After turning east out of Cobblestitution Street yesterday evening the driver of the car in front of me stopped and pulled in to allow a westbound ambulance to steam through. The driver then checked his mirrors and signalled with his hand out of the window before setting off. He then stuck to the limit all the way to Seafield Place.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
Good Driving
(272 posts)-
Posted 10 years ago #
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At Shandon colonies a large Range Rover tried to overtake me and then indicated to turn left into one of the terraces. However instead of cutting me up he/she waited until I filtered past in the bike lane. Nice.
Posted 10 years ago # -
A driver allowed a cyclist in front of them to proceed up Leith Street at their own pace, even though the car was signalling left to head along Calton Road or up Calton Hill. A rare sight.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Three(!) nice bits of driving today within 3 miiles.
1) Coming dowbnhill into Kirkliston heard a car behind me- held my position and expected him to pass but he stayed a safe distance behind and allowed me to move out and overtake stationary cars. Probably knew he was heading for a tailback and that there was no need to rush.
2) Just past the junction in Kirkliston traffic was again stationary. with roadworks there wasn't much room between the outside of cars and barriers but a driver saw me coming in her mirror and moved her car as far in as she could in the space she had available. It gave me an extra foot of width. Also traffic started to move again and she let me in again. Thumbs up.
3) Last one was when I was coming from Newbridge roundabout, approaching the Lochend Road exit onto the A8, car was turning left came from behind, saw me, slowed down almost to a stop, made eye contact and only then began his turn. The numpty behind him had to slam on his brakes.
All normal driving, but each made an impression on me and contributed to a nicer ride to work than normal.
Posted 9 years ago # -
This morning I was taking advantage of the bicycle lane to undertake queuing traffic on Brougham Place before turning left onto Tarvit Street. As I approached the turning, a car was indicating to turn left and the traffic was just about starting to move so I slowed right down to allow the car to turn left ahead of me. However, the driver maybe hadn't seen that I had indicated left as well and came to a halt before turning into the corner, presumably assuming that I was going straight on. I cautiously sped up and made the turn and was then followed to the red light at the King's Theatre junction. The driver then followed me respectfully over the junction on the green light, and didn't appear to be irritated that I stayed in a primary position to avoid the poor road surface on Gilmore Place immediately following the junction and to pre-empt the parked cars ahead. Due to their considerate behaviour, I chose to pull into the pointless stretch of cycle lane following the parked cars to allow them to safely pass, yet still they hung back so I ended up moving back out into the lane and then indicated and turned right onto Lower Gilmore Place... I wonder to what extent the PoP flag flying from the back of my bike may have contributed to this?
Posted 9 years ago # -
Can't remember where or when it was now but a FirstBus driver not only actually saw me but left me a gap to pull out/cross somewhere recently. Also a normal car's driver on Porty High Street let me out of St Mark's Thingby on Saturday after PoP.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Coming from Morrison Street to Bread Street this morning with fancy Audi behind - came out of primary on Bread Street to allow a pass (there was time), but said fancy Audi held back and allowed me back into primary with no ambiguity. Patient and good driving. Nice to see the counterexamples to the common held preconceptions.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Yes, I get a lot of good driving from the drivers of Audis. I also see a certain amount of poor and impatient driving from other Audi drivers.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I had three pieces of good driving one after the other this morning.
Thanks to Mr/Mrs T. Driver at South Bridge who slowed a little let me out past the other taxi driver who unexpectedly appeared in the bit of road I was cycling towards.
Thanks also to Mr/Mrs *CV. Driver on North Bridge. I would normally have moved over in to the left lane here after passing a bus at the bus stop to try and prevent pointless MGIFs even though I need the middle lane anyway. The bus lane was so full I couldn't but this driver did not try to MGIF or horn blast even though they might have easily reach the back of the queue 0.5 second faster if they had.
Finally a big shout out to Mr/Mrs LB. Driver who performed a similar service to the taxi driver above in Leith Walk when I found myself in a slightly sticky situation with some double parked vehicles in front of me and their double decker behind.
Doesn't take much does it? And it didn't add anything to any of their journeys.
*That stands for Council Van. Yes!
Posted 9 years ago # -
A van owned by Andrew Thomas Builders driven really considerately and well today. I filtered past it on the right to join the ASL at the junction of Gordon Terrace heading down towards Cameron Toll. It then drove a fair distance behind not attempting an overtake until a good distance down PefferMill Road. We swapped positions various times and finally lost him on Musselburgh high street. Really nice to have genuine patience and understanding on the roads from big vans.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Email: info@at-builders.co.uk
Posted 9 years ago # -
@chdot - already done - sorry should have said that...
Posted 9 years ago # -
Taxi driver today was being flashed by another taxi driver to take a right turn into the cowgate. However the taxi driver waiting to take the turn declined to do this as he had seen me cycling along the road and did not want to drive into me. Alas his colleague wanted him to take me out? Or maybe he just did not see me?
Posted 9 years ago # -
I met two good HGV drivers this morning. It was noteworthy as they weren't just passively good and both trucks were from the same company, EEG (Euro Environmental Group).
The first was turning left into Scotstoun Avenue as I was turning right out of it. He waved me on to ensure I wasn't on the inside of his truck as he turned.
The second had a reasonable amount of space to enter Ferrytoll roundabout ahead of me, ie I wouldn't have had to alter course if he had made usual progress round the roundabout. But on seeing me coming under the M90 applied the brakes to ensure I would get passed before he pulled out.
Both instances contributed to a very pleasant ride in this morning.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I almost forgot about this but last week I saw a Red driving school car with pupil who firstly stopped to allow me to cross a side street and then drove behind a cyclist on the way to the (red) traffic light instead of performing an MGIF. Nice to see people being taught properly, hope it sticks.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Driving school cars are always patient and observant when a pupil's at the wheel, in my experience. 2 sets of eyes & all that. Slightly less so when the instructor is at the wheel, which is disappointing #DoasIsay,notasIdo
Posted 9 years ago # -
Impeccable driving today from a lorry with (I think) Italian number plates. CM Translochi or similar. They waited behind the line for a cyclist, a mere cyclist to come past Jeffrey Street down the Royal Mile before moving forward and turning right. Don't think I have ever seen such a thing before. Full marks.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Seems a bit sad that I feel the need to post this but I saw a driver coming out of a side street who then pulled over to the side of the road and stopped so he could use his mobile phone. It can be done!
Posted 8 years ago # -
I've had a spate of good driving instances recently. Today crossing from Dalry Road to West Maitland Street, I first overtook a bus that was pulling into the stop - this put me in the wrong lane, but I couldn't easily filter back in so I opted to overtake the car in front of the bus that was also pulling away. I indicated thanks/apologies after filtering in front. I then performed the tricky right-of-lane to left-of-lane manoeuvre to get me across the tracks. Then I had to perform the tricky move into the right lane so I could go right down Torphichen street. The car behind me, who I had slightly rudely filtered in front of, slowed down and gave me loads of space - was very patient. The private cab in the right lane who cut the corner, also hung back to give me space and allow me into the right lane. Very patient from all involved.
The other day, again after filtering, I arrived ahead of a (white) black cab at the foot of Hope Park Crescent, who waited incredibly patiently behind me all the way until they turned into the sick kid's. At no point did they feel close, and I kept looking in case they wanted to pass. Shame I didn't get the number so I could commend them.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Wanted to say thanks to the bus driver of the number 25 heading down Leith Walk this morning who let me know that the cover of my pannier had just blown off and that if I was quick I could go and catch it. I did. Hooray.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Two instances of good driving today, both from lorry drivers. Cycling along Craigentinny Road round a loong bend, something large was behind me but keeping back. I assumed it was a bus and was anticipating stopping at the bus stop but no, it was a Graham's Milk lorry, driver waited until they could see it was okay to overtake before overtaking.
Then coming round a corner a bit later on and finding a large lorry across the road about to reverse into another road. Driver and I saw each other at the same time and both stopped. But he then kindly waved me on. Sadly I can't remember the company name, d'oh.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Two from white van drivers yesterday.
Coming out of Ferrymuir gait a long line of traffic was heading down to the Tesco roundabout, so I was waiting a while. the driver stopped, flashed his lights and waved me through with a smile. Then I give a thumbs up as I moved off through and a friendly toot on the horn. It ended up costing him nothing, but we both felt better about the interaction.
Secondly another white van driver while I was climbing up Cammo walk waited patiently without revving until I reached a wider spot and waved him through. I appreciated it, not because it was uncommon (most drivers on Cammo Walk are grand), but more because he provided a shield from his colleague who was behind him, more of a MGIF Engine Revver...)
Posted 8 years ago # -
And a bin Lorry driver this morning. Was parked across the twisty wee road between Kirkliston Main St and Bug Alley as his colleagues emptied bins (not ideal, but appreciate it is hard to manoeuvre down that street), so I slowed almost to a standstill and approached him looking at his passenger side mirrors. He was looking, spotted me instantly and waved me through.
Posted 8 years ago # -
There seemed to be a lot of courteous drivers today. I don't think I have ever held my hand up so often.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Have had a number of good interactions with TNT van drivers around Cammo/Maybury area, especially on Cammo Walk. A number of times they have seen me coming, maybe 100 yds off, and stopped immediately, making it clear that they have seen me and will let me past and will not try to squeeze past like the majority of other drivers.
Drivers are 50-50 on whether to pass me as I climb the hill on Cammo Walk in the morning. I have found that by signalling that I will move into the little layby on the bend and let them past, fewer are trying to creep past as wobble up the hill. If they are regulars, that is a move in the right direction.
Posted 8 years ago # -
smarter than the average bear White Van Man this morning.
I was overtaking near stationary traffic on Gorgie Road, intending to turn right into Fords Road. Said Van Man stopped at that junction in his slow moving traffic, well befor I got there, he was also constantly checking his wing mirror to ensure no numpty tried to undertake him.
He got a big smile and a big thumbs up.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Excellent consideration shown this morning by The Aerial Man van - I was with trailer northbound up Minto street and having to filter out from the buslane to overtake parked cars and stopped buses several times. Was rudely refused entry by various drivers (including an HGV) but The Aerial Man offered me sanctuary three times...
Posted 8 years ago # -
"
The Aerial Man (@TheAerialManUK)
16/11/2016, 11:43 am
@CyclingEdin woohoo thanks very much, I'll let the guys know :-)"
Posted 8 years ago # -
I also tweeted them, but apparently with no reply - am I yet again failing at twitter?
Posted 8 years ago # -
I usually take my kids (one on seat, one on follow-me) north up Dalkeith Road and past the CommonWealth pool then onto the pleasance and left to meet up with the path to the Meadows at Rankeillor Street. The only scary bit is actually the relatively high-speed section coming down the hill past the nightmare junction with Bernard Terrace. Usually it's tricky to take primary, make sure neither of my passengers have fallen off, and negotiate the terrible road surface with impatient cars trying to overtake or tailgating.
Yesterday we were protected all the way down by a brilliant young mini driver - didn't get the reg. What a massive difference that made not to be hassled and given time and space. I wish I'd been able to tell her how much difference that made.
I *think* I got a bonus greeting from Chas Booth on Rankeillor shortly afterwards, but I may be wrong.
Posted 7 years ago #
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