CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting

Today's Good Driving

(52 posts)
  • Started 9 years ago by Edinburgh Cycle Training
  • Latest reply from gembo

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  1. Cab 44 this morning.

    He was behind me at the lights at the bottom of Morrison Street. As we both set off at green, I looked back and indicated I’d need a bit of patience from him to negotiate the tram tracks.

    He did so right through the junction to when I exited to Haymarket Yards. If all cab drivers were so vigilant, they’d be a credit to the city.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  2. gembo
    Member

    @bikeability - there is already a thread for this somewhere?

    I had white van man for company called Lynx (not the 1980s golf club manufacturer) warily staying back from mildly erratic bromptonite who came onto the thoroughfare at Shandon colonies and wove in and out of traffic. was unclear if he would go left or straight on at ardmillan. WVM very patient. I gave him the thumbs up at Diggers lights. He looked at me as if I was a moron, I gave him the double thumbs up he kind of shrugged and lifted one finger very slightly from the wheel as if to say De Nada

    Posted 9 years ago #
  3. I thought there was a thread @gembo. I searched, badly obviously!

    Posted 9 years ago #
  4. jdanielp
    Member

    The driver of the flatbed lorry which was stopped in the middle of the two lanes of Gilmore Place, waiting to turn left at the King's Theatre junction yesterday. I pulled into the ASZ to the right and ahead, ready to turn right. This isn't so much "good driving", because I don't suppose that the driver really needed to have stopped across both lanes given that most buses manage to turn left using one lane, but, as it pulled away on the left filter, the driver shouted at me to watch out for the end of the lorry potentially catching me as it turned so it is more "good driver behaviour". However, given the noise of the lorry engine and other vehicles I was unable to hear what the driver had shouted so I shouted back "what?" and he shouted the same again to which I just shrugged before moving off on 'my' green. My brain shortly worked out what had been shouted, by which time it was too late and the corner of the lorry hadn't caught me, but it was something worth being aware of and the driver had at least tried.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  5. amir
    Member

    Thanks to the driver who held back from overtaking as I weaved down Gilmerton Road avoiding all the potholes.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  6. fimm
    Member

    Driver held back from trying to pass me, on a section of road where I often suffer impatient overtakes. I was very grateful.

    All the same, it is a shame that this was a notable occurrence!

    Posted 8 years ago #
  7. wingpig
    Member

    Technically showing the ability to observe, adapt, and hopefully learn: someone who was going to try and squeeze past my right on the approach to the roundabout (at which I was turning right and they were going straight on) backed off when I glared at them and didn't start accelerating again until I was out of their immediate intended path.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  8. The driver of taxi no. 932 (a 'proper' LTI black cab) gets the plaudits this morning. Wide stretch of road, a lane of traffic to my right is travelling maybe 5-10 mph quicker than me, and he's in that.

    Road ahead is narrowing, and traffic has slowed for a recent red light, taxi is alongside me as I notice all of this. He appears to notice at the same time and... slows down and tucks in behind. Bags of room as I then move with the traffic with the lights at green, waits until the bus lane starts, then goes by.

    Clearly someone who looks ahead given how well he dealt with the blocked bus lane further up, without aggression and with indicators, in plenty time.

    Psychotic in the extreme.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  9. chrisfl
    Member

    After my bad driving on Friday morning. Some really nice driving from a Taxi coming up to Haymarket Junction heading into town on Friday afternoon. A taxi driver slowed down to allow me to move into the right hand lane, then hung back to allow me space to make the wide right hand turn Torphichen Street before later overtaking with lots of room.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  10. wingpig
    Member

    A Cameron Events van, which waited behind me going up Regent Road on Friday evening and didn't overtaken until there was plenty of space after the bus turning roundabout.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  11. davemorrison
    Member

    I did a couple of circuits of Arthur's Seat this morning. About a third of the way up I had just passed one of the car parking spaces on the left hand side when I became aware of a vehicle behind me. I was given plenty of space and time to continue on my way before I moved over into the (empty) car parking space just after the S-bend steep part to let them pass. As I did so I gave a wee wave and thumbs up by way of thanks over my shoulder without really looking. I got a very friendly toot on the horn as a reply and as I turned to look over, all of the occupants (mother, father and kids) gave me a lovely smile and double thumbs up. I was on my second lap and starting to get a bit puffed out so that fair put a smile on my face.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  12. dougal
    Member

    Earlier in the week I had an aggressive tailgate and verbal abuse from the driver of John McMenamin builders white van. I mentioned it here.

    Today the same van at the same time - maybe the same driver - was a paragon of virtue and good driving. He followed me up the single carriage section of Leith Walk at a pleasant distance, didn't try to overtake when there wasn't room and didn't immediately accelerate through when I signalled to change lanes. I waved my heartfelt appreciations as he passed and he gave me the thumbs up. I'm still in shock.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  13. jdanielp
    Member

    The driver of the large truck on the A71 who slowed down considerably so that I could cross the road safely at the traffic island outside Heriot-Watt's North Gate despite the traffic not being particularly heavy (usually nobody will slow down to let me cross there even when the traffic is moving at under 10 mph nose to tail). He had sounded his horn as I was cycling along the pavement towards the crossing, which I had ignored, but when I jumped off my bike to prepare to cross he did so again. When I looked he was gesturing for me to cross. I gave him a friendly wave.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  14. Bruce
    Member

    ST62 Audi Q5, also has a cyclists stay awesome sticker.

    Everyday they drive down from Redford/Craiglockhart way-follows at a safe distance, I think they have overtaken me once as I was strugggling in a head wind.

    It's like having a pace car at my back protecting from all the other cars. I love glancing back and seeing that number plate :)

    Posted 7 years ago #
  15. Rosie
    Member

    Both (slightly) rubbishy and good.

    Turning from Muireston Terrace on to Dalry Road. Traffic banked eastwards. Westwards removal van so large that it was blending into lorry turned right across the gap so half of him ended on the ASL. Had to pull over to the kerb.

    Traffic eastwards started moving, but blue bus (First Bus?) allowed car to turn right from Dalry Road, and me to turn right into Dalry Road.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  16. piosad
    Member

    Yesterday on Gilmore Place westbound, around school hometime, suffered the usual close overtake just outside the newsagents, but the next car sat very patiently behind at a respectful distance all the way to the right turn into LGP.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  17. Luath
    Member

    Eagle Couriers van on Colinton Road this morning. Hung back giving plenty of room when I was keeping up with traffic flow and then waited for a safe opportunity to do a wide overtake when I wasn't keeping up with the traffic in front. Prompted me to come up with the antithesis to MGIF - the slightly less catchy MSB.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  18. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    Dear IWRATS,

    Thank you for contacting us regarding your recent experience with the driver of our service 7 bus.

    It is refreshing to hear praise for our staff as we know most try to be as helpful as possible at all times, no matter what the incident or circumstance.

    We are extremely pleased the driver exhibited the kind of positive and helpful b_ehaviour that we strive to get from all members of staff and it's good to know that our comprehensive training programme is having the desired effect on our employees and this one in particular.

    We will make sure details of your commendation are noted on the employee's file and his manager will speak to them personally to pass on your kind comments.

    Once again we thank you for your comments and moreover for taking the time and trouble to contact us.

    Yours sincerely,

    Customer Services Supervisor

    Posted 7 years ago #
  19. Frenchy
    Member

    Taxi driver tonight on Minto Street hung back to let me overtake a bus when there was probably enough space and time for them to overtake me. When I caught up with them at the Meadows I said they were in danger of giving taxi drivers a good reputation, which made them laugh.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  20. amir
    Member

    Scotland's first urban road to feature average speed cameras has seen a huge drop in speeding offences.

    Officials monitoring the camera system on Old Dalkeith Road in Edinburgh said there was now an average of two offences recorded per day.

    Before the cameras were installed three in every five vehicles were speeding.

    I note that the system cost £113k. That's the cost of improving driving standards on one stretch of road.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  21. Frenchy
    Member

    in the last year nobody has been injured on the section of Old Dalkeith Road covered by the system

    Previous rate of injury was about 10/year. Minimum in any other year since 2000 was 5.

    Even at 2 fines/day, that can't be far off paying for itself in purely financial terms, even before accounting for NHS savings.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  22. acsimpson
    Member

    "average of two offences recorded per day.

    Before the cameras were installed three in every five vehicles were speeding."

    I am a huge fan of average speed cameras and think we need them installed in as many locations as possible.

    However, are they not comparing apples and pears in the article? With the cameras recording average speed cameras could 3 in 5 drivers not still be speeding on it?

    The safety benefits are undeniable though.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  23. Frenchy
    Member

    With the cameras recording average speed cameras could 3 in 5 drivers not still be speeding on it?

    They might have measured average speeds before introducing the cameras. Certainly possible, even likely, that 60% of drivers go over the speed limit at some point between the cameras.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  24. neddie
    Member

    It would be much simpler that government mandated GPS-controlled speed-limiters to be fitted & maintained on all motor vehicles, than constantly adding more & more clutter to our streets.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  25. mgj
    Member

    Agreed

    Posted 6 years ago #
  26. acsimpson
    Member

    @neddie, yes. That way the cost would be entirely bourne by the drivers.

    If traffic cameras were allowed to be hidden it would solve the problem of street clutter. It would also have the benefit that no-one would know where they are.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  27. Frenchy
    Member

    Cycling up Minto St, in primary position in left hand lane (two lanes each way), and a driver moves into the nearer oncoming lane to overtake. Full lane and a half of space between us!

    Posted 6 years ago #
  28. Frenchy
    Member

    The driver behind me on Niddrie Mains Road stayed a decent distance back and seemingly didn't even consider overtaking whilst we were in the 20mph zone.

    Since I was cycling at 20mph this should really be in a "Utterly mundane driving" thread, but unfortunately it is quite unusual.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  29. ejstubbs
    Member

    Couple of times recently I've had drivers keeping a respectful distance back and not obviously angling to overtake. Yesterday on Woodhall Road being the most recent; I actually slowed and tucked in a bit when there was a decent gap between the parked cars on our side, and he still didn't seem that fussed about passing. The car behind him also stayed a sensible distance back when I moved out again and then signalled right to turn up Dreghorn Loan. All very civilised. What is the world coming to?

    Posted 5 years ago #
  30. twinspark
    Member

    Was yesterday actually. Cycling past Watson's at Myreside I was aware of a White Transit approaching from behind - didn't get registration unfortunately. They kept a safe distance behind and when I started to free-wheel to join the queue at the junction, they made no attempt to pass and cruised up to the junction themselves.

    Leaving the lights at Gray's Loan, they made no attempt to pass and again sat a safe distance behind, before turning right up Spylaw Road - what a pleasure to share the road with.

    Posted 5 years ago #

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