http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-27315952
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News
"Edinburgh City Council lorry drivers take cycling road danger class"
(19 posts)-
Posted 11 years ago #
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Was on telly too.
Got the impression that was a 'pilot', but CEC wants it for all drivers eventuality.
Lothian Buses involved in delivering training.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Had some very sensible driving from CEC white lorries holding back until space to pass this week.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Just had an e-mail from one of my local councillors informing me of this initiative. Also they are going to be patching top part of Leith Walk soon, in lieu of the full scheme happening later.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Well this is good news. Council drivers are often among the worst so I am very relieved that they are listening. Good on them.
Posted 11 years ago # -
From today's news on CEC staff intranet -
"
Lorry drivers in the saddle
Published Thursday 8th May 2014
A group of Council lorry drivers have taken to the saddle as part of a scheme to help make them more aware of the dangers facing cyclists on the roads.
In the first course of its kind in Scotland, drivers swapped six wheels for two in an effort to understand the perceptions of cyclists using the city's roads.
The pilot initiative consists of theory and practical sessions, created to encourage drivers to empathise with vulnerable road users and the safety issues they experience. The practical sessions have been developed with the support of Cycling Scotland, the national organisation for the promotion of cycling.
Participants returned to the classroom to learn about vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, motorcyclists and scooter riders as well as cyclists, and how best to share the space with them.
Class members were also given the opportunity to develop their own cycling skills and, as a result, formulate driving plans to ensure other road users' safety by putting themselves in their position."
Posted 11 years ago # -
"
Participants will return to the classroom to learn about vulnerable road users, who include pedestrians, motorcyclists and scooter riders as well as cyclists, and how best to share the space with them.
"
Posted 11 years ago # -
ALSO from above link -
"
Cyclists
• DO: take up a visible position at lights – three metres in front and not by the left kerb or very close to the lorry. If the cyclist can’t see the driver, the driver can’t see them; signal clearly.
"
Mmm
Posted 11 years ago # -
Interesting to see the CEC staff intranet article - it shows how much the BBC have copied and pasted from the news release.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Story is on the EEN site, too.
Gawd, I really must refrain from hitting the comments section! Today's riposte was to the couch-dweller who said (in all caps) "THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE TO READ THE HIGHWAY CODE!"
I despair :-(
Posted 11 years ago # -
I watched the bit on TV yesterday evening.
They had a council lorry driver saying he had blind spots so often couldn't tell whether a cyclist was coming up on the left.
Hold on... aren't there sensors that can be fitted to prevent this danger?
Is the council doing things on the cheap... while knowing that doing so puts the lives of cyclists in danger?*
Isn't that the real story here?
* Aside from tram tracks, the shocking condition of roads, and letting drivers park in "cycle lanes", the layout of the junction between King Stables Rd and Lothian Rd, the slippy paint where the Roseburn path meets the Blackhall path, the lack of enforcement of basic road safety laws..
Posted 11 years ago # -
I wasn't surprised yesterday on the EEN when many of the anti-cycling frothers outed themselves on a Farage story as UKIP supporters/voters....
However, my point on replying was that I saw quite a large group of folk riding together, all clad in hi-viz, on Leith Walk at Elm Row yesterday. None of them looked like they were very used to being on bikes, and looked quite nervous. I saw the CEC drivers story once I got home, so wondered if the group I saw were the drivers.
If they were, mixing it with traffic on Leith Walk would have been an eye-opener for them!
Posted 11 years ago # -
mixing it with traffic on Leith Walk would have been an eye-opener for them!
Aye, I'll bet it was!
Posted 11 years ago # -
@three - do you have a link to the Farage story?
Would be good to compile a list of the UKIP frothers for reference
Posted 11 years ago # -
large group of folk riding together, all clad in hi-viz, on Leith Walk at Elm Row yesterday. None of them looked like they were very used to being on bikes, and looked quite nervous.
Ha! This made me chuckle.
Posted 11 years ago # -
@calmac, too true. A half decent press release these days will form the basis of most copy as the one journalist working on the bits of the paper that need to be current is up against it.
Posted 11 years ago # -
"@calmac, too true. A half decent press release these days will form the basis of most copy as the one journalist working on the bits of the paper that need to be current is up against it."
aka Churnalism.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Posted 11 years ago #
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I wasn't surprised yesterday on the EEN when many of the anti-cycling frothers outed themselves on a Farage story as UKIP supporters/voters....
UKIP policy on cycling is less than enlightened and seems to be based on the principles of 'they're a nuisance' and 'how can we get them out of our way?'
Posted 11 years ago #
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