Cycle barriers
Barriers/chicanes on footpath which make it difficult for people with mobility issues to use these paths. They are also tricky for children on bikes to navigate, or if you are pushing a bike.
This section lists issues - problems on the street network and related matters.
Issues always relate to some geographical location, whether very local or perhaps city-wide.
You can create a new issue using the button on the right.
Listed issues, most recent first, limited to the area of City Cycling Edinburgh:
Barriers/chicanes on footpath which make it difficult for people with mobility issues to use these paths. They are also tricky for children on bikes to navigate, or if you are pushing a bike.
Barriers/chicanes on footpath which make it difficult for people with mobility issues to use these paths. They are also tricky for children on bikes to navigate, or if you are pushing a bike.
There's a rather deep gutter along the edges of Telfer Subway, which makes it difficult for cyclists to turn into the path along to Dalry Road. I imagine the gutter poses even bigger problems for wheelchair users and others of limited mobility. A cover should be put over the gutter at this point.
Created by FrenchyF // 1 thread
Parking/loading should not be allowed in the contraflow bike lane. Drivers are often unaware that there even is a contraflow bike lane, and parked cars force cyclists to enter the oncoming lane, which causes conflict and endangers them. Ideally the bike lane would also be mandatory rather than advisory.
Created by FrenchyF // 1 thread
A dropped kerb should be added at the foot of Braidwood Gate so that cyclists don't need to dismount. A chicane is *not* needed at the bottom of the hill, either.
A ramp should also be added, either in place of or beside the steps from Dumbiedykes Road into Holyrood Park.
Created by FrenchyF // 1 thread
A gate or hole in the fence should be installed to allow access between Candlemaker's Park and Drum Avenue.
Created by Rob Earl // 1 thread
The section of QR20 through Lochend Park is unlit, making it unsuitable during winter months.
The pavement on the west side of Gilmerton Road, just to the south of the junction with Moredun Dykes Road, has a gap in it which should be fixed. This could either be by filling in the gap, or adding dropped kerbs.
27/10/17 update: This has now been fixed - tar has been added to create mini ramps in place of dropped kerbs.
Created by Rob Earl // 0 threads
Gravel/muddy slope section of QR20, the rest of which is tarmac path/roads.
Created by FrenchyF // 1 thread
The southbound cycle lane disappears at the pinch points caused by traffic islands. The cycle lanes should get wider through the pinch point. East Lothian Council has done this (on Linkfield Road in Musselburgh, for example), and Edinburgh really needs to follow suit.
Created by Rob Earl // 1 thread
Lack of parking restrictions at this bend/entrance to Lochend Park leads to conflict with oncoming vehicles and "squeezing" unsuitable for a route designed to encourage 8-80 cycling.
Parked cars often block the (poorly placed) dropped kerb into Lochend Park.
Created by FrenchyF // 1 thread
Just south of Little France Road, the southbound bike lane on Old Dalkeith Road is appalling. It's alongside a parking bay, but the parking bay isn't wide enough for cars to fit into it without them sticking into the bike lane. Even if it was, "dooring" would still be a significant hazard.
Even away from the parking bay, the bike lane is too narrow.
The bike lane really needs to be wider and further away from parked cars. If this isn't possible, I think it would be better to have no cycle lane at all.
Created by FrenchyF // 1 thread
The road markings at the junction between Old Dalkeith Road and Little France Cottages should be repainted. Adding a bike lane would also be an improvement.
The timing of the signals at the Ferniehill Road junction could also be changed. Currently, you need to use three separate pelican crossings to get from one side of the road to the other, and this can take several minutes.
Created by GinaroZ // 1 thread
See: https://goo.gl/maps/sZEe3AdMN8v - dropped kerb and step removal required for NEPN access from Bonnington Grove. The other side at Dalmeny Road has step-free access.
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 1 thread
The path between Hyvot Loan and Guardwell Glen has two narrow chicanes at both ends, which are quite overgrown too.
This path is important as it allows people to leave the quiet route northwards towards Ellens Glen, so you can avoid parts of the busy Gilmerton Rd.
I contacted the Active Travel team about it and they are going to look at it. There is some uncertainty if this is owned by the Morrison supermarket or the council. The chicanes were put in after local complaints about motorbike, so the Active Travel team has to investigate if this is still a concern.
Created by Rob Earl // 0 threads
Useful shortcut to Halfords/etc without having to cross Seafield Road twice. Could be used year round if surfaced properly.
Created by Rob Earl // 1 thread
Opening a gap in the wall would give access through towards Portobello and Figgate Park
Created by Rob Earl // 0 threads
Opening a gap in the wall would give access through towards Portobello and Figgate Park
Lots of space (wide pavements/verges) to provide for cycling on what should be an 8-80 route
Created by Rob Earl // 0 threads
Better access to NEPN than through St Mark's Park which involves an uphill, narrowing road approaching a blind bridge. Requires stopping in traffic to negotiate parked cars and kerb.
Created by FrenchyF // 0 threads
The bike lane here starts too close to the junction - drivers hug the kerb before the cycle lane starts, and this makes the lane useless.
Created by FrenchyF // 0 threads
There should be a dropped kerb at the foot of Braidwood Gate, leading to Dumbiedykes
The SUP alongside Millerhill Road should be better signposted
Created by FrenchyF // 1 thread
The path along the north side of Old Dalkeith Rd, between Ferniehill Drive and The Wisp, should be designated Shared Use.
This map shows all issues, whether points, routes, or areas:
The most popular issues, based on the number of votes:
Created by Rob Earl // 0 threads
Gravel/muddy slope section of QR20, the rest of which is tarmac path/roads.
Created by Rob Earl // 1 thread
Access to QR10 from Fillyside Road requires either:
- Cycle across busy/fast road and up full height kerb
- Turn right onto busy/fast road for ~100m, turn left up dropped (but not flush) kerb
- Cycle on pavement and cross at traffic island
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 1 thread
The gate at the north end of the Innocent tunnel only leaves a narrow opening.
1. It's generally too narrow for trailers etc.
2. You move from bright light outside into the darkness of the tunnel, and going into the tunnel you often can't see people cycling or walking out; this would not be an issue of the full width of the path was usable.
3. The gap is at the edge of the path with various surface defects
Created by Kokomo // 0 threads
usually have to wait a very long time here - reduce the wait time after pushing the button! This crossing needs to be more responsive like the one round the corner on Clerk St.
This small change will make a big difference to this route to the Innocent Path
The Dalmeny Park house builders have installed new chicanes on NCN route 1. Unfortunately none of these meet the guidlines for chicanes on cycling facilities.
Created by acsimpson // 0 threads
There is a gate across the full width of the national cycle network just west of the Railway line past Dalmeny. This forces all path users to use the uneven verge which can get very muddy at certain times of year.
Created by acsimpson // 1 thread
The traffic island on Maybury Road at the Maybury Junction is too small to accommodate cyclists (especially those pulling child trailers, etc) other than at it's extreme southern end. As this is a two stage crossing it can lead to either the need to cross when red or wait partly blocking the carriageway.
The light timings need changed to allow a full crossing at once or the island needs to be extended.
Created by acsimpson // 0 threads
Maybury Road is nominally a 40mph road however a brief observation period will quickly reveal many drivers going at 60mph or more. This is not a suitable speed for a high use cycle route. The pavements are badly maintained and yet still used by the majority of cyclists using the road, especially uphill in either direction.
The traffic lights at either end of the road only ever allow one lane of traffic onto the road at a time which encourages drivers to overtake each other at high speed.
A two way cycle route should be built the length of the road taking the space currently allocated to the uphill lane in either direction. The earlier removal of the southbound uphill section illustrates the redundancy of the extra lane nicely.
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 1 thread
A large number of brick strips have been installed across the path in Magdalene Glen in early 2017.
While these do nothing at all to deter fast cyclists, they are a real pain for slow cyclists, people with arthritic hands (due to the vibrations and need to grip the handlebar very strongly).
It is not clear if there has been any consultation about these measures. Neither Spokes nor anybody on the CEC forum seems to have been aware of the plans.
Created by Sefton // 1 thread
The Lovers Loan shared path through the Grange has at least 5 very tight barriers along its length, and missing dropped kerbs - especially at the crossing of Dick Place. Removing barriers or widening them would make it much more easy to use for bikes, buggies and wheelchairs. Even some double pushchairs don't fit!
Barriers, so many barriers, most of which should be removed.
Created by FrenchyF // 0 threads
Dropped kerbs should be added at each end of the path between Captain's Road and Captain's Drive.
Always been a bit of a problem - worse for pedestrians than cyclists.
Detailed (re-)design is apparently underway.
"Temporary" barrier/road closure created because of Leith Walk tram 'works'.
No-one seems willing to take responsibility for restoring/creating/protecting decent permeable route.
Created by Donald Noble // 0 threads
It would be useful to have signage at this location to show the route onto the cycle path. Coming north along Lochend Road from the A8/Airport it is not clear that you need to head into the treatment works access road to see the path leading onto the main cycle path.
Created by Donald Noble // 0 threads
The existing cycle parking outside Haymarket station has nowhere near enough capacity, and more spaces should be provided.
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 1 thread
The footbridge has lot of steps, even though it is a shallow ramp; apparently the designers did not expect that people with bicycles, wheelchairs, buggys or trolleys might ever want to use the bridge.
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 0 threads
Important connection to get from Gilmerton Rd to Liberton Rd/Mayfield Rd/Kings Buildings, but road surface is badly cratered with some deep holes in blind corners.
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 0 threads
Road was converted to one-way recently, forcing cyclists from Kings Buildings out onto busy West Mains Rd where previously they could cycle within the campus to the toucan at the NE corner.