CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting

Todays "Near Death Experience"

(10 posts)

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  1. Nelly
    Member

    So, I felt this one merited a thread other than the simple "bad driving" one.

    Turning right out of Spylaw into Grays Loan at 7.15 this morning, conditions ok, if a bit dark and frosty.

    Two cars turning right from Grays Loan across me - first one turns no problem. Second one - Audi Q5 SUV - cuts the corner.

    Actually that phrase doesn't do it justice, it was 25% on my side of the road, and as I was in position to turn right, was bearing down on me......fast.

    I was clipped in on one side, but managed two swift bunny hops to the left - her car still skimmed my elbow !!

    I punched her rear quarter and she then stopped.

    Usual "incredibly sorry, I didn't see you" - I turned my bike and showed her the 800 lumens she had "missed".

    She then tried to blame the other car for impeding her view.

    Quite amazing that the worst one I have had in a while took place while I was stationary !!

    Posted 8 years ago #

  2. SRD
    Moderator

    grim. especially so close to home for us. we cycle around there with the kids all the time!

    Posted 8 years ago #

  3. Nelly
    Member

    Yes, my thought immediately post event was that a lot of kids use that to access school / canal

    Posted 8 years ago #

  4. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @Nelly

    Call the police and tell them you feared for your life. People need to understand the effects of their behaviour.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  5. SRD
    Moderator

    we saw a bruntsfield Mum and 2 kids almost get smashed into yesterday evening, while crossing Merchiston Ave on foot. terrifying. they were half-way across. and car turning from Granville terrace just 'went' once straight on traffic had cleared.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  6. Frenchy
    Member

    Call the police and tell them you feared for your life.

    Absolutely - even with your evasive actions she still hit you. Did you get the VRN?

    Posted 8 years ago #

  7. Nelly
    Member

    Thanks, to be honest it was a situation where I was more concerned with being in one piece - I didn't think about grabbing the registration.

    Having seen some of the feedback from people with helmet cams to dangerous driving, I'm not sure the police would do anything anyway.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  8. Frenchy
    Member

    Thanks, to be honest it was a situation where I was more concerned with being in one piece - I didn't think about grabbing the registration.
    Understandable - very glad you are in one piece.

    Having seen some of the feedback from people with helmet cams to dangerous driving, I'm not sure the police would do anything anyway.

    The police have spoken to (but not charged) drivers who have passed me too closely. Based on that, I'm pretty sure they would follow up an actual collision. I'm not sure they would charge the driver here, but I think it's important to report incidents like this because it lets the police know that these incidents are happening, which can drive initiatives like the West Midlands close pass one. It also means that, if the same driver has another incident, they aren't able to rely on "I'm always a good driver, this was just a one-off" as a defence.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  9. Ed1
    Member

    I suppose its lucky so many people have a helmet camera I wonder if this why buses drive more safely in Edinburgh.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  10. stiltskin
    Member

    This was similar to the way I was hit by a private hire at the end of Ravelston Dykes aboit 10 years ago. Except that in her case she was about 85% on the wrong side of the road. She hit me in front of the passenger side. Glad you escaped unscathed.

    Posted 8 years ago #

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