Kirknewton to Balerno Users Guide

Cycle Review of NCN Route 75: Kirknewton - Balerno Kirknewton Community Development Trust

CSSC05 Cycle Review NCN 75 Kirknewton-Balerno plans TJP MS of 22 transport initiatives

Plans of Cycle Review of NCN Route 75: Kirknewton - Balerno

Plan 1 Kirknewton village to Haggs Farm Plan 2 Haggs Farm to Balerno Plan 3 Balerno to Currie Plan 4 Long Dalmahoy Rd to Heriot-Watt University © Transport Initiatives LLP 2011

All photos © Transport Initiatives except where stated

All mapping based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. West Lothian Council Licence no 100037194 2011



Plan 1 – Kirknewton Village to Haggs Farm

1.6 Signing

1.2 Signing

1.5 Surface & drainage

1.1 Surface 1.3 Drainage

1.4 Poor Surface



Ref 1.1

Issue: Road Surface – starting to deteriorate around gully Ref 1.2

Issue: Signing – sign for Kirknewton has been hit or turned and was facing the wrong way as it is too low

Recommendation: Patch pothole and others along the route

Recommendation: Sign needs placing further up pole and tightening up (NB lower sign loose and rotated on site by auditor to face the right way)



Ref 1.3

Issue: Drainage – poor drainage creating large puddle which may have a poor road surface underneath

Ref 1.4

Issue: Poor Surface – deep pothole developing which is a hazard to cyclists

Recommendation: Check drainage and road surface and ensure water does not pond on highway

Recommendation: Repair pothole and others along route



Ref 1.5

Issue: Road surface and drainage – poor road surface and drainage at weak bridge a potential hazard to cyclists

Ref 1.6

Issue: Signing and markings – use of road by tarmac lorries to quarry and lack of signing gives the impression the route goes to the left. NB the Give Way markings at the quarry exit have worn off.

Recommendation: Check drainage and mend road surface to ensure water does not pond on highway

Recommendations: Provide clearer signing for cycle route that it goes straight on. Reinstate Give Way markings at junction.



Plan 2 – Haggs Farm to Balerno

2.8 Signing

2.3 Visibility

2.5 Surface good

2.1 Surface

2.4 Drainage

2.2 Poor Surface

2.9 Surface

2.10 Gradient

2.7 Signing

2.6 Signing



Ref 2.1

Issue: Road Surface – starting to deteriorate on approach to narrow bridge due to its use by large lorries from the quarry. This is a potential hazard to cyclists using this route

Ref 2.2

Issue: Road Surface – very poor surface on approach to narrow bridge due to its use by large lorries from the quarry. This is a potential hazard to cyclists using this route

Recommendation: Resurface road either side of bridge

Recommendation: Resurface road either side of bridge



Ref 2.3

Issue: Visibility at right turn – poor visibility of oncoming traffic and of right turning cyclists due to high hedge tight up to corner

Ref 2.4

Issue: Poor Drainage – deep puddle which could conceal poor road surfaces and is a potential hazard to cyclists

Recommendation: Negotiate with landowner to see if hedge can be reduced in height to improve intervisibility and check or put up warning signs that cyclists will be turning right

Recommendation Provide better drainage for road



Ref 2.5

Issue: Road surface – very good road surface which has been recently raid

Ref 2.6

Issue: Signing – cycle route ahead sign (diagram 750) has been rotated

Recommendation: This standard of road surface should be applied along all on-road sections of NCN 75

Recommendation: Rotate sign back to face traffic and tighten up fixings



Ref 2.7

Issue: Signing – cycle route ahead sign (diagram 950) has been rotated

Ref 2.8

Issue: Signing – bushes starting to grow into road and obscuring Stop sign

Recommendation: Rotate sign back to face traffic and tighten up fixings

Recommendation: Cut back overgrown vegetation clear of road side and sign



Ref 2.9

Issue: Poor Surface and drainage – poor road surface and drainage on railway bridge approach. This is a potential hazard to cyclists.

Ref 2.10

Issue: Steep gradient – road rises some 50m in 500m i.e. a 10% gradient. Uphill this is a fairly hard climb and downhill results in a fast decent, which could be challenging for a novice cyclist

Recommendation: Resurface road on approach to bridge

Recommendation: Put up warning signs of steep gradients which may require cyclists to walk up hill and to take care going down Put up warning signs for motorists to diagram 950



Plan 3 – Balerno to Currie

3.13 Drainage

3.3 & 3.4 ASLs

3.7 & 3.8 Cycle lane

3.1 Signing

3.5 Cycle lane

3.2 Guardrail

3.9 Pothole

3.6 20mph zone

3.16 Signing

3.12 Signing

3.10 Surface

3.11 Views

3.14 Waterfall

3.15 Signing



Ref 3.1

Issue: Signing – good direction signing at decision point in route with destinations and distances to them shown

Ref 3.2

Issue: Guard railing – rather old and ugly guardrail on part of road which narrows footway and is rusting. It is presumed its purpose is to guide pedestrians to use crossing at signalled junction.

Recommendation: Maintain this standard of signing along route

Recommendation: Review need for guard railing and consider removing or at least updating to more modern design



Ref 3.3

Issue: Advanced Stop Line (ASL) on west arm – red surface colour and cycle symbol have worn off and there is no lead-in cycle lane as required under the Traffic Signs Regulations & General Directions 2002, thus making entry to the ASL reservoir illegal for cyclists. The two traffic lanes are very narrow hence there is not enough space for a cyclist to enter the ASL easily. The layout is unlikely to operate in practice as two lanes, and there is only sufficient length for a single right-turn queuing vehicle. (NB a similar situation applies on the east arm)

Ref 3.4

Issue: Advanced Stop Line (ASL) on south arm – red surface colour and cycle symbol are worn and there is no lead-in lane (see 3.3). The two traffic lanes are narrow and there is no lead-in cycle lane. The layout is unlikely to operate in practice as two lanes, and there is only sufficient length for a small number of right-turn queuing vehicles).The white line dividing the two halves of the ASL is unnecessary.

Recommendations: Reduce the number of traffic lanes to a single lane to enable the introduction of a lead-in cycle lane to the ASL. Resurface ASL and remark cycle symbol. Apply the same approach on the east arm of the junction.

Recommendations: Consider reducing the number of traffic lanes to a single lane to enable a lead-in lane to be provided to enable cyclists to enter the ASL easily. Resurface ASL and remark cycle symbol.



Ref 3.5

Issue: Cycle lane – red surfacing and road markings for lane nearly worn off and lane is 1.3m wide rather than the standard of at least 1.5m. As cyclists going downhill into a 20 mph zone the need for a dedicated cycle lane is questioned.

Ref 3.6

Issue: 20 mph zone – part time 20 mph zone (times of operation not clear) with advisory cycle lane

Recommendation: Review if cycle lane is needed on downhill section of road

Recommendations: Carry out speed surveys to measure the effectiveness of part-time 20 mph limit. Consider making the 20 mph zone permanent along Balerno High School frontage. Consider traffic calming features removing need for the cycle lane.



Ref 3.7

Issue: Cycle lane and turn – lane surface is worn and the lane too narrow, while the left turn onto the path by the Water of Leith is easy to miss as the signing is on the other (right-hand) side of the road.

Ref 3.8

Issue: Cycle lane and parking – cycle lane which is 1.3m wide stops on uphill section and there is parking on road further on forcing cyclists into the traffic lane

Recommendation: Consider removing cycle lane and providing additional signing for cycle route turn on the left hand side of road – the existing pole for the school warning sign could be used as shown.

Recommendations: Widen cycle lane to at least 1.5m wide and extend it up the hill where it will have more benefit. Consider restrictions on parking.



Ref 3.9

Issue: Pothole – Drain gully cover has come loose and rain has washed away the path, created an up stand and potential hazard for cyclists

Ref 3.10

Issue: Surface – attractive riverside path with a flat surface, however there is a covering of mulch / leaf mould which small and/or narrow cycle wheels sink into. This make cycling harder and covers the cycle frame (and cyclist) with dirt.

Recommendation: Repair defective drain gully cover and make path level at this point

Recommendation: Clear path of leaf mould – it would make good mulch for local gardens!



Ref 3.11

Issue: Attractive views – very pleasant tree-lined path on this section

Ref 3.12

Issue: Signing – destination and distance on sign on pole on left very easy to miss due to alignment in line with path

Recommendation: Use photos of this section to market the route's benefits

Recommendation: Rotate or bend sign so it can be seen from the approach from Waulkmill Loan (see 3.13)



Ref 3.13

Issue: Drainage – path is muddy and there is standing water along this section

Ref 3.14

Issue: Attractive waterfall – very nice waterfall adds interest along route

Recommendation: Reprofile path to ensure water falls to each side rather than ponding on it

Recommendation: Use photos of this to market the route's benefits and feature site in publicity for route



Ref 3.15

Issue: Signing – signs reasonably easy to read when cycling due to the slight angle they are set at in relation to path

Ref 3.16

Issue: Signing – Ivy growing on bridge which obscures sign attached to fence

Recommendation: Ensure other signs along path are similarly easy to read on approach

Recommendation: Remove ivy from around sign and consider relocating sign onto a pole or using a wooden finger post for the signing



Plan 4 – Long Dalmahoy Road to Heriot-Watt University

4.1 Drainage

4.2 Surface 4.3 Drainage

4.4 Surface

4.5 Drainage

4.6 Drainage

4.7 Drain cover

4.8 Drainage

4.9 Surface



Ref 4.1

Issue: Drainage – poor drainage on approach to bend Ref 4.2

Issue: Surface – poor road surface on approach to junction

Recommendation: Improve drainage along route

Recommendation: Resurface junction approach



Ref 4.3

Issue: Drainage – poor drainage along road after rain the day before Ref 4.4

Issue: Surface – poor road surface on private road into Heriot-Watt University will ensure 20 mph limit is adhered to but will be uncomfortable to cycle along

Recommendation: Improve drainage along road

Recommendation: Resurface road and include traffic calming speed humps with cycle gaps to ensure low speeds and a comfortable cycle ride



Ref 4.5

Issue: Surface and drainage – poor road surface and drainage on road link from University northern road

Ref 4.6

Issue: Drainage! – Large pond right across road after rain the day before a hazard to road users though it is an effective traffic calming measure!

Recommendation: improve road surface and drainage

Recommendation – improve drainage along route



Ref 4.7

Issue: Drain cover – Drain gully cover is at just the right angle to trap a cycle wheel and is a serious potential hazard on this commuter route to Edinburgh

Ref 4.8

Issue: Drainage – water still on road after rain the day before

Recommendation: Urgently replace drain cover with a more cycle friendly one (see blow). Reported to City of Edinburgh Council 14.04.11)

Recommendation: Improve drainage along route



Ref 4.9

Issue: Surface – very poor road surface on western approach to junction with Gowanhill Farm Road to Balerno

Recommendation: Resurface road

Kirknewton to Balerno Users Guide

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