Cycling on the Promenade

[Franck]

[Peter Bradley]

is there any reason they cant just stick up a safe speed limit - say 10mph?

[seanie]

Cycling wasn't illegal anyway according to the police. And the Council's legal advice on the current situation seems to suggest the police were right all along.

[Franck]

[Franck]

[wangi]

I normally cycle at 10-12mph on the Prom; going much slower as circumstances dictate. Last night cycling back from the PCC meeting I attempted to get 30mph (as was implied folk were cycling at) and topped out just above 20mph (note deserted Prom, wide section @ Community Gardens - was still safe!)...

[Franck]

[Pal of Porty]

I have lived on Seaview Terrace for 15 years, cycle every day and have yet to see anyone cycle on the pavement on the side that the houses are. Further along the road by Eastfield there are numerous cyclists that use the pavement but almost all seem to be families, who like Franck, are taking their young kids to Musselburgh etc and quite rightly want to avoid the road at that busy section. I have done the same many times with my kids. Most of the people I have seen using the pavement are doing so with due respect to others and all the speedsters seem to use the road at that part. Certainly not an ideal situation tho!

[seanie]

I think that this (percieved?) change does bring potential benefits in that the Council are looking at ways to make the mix of pedestrians and cyclists safer. Given that there was already plenty of cycling on the Prom, some engineering to improve visibilty and reduce the risk of collisions, coupled with improved signage to encourage considerate behaviour, and we could end up with a safer arrangement than the one we've had up till now.

[Epykat]

[Franck]

[seanie]

When it comes to cycling on the Prom I think they've been relying on in-house advice, rather than the expense of QCs.

[Epykat]

[seanie]

Up till recently the Council have taken the view that, as a Roads Authority, they had the power to ban cycling on the Prom, a position that seems to have had not insignificant public support. Even at the PCC meeting one cyclist said he would've preferred the existing signs to remain as, although he cycled on the Prom, he thought the presumption against encouraged more careful cycling. However, the Police have consistently said that as far as they were concerned cycling (responsibly) was legal. Whatever the situation actually was, there's now no doubt it's legal due to the Core Path designation. The Council appear to be responding to that in a sensible way that could improve the current situation.

[Puerto bella]

Epy - you're a minx but we love you.... and Sean - the council pay well for spin doctors, you should really be on a retainer or at least invoice them for all the good work you've done.

[seanie]

I go back to my previous point.

There already was cycling on the Prom so it's not clear how much deterrent effect the cycling ban had. Maybe there will be an increase in cycling or a change in cycling behaviour (I'd be surprised if it was significant though).

One thing that is pretty certain however, is that the Council would never have authorised expenditure to improve the safety of cycling on the Prom whilst they still considered cycling to be illegal. But because they see it as a change in circumstances they are now proposing to do just that, by introducing barriers at specific junctions, re-positioning bollards, introducing drop kerbs etc. coupled with new signage.

I know there are strong views on this subject, but we could end up with a safer situation than before.

[Puerto bella]

As part of the community council's research I would recommend they look at the Gehl Architects web site and inform themselves on how other places address cycling in their communities. There's no need to start from a negative position focusing on conflict or try to re-invent the wheel. You will find some of Jan Gehl and David Sim's lectures on you tube which you will find of interest - esepcially the work they have done in New York and you couldn't get a more extreme traffic/ ped/ cycling conflict scenario than Broadway or 5th Avenue - the Prom pales in comparison. Good luck.

[Maria]

Entertaining wee clip about New York cycle lanes, also on Youtube.

[Puerto bella]

Wonderful

[seanie]

The proposals the City Council come up
with will be subject to further public consultation, and I'm sure organisations like SPOKES will be keen to contribute amongst others.

[Bazza]

Allowing cycling on the Prom is great, but what Porty really lacks is safe and easy access into town by bike. Fishwives causeway gets you a wee bit of the way, but then you're on your own.

I'm a confident cyclist, and I've always cycled on city streets. But if you're just starting out, there's no easy route into town.

[Pal of Porty]

I usually go the long way round by going up Brustane Road then picking up the cycle path at Big W through to St Leonard's police station - must admit to it being a bit hairy going down the bridges to St Andrew Square though!

[regent]

[wangi]

[Porty]

Tuesday 29/05 Jeremy Vine at Noon- there's a package on promendade cycling across the UK.

[urchaidh]

Google maps in the UK has now been updated with 'cycle trails', 'dedicated lanes'* and 'friendly roads'. You can view this from the wee menu box on the top right of a map or you can select cycling as an option when asking for directions.

The coverage is OK, but patchy, and I'd question a few of the cycle friendly roads. The big omission is the prom, if anyone else feels like rattling Google cage you can report it from the link at the bottom right. The Christians path is missing from the map altogether.

* a.k.a. car parking

[wangi]

Surprise today. Finally the no-cycling signs were taken down, and cycling signs put up on Portobello Prom. The standard issue ones look great, but the consultation driven "code of conduct" ones are of no use. They are completely unreadable and just server to clutter and confuse!

[Pal of Porty]

Yahoo....Now I can go really fast.

[fresian]

"Finalised versions of the replacement signs are due to be presented to the "Community Council" at the end of this month.". So they've put them up early, perhaps a cynical ploy to get them in before "Portobello Against New Signs"(PANS) appoint their spokeswoman.

[wangi]

Nah, they're very very late...

[seashell]

[Peter Bradley]

Hey PoP - I've seen you cycling and I doubt you can break the speed limit!! (OK maybe downhill!!)


I love cycling
That said everyone - this is NOT a license for cyclists to hammer it along the prom - if you want to go fast hit the road - otherwise stick to 10mph or lower .....it's all about sharing the space

if I see cyclists screaming along the prom and endangering children then they should expect to land on the beach - the same goes for dog walkers with out of control 50m extendable leads!!!

[Pal of Porty]