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Leith Walk cycle path plans ‘shambolic’ say Edinburgh campaigners

Cyclists on segregated path would have to give way to traffic emerging from side streets

New plans for Leith Walk in Edinburgh show segregated bike lanes in both directions running from the Pilrig Street Junction to the Brunswick Street junction further south. However, while some cycle campaigners have welcomed the developments, others have taken issue with junctions that would demand cyclists give way to traffic emerging from side roads.

Two separate designs have been presented for public consultation – one showing how the street would look if councillors vote to extend the tram line and another showing how it would look if the tram line isn’t extended. Both feature segregated space for cyclists.

In 2012 plans for Leith Walk were nicknamed ‘the cyclist blender’ as they would have seen cyclists having to move out of kerbed cycle lanes and into traffic to negotiate roundabouts at either end of a 200 metre stretch of road. When these were shelved, new plans promised ‘significant sections of uninterrupted cycle space’ and redesigned junctions.

However, while the new designs would see the creation of a fully segregated path which avoids communal bins and bus stops, a number of campaigners have taken issue with the junctions where riders would have to give way to traffic emerging from side streets.

On Twitter, GB Cycling Embassy branded the designs ‘shambolic’, while Kim Harding, one of the founders of the Pedal on Parliament, told the Edinburgh News:

“When it was first planned to bring the tram down Leith Walk, Spokes commissioned a group of Dutch engineers to lay out plans for how to put in proper off-road cycle paths all the way down. The council never took that on board, and have now produced this thing where it abandons you where you need it most.”

However, John Lauder, National Director of Sustrans Scotland – who have been working with the council on the designs – was supportive of the plans:

“Sustrans is fully engaged in the City of Edinburgh Council’s plans for Leith Walk. We are supporting the designs, with funding from Transport Scotland, that we feel will make Leith Walk a better place to live, shop and work. The designs that have been delivered so far give the Walk more of a High Street feel and make it feel safer and calmer, complementary to the city’s bold plans for 20mph streets and to have 15% of commuting trips to be made by bicycle by 2020.”

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15 comments

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harrybav | 9 years ago
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Leith walk is >30 metres wide for much of its length. Only room for painted lines (on pavement). This needs political direction - forget sustrans, they are a branch of government, paid when they support don't-rock-the-boat projects. If they were in Holland in the 70s, they would not be supporting that famous Stop The Child Murders campaign, too controversial.

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ron611087 | 9 years ago
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Sustrans do leisure cycling routes, not commuter routes, and that with mixed results. By their own admission you should not attempt a Systrans route on anything less than a touring bike or a MTB and I have frequently found their routes unsuitable for a touring bike. They are the wrong group to consult on Leith Walk.

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Kim | 9 years ago
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Sustrans would do a much better job if John Lauder actually bothered to read the Charter of Brussels, it doesn't say anything specifically about "commuting trips". It says very clearly:
Undersigned cities commit themselves:
a)
To set a target of at least 15% for the share of cycling in the modal split of trips for the year 2020 and of further growth if this target already is achieved.

Sadly the first consultation I attended on Leith Walk a Sustrans staff member said that it was not Sustrans policy to build Dutch style separated, suitable for all cyclists for 8 to 80 on roads such as Leith Walk. I look forward to the day that Sustrans commit themselves to providing cycle infrastructure on atrial routes in Edinburgh for everyone, not just for adult vernacular cyclists. Only them will Edinburgh have any chance of "15% for the share of cycling in the modal split of trips".

The frustrating thing is that Sustrans can do it, they do have the staff with the skills to do it, they just lack will to do it.

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the little onion replied to Kim | 9 years ago
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Kim wrote:

Sadly the first consultation I attended on Leith Walk a Sustrans staff member said that it was not Sustrans policy to build Dutch style separated, suitable for all cyclists for 8 to 80 on roads such as Leith Walk.

That is an absolutely astonishing position for a supposedly pro-cycling organisation to take. Leith walk is a direct arterial route, which is easily wide enough to take a segregated cycle lane on either side of the road (it would probably need those "floating" bus stops though). I can't think of a better road in the northern half of Edinburgh which is better suited (maybe London road, or Ferry Road, but few others). If they are not going to build infrastructure which works for cyclists of all types on a road like that, they might as well admit that they aren't that bothered about increasing cyclist numbers to anything like Dutch levels.

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kwi | 9 years ago
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A local cycle path has exactly that, cyclists give way at junctions. But who to? Left turners? That's going to be fun spotting them. Emerging traffic that has to give way to those on the main carriageway? Right turners that give way to oncoming traffic?
It's bedlam and makes no sense whatsoever, fortunately car drivers seem unaware they are there. Though I bet if they T-Bone a cyclist that'll be the defence.

The quicker the lessons learnt in Drachten and Bohmte are learnt and applied the better.

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HarrogateSpa | 9 years ago
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There's no point in creating a cycle lane if bikes have to give way at every side road. Cycles need to have the same priority as other vehicles at junctions. When building infrastructure for bikes, planners should remember that what they build must be safe and CONVENIENT - otherwise it won't be used.

It's disappointing to see Sustrans backing crap infrastructure.

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giff77 | 9 years ago
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I think that particular rule has been scored out of most motorists copies of the Highway Code mrmo. Have yet to experience a motorist giving way to me once I've started to cross a side street.

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brooksby replied to giff77 | 9 years ago
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giff77 wrote:

I think that particular rule has been scored out of most motorists copies of the Highway Code mrmo. Have yet to experience a motorist giving way to me once I've started to cross a side street.

As a pedestrian I always take advantage of that rule, if I look and believe that the oncoming car has room to reasonably stop. Ditto for crossing a side street as a pedestrian with cars coming out. You do get a lot of revving engines and the occasional hoot - obviously, how dare a mere pedestrian hold up the great God automobile... Having to brake and change gear is a very complicated ritual, you know

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mrmo | 9 years ago
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The interesting thing about the give way at side roads.

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a_to_the_j | 9 years ago
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letdown again - but the council can at least say its spent XX million quid on cycling infrastructure and we should all be happy and grateful.

here in inverness most cycle lanes are just upgraded paths to "shared use" and you have to stop and give way to anything and everything that would cross a pavement, making the commute to work utter STUPID on them.

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nowasps | 9 years ago
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Sustrans is only fit for "leisure" and "family" cycling. It has no part to play when it comes to roads and transport.

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EddyBerckx | 9 years ago
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Sustrans volunteers stopped me on the cs3 a month or so back whilst trying to sign up new members...really had to restrain myself from telling the truth of while I'll never join them (they were friendly enough) and so I politly said no and rode on...maybe the wrong decision. They ain't got a clue.

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vonhelmet | 9 years ago
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Giving way to emerging traffic? Reminds me of this video from a few years ago - Chris Boardman talking through some typical cycle lane brilliance. Not far from where I grew up and where my parents now live, as it goes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xyd_KGUh10g

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ianrobo replied to vonhelmet | 9 years ago
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vonhelmet wrote:

Giving way to emerging traffic? Reminds me of this video from a few years ago - Chris Boardman talking through some typical cycle lane brilliance. Not far from where I grew up and where my parents now live, as it goes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xyd_KGUh10g

thanks for that link and just proves to me why I never bother with cycle lanes ... pointless

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Accessibility f... | 9 years ago
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Sustrans are blithering idiots. They have no clue how to build safe cycling infrastructure.

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