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Edinburgh golf club urges council to remove cycle lane – so members can park on the road

Kingsknowe Golf Club claims that the new Lanark Road bike lanes have had a negative impact on business, as members “need to travel by car”

Members of Kingsknowe Golf Club in Edinburgh have started a petition urging the council to remove a recently installed cycle lane on the Lanark Road – so golfers can park their cars on it.

Four miles of protected bike lanes, located along the Lanark Road, Longstone Road and Inglis Green Road in Edinburgh’s south-west, were introduced in 2021 as part of the city council’s Spaces for People project.

Funded by Sustrans and constructed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the pop-up scheme aims to “create more space for people walking, wheeling and cycling” in the city. 

The largest of the three roads covered by the scheme, the Lanark Road, has traditionally been viewed as particularly dangerous for cyclists.

In January 2012 keen cyclist Andrew McNicoll died from injuries sustained in an incident involving a parked car and a lorry driver, while riding to work. Following Andrew’s death, his family campaigned for changes to where and how motorists can park on the road.

> Family of Edinburgh cyclist killed last week launch safety campaign

However, this week Kingsknowe Golf Club launched a petition calling on City of Edinburgh Council to remove the new active travel scheme “with immediate effect”. 

Founded in 1908 and situated on the Lanark Road, Kingsknowe Golf Club has over 500 members and claims to “have successfully married the traditions of golf with a welcoming outlook on what is required for a 21st Century club.” 

The club says it opposes the recently installed cycle lanes because they prevent members from parking on the road when the course is busy.

The petition reads: “Prior to Spaces for People being introduced our members were able to use Lanark Road as an overspill for parking during major competition days.

“Since Spaces for People has been introduced, this has not been possible and we have received a large number of complaints from members regarding this.

“Due to the equipment used in the sport many of our members need to travel by car so that they can bring clubs, trolleys and other equipment. Use of public/other forms of transport are therefore not possible for members.

“We therefore request that City of Edinburgh Council remove the Spaces for People measures from Lanark Road with immediate effect due to the current/long term impact they will have on our club.”

> Edinburgh residents group threatens council with legal action over new cycle lane 

While the petition has so far attracted over 260 signatures, many appear to have signed it simply to criticise the club’s opposition to the bike lanes, with some pointing out that public parking is available within walking distance of the course.

Jamie Scott wrote: “This has got to be a joke. Are you seriously trying to convince people that golfers who are capable of walking 3.5 miles around the Kingsknowe Course with their ‘equipment’ are suddenly incapable of walking an extra couple of hundred yards from the nearest parking space to the club?”

“The safety of children and adults using a healthy sustainable mode of travel is far more necessary than parking for cars,” said Stephanie-Ann Gornall. “They can use some of their own acreage for cars if golfers are too lazy to use other modes of transport!”

Chris Guthrie wrote that anyone opposing the bike lanes were doing so for “selfish reasons”. He pointed out that “there is plenty of parking available, the lanes are wide enough to accommodate all travel types and provide safety and comfort for the most vulnerable. Please consider the wider benefits of having these in place.”

Oscar MacLean was somewhat blunter in his criticism: “I'm signing because anyone who wants to prioritise parking of cars on a public road for occasional private golfing events over every day cycling in the middle of a climate crisis in the most congested city in Scotland is an over-entitled idiot.”

> Residents blame increase in motorist-related collisions on recently installed cycle lanes 

Kingsknowe Golf Club isn’t the first group to call for the removal of the Spaces for People measures on the Lanark Road. In January last year, the residents group South West Edinburgh in Motion (SWEM) threatened the council with legal action if construction began on the pop-up bike lanes. 

Last month, SWEM’s chair Derryck Reid, a professor specialising in photonics at Heriot Watt University, blamed the new cycle lanes for the increase in collisions reported in the area. 

Ryan joined road.cc in December 2021 and since then has kept the site’s readers and listeners informed and enthralled (well at least occasionally) on news, the live blog, and the road.cc Podcast. After boarding a wrong bus at the world championships and ruining a good pair of jeans at the cyclocross, he now serves as road.cc’s senior news writer. Before his foray into cycling journalism, he wallowed in the equally pitiless world of academia, where he wrote a book about Victorian politics and droned on about cycling and bikes to classes of bored students (while taking every chance he could get to talk about cycling in print or on the radio). He can be found riding his bike very slowly around the narrow, scenic country lanes of Co. Down.

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36 comments

Avatar
griggers | 2 years ago
1 like

"Fore"!!!!!

 

 

"Cough"!!!!

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spen | 2 years ago
1 like

Aren't those double yellows outsie the car park?

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chrisonabike replied to spen | 2 years ago
2 likes

spen wrote:

Aren't those double yellows outsie the car park?

Yeah but that's irrelevant if you deploy your BOLAS (tm).  Also without yellow flashes and signage there's always the "but I was loading / unloading" excuse - assuming anyone was actually enforcing this.  In the UK preventing parking is like trying to prevent a cat from sitting on things you don't want it to - but with rules.  Interestingly in some other countries not far from here it's the other way round e.g. no parking is the default, you have to mark / sign the exemptions.

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Safety | 2 years ago
13 likes

As a local resident this makes my blood boil. We cyclists should loose an expensively installed safety system utilized daily so that their occasional tournaments guests don't have to walk 50 metres!!!
The tragic death mentioned in the article happened close to the course and on that side of the road as well.
Sounds like the club has a few barstewards.

Avatar
whatbyke | 2 years ago
9 likes

If only there were somewhere else in Edinburgh they could play their wee game. BUT WHERE??? My home city is woefully underserved for giant sterile spaces where angry Merc owners in yellow sweaters can whack a ball about with a stick for a couple of hours. Something must be done.

No coincidence, perhaps, that the phrase 'bunker mentality' is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as 'a state of mind especially among members of a group that is characterized by chauvinistic defensiveness and self-righteous intolerance of criticism.' Yup, that sounds about right!

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wtjs | 2 years ago
5 likes

I don't think this Tory-Nutter car-centric anti-cyclist proposal is going anywhere except the bin it deserves.

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chrisonabike replied to wtjs | 2 years ago
3 likes

wtjs wrote:

I don't think this Tory-Nutter car-centric anti-cyclist proposal is going anywhere except the bin it deserves.

I hope you're right, I think that's likely.  However though some of Edinburgh council "gets it" things can easily go "backwards" too.  A small but loud objection can be used by those in the council who are anti to vigorously contest each project.  This often results in stalling, legal challenges, another round of "appraisal" or consulting, council officers responsible for active travel leaving so further delays for "staff shortages", budget opportunities being missed and finally some or all parts being abandoned.  Like building the Forth Bridge each time *.

Also I believe a few of these "Tory-Nutter car-centric anti-cyclists" are quite well connected and funded...

* well - maybe like building the Queensferry Crossing (which I imagine just squeezed past "Bridgy McBridgeface" in the naming contest) in that it's been done a few times now so it might take only one decade.

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hawkinspeter replied to wtjs | 2 years ago
1 like

wtjs wrote:

I don't think this Tory-Nutter car-centric anti-cyclist proposal is going anywhere except the bin it deserves.

Are they necessarily Tories though?

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mdavidford replied to hawkinspeter | 2 years ago
9 likes

hawkinspeter wrote:

Are they necessarily Tories though?

Apparently so...

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HoarseMann replied to mdavidford | 2 years ago
5 likes

ah, but only members in good standing, so quite a small demographic.

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hawkinspeter replied to HoarseMann | 2 years ago
1 like

HoarseMann wrote:

ah, but only members in good standing, so quite a small demographic.

Their code of conduct seems quite reasonable, but I have reason to doubt how well it's enforced *cough*PARTIES*cough*

  1. Selflessness – Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.
  2. Integrity – Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.
  3. Objectivity – Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.
  4. Accountability – Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.
  5. Openness – Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.
  6. Honesty – Holders of public office should be truthful.
  7. Leadership – Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour.
  • actively promote and robustly support the principles and be willing to challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs;
  • lead by example to encourage and foster respect and tolerance;
  • treat others in a professional and straightforward manner;
  • act with honesty and probity and in a manner which upholds the reputation and values of the Conservative Party. Such duty is fundamental. Conduct which the public may reasonably perceive as undermining a representative’s honesty and probity is likely to diminish trust and confidence placed in them, and the Party, by the public;
  • not use their position to bully, abuse, victimise, harass or unlawfully discriminate against others (see further the interpretation annex);
  • take reasonable steps to ensure that people who wish to raise concerns about bullying, discrimination, harassment and/or victimisation by others feel able to do so, and know how to follow the complaints procedure set out in this Code;
  • co-operate fully with any process set down by the Party Board should a grievance process be instigated. This Code will be made publicly available on the Conservative Party website.
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HoarseMann replied to hawkinspeter | 2 years ago
4 likes

Last bullet, they have a Party Board! Sounds like they take parties very seriously indeed 

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wtjs replied to hawkinspeter | 2 years ago
0 likes

Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest

Not being in the public interest is exactly the reason just given by (expletive deleted) Lancashire Constabulary for taking no action over this pass at 40+mph by Lebus Engineering Citroen LCV PO14 UGX. This 'public interest' declaration is often put out by patently self-serving and bent organisations

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Rik Mayals unde... replied to wtjs | 2 years ago
4 likes

wtjs, every single video I have given Lancs plod has been met with the identical response: Not in the public interest. They love to use that term, which, loosely translated means we cannot be arsed to do anything, you are still alive.

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eburtthebike replied to HoarseMann | 2 years ago
7 likes

HoarseMann wrote:

ah, but only members in good standing, so quite a small demographic.

So neither Boris nor anyone in the cabinet could join.

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chrisonabike replied to mdavidford | 2 years ago
0 likes

Founded in 1908? Johnny-come-latelys who couldn't get in to the Royal Burgess Golfing Society!  They're clearly more the "chip-on-the-shoulder" than "chip onto the green" type.

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mark1a replied to mdavidford | 2 years ago
1 like

Amazing, people will believe anything they read on the internet. 

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wtjs replied to hawkinspeter | 2 years ago
2 likes

Are they necessarily Tories though?

Come on HP, get a grip! These people are manifestly enthusiastic residents of what they think of as Nuremberg am Forth- do you think there's a shortage of BMWs, Audis and Mercedes' in that private Keep Out car park?

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hawkinspeter replied to wtjs | 2 years ago
3 likes

wtjs wrote:

Are they necessarily Tories though?

Come on HP, get a grip! These people are manifestly enthusiastic residents of what they think of as Nuremberg am Forth- do you think there's a shortage of BMWs, Audis and Mercedes' in that private Keep Out car park?

Well yes, but I thought it was just a general golf club - I didn't realise it had a political affiliation. Just idly searched and couldn't find a Labour golf club, but did discover that the Chinese Communist Party bans golf club membership: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-34600544

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chrisonabike replied to hawkinspeter | 2 years ago
2 likes

Quite right! China is nothing like the decadent West. In China all corruption is controlled by the state.

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hawkinspeter replied to chrisonabike | 2 years ago
8 likes

chrisonatrike wrote:

Quite right! China is nothing like the decadent West. In China all corruption is controlled by the state.

In a capitalist society, man exploits man and in a communist one, it's the other way around.

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wtjs replied to hawkinspeter | 2 years ago
1 like

Well yes, but I thought it was just a general golf club - I didn't realise it had a political affiliation
By their deeds shall ye know them! This lot would make Reinhard Heydrich look like a Do-Gooder- if you ride around there (I have no personal experience!) the members have either cut you up, or they're going to

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HoarseMann | 2 years ago
7 likes

The road opposite their car park still has ample on street parking. As do all the surrounding residential streets. Even the main road they're complaining about has retained some on street parking alongside the cycle path.

Not content with spoiling a good walk, they're now after bike rides too.

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Ride On | 2 years ago
12 likes

I am not sure if golfers do need to travel by car (as demonstrated below) but cyclists definitely need to travel by bike.

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Awavey | 2 years ago
16 likes

Its the sheer arrogance of a private members club, that wont even let you play at their club, like Id want to spoil a good walk anyway,without a registered golf handicap, insisting that public land be given over solely to let their members park their vehicles, because they dont want to extend their car park on their land, is what gets me angry about it.

not that I think its got anything to do with their members needs, since their pro shop allows them to hire trolleys and clubs if needed, its that they like to hire out their clubhouse to non members for parties/functions/corporate events that leads to a likely lack of space to leave cars nearby.

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Rendel Harris replied to Awavey | 2 years ago
13 likes

One of the most extraordinary things I saw when I did play golf, and one of the things that encouraged me to give it up (alongside the endemic casual racism and sexism, 95% Tory demographic, amount of time and money it took, the fact that I could never get my handicap below 15, etc) was one private club to which a colleague invited me for a round: no trade vehicles were allowed in the car park even if they belonged to members, so several of the members who were taxi drivers, plumbers et cetera kept an old banger outside their houses solely for the purpose of being able to drive to the golf club.

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chrisonabike | 2 years ago
3 likes

Sounds like they want is a microcar solution - and the answer is literally in their garage:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peachtree_City,_Georgia

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Rendel Harris | 2 years ago
12 likes

In the dim and distant past when I used to enjoy the occasional round of golf I would take my clubs on the bus then the train to get to the course, no problem at all. I see that Kingsknowe has a train station conveniently situated on the northeast corner of the course, about 500 m from the clubhouse, so no difficulty there.

Hang on, people driving to the golf club… they wouldn't be… not... leisure drivers, would they? They had better hope our resident troll doesn't hear about this...

I saw someone on Twitter the other day claiming that it was ridiculous to say that cars contribute to obesity, because people use them to drive to the gym, tennis club or golf course. Instant facepalm.

Of course they can always…

 

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ktache replied to Rendel Harris | 2 years ago
3 likes

There are often people with golf bags waiting at North Camp station when I'm travelling through in the evenings.

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visionset replied to Rendel Harris | 2 years ago
6 likes

or
 

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