I regularly cycle to from Queensferry Street to my work at Edinburgh Napier University’s Merchiston campus. Having recently cycled from IJmuiden to Köln, I wanted to compare the two experiences.
In short, cycling in Edinburgh is utter rubbish. There is no way to avoid mixing with heavy traffic. Potholes abound. Cycle-lanes begin and end with no apparent reason, and lane-markings have faded out. Compare this nonsense with cycling in Dutch and German major cities.
To show this, here are videos of the journey to and from Merchison. They were taken on 26 August, using a GoPro camera strapped to my helmet – hence the frequent turns to look behind me when I manoeuvre.
I’ve listed the worst parts of the experiences below each video but just about all of the journeys are marred by poor road surfaces, apart from new surfaces at the top of Bruntsfield Place. I believe I’m suitably critical of the road surfaces and layout, powered vehicles and cyclists (including myself) but comments are welcome.
From Queensferry Street to Merchiston
| Time | Comments |
| 00:20-00:23 | Bus-damage to tarmac on Queensferry Street |
| 00:52-00:53 | If I have right of way (green light), hasn’t the white van emerging from Randolph Crescent broken a red light? |
| 00:55-01:00 | Some cobbles at the exit of Randolph Crescent are loose and hence unsafe for cyclists and pedestrians |
| 01:00 | Pothole/broken surface just past the pedestrian crossing |
| 01:03 | Pothole/broken surface |
| 02:18-02:20 | Car breaks red light |
| 03:50-05:20 | Crossing tram tracks to get to Lothian Road. (Even if I went around Charlotte Square I’d need to cross tram tracks. Many cyclists use this shortcut but few get off and walk on the pavements |
| 05:4 | Private car blocking bus-lane |
| 05:58-06:00 | Poor road surface at junction of Lothian Road and King’s Stables Road |
| 06:33-06:35 | Poor road surface at junction of Lothian Road and Castle Terrace |
| 06:42 | Fallen drain-cover |
| 07:34-07:44 | Bus-damage to tarmac on Lothian Road |
| 09:12-09:13 | More bad road surfaces |
| 09:34-09:38 | Long pothole at left of bus-lane |
| 10:16-10:21 | Poorly- or un-repaired road surface |
| 10:23-10:34 | Poorly- or un-repaired road surface |
| 10:39-10:41 | Poorly- or un-repaired road surface |
| 10:51-11:00 | Poorly- or un-repaired road surface |
| 10:14-10:16 | Why is parking permitted in bike-lanes? |
| 12:01-12:05 | Bus-damage to tarmac on Leven Street |
| 12:15-12:20 | Cycle-lane marks worn away |
| 14:58-15:26 | holes and and bumps in road-surface next to patches |
| 15:01 | van parked on double-yellow lines |
From Merchiston to Queensferry Street
| 00:30-00:34 | poor road surface on Colinton Road |
| 00:40-00:46 | poor road surface on Colinton Road |
| 00:52-00:58 | poor road surface on Colinton Road |
| 01:01-01:39 | Delivery lorry blocking both lanes. Is this allowed? |
| 03:48-04:04 | Poor road surface on Bruntsfield Place/Leven St |
| 05:04-05:10 | Poor road surface on Leven St |
| 05:13-05:20 | Poor road surface on Leven St |
| 06:50-06:55 | Poor road surface on Lothian Road |
| 07:06-07:09 | Poor road surface on Lothian Road |
| 07:28-07:29 | Poor road surface on Lothian Road |
| 08:51 | Sunken manhole cover on Lothian Road |
| 08:54 | Damage around drain-cover on Lothian Road |
| 09:34-09:44 | Some cyclists walk their bikes on pavements but many don’t |
| 10:10-10:12 | Crossing tram-tracks |
| 10:45-10:50 | I admit I’m slow to start. |
| 11:50-11:59 | Worst excuse for not having bike-lights: ‘I didn’t expect to be out this late’ |
Digital evidence that Bruce might have a life 