Mick F wrote:If you had seen that sign, was there any option open to you? Any diversion signs?
I remember cycling out of Edinburgh in 2006 on the A90 and found that the A90 towards the Forth Road Bridge is verboten for cyclists. The last time I'd cycled on it was in 1980 and it was fine then.
I had a great deal of trouble finding my way to the bridge as there didn't seem to be any signed alternative to get me to the other end of the banned section. The main road out of Edinburgh isn't banned to cyclists, only later along the dual carriageway bit. No advice was advertised, no diversion signs, no nothing.
I did exactly the same on my first LEJoG in 2008 Mick, and ended up in a muddy field at 5am. I finally worked out where I should be going and have done that section every year since on my London - Aberdeen 3-day rides (just completed the 2016 one).
You'll be pleased to hear that the section from the dual carriageway to the bridge has recently been upgraded with a really nice cycle path (even acoustically screened from the road!). One word of advice though - no need to follow the NCN route 1 signs to turn left approaching Queensferry. You can just follow the B924 down the hill to the bridge. No idea why the NCN route goes that absurd way!