I've commuted from Dunfermline to Edinburgh for 22 years but it all looking a bit complicated now.
Just last Friday new temporary No Cycling signs have been erected on the A90. I'm assuming this has something to do with the new M9 spur they are starting to build to replace the A8000.
I was a bit surprised that no diversions signs have been erected particularly as the B road you are pushed onto is in very poor condition and I can see myself getting marooned down that road at some point this coming winter let alone sliding off on some ice, while car drivers go stotting by on their rat run home.
I have e-mailed Edinburgh City Council, my MP and local councillor but no response as yet from any of them
A90 cycling restrictions
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gar
Re:A90 cycling restrictions
this has something to do with
..........with cycling accidents perhaps,
but do they have the right on particular "A" roads... to ban cyclists?
..........with cycling accidents perhaps,
but do they have the right on particular "A" roads... to ban cyclists?
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tee-ell
Re:A90 cycling restrictions
this road is really busy during rush hour - it is the second busiest section of road in scotland. and is not suited at all to cycle traffic at these and indeed any other times. there is however an adequate cycle route (sustrans national route 1) from dunfermline into edindurgh city centre which totally avoids the need to use this road and as of last week-end the road surface condition were fine. i have often seen near fatalities on this road with car drivers (and i include myself on one occasion) nearly colliding with a cyclist on this main road.
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CJ
Re:A90 cycling restrictions
According to comments on Cycling Plus the alternatives are NOT adequate.
Why should cyclists accept alternatives that are less direct, worse surfaced, more hilly and interrupted? For goodness sake have some self-respect and stop acting so insanely grateful for the usual potholed, narrow, round-the-houses, unswept, gravelly, barrier-strewn rubbish!
Why should cyclists accept alternatives that are less direct, worse surfaced, more hilly and interrupted? For goodness sake have some self-respect and stop acting so insanely grateful for the usual potholed, narrow, round-the-houses, unswept, gravelly, barrier-strewn rubbish!
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gar
Re:A90 cycling restrictions
I hope you don't mind a saissenach intruding on the subject but How about trying it CJ, rather than just accept Cycling plus report?
I always find even with my own special routes that once I know it, it takes me half the time than when I am merely feeling my way with the map.
Even waymarked, if you are new to the route it takes half as long again until you know it by heart.
Go arn! have a go! Give us a report!
I always find even with my own special routes that once I know it, it takes me half the time than when I am merely feeling my way with the map.
Even waymarked, if you are new to the route it takes half as long again until you know it by heart.
Go arn! have a go! Give us a report!
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tee-ell
Re:A90 cycling restrictions
replying to cj's inane comments - this particular cycle route runs parallel, follows the same contours etc for approx. 90% of its length, where it does deviate from the main road, it is actually quicker along the cycle route to reach the town centre. as for road surface conditions, i cannot be bothered with people commenting on track they do not use, there are less potholes on this cycle route than on the main road. to use the main road here to cycle really is being disrespectful to other road users whether the right to do so is in question or not.
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fuzzytnth3
Re:A90 cycling restrictions
Well I complied with the signs and stayed off the A90 for the first time in 22 years.
Last night I tried to find out what alternatives there were and I did come across a Sustran's route which looks fine if you want a gentle potter but not much good for fast commuting (I usually do it in an hour) But I thought ok lets try this out and see how it goes.
But once I came off the Bridge I had a change of mind and headed down the A8000 with a very polite white van driver behind me and a nice tail back behind him and so we set off for Kirkliston, once out of Kirky I took a left onto a back road called Lochend Rd to bring me onto the Glasgow road just along from the Newbridge roundabout. From there it was straight into Edinburgh.
There is a path at the side of the road for quite a bit of the Glasgow Rd but it didn't appear to be good enough to ride on what with no drop kerbs at junctions, broken glass and meandering pedestrians so I stuck to the dual carriageway. This route should be ok through the winter except for skipping out the Lochend Rd section as it will be prone to ice (as would any cycle path btw)
The only glitch to this will be when they complete the M9 spur onto the A90 as they will be closing off the A8000 at which point I will be stuffed again!
Last night I tried to find out what alternatives there were and I did come across a Sustran's route which looks fine if you want a gentle potter but not much good for fast commuting (I usually do it in an hour) But I thought ok lets try this out and see how it goes.
But once I came off the Bridge I had a change of mind and headed down the A8000 with a very polite white van driver behind me and a nice tail back behind him and so we set off for Kirkliston, once out of Kirky I took a left onto a back road called Lochend Rd to bring me onto the Glasgow road just along from the Newbridge roundabout. From there it was straight into Edinburgh.
There is a path at the side of the road for quite a bit of the Glasgow Rd but it didn't appear to be good enough to ride on what with no drop kerbs at junctions, broken glass and meandering pedestrians so I stuck to the dual carriageway. This route should be ok through the winter except for skipping out the Lochend Rd section as it will be prone to ice (as would any cycle path btw)
The only glitch to this will be when they complete the M9 spur onto the A90 as they will be closing off the A8000 at which point I will be stuffed again!
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Oldknees
Re:A90 cycling restrictions
Isn't this just a symptom of the extra cars on the road, the lack of money to build proper cycle lanes and the very nice cyclists not getting together as a proper group.
I think most planners think of cycling with pedestrians - if at all.
I think it wont be long before we are all pushed onto the pavements. It's happening now by stealth.
I think most planners think of cycling with pedestrians - if at all.
I think it wont be long before we are all pushed onto the pavements. It's happening now by stealth.
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fuzzytnth3
Re:A90 cycling restrictions
Going by the cramped conditions on the A8000 it would be quite easy to do a Haulage Petrol Protestor slow down thing by getting a bunch of regular commuters to ride as a group very slowly each morning for a week down the A8000 get some Radio and TV publicity.
It's been five days since I e-mailed City of Edinburgh Council and I still haven't had a reply explaining the sudden introduction of the ban, so maybe a protest would get some kind of response.
How's about it?
It's been five days since I e-mailed City of Edinburgh Council and I still haven't had a reply explaining the sudden introduction of the ban, so maybe a protest would get some kind of response.
How's about it?
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fuzzytnth3
Re:A90 cycling restrictions
re tee-ell
Post: <snip> there is however an adequate cycle route (sustrans national route 1) from dunfermline into edindurgh city centre which totally avoids the need to use this road and as of last week-end the road surface condition were fine. <snip>
According to the a minute of the Cycling Group back in 2002 the Council had agreed to drop the idea of banning cyclists from the A90 as the alternative route was not good enough to comply with their own standards.
As far as I know there has been no change to improve the situation which makes the sudden introduction of this ban all the more puzzling.
Post: <snip> there is however an adequate cycle route (sustrans national route 1) from dunfermline into edindurgh city centre which totally avoids the need to use this road and as of last week-end the road surface condition were fine. <snip>
According to the a minute of the Cycling Group back in 2002 the Council had agreed to drop the idea of banning cyclists from the A90 as the alternative route was not good enough to comply with their own standards.
As far as I know there has been no change to improve the situation which makes the sudden introduction of this ban all the more puzzling.
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mike6
Re:A90 cycling restrictions
I have used the NCN Route 1 from Edinburgh to the Forth Bridge several times and agree with Fuzzys description "ok for a gentle potter". The route fails pathetically to meet current design standards in many places and is positively dangerous at anything more than a snails pace, the surface is not potholed, but that is the only point in its favour. For tee-ell to consider this a suitable alternative route beggars belief. Cyclists must stand together and oppose any cycle bans as CJ says unless there is an adequate alternative, and in this case no such alternative exists.
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Elucasr
Re:A90 cycling restrictions
I have to ask if Edinburgh is a Unitary Authority, if not then it is the County Council you have to approach. Does the A90 come under the durisdiction of The Highways Agency, if so then it is them you have to approach.
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safsaf
Re:A90 cycling restrictions
Not too sure about the Lochend Rd route you tried - personally I would have went straight on at lights at Kirkliston (down the hill) and then on down to the next set of lights (at the T junction with the A89) and then take a left there (it brings you out the before the Newbridge roundabout (but there is traffic lights on the roundabout and the road surface is probably better as well). The paths either side of the A8 are (a) useless on eastbound side as you have found out and (b) on the West bound side fine in the event of high winds if you want a safe but bumpy ride.
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Brabus
Re:A90 cycling restrictions
I too until recently chose to use the A90 to commute into E'burgh in the morning but at night I cut off at Barton going home. The problem we have is cultural in this country and doing a ride along the A8000 would get publicity but I'm not sure it'd be +ve publicity - tempting though it is!
The National route into E'burgh is fine for pottering along but not for riding along at 25+mph which is what I like to do as do some of you guys. It is also too narrow in places for two cyclists to pass without one or both stopping to give way - hello - what's that all about? It's very, very poorly lit in the winter where it is lit - getting the picture? For commuting it's a PAIN, for a wee run it's okay! I can save 10 minutes by using the A90 all the way into town versus using the full sustrans route. That's an extra 10 minutes in my bed! Also I can ride at a higher cadence which is important for me, plus it's not as technical a ride as the Sustrans route vis a vis, some of the crossings etc.
This morning I used the route as far as Barton then cut out towards Blackhall and rejoined the road into town at the Blackhall library - I shall use this as a compromise. Remember, the more of us using roads (courteously with other traffic) then the better for all of us! I dress brightly and have plenty of lights and try my best to ride as near to textbook stuff with junctions etc as possible. On the whole I have no problems with the traffic.
If the A90 is out of reach for us on safety grounds then I think the cycepath/Sustrans fails on safety grounds at several points and THAT would be an angle!?? They can't have it both ways. We all pay taxes and probably all drive cars too!
The National route into E'burgh is fine for pottering along but not for riding along at 25+mph which is what I like to do as do some of you guys. It is also too narrow in places for two cyclists to pass without one or both stopping to give way - hello - what's that all about? It's very, very poorly lit in the winter where it is lit - getting the picture? For commuting it's a PAIN, for a wee run it's okay! I can save 10 minutes by using the A90 all the way into town versus using the full sustrans route. That's an extra 10 minutes in my bed! Also I can ride at a higher cadence which is important for me, plus it's not as technical a ride as the Sustrans route vis a vis, some of the crossings etc.
This morning I used the route as far as Barton then cut out towards Blackhall and rejoined the road into town at the Blackhall library - I shall use this as a compromise. Remember, the more of us using roads (courteously with other traffic) then the better for all of us! I dress brightly and have plenty of lights and try my best to ride as near to textbook stuff with junctions etc as possible. On the whole I have no problems with the traffic.
If the A90 is out of reach for us on safety grounds then I think the cycepath/Sustrans fails on safety grounds at several points and THAT would be an angle!?? They can't have it both ways. We all pay taxes and probably all drive cars too!
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braz
Re:A90 cycling restrictions
As a 'foreigner' visiting Edinburgh I have recently tried to find the cycle route towards the Forth bridge from the centre of the city - with very limited success. Signs? - what signs? Come on Edinburgh Council, reply to my mail - or get your cycling officer (if you have one) out on his bike. Or if you need a proactive cycle officer I'm your man - but be prepared for some home truth's, not a lot of 'silvery serpent' waffle!