Working on the assumption that most considerate driving is due to a cyclist behind the wheel (if only on the grounds that they are more likely to see you and understand what you're likely to want to do next) then rising cycling levels in Edinburgh must eventually lead to rising 'good driving' levels. And probably rising 'bad driving' levels as drivers who don't cycle and hate cyclists get more and more frustrated by seeing the enemy everywhere.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
Good Driving
(272 posts)-
Posted 11 years ago #
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A Porsche (no less) holding up the traffic on Colinton Road this evening. It wanted to turn left into the Meggetland sports centre, but instead stopped because lots of people wanted to cross the junction it was turning in to.
Given the volume of traffic on Colinton Road at the time, it took some courage from the driver to 'do the right thing'.
Posted 11 years ago # -
You win some, you lose some. I posted one in the rubbish driving thread, so here's one in the good driving thread. Make sure you're sitting down - it's a van driver clearly waving thanks to me for getting out of his way when I had right of way. In fairness to him, we both entered the single lane that was available to us at the same time, and he clearly realised quickly that he probably should have waited, as he was going pretty slowly, so I was more than happy to get out of his way. If he'd driven straight at me, I can't deny I'd have deliberately stayed in primary.
Posted 11 years ago # -
After a terrible day of near misses, I crawled lazily up Marchmont Crescent with my daughter on the Wee Ride unaware of the car behind (bad observation by me I know) - had I known it was there earlier I would have sped up - it was showing incredible patience and respect. Really annoyingly it was a car with a company name on that I've completely forgotten.... I can only hope I see it again.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I forgot about this thread until algo posted in it. And I thought I should comment that I have seen more good driving in the past month or two than I ever have before. I am constantly having drivers thank me for pulling in to let them past (when they had right of way in the first place) and drivers constantly slowing down and waiting behind me at points that I hope they will do so at. I can't figure out whether it's because my riding has improved and I'm now, for example, taking primary more often at points where I don't think drivers should risk it (I am sure I'm doing that, though), or whether this is all a dream and I've been in a coma for months; but either way, aside from the occasional incident, driving standards for the past month or two have been pretty damn good on the whole.
I've jinxed it now by saying this, of course. Prepare for a post in the crap driving thread tomorrow.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Nice patient Lothian Bus driver letting me stay ahead of him along the tram lines from Princes St to Shandwick Place. I gave him a thumbs up.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Taxi tonight let me out of south Gray's close just after 7pm, letting me turn right and go up cowgate. Flashed lights to let me know and everyfink.
Posted 11 years ago # -
AA driving school car which followed my whizzing Brompton all the way from Craiglockhart down to Polwarth at around 1620 tonight staying a nice safe distance behind me the whole way. It was so nice it was slightly unnerving compared to the usual drivers down there, but I'd love to get used to it!!
Big thank you to a good driver :-)Posted 11 years ago # -
Last Thursday - a driver didn't overtake me for no other reason that I can think of than they'd have had to cross double white lines to do so. They sat well back and gave me plenty of space when they did pass.
This morning. My old friend the roadworks... I'm first in the queue at the lights. As the lights change, I pull away and the driver of the car behind me tries to overtake - but I'm heading for primary. I give the car a Hard Stare and say "oioioi!". So far, you might think I should be in the Bad Driving thread... but the driver then sits behind me all the way through the roadworks without any sign of impatience. They overtake on the exit of the roundabout where there is plenty of space to do so (and I'm well over to the left to signal that I'm happy to be overtaken here). I look at the car as it passes and I see the driver giving me a big apology/acknowledgement wave which I returned. Credit where credit is due - realising that you got something wrong and apologising is good driving in my world.
Posted 10 years ago # -
On Saturday morning a lady in a blue Vauxhall slowed down and stopped on amber light with plenty of time at the junction of London Road/Easter Road.
Posted 10 years ago # -
"slowed down and stopped on amber light with plenty of time"
It's a shame that's so rare it's worth mentioning!!
Posted 10 years ago # -
Waiting to turn right from Clermiston Drive on to Drum Brae Drive so I can cycle down to the Drum Brae, there's a bus to my left which is waiting behind a parked car because cars to my right have right of way. The last one goes past, so I'm expecting the 21 bus driver to drive on and I'll tuck in behind him - but no, he waves me out in front of him. I'm not sure whether he did this because he thought he'd easily get past me before he got to the Drum Brae, or whether he recognised me and knew I'd tank it along and not hold him up, but either way, respect to the driver for letting me go first.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Got to the top of the mound yesterday with patient and non-threatening Lothian Bus behind. Filtered up the inside of the queueing traffic at the top using the cycle lane and waited in the ASZ. Got away quickly and headed straight on down George IVth Bridge, taking primary past the end of Chamber's street and the right lane thereafter to facilitate getting to the right-turn cycle lane to go down Lauriston Place. All the while I was followed by the head car of the queue behind at the ASZ - a silver Hyundai I think. Very patient - plenty of space given, and a very pleasant exchange of waves as they overtook as we turned onto Teviot Place.
Came up behind an HGV at the lights outside the ECA and as I waited behind him, moved so he could see me in his driver's mirror, which was instantly greeted with a thumbs up. Another nice interaction.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Was waiting to cross clerk st at e/w Preston street. Tipper lorry sort of thing up ahead in left turn lane. Two bikes looking like they wanted to go straight. One to right of cab, one partly in front. I hung well back, thinking about blind spots and was feeling a bit anxious about the cyclists. Driver noticed me, signalled that I could come up. I waved that I was fine. Thumbs ups from him and me.
Made me feel much better knowing he was not just aware of them, but also understood why I was staying back.
Have it on video. May try editing/uploading over lunch just for practice.
Posted 10 years ago # -
On a Number 23 Lothian bus this morning with a driver who was doing it all properly.
On Morningside Road he trundled patiently along behind a chap in a red top with a girl in a bike seat as they toiled up the hill. He considered overtaking at one point, but then decided not to. At the Church Hill lights he noticed and waited for a woman on a bike who started filtering up his left as the lights went green (not an entirely wise move on her part, I don't think), and he then treated her respectfully and cautiously through Bruntsfield.
It's what we would expect to see a professional driver do, but at the same time he was definitely making conscious and visible decisions to check for bikes, to give them space and not to hassle them, and that's something we don't always see professional drivers doing.
I've written to Lothian Buses to commend the driver.
Posted 10 years ago # -
I nearly came a cropper in London down streatham way as I thought London buses would behave like Lothian buses. Lothian buses, with some exceptions have drivers who are trained to look out for bikes. London buses much more dangerous.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Some good driving today for me. A green car in Drummond Place didn't cut me up to turn right up Dublin Street. I was turning up there anyway and so signalled, reckoning I would just slow down before they could squash me against the parked cars there but they waited until it was safe to make the turn and pass me properly.
Then a black cab was patient through a short stretch of roadworks and then didn't do a pointless overtake to take to the back of the queue. Unfortunately I have forgotten the cab number already.
Also got a thumbs up from a lorry driver on Monday, waiting to pull out of West Register when I signalled left to let him know he could pull out.
Doesn't take much to make riding so much more pleasant.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Despite the rain I had an enjoyable commute today.
Of particular note was the SCS luton van who was steadily creeping forward while I approached the bridge offslip. Having noticed that I was progressing at a reasonable rate round the roundabout he waited patiently behind me until I was clear of the next roundabout up Castlandhill.
Not in Edinburgh but Ferrytoll is pretty close.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Taxi number 213, reg SJ11 OYK, predicted I would have to soon pull out for parked cars on West Mains Road, and dropped back patiently so when I check there was loads of room - he then held back patiently up to the lights - such a pleasant surprise not to have cars feel in a desperate need to overtake the cyclist…
Posted 10 years ago # -
On the few occasions taxi drivers drive well in the presence of cyclists, do the forumites think it would be worthwhile to e-mail the taxi company to register a positive comment? Dangerous driving is reported (and the report sometimes acted upon) so perhaps positive reinforcement would be an idea? I know from personal experience that a kind word, friendly (or even sympathetic) gesture or even just a cheery wave makes a difference. Perhaps if their 'boss' is notified of a cyclist's appreciation it may be 'paid back' ?
Posted 10 years ago # -
Sounds like a great idea.
Posted 10 years ago # -
@Pocopiglet - I already did in fact e-mail Anne Chandler at licensing as I had her contact details already from a previous less happy encounter.
At the time I gave him a thumbs up as he passed later, and he nodded, but I think you are right in that positive reinforcement can only contribute to better relations in general.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Gordon Leslie lorry was behind me at Gilmore place / viewforth lights - both heading into town. There's a bit of a punch point, just by the taxi office, where the bins stick out into the road if they're not put back right, as was the case this morning. He hung back there, and then gave me space / didn't try to overtake all the rest of the way to the King's junction. As regular cyclists will know, there's another pinch point and then a rubbish surface to the road where it is supposedly a cycle lane.
Very glad I managed to get the company name after I went through the intersection, and tweeted them my thanks :)
Posted 10 years ago # -
We had some visitors over from Canada this week, one of whom went out cycling on Edinburgh roads...
Horror!
But she was of the opinion that Embra drivers were very considerate around cyclists, always slowing & giving plenty of space, compared to Quebec where they often pass at 120kph with a foot to spare.
So mibbie things aren't quite so bad here.
She did have a bit of an obsession with the H word though, thinking that would save her ... Sign of compulsory H law no doubt.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Has it really been 6 weeks since there was any good driving? My thanks of the day goes to the driver of the construction truck going south along Maybury Road this morning who was the only vehicle to think it would be worth letting a cyclist turn right out of a side street. I didn't catch the company name but he did everything right.
Flashed to get my attention then maintained eye contact while waving me out.Posted 10 years ago # -
Some sort of large blue van's driver waved/flashed/let me out of Edina Whatsit onto Montgomery Street this morning as I was turning right but he was turning in, though that was probably because he needed the bit of road I was waiting on.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Mmmm when I went on an advanced driving course, I was advised that flashing to let others out was not a good thing to do. Issues of safety etc.
Posted 10 years ago # -
@amir - indeed - not long ago I thought I was flashed across the road by a coach who turned out to be communicating niceties to a friend going past the other way - I misinterpreted and ended up appearing to be the daredevil which I certainly am not…. cue much wailing and gnashing of teeth from the flasher.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Indeed - my most recent complaint to LRT included "I'm not going to go in front of a bus which appears to be flashing some cyclists through the junction in front of it when the bus shouldn't have been going through the junction at that moment" but this was a slowdown, wave, activation-of-indicator as well as a flash.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Yes I took the flash as drawing my attention to him. It was the hand gesture that made it clear that he was giving me the road space I needed to pull out.
Posted 10 years ago #
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