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stickyI was on a number 44 bus on Princes Street last night about 8:50. The bus stopped at a red light and there was another bus in the outside lane. Something with a siren going came up behind us and the bus I was on went through the red light so the siren-sounding vehicle (which I did not see) could get through.
I'm pretty sure this is illegal - you are not allowed to break the law to let a siren-sounding vehicle through. Am I right, and should I report this to Lothian Buses?
Probably illegal.
But probably the right thing to do.
Very possibly unofficial standing orders for LRT bus drivers as I've seen them do this before, though only in places (Leith Street, Princes Street) where there was a central divider and therefore no way for the siren-flashing illegality-capable emergency vehicle to scootle round the wrong side of a traffic island.
Definitely illegal, though:
"Emergency and incident support vehicles. You should look and listen for ambulances, fire engines, police, doctors or other emergency vehicles using flashing blue, red or green lights and sirens or flashing headlights, or traffic officer and incident support vehicles using flashing amber lights. When one approaches do not panic. Consider the route of such a vehicle and take appropriate action to let it pass, while complying with all traffic signs. If necessary, pull to the side of the road and stop, but try to avoid stopping before the brow of a hill, a bend or narrow section of road. Do not endanger yourself, other road users or pedestrians and avoid mounting the kerb. Do not brake harshly on approach to a junction or roundabout, as a following vehicle may not have the same view as you."
Given it's a t-junction with pretty clear sightlines, it seems like a reasonable move (even if illegal)
It is my perception that the number of ambulance movements, including the apparently increasing number of medic response cars, with sirens and lights has risen significantly in the last few years. Some of them are driven as though they are touting for business.
It seems a cultural thing that British drivers seem to think that they are justified in doing just about anything to get out of the way of an ambulance, including driving onto pavements.
In Paris, no one gets out of the way of an ambulance at all.
I think I prefer the UK attitude (when executed safely) to the Paris one.
I've hopped my bike onto the pavement many times to get out of the way of an emergency vehicle. I sincerely hope others would do the same - someone's life might depend on it.
I'm a bit of a stickler for the rules - but I think the LB driver made the right choice here.
Thank you for the feedback. I'll take no further action.
@Morningsider - I think there's a difference between taking a bike onto a pavement and driving a car onto one!
(I have read (on the internet, where everything is true) of cyclists nearly being taken out by a driver who was so busy pulling over to let an emergency vehicle through that they didn't check the space they were pulling over in to...)
Nearly happened to me on Minto street last week, heading uphill in the bus lane towards town. A long line of motor vehicles all dived left into the bus lane at first hint of a siren. Almost in sync; beautiful. It would've been nice if Mr Small Brown Car had checked that there was no-one there before so doing but to give him his due an "Oi!" and a glare resulted in him tucking in behind me.
Nice bit of convoy overtaking today.
All the frantic headshaking was me trying to signal to them not to do it.
Spotted a Property Repair driver on her phone for the second time in the past few months (FP11 YKO). Got a decent response last time. This time, director replied with this:
I've spoken with the female member of staff that was in that area at that time and she assures me that she had it in her hand with earphones in. But I appreciate you letting me know.
Not sure why he thinks driving while holding a phone, with earphones in, is any better, but there you go.
Overtaken off and on by EX15 YCV and something told me to hit the brakes at junction with Grays Loan...sure enough 3 seconds in you can just about see the passenger's hand wave 'left here now!' and a wonderful left hook was performed...
https://youtu.be/oAmYA-9YtSs
Got flashed at in annoyance by two drivers.... as I was driving tonight.
First was coming back into Edinburgh. Over the Bridge, in the 50 zone, peeling off to go to Edinburgh rather than the bypass - I happen to be in the 'fast' lane, with a car to my left, I'm doing 50, which I know because I've got the cruise control on.
Car starts closing behind. Juuuuust before we get to the national speed limit sign there's a double flash of the lights from behind, which actually coincides with me now being far enough ahead of the car to my left that I feel I can move back over (I hate moving into the braking zone of people, so tend to give it time before moving back in) and I speed up to 70. Hate to measure appendages, but I'm in a Cooper S, and he was in a bog standard Micra. He held on in the 'fast' lane, before deciding it might be sometime next week before he gets to 70 and tucks back in, now a good 80-90 yards behind.
Then, at Silverknowes I'm on an odd 30moh dual carriageway bit. Bus stopped ahead just before it returns to one lane. I'm doing 30, the bus starts to indicate to pull away from the stop as I'm about 5 yards from his rear three quarter. There's a choice to drop the anchors and come to a shuddering halt (and it would have been a full stop to let him go), or go past and he can pull out behind me where there are precisely zero other cars. I take the latter option, and get an annoyed double flash of his lights (he might have been trying to make me think the police speed camera van ahead had flashed me, but I knew I was at 30).
Definitely not only when you're on the bike....
Definite swerve this morning on Buccleuch Street forcing me to take evasive action - was in the bike lane and black Vito reg S73VEN must have taken offense to something I did as it was very deliberate. The only thing I can think is that he objected to me filtering to the ASL down the bike lane - on the route I take I have very little choice. No child in child seat thankfully but I can't imagine he'd have known that.
Strangely that number plate appears to be registered to an Aston Martin.... I'd be wary of said vehicle anyway - looks like an unmarked taxi.
Repeated close-passing and general revvy tubularity from a PHC heading south up Leith Walk yesterday morning - as his initial pass was close it's hard to tell if those subsequently were just general PHC idiocy or pointed close-passing due to me having repeatedly moved ahead of him when the non-bus-lane clogged up.
Might be worth reporting if the number plate isn't matching up...
Taxi driver this morning took offence to a cyclist (not me) filtering in front of him in stopped traffic. Was at his front three quarters, perfectly visible, stopped for a good 30 seconds. Light went green and as everyone moved together he gave the cyclist a good beep of the horn. Cyclist ignored him and further ahead (about 20 yards) the traffic was stopped again anyway, so filtered away - pointless from the taxi driver.
PHC driving along Seafield prom last night. i.e. the path between the garages and the sea. We met as I was coming down the ramp and he was driving up.
You do get the odd service vehicle down there, but I can't think of any reason why a taxi should be using it. The gates were open at the Porty end, I wonder if he saw the prom as a handy shortcut around the evening traffic.
I have his number and am minded to report it, don't suppose anyone else was on Seafeild last night and saw him.
Cycling along Valleyfield Street yesterday evening. There are cars parked both sides along there, so I always sit right in the middle of the road so as to be out of the door zone (a friend reported on Facebook the other day that she'd been doored, so I was reminded to be particularly wary). A car comes up behind me. The driver starts revving the engine and driving quite close, so I turn round and make a pushing away gesture. Revving continues. I get to the end of the road and go straight on, onto the shared use path. Driver sounds the horn at me. Impatient person.
@WC - thanks I've reported it to 101 actually in case it incorrectly registered...
@fimm that impatience beggars belief on Valleyfield Street - what is it 100m long?
Green Polo Y596TKL - red light jumper
He's turning right off of Dundee St on to Henderson Terrace (heading west). Light was at red, straight on only filter at green. But "oh no, that's not for me," he says, I'll just turn right while there's a gap in the traffic and no one is looking (except a long line of cars behind me).
Nevermind there was a cyclist (me) on your left wing that you nearly wiped out.
Caught up with him at Robby Ave / Gorgie Rd crossroads and had a word, but he refused to look me in the eye - guilty as charged your honour.
Nearly slammed by a car in Linlithgow train station car park. Driver decided to move before looking as I cycled past the end of his bonnet. Luckily he looked and braked before making it ~20cm.
Seems to be a busy day for it. This morning on Gray's Loan at Polwarth Terrace crossing, I centred myself in the road behind a car waiting at the lights. It's a wide bit of road at that point but it narrows dramatically on the other side of the crossing so to avoid being squeezed out a central position is usually a good idea. I was at the back left of the car, it was over to the right, so could have been going straight on (like me) or could have been going right but not indicating. Lights change, turns out car in front is going straight on, fine, I remain at back left of it and set off. Out of the corner of my eye I notice a car which had been attempting to *undertake me on the crossing* as presumably me not being within 10cm of the kerb clearly meant that I was turning right. Fair game to them, they did at least stop rather than running me over when they realised that I was travelling in a straight line.
Amongst the many, many double parked cars on Leith Walk this afternoon, no fewer than three were next to an empty parking space.
Hanging's too good, etc
Far too close pass by a Lothian Buses number 10 on Leith Walk this evening. I don't think they GAF any longer, though they briefly had a better reputation.
Three punishment passes along Queen's Drive last night - two absurdly close and all three at some significant speed. Frustratingly came after the positivity of having attended the Sustrans 20 years celebration event at Dynamic Earth.
"Amongst the many, many double parked cars on Leith Walk this afternoon, no fewer than three were next to an empty parking space."
Maybe the logic goes like this...
"I don't want to park in an actual space coz then someone might double park and block me in!"
"But I'm a nice guy and I don't want to block anyone else"
"Perfect solution! - double park an empty space. Now everyone's happy!"
That happens all the time on Northfield Broadway outside the chipper there, folk 'double' parking by an empty space. Quite often there are two people in the car, and one just sits in it while the other fetches the chips, which baffles me even more because the person in the car then has ample time to tuck the car away.
And heaven forbid that anyone would have to walk up to 40 yards from their car to get their chips (as there is always plenty of space further up, and away from the main junction).
'My' chip shop has DYLs.
No room to double park, so standard double yellow park.
Double-parking when there are multiple empty spaces less than 6ft away is rife outside Storries Home Bakery on Leith Walk every morning.
Obviously walking further than their own length is too much for Storries customers. Better to block the cycle lane instead.
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