CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!

  1. unhurt
    Member

    I see EM Horseburgh namechecked above - anyone else find them pretty bad on the whole? I've been close-passed / crowded to the kerb by their vehicles on the North Bridge to S Clerk Street bit of my commute several times in the past few months. Badly enough that a couple of times I'd meant to contact them about it (and inevitably forgot till I'd lost the details of time/precise location).

    Posted 8 years ago #
  2. As I followed a car around Charlotte Square I expected him to carry straight on through the Bus Taxi Cycle Only exit outside Nicola's hoose. Though before he could do that (which he did) an MPV came through in the opposite direction....

    Posted 8 years ago #
  3. PS
    Member

    Evidence from Germany that drivers do not see what they don't expect to see (either that, or the British Army's tank camouflage is incredibly effective).

    Crunch

    The car’s driver, 18, had apparently not seen the convoy when she made a left turn in front of it as the tanks travelled through the small town of Augustdorf, according to German police spokesman, Lars Risserbusch.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  4. steveo
    Member

    At least they said the driver didn't see it and didn't blame the car for not paying attention!

    Posted 8 years ago #
  5. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Driver in blue Golf wearing a rainbow-coloured tartan jacket and tie (assume the uniform of a hotel front of house, or something like that).

    I was approaching London Road roundabout behind a taxi, which suddenly stopped to let a vehicle exit down Blenheim Place ahead of it. This meant I was stopped over the uphill entrance to Blenheim Place.

    Golf man man pulls off of the roundabout to turn right off London Road up Blenheim Place, but can't because I'm stuck across his path. Rolls down his window and says he wants to turn, I shrugged and pointed at the vehicles infront of me. Tells me I'm a t**t. VEhicles infornt of me move, so I can then get out the way, I managed to fire a few choice insults back at him once we moved.

    I'm not entirely sure what he wanted me to do - if I'd been in a car or a bus he wounldn't have expected that I suddenly evaporate out of his way so he wouldn't have to wait for 3 seconds.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  6. newtoit
    Member

    Man in a red Nissan thing.

    Filtering down Kirk Brae when the lights changed; I went to rejoin a big space in the traffic to turn right towards Cameron Toll, shoulder checked and indicated, and this prize "person" accelerated to block me from pulling back in.
    Lights went red again before reaching the bottom, and I then filtered past again to reach the ASL. So his idiotic actions were completely pointless. Twit.

    Other one was outside the hospital on Lauriston Place, got peeped at for taking primary from the ASL as I was turning right into Lady Lawson St. As I indicated and slowed he buzzed past far too close on my left.

    Part of me wants to get a camera but not sure I want to hear the obscenities I utter!!!

    Posted 8 years ago #
  7. wingpig
    Member

    Last night: speed-turnipping, priority-non-recognition and light-mis-anticipation...

    [+] Embed the video | Video DownloadGet the Video Widget

    @newtoit Unless I'm stationary I find my camera doesn't register my voice above the road-rattle, especially if my rattly lock is attached to the handlebars, even if I yell at the of my voice (as tested on Granton Road the other day); when stopped, it can just about discern a meant-to-be-heard-by-nearby-cyclist mutter.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  8. Driver of a wee-ish red car (polo/fiesta/corsa) who wanted to get from Coates Crescent to Atholl Crescent as fast as possible.

    I'm positive he saw me heading west along Shandwick Place, but either had zero cognisance of my speed or didn't care - he wanted to get there before me. He didn't.

    It did take an emergency stop on both our parts, and much swearing and shouting from me. Apologies if you were at the west end tram stop and were startled by that.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  9. Disco Dave
    Member

    Mine was from yesterday on the commute home, coming down Dublin Street.

    Youngish couple in a mini coming up Dublin Street, very focused on what was coming out of Albany Street / Abercromby Place, not at all focused on what was coming down Dublin Street (i.e. me)

    As they executed a right turn, totally across my path, into Abercromby Place, I thought an impact was inevitable....before an emergency stop by said mini just before the crunch.

    That whole junction seems an accident waiting to happen with all the end-on parking allowed, and drivers edging out past the give-way lines just to get sightlines up and down Dublin Street...

    Posted 8 years ago #
  10. PS
    Member

    That whole junction seems an accident waiting to happen with all the end-on parking allowed, and drivers edging out past the give-way lines just to get sightlines up and down Dublin Street...

    Especially at weekends when the parking encroaches onto the junction.

    Given its NCN status and steepness, Dublin Street is prime segregated lane territory in the uphill direction, but there'd never be space for it on account of the end-on parking on both sides. Dundas Street and Broughton Street, on the other hand - loads of space for uphill segregation.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  11. Murun Buchstansangur
    Member

    @DiscoDave I live locally and have to say that I feel it worked better as a junction during the tramworks when Dublin St had to give way to Albany St. It also made the London St/Dublin St/Abercromby Place rat run less attractive.

    Couldn't agree more about the end-on parking. If allowed at all, it should stop much further from the junction. Also the siting of the big communal bins in junction sightlines, as on Dundas St. Council has a lot to answer for

    Posted 8 years ago #
  12. PS
    Member

    Ideally, the Dublin Street pavement would continue across Albany/Abercrombie as a raised table allowing, but not welcoming, cars to cross.

    However, the Council seems to have Albany/Abercrombie down as some sort arterial route, which is something it isn't really designed for.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  13. twinspark
    Member

    Look out today folks. Lots of drivers not paying attention, not signalling and not looking in their mirrors - is it the "Friday Effect"?

    Prize goes to Audi SP58 LBK which shot out of Braid Road in front of me prompting the anchors to be deployed. Their driving was then very erratic up the hill, not paying attention, lane straddling, no signalling and random braking. I was in the car today and dread to think how they must behave around bikes if they couldn't see me wrapped in metal. Must try and remember to run the dash cam app.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  14. geordiefatbloke
    Member

    2 red light runners this AM in the sense I was ahead of them, lights turned red so I stopped, and the car behind me just accelerated through the red light passed me. Isn't it about time these people were licensed and insured?

    Posted 8 years ago #
  15. I'm in the car today, having had to head over the bridge with a great big stack of files, and on a whim stuck my cam in the car. There's definitely a simple video entitled "Don't think the rules of the road apply to them" which will likely put people in mind of cyclists, but will just be the number of drivers who go past me as I stock to the various speed limits (and as I'm in a mini with a big central Speedo that'll show up nicely on the video).

    Posted 8 years ago #
  16. fimm
    Member

    @Wilmington's Cow, I look forward to seeing it.

    @geordiefatbloke, I had that loads when there were temporary traffic lights on my route.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  17. Great idea WC, can you link to the video when its done?

    Posted 8 years ago #
  18. geordiefatbloke
    Member

    @fimm on the subject of temporary traffic lights, there are some up my way on Clermiston Road at the moment and last night I saw a car get to them on red, stop, and then just drive through them anyway. Given they are three-way lights and the driver could not see if there was anyone coming from the third way side junction it was particularly risky. But I guess temporary traffic lights are just advisory for this person.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  19. wishicouldgofaster
    Member

    Saw a hilarious one on the way home. Two drivers in a stand off and neither would back down and reverse so they just blocked Durar Drive. I could still get past though. I was tempted to stop and point out how childish they were being but I was hungry and knew my tea would be ready :)

    Posted 8 years ago #
  20. newtoit
    Member

    Complete idiot MGIF yesterday - Black VW, reg KM13 ---, on Buccleuch street. I'm still a bit shaken and fizzing now.

    I was coming down from Potterrow and noticed that at the crossing by Buccleuch place the ped crossing was red with a couple of cars waiting. There was a parked car shortly after the crossing, then a little bit further down there are roadworks in the lane, so I moved out to primary to join the queue of traffic. About 50m from the back of the queue and doing about 20mph (the speed limit, may I add) I became aware of a black VW across my back wheel so I couldn't completely pull out. Besides there was no room for him to pull back into if he wanted to pass. So I looked and gave a signal to stay back. Ignored. He pulled alongside, within a foot of me, and pointed and gesticulated at the "Informal Guide Lane" then started moving across forcing me back in.

    I then pointed and gesticulated at the car parked in the lane ahead, and the roadworks and he shrugged and carried on, forcing me to brake to be able to get out. Lady behind was very nice, waved me out etc. I then proceeded to sit behind this guy in the flow of traffic down to the crossroads at Dick Vet where I passed him again. Absolutely nothing gained by that bit of total idiocy. If I could remember his reg number it would be reported to the polis - no photographic evidence but a report should at least be noted?

    Never saw the nutcase again, expected another punishment pass on Causewayside but he disappeared. Lady who let me out was very nice though, she remarked at the next set of lights what a prize plonker (paraphrased...) he was and that no wonder cyclists want better protection with idiots like that on the road. Lovely lady. If only they were all like her.

    Benefit of the doubt would say he's not a sociopathic moron, he just didn't read the road ahead as far as I did, then couldn't face accepting being in the wrong. I don't buy it though.

    Is it so unreasonable to expect (/hope) not to be passed like that when you're keeping up with the flow of traffic? I know, I know. Totally unreasonable.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  21. Stickman
    Member

    Another driver who used the left-turn lane to turn right at Roseburn Street, as described by ARobComp and others.

    I was first at the lights in the right hand lane and made the turn. He decided that he was turning right after all. Before I had the chance to pull in to the cycle lane I got a long beep of the horn, aggressive revving and a series of hand gestures and shouting as the wee **** sped past.

    Of course, I caught up with at Haymarket and sat right behind him so that he could see me in his mirrors.

    Aggressive little ***** in a wee white van.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  22. chdot
    Admin

    Posted 8 years ago #
  23. Snowy
    Member

    How on earth....?

    Posted 8 years ago #
  24. ianmb
    Member

    Chdot/Snowy - guessing the car came up Calton Road and was trying to turn right to get onto Leith Street (which is not an option) instead of the left turn only. I work very close to that junction and have seen cars do it before.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  25. ARobComp
    Member

    Stickman - I've been in that situation before - what I don't get is where do they think you're going - you got there before them and made your position clear...

    Today on ERC ride some of the worst passing and reckless endangerment I've ever seen while out riding in a chain gang. Sad times that so many people value lives so little.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  26. gembo
    Member

    Was in chain gang of ten, all in yellow tops, plus weatherman and two others. Had one close pass when was in separate group of two. Otherwise very good driving Balerno to Carnwath and back

    Posted 8 years ago #
  27. Stickman
    Member

    Pointless MGIF at Haymarket this morning. Car weaved over the tramlines to overtake and to instantly join the queue of traffic ahead. Saved less than two seconds.

    I thought that one of the things that separates humans from animals is the ability to look forward into the future and consider the effects of current actions? Most drivers haven't got that ability it would appear.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  28. geordiefatbloke
    Member

    White Audi on Spylaw Road tooted me at roundabout as I had the temerity to be going straight ahead and not letting him cut me up to turn left.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  29. wingpig
    Member

    On Saturday afternoon two cars tried to overtake as I went through the roundabout by the casino on Ocean Way. Yesterday evening a nerk in a wide-rimmed Mercy-looking thing failed to indicate when he went 180° round the Porto & Fi roundabout, then pulled another U-turn once he was past the traffic islands to go back the way he'd been going in the first place.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  30. riffian
    Member

    Parent dropping child (on the zig-zags naturally) outside St Johns Primary observes parking attendent approaching typing their details into his little machine. What does he do next? Option1: Apologise profusely, says he's running late etc etc. Option B. Floor the car straight at the traffic attendent. Hitting him as he attempts to jump out the way and speed off down Hamilton Gdns? Yes folks I think you've guessed it; its B.

    Posted 8 years ago #

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