CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".
IT’S TRUE!
CCE is 15years old!
Well done to ALL posters
It soon became useful and entertaining. There are regular posters, people who add useful info occasionally and plenty more who drop by to watch. That's fine. If you want to add news/comments it's easy to register and become a member.
RULES No personal insults. No swearing.
Prague style -
"
Oh yeah
I overtake considerately 1.5 M for your safety.
Signal early with your blinker to those around you that you are overtaking.
Make sure that the way is clear and pass the cyclist at a minimum of 1.5 M.
"
https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=cs&tl=en&u=http%3A//www.cistoustopou.cz
@Dom D
Again - thank you.
In wider terms I'm as impatient as anyone else as regards slow progress and the fact that policing and justice around those on bikes has been hugely lacking.
BUT at the same time I've done enough work with organisations to see when individual personnel are sticking their heads above the parapet. To have a police officer in Edinburgh telling people who cycle that if they have camera footage of being badly treated it will genuinely-honest-to-God be treated seriously and with the attitude it deserves is still gob-smacking.
Please if possible post that advice on a non-cycling website... i.e. a police site or similar. A simple message like that on a mainstream police web page is gold dust.
@chdot
If Edinburgh is serious about making cycling safe, we need signs like that Prague one. And also signs like the Spanish and French ones I posted links to the other days.
They're a necessary complement to the work Dom is doing. (And Dom's work would be a necessary complement to those signs.)
If this is an education process - which is fair, because for decades, drivers have been taught the wrong "rules" - then posters/signs are a way of getting that information across to the masses in a very low cost way.
(Clearly the council believes this, otherwise they wouldn't have put up all those signs about 20mph limits - e.g. the one outside Leith library.)
And, speaking from someone who has studied behavioural economics (to some extent), you tend to need:
(A) Clear specific rules they can follow. Tell them 1.5m, not "don't drive too close."
(B) A reason why.
(C) And attach it to something positive ("I overtake considerately 1.5 M for your safety.") so people don't feel they're being forced to comply, but instead, are doing something they agree with.
i.e. "I'm a considerate person, so I'm going to do this."
On that theme, here's a tweet 2 days ago by the Spanish Civil Guard.
https://twitter.com/guardiacivil/status/864563607367024641
The text is:
No es un ciclista
Es Padre/madre
Hermano/hermana
Hijo/hija
Amigo/amiga
Y 1,5mts pueden salvarle la vida
No lo olvides
(Click the link above to see the image.)
Clear rules, a reason why, attach it to something positive.
Other countries understand this and use this.
@EdinburghPolice
We've been out on #OpClosePass - 32 drivers spoken to after not giving enough space to our unmarked cyclist. 5 also speeding, 5 no seatbelt
32!
Also:
We're also looking to take #OpClosePass into the city centre, Sgts Casey and Mason from West End have been on their bikes to try out the mat
A tweet from this morning (doesn't say what date(s) it refers to):
"We've been out on #OpClosePass - 32 drivers spoken to after not giving enough space to our unmarked cyclist. 5 also speeding, 5 no seatbelt"
32 and no mobile users ? Cant be Edinburgh then.
I think the ratio on my commute is around 1 in 50; but I actually think the number of people on the phone is going down.
"Our cctv shows vehicle was travelling at 44mph, the speed limit is 50mph, and gives you the recommended space of around 1m." https://t.co/5XeqtuK18E
@Dom D - appalling attitude from a bus company...
Could you have a word / take stronger actions...
Some conscious has occurred at the company and deleted the tweet.
Shame I screenshotted it
I cycled across Holyrood Park last night aroubf 6.30 from Meadowbank to the Commie Pool. Luckily had youngest on tandem but 10yo was on her own bike in front of me and over and over we had cars over take and then - because they had often misjudged their overtake- even those who had given me reasonable distance swerved in immediately towards her to resume their lane.
We were going much too fast to use the so-called 'cycle lane' which was full of families, buggies, etc. And 10 yo is ona bike that looks like an adult bike (full size wheels) and was making good speed despite the uphill and fierce headwind.
The most telling thing was that these overtakes all then had to brake when they reached queue in front of cars actually going the speed limit.
@DomD please can you do something about that road? It was terrifying.
More updates from the Prentice #closepass
"Following an independent assessment of cctv we would like to apologise & are updating the advice given to drivers to allow at least 1.5m
We'd also like to invite you to our depot to view the cctv, perhaps give some advice based on your experiences and to formally apologise."
https://twitter.com/prenticecoaches/status/866537163768332288
In cases like this, the response should be to offer to change places; if they thought it was safe they'd have no problem with you overtaking at the same speed and distance, no?
I'm sure I saw a video of some dangerous drivers being put on stationary bikes while cars drove past them, with one of the drivers jumping off the bike in fear. Might have been in India. Or I might have imagined it.
Found it, although I got the details wrong: it was bus drivers in Brazil. Next stage in Operation Close Pass?
@Stickman
Joyous idea. I noticed yesterday that I could predict the presence of a bike rack on cars approaching from behind by the engine noise alone. Quiet country back road allowed that.
People who've been buzzed don't buzz.
@HankChief and @SRD
I've PM'd you both.
"People who've been buzzed don't buzz."
I wish that was universally true.
I have sometimes got the impression that people with bikes either underestimate how far they stick out, or have forgotten they are there.
Went for a nice Victoria Day spin earlier with my other half, spoilt a little towards the end by a drivist forcing his way alongside me quite literally at the 1st traffic island outside Balerno High heading uphill. The island gap there is extremely narrow, his wing mirror missed my bars by millimetres and I gave his rear window a hard thump in the hopes of forcing the swine to at least give my wife in front more room. Chased him down at the lights at the top of the hill where he was fairly profusely apologetic but I'd have little confidence he won't be on autopilot again next time he passes a cyclist.
Looks like a happy ending for the chap you had a close pass from Prentice Coaches noted above.
"
Great meeting with Ross owner of @prenticecoaches, company updating cyclist safe passing guidance + new training for staff. 1/4 https://t.co/yeoBC7fy2g
.@prenticecoaches also committed to engaging with @policescotland to hear about Operation Close Pass campaign. 2/4"
Credit to Prenticecoaches for taking the concerns seriously and following up with actions.
IF the police need another spot to test out, the can't recommend West Mains Road and Blackford Avenue. After a tour of the finest points in east lothian I was headed home and had about 20 close passes and had to use my bike position to stop a 4 wheel drive idiot from passing in a fashion that would have caused a crash. Mental.
Had a learner driver drive straight at me there today, had to swerve into the blackford pond parking area
@ARobComp - Aye, not a fun bit of road. Also a weird one in that I find going downhill to be just as bad, and occasionally far worse, than coming uphill.
Looks like it will be on National telly soon. (Does anyone still watch crime watch?)
https://twitter.com/gmptraffic/status/872530183584141312
"
#opclosepass 7 Drivers educated on Washway Road Sale in 2hrs #opconsiderate filmed with BBC Crimewatch to be aired soon. https://t.co/LbfQQfpwpP"
And closer to home
https://twitter.com/CyclingEdin/status/872533852148961288
"Great to see @polscotrpu at @RBS Gogarburn educating drivers on safe passing distances when overtaking people on bikes
#Opclosepass in action"
<sarcasm>
We really ought to get the 60mph speed limit on Gogar Station Road reduced to something safer.
</sarcasm>
Not a good day for the close passes.
The man who towed my car the other day (yes, I had a car - briefly (and griefly)) mentioned how he had seen polis doing this somewhere. So it is getting noticed.
What was the format of the session at RBS? Are there plans to do it at other large employers, or was it there only because of the active contingent of the shady Edinburgh cycle lobby who work there? ;-)
I think the shady Edinburgh cycle lobby were only partially involved in this one, although one of them may have taken the picture on Twitter..
Format was to put the mat across the main route from the car park during the morning rush, corral everyone towards PC Doyle and press a Spokes 'Bike Alert' leaflet into their hand. Given the capacity of the car park, he probably spoke to >800 people. Most were receptive to some degree. A few asked about the legality of cycling on the A8 by the airport.
There was some discussion about the event on internal social media, with all the usual prejudices being expressed.
...so I'm told ;-)
A few asked about the legality of cycling on the A8 by the airport.
Why do so many people have a problem with cyclists on the A8? It has virtually zero impact on journey time for vehicles and at rush hour just slows them down from reaching the queue towards either end.
How about asking about the legality of doing over 40mph in the 40mph limit? Would be interested to find out how many do, but would estimate it to be easily over 50%.
Never any doing below 20mph on the 20 limit road from the roundabout outside the Aegon staff exit up towards Edinburgh Park Station.
In addition, there's always someone who will floor it to try to overtake as you approach left-hand bend at the top, before left-hooking to swing back in far enough in order to make it round without swerving into the opposite lane and having a head-on collision with traffic coming the other way.
Every. Single. Night.
A wee police speed trap and close-pass cyclist up there would be hugely appreciated, as my luck is sure to only hold out so long.
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