak times due to the blind corners.
Balders, you should try the next hill, now thats steep!! Turn right infront of the house, and then left at the nect cross roads, and over the cattlegrid. Lots of sheep around but its stepp so lets face it, no on is going to be going up that fast!!
Depends on the bike. RB over the hill... got my hybrid back now so debating which route.. Cycle path prob not quite suitable for it .. Bike/hills dilema every morning! Did whole route on the MTB one day and got home at 7:30pm! Prefer to RB it to be honest.
Would love to TT it too ;-) but when the paths reach the point where it is suitable for that bike I'll be too old to be sporting a TT bike!
What hill at Dalmeny are people bleating about??
This route:
http://ridewithgps.com/users/110400/routes
Up here:
http://www.cyclestreets.net/journey/29918138/
Its not a serious hill in comparison to West Lomond etc.. but fairly steep.
Like Baldcyclist, I like the 76 coast path on the CX bike. It bring you out at Hawes Inn, which is a great stopping point for a pint and food.
I hate the hill after the house on the way into Edinburgh, just before you come out at Crammond.
Starts of with a gentle climb then BANG turns into a steep climb. Managed 38.4mph down it yesterday on the hardtail
"It bring you out at Hawes Inn, which is a great stopping point for a pint and food"
On the way to work??
Why is this upgrade happening?
See page 1 & 3 of new Spokes Bulletin (no.116, summer 2013) here.
Also see this report of a 10-year saga!
You may have helped along the way by emailing relevant MSPs or councillors at relevant points in time in response to Spokes urging or for your own reasons. If so, thank you!!
"It bring you out at Hawes Inn, which is a great stopping point for a pint and food"
On the way to work??
The reason the Greek economy is in it's current state is partially because no-one would post this reponse on citycyclingathens.
@DdF
By March 2014 there should be a high quality bike route all the way from Edinburgh [Roseburn] to the Forth Bridge
With respect, I think that's greatly overstating it.
Sure, something is finally happening, and that's great -- there will be a brief "high quality" section -- but that's about it.
There's a big danger of this turning into "job done" when improvements should really only have just started.
It's great to see improvements happening after the successful campaign by Spokes. Let's not forget that those of us lucky enough to commute to the city centre from the FRB or beyond do already have some excellent infrastructure in the form of the NEPN, bridge cycleway, Fife Coastal Path etc, which (I would maintain) makes our commute far safer and more pleasant than the routes most commuters endure. I'd also hazard my journey from Dalgety Bay's waterfront would come near the top of any hypothetical nationwide poll of 'who has the most scenic commute?', especially if I take the Route 76 detour around the Dalmeny coastal section. It can be truly uplifting looking out over the Forth on a bright, still morning.
BUT (you knew that was coming didn't you) - one bit that always depresses me is the permanently shut metal gate across the closed road between Queensferry and Dalmeny. This is on Sustrans Route 1, the 'main' N-S route for the eastern UK, and yet it necessitates a kerb mount onto a gravelly muddy workaround with absolutely no hint of provision for cyclists (or buggies, wheelchairs etc for that matter). I suppose it helps to keep out exuberant young drivers with noisy exhausts, but let's hope an improvement there is on the cards!
the permanently shut metal gate across the closed road between Queensferry and Dalmeny. This is on Sustrans Route 1, the 'main' N-S route for the eastern UK, and yet it necessitates a kerb mount onto a gravelly muddy workaround with absolutely no hint of provision for cyclists
..which you eventually stop using, and instead use Bankhead Road and Station Road.
I only ever use Bankhead and Station when I'm riding up that hill in the estate. The hop up on to the kerb and back is no drama, even on my road bike. I can see why its shut - to prevent fly tippers.
There are similarly shut gates on the 76 at Cramond Brig and at the Slip at the South Queensferry side, which are more difficult to get through, but thats never been a problem either.
..which you eventually stop using, and instead use Bankhead Road and Station Road.
That's an alternative, certainly, but it's far from traffic-free and necessitates a couple of awkward right turns as well as a descent/reascent. Scotstoun Avenue is a lot quieter in terms of traffic - OK, there's one right turn on a busy road to negotiate, but overall I'd still rather bounce around the gate. My objection is really about the message it sends out (our nationwide 'trunk route' has a head-height locked gate across it and there's no way round for buggies/trikes/wheelchairs etc) rather than any major inconvenience to me.
@DaveC
Yes, you have a point about the 76 route through Dalmeny Estate (I go that way regularly - and have done so with you a few times!) but that's clearly more of a long/indirect/scenic route. Hadn't considered the fly-tipping point, which is a good one, but at the moment the gate is an ugly impediment that just doesn't look as if it belongs on the main route to the bridge. Just hoping it will be 'improved' in some way before anyone deems the upgraded route complete... but as you say, no drama really. Just wanted an excuse to say how much I enjoy my commute really :)
The route from Edinburgh to the Bridge is (even after the improvements to the A90 section) one of the most cobbled together, tortuously indirect routes I can think of (although I'm sure it's a stiff competition).
I like a meander on a sunny evening but generally it would be nice to just head down Queensferry Road and along the full length of the A90 to the bridge.
one of the most cobbled together, tortuously indirect routes
I think that's a little harsh: the A90 actually loops some distance round Dalmeny/Queensferry rather than taking the direct route. Google Maps tells me that my 16.5 mile journey would only be half a mile shorter (or 2.5 minutes at 12 mph) by the most direct driving route. And surely the NEPN is more appealing to the average cyclist, not to mention quicker (thanks to no traffic lights etc) and safer than even a fully be-segregated Queensferry Road would be? As far as the actual route goes, I think it's generally fine: as I said in my earlier post, compared to out-of-town commuters from other directions, we're very fortunate.
I'm sure it is harsh. Probably too harsh. In any case, it's the only option between the bridge and Cramond Brig and preferable to riding Queensferry Road. But I don't think we should pretend that even with the welcome upgrade of that section that it's close to being a flagship (tourist) route.
I've been using the Dalmeny/Standingstane/Burnshot route from Queensferry and have been amazed at how pleasant it is, especially at night (my homeward journey is usually after midnight). I especially appreciate the easy access to the cycle path just past the tank farm. The view from Burnshot Road is lovely at night. I wish I had realised how good it was before - it feels a lot safer at night than the path was. The only hairy bit is the slip-road from Cramond Brig - cars are accelerating hard on to the motorway. I could cross the road and cross back again by the overbridge, but that seems a bit much effort.
I don't think the diversion signage is clear enough though - I was on the bus one day through the one-lane section next to the path and everyone suddenly slowed RIGHT down. It was a cyclist, joining the line of traffic! I saw him as he slipped back in behind the line of cones and the bus passed him. Good grief. And the next time I was along that way, I saw a man walking along the central reservation!!!
I thought I could figure out exactly what you were doing hippetyhop but I'm slightly puzzled by the reference to traffic accelerating on to the motorway which you don't encounter on the inward journey, nor really on the outward one due to the "third lane" on the left. The following is based on what I [/i]think[i] you are saying.
What you may not know, as it is not signed (and why not I don't know because I have seen any number of cycle tourists reach the overbridge then not know where to go - it can't have been created purely to let those at Craigiehall get to the pub), is that there is an underpass that takes you from the northbound carriageway to just north of the pub.
If you turn off left as if to enter Craigiehall just after the start of the third lane then look to your right you will see it. Certainly makes it less of a hassle to cross over, then to use the bridge for Burnshot.
zesty ... 38.4mph on a cycle could partly explain the militancy some of the residents down that way display toward cyclists.
I know about the underpass - but I have a horror of using a tunnel at the best of times, certainly after midnight! What I'm talking about is the Kirkliston sliproad heading north. It's just a psychological thing, the cars aren't anywhere near me actually, they're in the next lane. But they are going bloody fast! And there's always the chance that one of them will be taking the turnoff too.
I tried the Dalmeny Estate route into town yesterday and it was a bit of a revelation. I ride it from the Hawes and previously had taken a track (this is after Dalmeny House) that goes through fields and comes out right near the Cramond Brig. A lot of it is rough, with ruts and puddles. But the diversion signage now leads you on sealed roads out to a point just south of the now closed path. The hill is a bit of a puff, but much better than rough tracks.
Kirkliston sliproad heading north
I stopped using the slip road after one high speed close shave too many.
My default option is to hang a right into the Cramond Hotel car park, but obviously this can only be achieved if oncoming traffic is light.
Otherwise I use the underpass -- which is in quite good nick at the moment, not flooded or muddy.
That sliproad is a nightmare. Tried it once, never again. Cars go fleein' up there.
My preferred and patented method is the Crammond Brig Crossover Technique.
Hop on the pavement (if there is no pedestrians) just before the ped crossing, hit the button, head down the road. The traffic usually gets stopped just as you get to the Crammond Brig letting you cross into the central reso'.
zesty ... 38.4mph on a cycle could partly explain the militancy some of the residents down that way display toward cyclists.
barnton-to-town - its a hill... what do you want me to do, apply the brakes??
Obviously if there were cars coming up the hill I wouldn't be going that speed in case they don't pull over enough etc. However if no cars then I don't see the problem with flying down the hill... its my reward for cycling up it in the morning!
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