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Good Driving

(272 posts)

Started 14 years ago by Min
Latest reply from gembo

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good driving

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Min
Member

As suggested by Gembo on another thread I think it is a good idea to share stories of good and courteous drivers as it is all too easy to get caught up with the idiots who try to spoil our enjoyment of cycling.

Here is one this morning- I need to turn right at the roundabout at Leith Street and it was blocked on my right hand side as I approached it this morning. As I rode on and signalled left to leave it, a bus and a lorry drove forward and stopped, blocking my way out. I started to go round the back of the lorry to discover that the lane beside it was empty and a taxi driver was approaching. He immediately stopped and waved me on. I thought that was nice. He could easily have just swept through and ignored me. I said thanks AND waved just to make sure!

Posted 14 years ago #
Wilmington's Cow
Member

I tried to thank someone this morning. I think he was slowing to let me go round a bus. We got stopped at the next lights so I turned to try and wave thanks and indicate that I should have moved out a bit sooner, but he had a thousand yard stare on...

Posted 14 years ago #
Wilmington's Cow
Member

But in general I always give a thumbs up to people who drive courteously around me. There are people I've come across who say they don't do this because they shouldn't be praising what people should be doing anyway (i.e. driving correctly).

Personally I think that's a bit of a miserable take, and cuts out that humanisation aspect that I think being able to communicate brings. Being on a bike we're able to do this, and I think it can reinforce that good behaviour.

Posted 14 years ago #
Numptie
Member

Part of my morning commute takes me past Dobbies up the hill to Gilmerton on my way into Crewe Toll. This stretch of road is unlit, so if a vehicle dips its headlights when it sees me then I give them a wave to say thanks. Mind you when they dont dip and continue to blind me I sometimes feel like waving, but only using two fingers!

Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

If I'm trying to turn right and someone flashes 'OK', I will respond with a clear nod - keeping both hands on the bars is always advisable while turning.

I make a point of 'thumbs up' with buses I've just overtaken (at bus stops) if I am aware that they have noticed me and deliberately not shot forward (as some drivers do).

Equally if I am approaching a bus and it indicates that it is about to move off, I jerk my head to the right to show that I'm intending to let them go ahead.

Given the number of times they respond (after moving off into the lane) by flashing both their indicators, it's clear they have seen my gesture and appreciated it - so it works both ways.

Of course I am talking Lothian Buses here, obviously there are more of them, but the drivers are trained to be aware of cyclists and most are considerate. There are still a few who come dangerously close in an intimidating way if you're 'in the way' close to a bus stop.

Worst place for this is probably North Bridge where it's not always possible to be in the right hand lane and not safe to be on the right edge of the bus lane due to the sunken manhole covers!

Posted 14 years ago #
Min
Member

Yes of course drivers should be driving properly anyway but many do not so I agree it is right to encourage it. Getting a cheery wave from a cyclist might seriously be the nicest thing that happened to that driver all morning! And considering all the negativity surrounding cyclists and cycling every little helps I say.

Posted 14 years ago #
PS
Member

@Anth
"Personally I think that's a bit of a miserable take, and cuts out that humanisation aspect that I think being able to communicate brings. Being on a bike we're able to do this, and I think it can reinforce that good behaviour."

Totally agree. So many of the problems in traffic are caused by the dehumanisation of people to cars, buses, lorries and if you wave, say thanks, whatever, you're re-establishing human contact. Plus, it's this sort of oil that greases society's wheels - I kind of expect people to hold the door open for me if I'm following them through, but I'll still say thanks. It's just good manners, plain and simple.

Posted 14 years ago #
Kim
Member

Mutual respect and consideration for other road users makes for safer and more enjoyable travel for all. Acknowledging a courtesy does make a difference, so don’t be shy.

Posted 14 years ago #
gembo
Member

I know this is a bit cheeky coming from me but this thread is going off the point. I always try to give a cheery wave, thumbs up and when in the mood, if appropriate - a kind of passing salute. Nice to be nice.

Anyway, getting back to the thread - I was on the backroad out of Kirknewto ntoday, road minced by quarry lorries over the railway bridge, car definitely waited for several seconds til I made it on the right turn onto the long dalmahoy road, surface marginally better, the car then overtook me giving me such a wide berth that Reginald Molehusband would have been proud. What an excellent driver.

Posted 14 years ago #
Cyclingmollie
Member

Well all the drivers I saw out round East Lothian yesterday were very considerate. I would single out the driver who signalled to me to finish cycling towards him along the narrow road by the golf course in Dunbar even though he had right of way.

Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

THIS THREAD IS ON RADIO SCOTLAND NOW!

Listeners invited to contact Tom Morton Show with 'good stories' of cyclist/motorist courtesy.

Posted 14 years ago #
LaidBack
Member

I get loads of good stuff. I will get a thumbs up from bus drivers pulling out of stop when it suits me to not overtake (I indicate to the left to show I'm pulling in behind them). If they are LRT they will be indicating that they intend to pull out.
I even had chat with a bus driver on Prince St about my low down bike whilst waiting at the lights. If you go out looking for good things you may be rewarded. Then again you may meet the guy in Dave's video!

Posted 14 years ago #
Smudge
Member

Big thumbs up to the gents in the big red Edinburgh buses :-) 99% of them have been very good since I started commuting by cycle again, especially the one who started to pull away then saw me and stopped to let me go past before carrying on just before Haymarket yesterday morning, much appreciated :-)

Posted 14 years ago #
Claggy Cog
Member

I have noticed lately that bus drivers are more courteous than they used to be, waiting for you to go past when you are half way up the side of them and they are ready to pull out. Could this be to do with the heid honcho of LRT being a cyclist or being more cycle orientated, whatever the reason, yaasss, long may it continue...

Posted 14 years ago #
Min
Member

Yes, Lothian Buses are almost always good. They are properly trained and I am sure the heid honcho has a lot to do with it as there was an article about it in the EEN a wee while ago.

Posted 14 years ago #
Min
Member

I had a driver wave me on this morning when I arrived at a junction wanting to turn right. It was particularly good as it can be difficult to get turned at that point.

Posted 14 years ago #
gembo
Member

Always nice when that happens.

Posted 14 years ago #
SRD
Moderator

Have had several encounters with good drivers in past few days - nothing major but considerate, sensible, good driving, and letting me through traffic when safe (I don't in general approve of cars stopping to let others in/through traffic).

But then had VERY annoying encounter with a cyclist, who while I was in the very centre of ASL, pulled up on extreme right. I assumed he was turning, but no, and he didn't pull straight ahead either when lights changed, but instead cut straight across into my path, clearly assuming I would still be back in ASL trying to get started. I shouted then, and remonstrated further at next set of lights. My parting shot: 'learn how to cycle' -- indecipherable response from him -- me: 'learn how to cycle SAFELY'.

(I guess this should have gone under 'what most annoys you about other cyclists...)

Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"(I guess this should have gone under 'what most annoys you about other cyclists...)"

It's a free form forum.

As I was saying about London -

"Now there is a real feeling that cars are actually holding back when it would be a squeeze to pass. There are now so many bikes it's hard to not be aware of them - and the clear realisation that overtaking will only get the driver to the next car ahead fractionally sooner."

Same for bikes....

Posted 14 years ago #
Min
Member

Well after weeks of being cut up, left hooked and other dangerous maneuvers (see complaints here and here) I don't even have a name for I finally have an entry for this thread when a man in a white van (yes really) let me turn at the junction I mentioned above.

Pretty trivial really but it gives me a small beacon of hope that I might actually survive until I get my new, unfriendly **** you bike.

Posted 14 years ago #
gembo
Member

twas about 50/50 last week with drivers giving me room and time versus drivers trying to come past me as close as they could

Posted 14 years ago #
Min
Member

Had a driver let me out of the ridiculously busy exit from the Meadows to Buccleuch Street this morning which was really nice. Might have been waiting there for some time otherwise.

Posted 14 years ago #
Min
Member

Nice white van man let me out at Rankeillor Street this morning, also had one last week at the other end as well as a taxi driver (black cab) stop at the head of an apparently infinate stream of traffic to let me turn right.

Posted 14 years ago #
kaputnik
Moderator

Cooncil scaffy wagon, abandoned in the bus lane about a metre out from the pavement outside St Johns Road West post office about 830AM. Flashers on, no refuse workers to be seen (presume they were off refusing to work somewhere), blocking both lanes of traffic.

Oh, sorry, wrong thread.

Posted 14 years ago #
Min
Member

I came up behind another cyclist who was very slow this morning and I wanted to overtake. I looked behind and saw a van so didn't pull out. The van then slowed down and I was worried it was going to try to left hook us so just held my line and kept looking ahead. After a few seconds it just drove on so I think the driver was going to let me out to pass the other cyclist. I didn't realise this until after they drove on. It is the thought that counts though!

Posted 13 years ago #
steveo
Member

Don't you hate it when drivers don't live up to their stereotypes. It makes the roads so much more dangerous when you can't rely on a white van to try and kill you! :D

I had a (red) van sit patiently behind me all the way along Gorgie the other day, i was expecting him to be waiting on a spot where there were least number of witnesses....

Posted 13 years ago #
Min
Member

Hehe! Yes I must admit that I sometimes just get suspicious if a driver tries to be courteous, a bit like this morning. Shame really.

Posted 13 years ago #
recombodna
Member

Yeah I can feel cyclists squirm when I sit behind the to give them space....It's almost as if I'm not fulfilling my duties as a van driver....

Posted 13 years ago #
SRD
Moderator

We need bumper stickers that say 'I'm a cycle-friendly driver'

Posted 13 years ago #
ruggtomcat
Member

Ive been thinking/acting on this a lot lately, I have been concentrating on thanking drivers and pedestrians for courtious behavior. If you get into the habit of doing this every time you get to see the true proportion of good to bad drivers/peds and saying 'thank you' makes you feel happy, where as saying '**** you' does nothing but give you an ulcer.

Posted 13 years ago #

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