CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting

Near misses: Scottish Widows, Holyrood Park Rd

(10 posts)
  • Started 7 years ago by c30c60
  • Latest reply from barnton-to-town

  1. c30c60
    Member

    Yesterday I had my latest near-miss with a driver who was leaving the Scottish Widows carpark on Holyrood Park Rd. This happens fairly often at hometime: the driver suddenly crosses the lane - and my path - without checking to the right. I was wearing bumblebee yellow, the front light was flashing and it was daylight.

    Does anybody else have this problem? I've contacted SW to see if they'll help, and it'd be useful to hear of others' experiences. If I'm not the only one with this affliction, perhaps it'll be worth talking to the Council & Uni of Ed (Pollack Halls is across the road).

    Posted 7 years ago #

  2. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    There's a road sign that covers this but would it be the company or the local authority who would put it up?

    Posted 7 years ago #

  3. Stickman
    Member

    PM sent

    Posted 7 years ago #

  4. DrAfternoon
    Member

    This has happened to me several times. Not an excuse at all, but it seems to be encouraged by there being a ramp on which drivers are reluctant to lose momentum.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  5. crowriver
    Member

    If the park was closed to through traffic (as it should be, in my view) then this sort of incident would be less likely to occur.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  6. acsimpson
    Member

    @crowriver, I'm not saying it shouldn't be shut but wouldn't that increase the risk. More drivers would be turning right while expecting less traffic to be coming towards the park.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  7. crowriver
    Member

    Hm, maybe. Depends I suppose. Yes more right turners, but fewer "I'll just zip along quickly to the roundabout on Queens' Drive to steal a march on everyone else trying to get home to East Lothian before the rush. Oh damn, where did that cyclist come from?"

    Posted 7 years ago #

  8. c30c60
    Member

    If the SW exiters went left, to turn back via the Queen's Drive roundabout, it would make things safer for me because we'd be travelling in the same direction and I'd be more able to nip out of the way. The drivers would be less impatient too, because they wouldn't be hanging around so long, waiting for a gap in the opposite lane. The problem for me is that they cross the flow of traffic (that's me) at speed and with a glaikit demeanour.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  9. c30c60
    Member

    Got a nice reply from SW, although I'd have to be a raging optimist to think it'll have much long-term effect:

    "I can confirm that following your earlier messages, a communication was sent to all staff at the Dalkeith Road offices requesting that they be particularly aware of cyclists when leaving either of the site car parks. Attention was drawn to the report received of near misses with cyclists and colleagues cars leaving from the car park and crossing the junctions.
    Thanks again for raising your concerns, I hope this goes some way to stopping any further incidents."

    Posted 7 years ago #

  10. barnton-to-town
    Member

    "Not an excuse at all, but it seems to be encouraged by there being a ramp on which drivers are reluctant to lose momentum."

    'Drivers' is a bit strong.

    Posted 7 years ago #

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