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Edinburgh to introduce cycle lanes indicating safest angle to cross tram tracks

Tracks have resulted in the death of a cyclist and hundreds of injuries

New red-surfaced cycle lanes are to be installed in Edinburgh indicating the optimum angle for crossing tram tracks. The measures will be introduced along with a campaign urging all road users to "look out for each other".

Hundreds of cyclists have been injured on Edinburgh’s tram tracks at an estimated cost to the NHS of more than £1m. Many are also taking legal action with two lead cases to be heard in May 2019.

In June, Zhi Min Soh was killed after coming off her bike on tram tracks before being hit by a minibus. At the time, it was said that Edinburgh tram bosses had “largely ignored” a report warning that cycle lanes should be installed along the length of the network.

Shandwick Place, where the incident occurred, is one of five locations where the new markings will be added. The Scotsman reports that while cycling safety measures were already under consideration prior to her death, Shandwick Place had not up until then been among the locations earmarked for improvements.

The four other locations are York Place into Elder Street, Princes Street on to Waverley Bridge, Princes Street into South St David Street and Princes Street into Frederick Street. The work is due to be completed by the end of October.

Lesley Macinnes, City of Edinburgh Council's transport convener, said: "Road safety is one of the council's top priorities and we've been working very closely with cycling groups for many months on ways to help make it easier for cyclists to safely cross tram tracks in the city centre.

"The measures we've been able to bring forward as phase one will help demonstrate the safest angle to cross the tracks at five key points along the route, something which we know will be especially welcomed by less confident cyclists.

"We're emphasising that this is about all road users looking out for each other to keep themselves and each other safe.

"Drivers need to make sure they give cyclists plenty of time and extra space to get into the position they need to be in to cross the tram tracks safely and cyclists need to clearly signal – as early as possible – what they plan to do. By looking out for each other, we can ensure we all reach our destination safely."

Last month we reported that cyclists would get dedicated lanes for the planned £165.2 million Ediburgn tram extension under which trams will run from York Place/Picardy Place to Newhaven by 2022.

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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13 comments

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kie7077 | 6 years ago
0 likes

Road.cc, when are you going to notify of comment replies again? I feel it's pointless to comment now. What am I supposed to do, check every story I'be commented on every few hours?

Of course if you reply to this comment, I won't know.

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FluffyKittenofT... | 6 years ago
2 likes

Sounds like another responsibility-evading cop-out to me. Shift still more responsibility to the vulnerable and make cycling even more work so people are even more reluctant to take it up.

Local authorities seem consistently incapable of listening to anyone who knows anything about a topic before they make a decision (and by no means just in relation to cycling, though that seems an especially glaring example).

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nbrus | 6 years ago
2 likes

I try to avoid going anywhere near streets that have tram tracks, particulary if its been raining. Given how much the trams project was over-budget, the council will be looking to spend as little as possible to bring the number of accidents to cyclists down to a more sustainable level. The bean counters have figured out that some paint will do the job nicely. Now if you fall off your bike and are injured they can blame you if you didn't use the crossing points provided and thus avoid any claims for injuries. The bean counters will then give themselves a promotion and pay rise because of all the money they have saved. 

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poppa | 6 years ago
5 likes

This way, if you fall off and are injured or killed, it's clearly your fault for not following instructions correctly.

Much better.

(That was sarcams by the way)

 

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jh27 replied to poppa | 6 years ago
1 like

poppa wrote:

This way, if you fall off and are injured or killed, it's clearly your fault for not following instructions correctly.

Much better.

(That was sarcams by the way)

 

Sarcasm or telepathy (i.e. reading the council employee's minds)?

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tarquin_foxglove | 6 years ago
0 likes

I'd imagine the solution proposed will be similar to this one (shown at c.2mins) which uses paint to create a steeper crossing angle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfeQvbIFBks

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brooksby | 6 years ago
1 like

I thought that the council kept saying that there was nothing wrong with the tramlines? Hey-Ho...

Anyway, like crazy legs says, I wonder whether they talked about the Niceway Code at all? (cos that was such a good idea...).

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alansmurphy | 6 years ago
1 like

They'll have asked Brian in accounts that rode his bike once to work in the glorious summer of 2015

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crazy-legs | 6 years ago
3 likes

Ah yes, that well known safety cure-all of "looking out for each other". Did they use the phrase "share the road" as well?

Maybe if there's a bit of "respect" shown for everyone by everyone. That's always been proven to solve all accidents and incidents.

Unrelated to the above but I'm curious as to the delay in the legal action hearing, how on earth can it take until May 2019 to be heard?!

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kitsunegari | 6 years ago
0 likes

Bonkers solution that has absolutely nothing to do with Safety.

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burtthebike | 6 years ago
4 likes

"Lesley Macinnes, City of Edinburgh Council's transport convener, said: "Road safety is one of the council's top priorities and we've been working very closely with cycling groups for many months on ways to help make it easier for cyclists to safely cross tram tracks in the city centre."

I don't know exactly what the situation is in Edinburgh, but this sounds very much like the kind of spin bs statement that my local authority makes when they've screwed up yet again and are frantically trying to save face.  My council's consultation process consists of them telling what they are going to do, we point out the problems and then they go ahead and do precisely what they had planned in the first place.  It shouldn't take hundreds of injured cyclists and one death for them to start listening.

Ignoring the reports about the danger to cyclists also sounds very familiar.  Surely time there were some prosecutions for corporate manslaughter?

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Paul_C | 6 years ago
1 like

yet more paint?

the solution already exists... rubber inserts

https://www.railpage.com.au/f-p1122252.htm

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Grahamd | 6 years ago
9 likes

This story needs comments from the cycling groups involved. I can't believe that any group would feel that a bit of paint and asking drivers to give more space and time would view this as adequate.

 

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