Brighton Place - safety

[Maria]

Admin: This thread has been split off from the .

I know cyclists on the pavement can be irritating at times and dangerous at others, but if you take a look at the state of Brighton Place, for example, with uneven, slippy setts, it is positively dangerous for cyclists! I don't blame cyclists (especially kids) for opting for the pavements in those circumstances.

[seashell]

I take it that Council aren't willing to do anything about the road surface, Marya? It sounds appalling. But then, they've probably used all the budget on the new roundabout (only 6 months late at the present!)

[Pal of Porty]

Brighton place is a nightmare surface for cars never mind bikes. The cobbles are also really slippy when wet and I am always frightened of skidding off!

[Bob Jefferson]

[Peter Bradley]

[BeachBum]

[seashell]

[seanie]

[BeachBum]

[Bob Jefferson]

[Bob Jefferson]

[seashell]

[Bob Jefferson]

[Peter Bradley]

[BeachBum]

[Bob Jefferson]

[Bob Jefferson]

[Epykat]

[Bob Jefferson]

[Maria]

The state of the road surface and the speed of the traffic on Brighton Place has bugged many over the years, Peter, (it was the lead article in the Portobello Reporter once), but it is difficult to get the problem resolved.

Speed limits are only any use if they are enforced. For example,there's a speed limit on Princes Street (when it's open, that is!), but I doubt if very many vehicles adhere to it.


Speed bumps can also cause other problems. Speed bumps on setts are dangerous for motor cyclists and I have been told that similar residential areas, which had them installed, complained that people just speeded up between bumps causing increased noise and fume pollution. Additionally, there was added traffic vibration experienced in nearby houses as vehicles drove over the bumps. Not something you'd welcome I'm sure!

Narrowing the road at points would cause problems in traffic flow and would be ruled out because of the fact that it is seen as a major arterial route. My neighbour and I tried a bit of what we believed was a perfectly legal traffic calming measure of our own once, by strategically parking on either side of the road. It certainly slowed traffic, but the police who came to the door weren't very impressed with our ingenuity.

I know that the roads dept would be happy to tarmac the surface, but I think the only support you'd get for that would be from those who live on Brighton Place and have to endure the current level of traffic vibration. The fact that it is a grade A listed area would also be a problem.

The setts were relaid back in the summer of 2002 (resulting in the closure of the road and outrage from local traders) when water pipes had to be replaced, but, unfortunately, within months, the old problems started to show again. I'm no engineer, but part of the problem seems to be that the material used between the setts can't absorb any vibration ; it simply cracks. Add in the fact that this type of road surface, whilst looking pretty, was never intended to cope with modern traffic levels and frequent use by heavy vehicles such as double decker buses and you start to have real problems.

The road is assessed every year by the council, but has failed in recent years to score enough points to be allocated a share of the budget. As others have said, there aren't enough serious accidents involving pedestrians to make it a priority.

The one major improvement in the time I've stayed here has been to the pavements. The nice high kerb offers some sort of protection against the traffic. Previously, the kerb was practically non-existent and buses and other large vehicles would frequently mount the pavement. I was twice, while on the pavement, struck by the wing mirror of such a vehicle, so I'm sure many others were as well!

I ought to add it isn't the noise level that bothers me. I accept that is part of living on a busy city street, however, it is worth mentioning that because the houses are listed you can't install double glazing, which is the solution most house owners would adopt.

PS

Apologies for the length of this post and thanks to anyone who has managed to read this far!

[Grunk]

I think the solution is to ensure a proper traffic management scheme throughout the whole city, as well as a campaign encouraging better and more courteous driving practices.

Essentially if the average speed through the city (probably about 5MPH just now) was increased then drivers wouldn't feel so frustrated and speed whenever they are not stuck in traffic.
If people journey times to any point in the city was less than 30mins (which is should be for a city that's only about 10 miles across) then I would think there would be far less cases of reckless driving.

Also I've noticed that a lot of drivers seem to have forgotten the highway code.
Lots of random lane changes without indicating, undertaking, sticking in the passing lane when not passing, again this merely leads to the frustration of other motorists.

[Maria]

There's certainly a sense of folk using Brighton Place as a rat run (to avoid the temp lights at King's Road roundabout/junction), which again seems to cause folk to speed.

Improving traffic flow, Grunk, might calm frayed nerves, but it is not a solution to the roller coaster ride that is Brighton Place.

[SoupDragon]

Improving the traffic flow along the High Street might improve things but there will always be people who want to " get ahead"
We witness cars using Straiton Place trying to beat the traffic in the High St , quite a few do not obey the 20mph signs.
The same happens in Seafiled Road with cars cutting down at the cat and dog home and racing along the industrail estate to try and cut in that wee bit futher along




On another note the wee boy whose memorial is in Brighton Place tragically died as a result of head injuries when he fell off his bike when cycling to school, on the pavement.
No cars were invovled
I know this for fact as I was there that very sad morning.

[Grunk]

[seashell]

[Grunk]

[SoupDragon]

[Skeely]

[seanie]

[Porty]

[wangi]

[Porty]

[Grunk]

[seashell]

[Grunk]