I'm usually better at making the most of the bus lane... I guess it doesn't feel right on that stretch of the A71. It's very fast!
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
Today's rubbish driving...
(11258 posts)- Started 12 years ago by Stepdoh
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Posted 8 years ago #
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From the relative distribution of its sound in my ears I think that the driver of Lothian Bus SN04 NHW (fleet number 121) at least thought about overtaking me between Waverley Bridge and the Mound, whereas he settled for a position inches from my rear mudguard (until I changed lanes and slowed down to peer at his markings as he pulled into the stop next to the galleries).
Posted 8 years ago # -
Has anyone ever asked to see LB video footage?
Am I right in thinking you can ask for any CCTV that you are in?
Posted 8 years ago # -
Mark Thomas certainly mined a rich seam of comedy from that particular law back in the late 90s/early 00s. Might not be the case anymore.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Yes, you can:
"You have the right to request closed circuit television (CCTV) footage of yourself.
The CCTV owner must provide this within 40 days, and can charge up to £10."
Posted 8 years ago # -
I have tried to get LB footage because there had been a bus immediately behind me when I got into an altercation with a car driver. Not only were they not forthcoming they then claimed it could only be viewed on their system because it required a proprietary decryption system/player. I would have to go in to look at the video (if I wanted press the issue) and would not be able to take it away with me.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Pleased to report that the incident reported here http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=143#post-204669 resulted in a very pleasant phone call from Lothian buses, who had viewed the video and agreed that the use of the horn was not appropriate, and that they'd be following it up.
Posted 8 years ago # -
That's good.
Hope it shows a change of approach to complaints.
Several people (including me) have been unsure if they have looked at the videos over the past year.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Still awaiting responses from LB for last week's Elm Row bullying and several similar incidents from several weeks ago.
Still awaiting a response from the council for their employee's decision to chase me along the footway in a mini-tractor.PHC minibus driver this morning forgetting that he should signal before edging sideways towards me to pull in if he doesn't want to be stopped a safe distance behind and theatrically-gestured at.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Silver Range Rover JL03 BUL almost knocked me off along Lauriston Place, bullying its way past to get to a line of traffic. I was riding primary on account of the enormous puddles, but that didn't stop this entitled idiot barging through.
Posted 8 years ago # -
The driver who decided to pull out of the lengthy queue of traffic on Gilmore Place and head down the wrong side of the road to gain access to the right-turn lane at the King's Theatre junction. I was heading in the opposite direction in primary and held my position for as long as I dared, but ended up having to move across towards the parked cars to allow the car to pass... This is not an uncommon occurrance, but it would be nice to think that people would be more cautious in such murky conditions.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Roofing & Building Supply (http://www.roofingandbuildingsupply.co.uk) lorry running a red pedestrian light this morning. Didn't even get him where he was going any faster - I caught up with him twice in the next mile despite my current slow speed. Emailed company as follows:
I’d like to complain about the dangerous driving of one of your staff.
This morning (Tuesday 1st December) at about 09:35 I was cycling south on Nicolson Street. The red light came on at the pedestrian crossing ahead of me; I slowed down and came to a full stop. Several seconds later your vehicle (registration beginning SF07 I think; blue livery with an orange crane) accelerated from behind me and went through this red light. There were no vehicles ahead and no other vehicles had just slipped through on amber – the light was fully red and had been for some time. No competent driver could have failed to see this light was red. Had anyone begun to cross your driver would have found it very difficult to avoid hitting them. It appeared that they simply didn’t want to wait for the light to change and chose to run it, endangering the lives of pedestrians in the process.
I hope you will investigate this and speak to the member of staff responsible.
Posted 8 years ago # -
The car that pulled out from a side street and hit me on Dalkeith Road this morning. I don't know if I could have reacted quicker or if it was just down to longer braking distance in the wet. I was lucky- knocked onto the other side of the road but got away with just a grazed knee, ripped leg warmer, overshoe and smashed rear light- so expensive more than anything else. She offered to pull over to the side while I checked the bike. I apologised for swearing (!). I said that the bike appeared to be fine but the leg warmer (all I had noticed at that point) was £30 or so but she gave me a sob story about not having any money. I felt that if I'd pursued it I would have been effectively extorting money- not sure if I should have handled it differently.
She was lucky I wasn't a car.
I'm surprised now at how shaken up I feel
Posted 8 years ago # -
"I'm surprised now at how shaken up I feel"
Don't be.
"Shock" is real and affects people in different ways - and doesn't instantly go away.
Swearing is completely normal!
Posted 8 years ago # -
@Smashfacethecat - really sorry to hear that. Hope you recover well - it is really unpleasant to be hit even if you are unhurt and it does shake you up....
Posted 8 years ago # -
Thanks- spectacularly unfocussed this morning- need to jolt my brain back into gear
Need to figure out what I'm going to do about no longer having a rear light...
Posted 8 years ago # -
"She offered to pull over to the side while I checked the bike."
She is legally compelled to stop.
Swearing loudly performs a number of important functions, not least rattling the perpetrator and attracting the attention of any nearby potential witnesses.
Although it may go no further than you getting a reference number, inform the polices. Get your bike checked - there may be some bending of chainstays, affecting future durability and handling.
Always invoke the police when you've been forcibly dismounted, even if apparently only lightly injured - someone has KNOCKED YOU OFF YOUR BIKE, so that person should at least be cursorily breathalysed and lightly policed-at to help them remember that they're not supposed to knock people off.
AskMID will supply you with insurance details, assuming you got the registration, if not a contact number."Need to figure out what I'm going to do about no longer having a rear light... "
I'll happily lend you one for the time it takes for her insurance to pay up for the smashed one.
Posted 8 years ago # -
she gave me a sob story about not having any money
I'd be concerned that this would be a cover for "not having any insurance".
The reason drivers need insurance is to cover the damage they can cause, which can easily be beyond what they can afford individually.
Robert
Posted 8 years ago # -
I didn't get registration or a number. Stupid, since I normally remember licence plates pretty much automatically when I see dangerous driving
Pretty sure the bike is fine- the pannier cushioned it I had managed to brake somewhat so wasn't travelling at speed by that point
I'll go past cycle service on way home though anyway to get checked over
Thanks for the offer of the light. The issue right now is getting home tonight though. I guess since i mucked up with insurance side of things I'll just need to get another one. Evans have them for £25
Posted 8 years ago # -
Really horrible. sorry to hear it.
can totally understand someone not having cash on them (I never do anymore), but pity you didn't get her details. amazing how much something like that can disrupt normal reactions.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I have a spare light for £0 pounds. PMed you.
Pop back at some point and have a poke about for any CCTV, either at the incident site or one the route you saw her escape on?
Posted 8 years ago # -
"grazed knee"
You've been injured as a result of her driving. She is legally required to report the crash to the police...Posted 8 years ago # -
Sorry to hear that, Smashface, glad you appear to be shaken, stirred but otherwise unharmed.
If it was a commute-time prang, the person probably goes the same way each day about the same time. If you have the time or inclination, hanging round the junction where it happened for 10 or 15 minutes for the next few days might turn up the car and you can get the number plate.
I agree with what others say, if you're knocked off, always report it to the Police (regardless of whether you think they'll take it seriously or not...). You do not know from conversations at the side of the road if the driver has previous points / convictions, if they were insured or even if they have a licence (revoked or never qualified). If someone can afford a car, to put petrol in it and pay the insurance then they can afford to cover the relatively minor (compared to their vehicle and its costs) cost of a light and replacement clothing.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Do you think it's worth emailing the police even if I didn't get any details? It was a silver (or at least light-coloured) "small" SUV type thing
Posted 8 years ago # -
Even a "minor" collision can really shake you up and make it hard to think straight.(Not least as I think a part of your brain is probably calculating how much worse it could have been.) Don't blame yourself for not being on top of things.
Posted 8 years ago # -
You can probably also describe the driver, so noting and emailing would do no harm. Crime reference number/incident number might also help in asking any nearby commercial/private CCTV operators for a poke at the relevant footage...
Posted 8 years ago # -
Well- I emailed the police. See what happens i guess. Actually when i was checking on google maps for the name of the street, I checked that I had the right street on streetview and accidentally clicked up the street- pretty sure the car that hit me is parked on the street. If the police get back to me I'll let them know the number of house it's parked outside
Posted 8 years ago # -
"Thank you for your email. This is a reportable Vehicle Accident, may I ask that you call our Police Service Centre on 101 for full details to be obtained and a Diary Appointment arranged for you."
Posted 8 years ago # -
Even if the driver can't be traced, that's a good result that might encourage more people to report such things.
In some places (for instance) it could show a series of incidents that might lead to a revising of the road layout.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Sounds utterly miserable. Can sympathise with the feeling shook up-ness; I was exactly the same after a low speed shunt. Something to do with having several tonnes of metal driven into you...
Echo the sentiments above that you should ensure you don't end up out of pocket after this. The driver should have made sure you took her details (even if only out of basic decency to ensure you got to work OK). Sounds rather like she's taking advantage of you being somewhat shaken to avoid giving you any information.
CTC have a helpful accident advice line for members. See also this handy thread from a London forum: https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/131099/
Best of luck!
Posted 8 years ago #
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