Dedicated off-road cycle path from Portobello to Leith

[wangi]

[Porty]

Couldn't agree more about upgrading the sewage path. I have long thought that this should be done in conjunction with widening the shared footpath from the end of of the Prom to the sewage path entrance. I would also recommend that they remove the signage posts from the middle of the pavement!

[wangi]

[Franck]

[Grunk]

I don't actually like shared pavements, as cyclists and pedestrians tend to get in the way of each other.

Really what you want in a cycle path is a transport conduit that you can cycle down without fear of a pedestrian or dog suddenly deciding to veer off into your path. Now this idea, works well in other countries, where there is a clear demarcation between the section of the path to be used by cyclist and the section to be used by pedestrians.

But I can't help but feel that a better way to do cycle paths in Edinburgh, is to have a section of curbing dividing the main road and the cycle path, whilst keeping the footpath raised. This would allow the cycle path remain seperate from the road (and t-junction traffic lights) whilst encouraging the pedestrians/dog walkers to remain clear of the cycle path.

I imagine if I cycle that route, I'll remain on the road.

[wangi]

[seashell]

We drove along the Seafield section the other day, and not only is the road narrow, it is in bad repair and the "new" wider pavement is either not yet finished or they've done a terrible job on it. It doesn't look as if either drivers or cyclists are going to be happy. A proper, dedicated cycle route would have been much better instead of this half-hearted compromise. Given the amount of traffic on that road, narrowing it really doesn't make much sense.

[rmolehusband]

[rmolehusband]

[wangi]

[twellys]

Apparently Sustrans are in favour of turning the path south of the sewage works into a cycle path, so avoiding Seafield Road between Seafield Street to the bridge.

However Edinburgh Council for some reason have not added this to the improvements at this time.

[Max Blinkhorn]

Thinking that any cyclist on that path by the railway stretch would be vulnerable. It would need to be lit too. If the path were extended into Leith docks to come out by the Casino (spit) that would work very well. There is space. Take it on to Ocean Terminal then Newhaven after that.

[twellys]

Agreed. Again apparently Sustrans would like a cycle path from Cramond to Musselburgh, ideally by the sea. Howewer they need to negotiate with National Rail, Forth Ports, etc., which takes time.

[Bazza]

@twellys: the council didn't just decide not to use that single-track path behind the railway track. It's on railway land, and is not available for the council to use. I was sceptical about the widened pavement they put in instead, but it works really well.

[Bazza]

But these design changes to my mind are tackling the wrong problems, welcome though they are.

The section through the car park at the foot of bath street can be dangerous, and cars can also block the cycle path at the north end.

The section past the school on Leith Links is very narrow, and has very annoying barriers. When kids are going in to school in the mornings, it gets very busy, and trying to take a bike through the crowd is not easy!

And then the path is supposed to carry on to the Water of Leith. That section takes you right in to a rat run through the heart of Leith. The drivers that use it are fast and aggressive, and the road surface is god-awful. THAT is what I would tackle first. I'd put a segregated bike path down Links Place, and I'd block off the rat-run on Queen Charlotte street, so that it wasn't a through road. All you'd need to block the rat-run would be a single metal bollard, so not expensive.

[twellys]

The problem with Queen Charlotte Street is the Leith Police Station is on that street. However I share your concern of the narrow streets behind the Shore. Hoping that, with the roadworks ended on the junction with Constitution Street, there will be less cars going down the rat-run.

@Bazza: Yes, I'm just passing on third hand information from my wife's relation. Her relation is/was high up in Sustrans, but her relation doesn't report back what the council's views/decisions. That's all.

Cheers.