CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News

Operation Close Pass in Edinburgh

(630 posts)

  1. hunnymonster
    Member

    How unlike the Chipwrapper to engage in sloppy journalism: "with rural forces outperforming city counterparts" - do Police Scotland know about these other forces? One must presume that they mean divisions rather than forces.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  2. StepRam
    Member

    Definitely, up for Writing in, we should also put pressure on Scot.Gov and Cllrs to push Police Scotland to roll out elsewhere. For example, if Glasgow and Inverness Cllrs are asking their Liaisons for Opp Close pass to be rolled out in their area to help encourage Cycling that's bound to help!

    On a Personal Note, I definitely noticed a difference in driver behaviour following the media campaign. However, that's also around the time I strapped a Go Pro to my head!

    Posted 6 years ago #
  3. chdot
    Admin

    Posted 6 years ago #
  4. gembo
    Member

    Dom D said there are six prosecutions coming up that need publicised, well I think that is what he said. (there are others in pipeline)

    Posted 6 years ago #
  5. gibbo
    Member

    Dom D said there are six prosecutions coming up that need publicised,

    Publicising will make all the difference. Without making them public, all he's doing is educating people one at a time.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  6. wishicouldgofaster
    Member

    Exactly gibbo if the perception is that there is no enforcement more and more drivers will continue to punishment pass as it just highlights that cyclists are not worthy of protection.

    This apathy by the police has to stop.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  7. chdot
    Admin

    Related thread (inc. videos) -

    Posted 6 years ago #
  8. Frenchy
    Member

    Presume this is the link you meant:

    http://www.citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17823#post-253110

    Posted 6 years ago #
  9. Stickman
    Member

    "@edinburghpolice
    We've been in Holyrood Park spreading the #OpClosePass message! 9 drivers passed our cyclist too closely so had a chat on the mat"

    Posted 6 years ago #
  10. gibbo
    Member

    "@edinburghpolice
    We've been in Holyrood Park spreading the #OpClosePass message! 9 drivers passed our cyclist too closely so had a chat on the mat"

    9. What's that? One trip from the Parky's to the Palace and back?

    (P.S. Very pleased to hear they've targeted this area. It's a long-standing nightmare.)

    Posted 6 years ago #
  11. Dom D
    Member

    Granted not the highest number! With the Meadowbank junction closed for roadworks traffic volume was significantly reduced so it tended only to be one car at a time. Plus, genuinely there were some really well planned overtakes!

    We also spent longer as we were showing and explaining the mechanics of how to run the op to colleagues from Fife and Forth Valley divisions.

    Some really terrible passes on Queens Drive going up the hill towards the Commie Pool. So much so I'm planning to go back there with a different approach.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  12. Roibeard
    Member

    @Dom D - Some really terrible passes on Queens Drive going up the hill towards the Commie Pool.

    Those will have been deliberate to "encourage" the cyclist to use the provided facilities next time, rather than delay motorists. Cyclists that choose to get in the way are deemed to require being taught a lesson.

    I've even been pulled over by Lothian and Borders officers for the crime of holding up traffic (holding primary prior to turning right)...

    Robert

    Posted 6 years ago #
  13. gibbo
    Member

    Some really terrible passes on Queens Drive going up the hill towards the Commie Pool.

    I can imagine. When I lived near the park, I used to get close passes while going 30mph down the hill.

    If they don't have the patience to sit behind a cyclist who is doing the speed limit, I can't imagine they'll have patience if cyclist is going uphill.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  14. chdot
    Admin

    @ Dom D

    "So much so I'm planning to go back there with a different approach."

    Might be good if that was 'how about shutting the Park to through traffic'!

    Incidentally, are you checking on actual speeds?

    Posted 6 years ago #
  15. Colonies_Chris
    Member

    Coming down Buccleuch St this evening, I'm going to be turning right so taking the lane, behind a couple of slow-moving cars - so slow, in fact, that I could have gone faster, the front one seemed to be looking for an address - I hear a horn behind me and just as I'm sticking out my hand to indicate turning right into Buccleuch Place, M2 FFT comes blasting past me (and the ped crossing). Two young lads, hurling abuse at me. Any point in reporting this? I don't wear a camera. so no footage.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  16. chdot
    Admin

    Yes

    Posted 6 years ago #
  17. chdot
    Admin

    You mean they overtook the cars as well?

    Posted 6 years ago #
  18. acsimpson
    Member

    @DomD, "So much so I'm planning to go back there with a different approach."

    I assume that's the one which you talked about earlier which starts with leaving your colleagues at home and ends up with a court date.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  19. Colonies_Chris
    Member

    @chdot: I don't know whether they passed the cars too - I was preoccupied with remembering their number plate before my own rapidly approaching turn.
    Spokes bulletin says "The police are happy to receive reports of close passes, if there is clear video evidence.", so looks like no point in reporting it.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  20. chdot
    Admin

    "so looks like no point in reporting it.

    Well...

    'We' have discussed before and it has been clear that the process via 101 or Police counters has been very variable.

    I think the bit about video evidence is more to say that Police WILL accept it rather than saying 'without video, don't bother'.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  21. Dom D
    Member

    @Colonies_Chris - you can report it by email using the 'ContactUs' option on the Police Scotland website. Without corroboration we have limited options though. I know that from personal experience when I got punched from a car passenger whilst cycling!

    That said when I get a report I normally have a dig about. They're could be other things related to the vehicle that perk my interest. Also out of the 1000's of cars on the road you'd be surprised by what I remember when I see it. Sometimes an information report is just enough...

    Equally I do read the today's bad driving thread on here. I don't comment but I do take a professional interest.

    @acsimpson - hopefully not a court date as such. I'd like to issue a 'misery voucher' at the scene. By plugging the bike cameras into a laptop and playing back footage to the driver at the scene I hope to encourage them to comply with the offer of fixed penalty. Sourcing a capable laptop is my current biggest obstacle just now!

    Posted 6 years ago #
  22. chdot
    Admin

    "Sourcing a capable laptop is my current biggest obstacle just now!"

    Unless the police have some obscure specifications/security concerns, I would have thought any computer would do - or an iPad plus card reader(?)

    Someone on here might have a spare one...

    Posted 6 years ago #
  23. "Sourcing a capable laptop is my current biggest obstacle just now!"

    Unless Dom has any objections, perhaps a lot of tweets to the transport and justice ministers might produce some cash!

    Posted 6 years ago #
  24. Dom D
    Member

    Even for the education element as well, I've always liked the idea of instant playback to the driver.

    I've still got a few formal avenues to pursue first, but I appreciate the support. I'll make it subtly known if I draw a blank.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  25. NiallA
    Member

    CCE crowdfunder for a suitable laptop? I'd chip in... (slightly unfunny Intel-related pun almost intended)

    Posted 6 years ago #
  26. hunnymonster
    Member

    It wouldn't be without precedent - I seem to recall that concerned residents in Ponteland bought Northumbria Police a speed gun to "encourage" motorists to stick to the limit through the town...

    Posted 6 years ago #
  27. chdot
    Admin

    Police didn't even pay for the mat (I think).

    Posted 6 years ago #
  28. Dom D
    Member

    @chdot - correct. Mat and cameras supported (£) entirely by Cycling Scotland. The educational leaflets are provided by Spokes.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  29. chdot
    Admin

  30. fimm
    Member

    "...I seem to recall that concerned residents in Ponteland bought Northumbria Police a speed gun to "encourage" motorists to stick to the limit..."

    Did they really? That's news to me, and I grew up there (does not mean it didn't happen of course.) The 30 limit outside our house was "not well observed". The result of this is I am very careful to keep to speed limits.

    Posted 6 years ago #

RSS feed for this topic

Reply »

You must log in to post.


Video embedded using Easy Video Embed plugin