City of Edinburgh Council wants to know your opinion of its draft proposals for improving McDonald Road between Broughton Road and McDonald Street.
This section forms part of ‘QuietRoute20’ (part of a convenient, safe, cyclist-friendly citywide network) linking Inverleith to Restalrig via quiet roads and traffic-free paths.
The plans will, say officials, also improve conditions for those on foot.
There are links to diagrams here.
Why the changes?
CEC reckons that heavy traffic levels here at peak times currently deter cyclists from using the route.
They say that the existing signalised cycle and pedestrian crossing over Broughton Road is ‘challenging for cyclists to access’ and has ‘poor sightlines for people coming from St Mark’s path’.
What do they want to do?
CEC plans to:
- improve the crossing for pedestrians and cyclists alike by widening it from 2m to 5m and installing ‘tactile paving’ at either end to match
- build a raised table at the western end of McDonald Road to slow down traffic and make it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to cross
- extend McDonald Road’s current cycle lanes from Leith Walk to McDonald Street by creating new ones between McDonald Street and Broughton Road
- remove the central line along McDonald Road as a way to encourage lower traffic speeds.
The only disadvantage they envisage is that ‘during peak times, motor vehicles may have to wait for short periods behind cyclists using the cycle lanes, before passing them’.
First thoughts
Spurtle’s first impressions are as follows.
There’s not a huge amount wrong with the current width of the crossing, although creating greater capacity is probably sensible given the growing popularity of city cycling.
We’re not aware of any challenge here for cyclists or poor sightlines.
We welcome the introduction of tactile paving for those with visual impairment.
Slowing vehicles as they enter McDonald Road is a very good idea, but even with a raised table here it would remain a dificult road to cross at peak times.
An additional signalised crossing near the McDonald Road side entrance of Broughton Primary School might be a safer and more useful alternative. Perhaps a two-lane two-way cycleway on the north side of the road, from here to much nearer the Broughton Road crossing, could replace the single-lane cycleway proposed for the south side on this section of McDonald Road.
This would also discourage cyclists from riding on the pavement between the crossing and the new cycle lane.
We’re not exactly clear why and where CEC thinks drivers might have to wait behind cyclists. It sounds like a recipe for ill-tempered and impatient drivers overtaking too close at peak times.
Your thoughts should be sent to Martyn Lings, Senior Project Officer, Active Travel Action Plan, Active Travel (Tel. 469 3776) at martyn.lings@edinburgh.gov.uk by 4 September.
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.@theSpurtle an issue is when cycling to Broughton Rd along MacDonald Rd there is no way to get to the crossing for the path to St Marks Pk
Cycling space shouldn't be created at the expense of pedestrians. Take the space from the road given there's plenty
@_MMaritima @cocteautriplets @kim_harding @SRDorman @theSpurtle It's not even changing the status quo, just finishing of previous paint job
@theSpurtle Yet more painted-on bike paths. What a waste of money. Why do they find it so hard to build segregated paths?
@theSpurtle it's little more than completing what's already there. And more magic* paint won't help. (* = not magic)
Scott Richards Speaking from personal, painful experience, on-street parking spaces ajacent to cycle paths are dangerous. Drivers often don't look as they swing their doors into cycle lanes; occasionally winging passing cyclists. A blue light trip to A&E and long-term neurological damage was the reward for my wife.
Colin McShane How about CEC just fixing the bloody pot holes all over the city - the roads are a disgrace, I'm almost put off driving on them but maybe that's the ploy!! - remedial works before ambitious projects surely!!
Ian Mountford I use that stretch both on bike and foot at least twice a day. I believe the crossing is too narrow to accommodate both cyclists and pedestrians, so welcome the widening plan. It is a nasty junction where busy roads, busy cycle paths and busy (inc. school) pedestrians all come together.
@theSpurtle re Broughton Rd -it's the crossing near Tesco that needs upgraded: to respond to pedestrians and be closer to the entrance