http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Pointless Impatience and Beeping en Wed, 13 May 2026 01:32:50 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=381#post-3022 Sat, 20 Feb 2010 11:25:05 +0000 chdot 3022@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"They're on a spring, so no issues for filtering"</p> <p>Only if you don't have a problem with people complaining about you scratching their car... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=381#post-3019 Sat, 20 Feb 2010 10:53:03 +0000 gembo 3019@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Usually when overtaken by car which then stops at the redlight just in front I am satisfied by the fact that I am more sensible on the road than the driver, boosts my smug quotient by small margin. I have however been overtaken by some right eejits who then cut me up by turning left, one even trying to tell me I was to blame when the lane I was in was clearly signed as straight ahead. Thankfully the former far exceed the latter and the safe driving, well that is the most common but least memorable. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=381#post-3018 Sat, 20 Feb 2010 10:24:12 +0000 SRD 3018@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've got one of those flags - have been meaning to re-attach to new bike. Can't recall if I bought it here or in Canada. They're on a spring, so no issues for filtering, and attach easily either side, as I recall. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=381#post-3017 Sat, 20 Feb 2010 09:59:49 +0000 nearefare 3017@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I had one, blow horn and dubious overtake, on the Lothian roads lights (WA junction) to (King stables road junction), which are always red after the WA junction change, Said driver then realised and had a hard slam on breaks, I congratulated him on his amazing ability to get to red lights that much quicker.<br /> Anyway said cleaning company van had tel numbers etc, I was so tempted to ring up a pretend to have an office that needed cleaning etc and offer them the work, Follow up by a call from the corporate responsibility officer to say they couldn't have it as we only employee ethical company's and had heard of their treatment of cyclists. never did, childish perhaps but made me feel better at least LOL </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=381#post-2962 Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:14:09 +0000 chdot 2962@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Some people used to have things like this -</p> <p><img src="http://www.nordicgroup.us/s78/images/img_0277.jpg"></p> <p>(other side in UK of course). Very few to be found on-line searching "spacer flag" "safety flag" etc.</p> <p>An instantly folding version would be needed so you could filter in small spaces though!</p> <p><a href="http://nordicgroup.us/s78/flags.html" rel="nofollow">http://nordicgroup.us/s78/flags.html</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=381#post-2961 Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:51:35 +0000 cb 2961@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>On several occasions I have found myself approaching a red light so I have ridden in primary position keeping up with the car in front as we approach and slow down to stop for the red.<br /> The car behind *has to get past* so starts overtaking and only when they are next to me realises that I'm keeping up with the traffic and there is no space in front of me to pull in.<br /> I keep my line which means they end up stopped in the queue halfway onto the other side of the road.</p> <p>Last happended on Ardmillan Terrace. I actually consented and moved over just enough so that they weren't actually impeding traffic coming the other way.</p> <p>I wondered if the woman (on that occasion) realised what she's done wrong or if she just sat there cursing the stupid cyclist. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=381#post-2956 Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:17:36 +0000 PS 2956@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The lack of understanding of traffic flow and associated time saving (if any) among drivers can be staggering. </p> <p>That said, one of the first things I noticed about cycling in traffic was how much more aware of what is going on further down the road you are than if you're in a car. Once I pass the University onto South Bridge I'm already aware of what the ped crossing and the lights at the High Street are doing. In a car, I was lucky if I'd bothered to look much more than 30 yards in front. So maybe this guy hadn't even seen the lights. </p> <p>Or maybe he was of those drivers who have a knee jerk reaction to seeing a bike in front - "must get past". You're lucky he didn't act like some drivers i've had the displeasure of encountering (who strangely tend to be the more nervous sort) who just try and go past you when there is barely a gap.</p> <p>I'm aware I'm probably not really furthering the discussion beyond saying "I feel Your pain", Anth... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=381#post-2940 Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:06:47 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 2940@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Having the other cyclist to chat to actually helped - he actually commented first about it which made me realise I wasn't in the wrong, so my stress levels remained low. But yes, a lot of people seem to want to make life as full of hassle as possible! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=381#post-2939 Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:48:34 +0000 chdot 2939@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think some people are addicted to raising their stress levels. </p> <p>Unfortunately this impacts on other people too... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=381#post-2938 Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:43:07 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 2938@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>This morning I was riding west along Bernard Terrace with the lights ahead red, a couple of vans waiting at them and a couple of cyclists already in the cycle reservoir, where I joined them.</p> <p>Just as our lights to cross Clerk Street went green those at the bottom of Hope Park Terrace, to enter the Meadows, turned red. So while slightly quicker than the cyclist to my left, I didn't kick on, so wasn't about to streak ahead. We had not even fully crossed Clerk Street when there was a beep behind me. Freewheeling downhill I pointed out the red lights ahead and carried on into the reservoir there.</p> <p>Once stopped I turned to see my aggressor, now indicating to turn left, and looking rather annoyed with me. I pointed out the red lights again, and was simply met with a waving of arms that clearly meant 'you should have moved over left'. What? So that you could pass me, then pull in to stop at the red, whereupon I would simply have moved in front of you again? I pointed to my watch trying to get over the fact that really he wouldn't have saved any time.</p> <p>Actually, I went so far as to work it out. It's a distance of 112 metres, which I covered in 16 seconds (according to the video). At a <em>constant</em> 30mph he would have covered the same distance in 8.5 seconds. So, he would have saved 7.5 seconds. Except... The lights, as has already been pointed out, were red. So he would have merely had 7.5 seconds longer sat at them...</p> <p>There seems an utter disconnect in logic, as well as a lack of any ability to look any further ahead on the road than what is directly in front. I had a chat with one of the other cyclists about it while we were in the reservoir (given the lights had changed to red 16 seconds before we got there, there was plenty time to talk).</p> <p>And it got worse really. He turned left, then immediately right into Melville Terrace, hared along there faster than the cars on Melville Drive, but stopped about a third of a mile on, so was just stopping by the side of the road as I went past on Melville Drive...</p> <p>(oh, and there was no flashing light, no emergency delivery...) </p>