Last time I was on it, there were barriers round a hole in the path for electric cable works which narrowed it. And the heras fencing at the Eddleston end was up then, which many people avoided by wearing a muddy path over the grass verge. Either of these might have been enough to stop wide bikes eg the Cycling without Age trikes.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Peebles -Eddleston cycle path
(67 posts)-
Posted 11 months ago #
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Had a search on twitter to see if anyone had posted anything about it recently but instead I found this story: https://www.peeblesshirenews.com/news/23504454.safety-fears-voiced-7-figure-peebles-eddleston-path/
SAFETY fears have been raised over a seven-figure Peeblesshire path which has yet to open.
The concerns over the Peebles to Eddleston walkway were prompted after reports of cars careering down the bank after coming off the adjacent A703.
Fears were particularly raised about the area where the path is close to the road and there are sharp bends, with vehicles travelling at 60mph.
In response to the concerns, a Scottish Borders Council (SBC) spokesperson said walkers should be “aware” of the potential dangers while using the route.
“This is a multi-use path and therefore in many respects no different to a footway adjacent to a road and therefore there will not always be fencing or barriers in place and users should be aware of that, in particular where it is being used, for example, by dog walkers,” said the spokesperson.
Posted 11 months ago # -
Summary: We can't have nice things because drivers might go careering off the road
Posted 11 months ago # -
Sounds like the obvious first thing to do is to reduce the speed limit to 30mph where the bends are
Posted 11 months ago # -
Hurrah ! Peebles to Eddleston path finally open yesterday ,so Peebles council proudly proclaims without apologising for the appalling delays -over a year late I think
Official opening ceremony on June 17 by dignitaries who will never use it .
However great it is finally open before I pop my clogs
Now continue it to Edinburgh pleasePosted 10 months ago # -
That's a coincidence. I rode to the Scots Pine yesterday & decided to continue on down to the path (I assumed it had been open for some time). Went all the way to Peebles. I'd say it's pretty good overall. There's a few 90 degree bends & the tarmac is pretty smooth, but not 'fast'. it's not as refined as a Dutch cycle path would be, but much better than cycling along the road.
Posted 10 months ago # -
Some photos from Eddleston CC https://twitter.com/EddlestonCC/status/1666126474015830019
Another tweet mentions getting TS funding for phase 2, an extension to Shiplaw Road (think that was in the initial plans but not built).
Wonder how long it'll take to get to Leadburn (continue alongside the road or go via the old railway line?) and then from there to Penicuik...Posted 10 months ago # -
I tried it today. Quite nice but a little eccentric. And just dumps you on the outskirts of Peebles (with awful road surface)
Posted 10 months ago # -
"Officially" opened yesterday: https://www.scotborders.gov.uk/news/article/4464/new_multi-use_path_connecting_peebles_and_eddleston_opens_to_the_public
Posted 10 months ago # -
"(continue alongside the road or go via the old railway line?)"
I don't think any of the Peebles to Eddleston section uses the old railway (perhaps a short section at Cringletie?).
Although the railway always looks like the obvious route it seems to just be easier/cheaper/less hassle(?) to just build it to a new route.
Posted 10 months ago # -
Although the railway always looks like the obvious route it seems to just be easier/cheaper/less hassle(?) to just build it to a new route
Yeah, that's a pity because invariably the new routes are twisty and poorly graded, whereas the railways were always beautifully graded with gentle curves
Posted 10 months ago # -
"We hope the new path makes it safer and easier for lots more people to leave the car at home for short everyday journeys”.
My cargo bike customer near Eddleston found the new route impossible to use to Peebles so just sold the bike and (I assume) drives instead. Been told by Andrew (ex Bicycle Works) that one chicane would require bike lifted to get round a corner. Was looking forward to taking our tandem on it but sounds like road will be better option although some drivers may feel we should use 'a facility' even if it's not really a benefit. Litmus test should be whether a handcycle can use.
Posted 10 months ago # -
It would appear to be a path for Normal Bikes? A novice cyclist could use it to get to Eddleston and then the beautiful Meldons route. But they would still then have a slightly trickier return to Peebles from the big thatched mansion at Lyne.
Once the Gembo Super Highway opens fully (I am hoping by 01.07.23 for my birthday) everyone with any wish to test whether a cycle path is ticking all boxes should get to Bottom of Kingsknowe and take the WoL Path to Balerno
Wide, good surface, some HERAS and some little sections that might stay muddy or get shut and done quickly.
Quickly though as when the motorbikes get on the chicanes will be introduced. Chicane installation is tricky as need to stop motorbikes but allow other bikes?
Posted 10 months ago # -
Chicane installation is tricky as need to stop motorbikes but allow other bikes?
A chicane which stops motorbikes but doesn't stop other bikes would be Nobel Prize in Physics-worthy.
Posted 10 months ago # -
Yup. The solution to motorbikes is A: acknowledge it's not actually that big a deal and just get on with our lives, or B: cops actually showing up and doing their job. No barrier that can stop a motorbike exists that doesn't also stop cargo bikes, tandems, many trailers, and most adapted cycles, and so no motorbike barrier should be installed anywhere, ever if a council is paying proper attention to equality legislation.
Posted 10 months ago # -
Would be interested to know what/where the chicanes are (so they can be added to OSM), not seen one on any of the photos.
Posted 10 months ago # -
Will there be any?
Certainly won’t be as extreme as this -
Posted 10 months ago # -
@Yodhrin: "cops actually showing up and doing their job"
I was more than a little surprised at the rapidity with which a patrol car turned up in response to my report of illegal trail bikes being ridden around one of the meadows next to the WoL in Colinton Dell. But that was during lockdown so they probably had a lower overall workload.
Those are the kind of motorcycles they should be concerned about keeping off the WoL, canal towpath etc, and they are the very type which, as Frenchy points out, are more or less indistinguishable from e.g. a mountain bike when you're attempting to design effective barriers. (Maybe could use some kind of see-saw weight-based mechanism? Would still arguably be wrt the seriousness of the problem, though.)
Getting cops to "show up and do their job" dependably rather relies on the public being prepared to fund them adequately IMO. Recent voting trends suggest that this isn't the case...
Posted 10 months ago # -
Would be interested to know what/where the chicanes are (so they can be added to OSM), not seen one on any of the photos
Must admit I didn't actually notice any when I cycled down the path a couple of weeks ago. Maybe I wasn't paying attention.Posted 10 months ago # -
Or have a very skinny bike?
Posted 10 months ago # -
Promotional video:
http://www.naden.de/blog/bbvideo-bbpress-video-plugin -->
[+] Embed the video | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Orkm5v3ktiU" target="_blank">Video Download Get the Video Widget And a short video by someone else showing the swithcback up/down a steeper section:
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[+] Embed the video | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRqyzfvBwzQ" target="_blank">Video Download Get the Video Widget Posted 10 months ago # -
@ejstubbs I stopped buying the funding argument when ScotGov gave them the money to set up the dashcam portal and they responded by dragging their heels and using it as a bargaining chip to try and squeeze even more money out of them. Maybe if they weren't deploying half the Glasgow force and a forensics tent to rifle through the former First Minister's home desk for a bit of paperwork or staging endless "we went to location X for exactly three minutes longer than the local chipwrapper's cameraman was there holding a speed gun, aren't we proactive" stunts for publicity they'd have a few bob left for police work.
Posted 10 months ago # -
No barrier that can stop a motorbike exists that doesn't also stop cargo bikes, tandems, many trailers, and most adapted cycles,
Andrew ex BW rides a 'normal bike' and just stays on the road. Would guess that sports cyclists like to keep speed higher than this path would allow anyway? So only some 'normal bikes' may end up using? Cycling gives pleasure and health to people of all abilities so paths should be 'for all'.
Posted 10 months ago # -
The road is shocking in terms of numbers of cars and speed of drivers And 8n only ever use it between Shiplaw and Meldons - the Scots Pine Section. But it now gives another option eg if gone down Granites then inners to Peebles. Which can be on a path or ok road. Nashy’s has shut in Cadrona, shame nice fella, but then in Peebles find the path and take it to Eddleston then do the bad bit of road then up Shiplaw.. would also work in reverse as Shiplaw is easier that way. But does skip the Meldons which are fab.
Posted 10 months ago # -
Did most of it yesterday (missed the first section out of Eddleston) and no sign of any barriers or chicanes. Switchbacks fairly acute but better than Russell Rd. One disappointing section where they’ve reused a lay-by/cutoff with a rubbish surface rather than continue the goodness.
Posted 10 months ago # -
@gembo Nashys has reopened as a takeaway in Inners
Posted 10 months ago # -
@MB - I need to check the path out as only have account from someone that said it was too tight to turn.
@gembo - can understand that going up from Peebles it will make sense as less car interaction on your route round.
Posted 10 months ago # -
@amir, oh yes, he has a sort of small hatch thing. Glad he is still making a living. he is local, well top of Manor Water. Nice fella.
Posted 10 months ago # -
We rode the new path on our way down to Carlisle for RttS. A few observations on it. Firstly it's nice and new and well laid so currently very easy rolling. However there did seem to be a few problems.
I would agree with Laidback's contact that some of the corners are too tight. They are fine on an upright bike but are essentially 90 degree corners (and even hairpins) on a 2m(?) wide path with fences either side. I can see that this could cause problems for anyone riding a non-standard bike.
No lessons appear to have been learnt from the Peebles-Innerleithen path regarding roots. The path is unedged and at points has been laid within inches of trees. I would be very surprised if the surface isn't broken by roots making it very uncomfortable on non-suspension bikes within the next few years.
Just north of Templebar there is a pair of fenced in switchbacks which take you down a steep bank. Although they do make an easier grade they seem entirely unnecessary. There is plenty of space to have made a long slope of the same gradient without the bends and just north of it the path kicks up a 15% ramp on a driveway so they haven't made it any more accessible as a whole by reducing the gradient here.
The path undoubtedly is a good thing and I would be very happy cycling it with a young family but as always a few poor design choices have left us with a british class path rather than the world class path we might have wished for.
Posted 10 months ago # -
All good points @acsimpson. One thing that surprised me was that I'm pretty sure I didn't see any signage here to give those not familiar with the area, the option to go into Peebles via Rosetta Rd, rather than continue along the cyclepath for another 1km only to be dumped out here on the A703 where the money and/or political will ran out, with 1.5km still to go to the centre of Peebles. As you say, a thoroughly British cycle path.
(and that sign at the Rosetta Rd crossing with 'Peebles 3/4' is wildly over-optimistic unless we're now measuring distance to the first house on the outskirts!)
Posted 10 months ago #
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