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:
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 0 threads
This path is often quite muddy. It is gravel and resurfaced every year or so.
But it's a very busy walking and cycling connection between Inch and Craigmillar, and the gravel just doesn't last very long.
Not sure what to do. It would be a shame to convert it to tarmac, but perhaps there is some surfacing option that lasts a bit longer.
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 0 threads
Make dropped kerb where the footpath from Ravenswood Avenue meets the Old Dalkeith Rd. This would make it possible for cyclists on Old Dalkeith Rd to dismount here and walk over to Ravenswood Av.
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 0 threads
Add a dropped kerb at the bottom of Kirk Brae so that people on bike can dismount easier and push if they don't feel like struggling up the hill.
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 0 threads
Dropped kerb at the end of the cycle lane southbound, so that people on bikes can get off and push.
At rush hour it is usually impossible to merge into and keep up with the motor traffic uphills, many cyclists dismount here and walk to the pedestrian crossing.
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 1 thread
Often a lot of parking on the grass, in laybys etc., especially during sports event, but also other days.
There is a small parking area in front of the Sports Centre, mainly disabled bays, and a large car park in front of Inch House.
The council has over time added more and more grasscrete areas on the eastern part of the road for about 12 cars, I've been told they were not in the original planning permission.
The provision of parking attracted more and more drivers into the park as there is now an expectation that one can park close to the sports centre, this has become the norm rather than the exception (for people with disabilities, deliveries etc).
Needed are
- bollards along the road to protect the grass
- clear signage
- reduce the parking spaces within the park to the minimum to discourage drivers.
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 0 threads
Remove the steps and the guardrails to make a connection for bicycles (and buggys and wheelchairs).
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 0 threads
Kirk Brae and Lasswade Rd at least up to Margiotta should be included in 20mph. It's very narrow, residential, and with many shops in Lasswade Rd.
It's also steep uphills and fast overtaking makes it very dangerous for cycling.
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 0 threads
Need proper bicycle racks in front of Margiotta (there are a few wheelbenders in a corner)
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 0 threads
Roundabout needs cycling and pedestrian provision, extremely difficult to turn right from Newcraighall Rd or cross from B&Q to Fort Kinnaird.
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 1 thread
Terrifying stretch of Gilmerton Rd around Robin's Nest needs complete overhaul. Pinch points, blind corners, parking, cratered surface, and school exit, also on a hill where cycling and driving speeds vary a lot.
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.
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 0 threads
A new path between Cameron March and Crawfurd Rd would be an enormous improvment as it would allow cyclists coming from Old Dalkeith Rd and Peffermill Rd to avoid Lady Rd (steep uphills, no cycle provision, much traffic) or Dalkeith Rd (steep uphills, no cycle provision, much traffic, plus parking).
This path would also connect naturally to the strange cycle path on the inside of Cameron Toll that just ends on Lady Rd. with a "cyclist dismount" sign.
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 1 thread
Guardrails on W side of the toucan are unnecessary, restrict the footpath & lead to conflict between pedestrians and cyclists. They also block part of the dropped kerb.
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 1 thread
No way to get a bicycle through these chicanes.
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
Remove the railings at the steps, unnecessary street clutter that narrows the pavement and makes crossing Old Dalkeith Rad more difficult.
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 0 threads
Dropped kerb needed at the end of Ravenswood Avenue, so that bicycles can get to the footpath that leads to the toucan.
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
The Range supermarket has no cycle parking at all, and no railings or other things to lock a bike to. I usually lock it to a couple of shopping trolleys, but I'm sure that's not what the shop prefers.
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 0 threads
Build a path (steps and alternative ramp) from the bus stop in Liberton Road to the Shopping Centre.
This would be an ENOURMOUS improvement for shoppers who use the bus, as currently you have to walk all the way to Gilmerton Rd and back across the car park.
The path would enable cyclists to avoid the busy and fast Lady Rd roundabout to get into the car park.
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 0 threads
The underpass of Innocent under Milton Link is very dark (even during day); particularly unpleasant/dangerous as the path surface is badly damaged, cracked and uneven, and very often rubbish, stones or other obstacles are placed there by inconsiderate citizens.
Needs better lighting and resurfacing.
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 0 threads
The cattle pen in the middle of York Place is too narrow and has awkward corners so that you can't even push a bike there when there are pedestrians.
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 0 threads
It is really not clear how you get from the east end of George Street to York Place. The toucan leads you onto the pavement in the centre of St Andrews Square but then there is no sign or any hint how to get to NE corner of St Andrew Sq where the shared footpath starts again.
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 0 threads
Kirk Brae really needs a cycle lane uphills. There is enough space as the car lanes are fairly wide (sometimes with space wasted by hatching in the centre) but at the moment encourage dangerous overtaking.
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 0 threads
Parked cars create narrow pinch points in front of the school, cycle lane becomes unusable so that cyclist can't pass the queuing cars.
This map shows all issues, whether points, routes, or areas:
The most popular issues, based on the number of votes:
We have a tandem which fits in all the spaces on trains in Scotland (as far as I know), but we are prohibited from taking it on any except the East Coast line trains. I've been writing to various officials - elected and otherwise - and contributed to the recent review of the Scotrail franchise, but am not getting much joy. No one seems to think it is a big deal. But, for my family, with 2 kids aged 5 and 1, and no car, if we don't go by tandem and train, we can't go anywhere much. The tandem is not a luxury but a practical transport solution. Does anyone else want to join in and make this more than a one-woman issue?
(another related issue: even once the kids can ride their own bikes, we won't be able to use trains much since most only allow 2 reservations).
Surface, drainage and width issues.
Planned for upgrade as part of CEC 'family network'
No details/dates.
Was an issue 5 years ago (and before)
Created by Shaun McDonald // 1 thread
Is this really the best that Edinburgh can do for the flagship national cycle network route 1 to get it to cross Clerk Street? You have to go through a pile of bins, on to the pavement to get round a barrier and then try and judge it right to cross the road, or use the nearby pedestrian crossing.
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 1 thread
The chicane at the west end of the Magdalene Glen path interrupts the flow when going uphills, particularly unpleasant for people with weak knees. It also forces cyclists uphills often to stop and start when there are other people going through, as it's not wide enough to pass.
It doesn't serve any useful purpose at it is on the top of the slope where cyclists are very slow anyway. As it's uphills, there is little danger that e.g. kids run out onto the wide pavement of Duddingston Pk South. Cyclists from the West are slow at this point anyway as they turn into the path.
Created by chdot // 1 thread
Longstanding issue about 'optimum' design, particularly to reduce conflict caused by vehicles turning from Teviot Pl due to signal phases.
Added to reduce confict with pedestrians at back of Leith Academy.
Will act as a barrier to long bikes, trailers and probably buggies and wheelchairs.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chdot/8116937797/sizes/l/in/photostream
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 0 threads
Need considerably more bicycle parking at the shopping centre. The few racks here are often overfull.
Created by HankChief // 0 threads
There needs to be a ramped access to the school grounds at this point to replace or bypass the 6 steps currently there.
This would not only improve access to the school but also improve connection between the East Craigs Path Network and North Gyle and the only toucan crossing on the A8 in Edinburgh on Dechmont Road.
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 0 threads
Need proper bicycle racks in front of Margiotta (there are a few wheelbenders in a corner)
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 0 threads
Kirk Brae and Lasswade Rd at least up to Margiotta should be included in 20mph. It's very narrow, residential, and with many shops in Lasswade Rd.
It's also steep uphills and fast overtaking makes it very dangerous for cycling.
Created by Donald Noble // 0 threads
It would be good to have a dropped kerb near here to allow southeast-bound cyclists who have used the road/bus lane to rejoin the cycle path without having to go onto the A90 slip road to rejoin at Crammond Brig
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 0 threads
The whole area is a barrier, there are no connections between North Bridge, St Andrews Sq/George St and top of Leith Walk without lot of bus/taxi/confused private car drivers and cyclist-blender junctions.
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 0 threads
Contraflow bike lane in Salisbury Rd for easier access from Southside to Commonwealth Pool, Pollock Halls and Holyrood Park.
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 1 thread
Very difficult to cross here, coming from Brunstane Burn Walkway to turn right towards Musselburgh.
The timing of the traffic lights seems to be such that there is almost always traffic from one direction, so one often has to wait for very long here.
Created by Stephan Matthiesen // 1 thread
Cycle lanes in both directions needs urgent improvment. It's painted on but
- it is far too narrow, encouraging dangerous overtaking
- road surface in the gutter (=cycle lane) extremely bad, with deep&wide cracks, most covers have sunken etc.
- paint has faded
- parking (near the schools)
Many sections of Gilmerton Rd have hatching in the centre, wasting space; these sections would be wide enough for a segregated path (or wide lane protected by bollards/armadillos).
In the narrower sections, the existing bike lane should be removed completely because at the moment it increases the dangers (encouraging cyclists to be in the gutter between kerb and speeding cars).
Created by FrenchyF // 0 threads
There should be a dropped kerb at the foot of Braidwood Gate, leading to Dumbiedykes
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 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 Rob Earl // 0 threads
Opening a gap in the wall would give access through towards Portobello and Figgate Park
Created by Rob Earl // 1 thread
Opening a gap in the wall would give access through towards Portobello and Figgate Park
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 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.
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 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.
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.