CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".
IT’S TRUE!
CCE is 15years old!
Well done to ALL posters
It soon became useful and entertaining. There are regular posters, people who add useful info occasionally and plenty more who drop by to watch. That's fine. If you want to add news/comments it's easy to register and become a member.
RULES No personal insults. No swearing.
sticky"we were the only 2 moving vehicles on the road and there was no reason for such a pass."
That really gets my goat. Some drivers seem to have a real aversion to crossing the white line onto the other carriageway even though there is absolutely nothing coming the other way, meaning they "have to" squeeze past me as I ride along in the left-hand wheel track.
Just what is their problem? Personally, when I'm driving I welcome the opportunity to occupy the other carriageway when it's clear.
"when I'm driving I welcome the opportunity to occupy the other carriageway when it's clear"
A few times recently, on quiet Edinburgh side-streets, cars have passed me as far away as space allows.
This seems 'unnatural'. I'm not even sure it's good driving - seems to involve exaggerated movement rather than a gradual, well planned, steer/overtake manoeuvre.
Not sure if they are trying to send a message of 'I'm a good driver, I'm giving you lots of room' or 'you're a dangerous cyclist I'm keeping out of your way'!
Wonder if they will also think 'I can't pass that bike by at least 1M so I'll hang back (a sensible distance).
"I'm not even sure it's good driving "
What does the highway code say again? Something along the lines of leave as much room as you would passing a car.
I'd say it is clearly good driving, use as much space as you have available to give a nice safe "comfort zone" around the more vulnerable road user.
You're just so used to ****s shaving past you dangerously close that you miss them when they're not there and a considerate driver passes ;-p
"You're just so used to ****s shaving past you dangerously close that you miss them when they're not there and a considerate driver passes"
True, but I'm not talking a couple of metres.
More like 'gesture driving'.
I'll take that gesture and wave a thank you, getting so sick of the crowd who can't be bothered to turn the steering wheel/lift the throttle that my left hand seems to be constantly hovering over the 'zound these days :-<
I can't believe you are complaining about drivers giving you too much room chdot! Seems like quite a good problem to have to me.
@Min
Wasn't actually complaining. It's like when people stay behind instead of overtaking - so unusual it's unnerving!
@Smudge I expect you're right - just not used to it!
Maybe you could make these fashionable -
http://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/10/09/d-tour-safety-flag-update
When I have a child seat and passenger, I always have one of these on the bike:
Which reminds me, need to get an extra big bendy upright orange pennant flag for the tagalong. Maybe a lollipop too.
Today's rubbish driving was actually rubbish cycling. I caught up a nondescript city bike whose casually dressed rider took every opportunity to stop 'at' the red light but as far forward into the junction as possible. Great familiarity skills with the light sequencing, but not great popularity improvement skills.
Anyway, thanks to this outright cheating and one or two gratuitous filtering manoeuvres along Church Hill, we traffic jammed our way to a bus on Bruntsfield, where the stop is built out so much that following vehicles pretty much can't get past. I took the wide primary position to overtake about four cars and the bus, while this guy undertook all the way to the back of the bus and then dived to his right to overtake, without looking for oncoming or overtaking traffic like me. I half-expected it and overtook him as well, shouting "Shoulder Check!"
I think a lot more cyclists would do well to be taught observation by motorcycling instructors.
There was a vehicle on this morning's commute whose driver decided to slow and turn sharp left in front of me without signalling, but I can't remember where it happened, or what kind of car it was. Just another event in the life of an urban cyclists I guess.
"I think a lot more cyclists would do well to be taught observation by motorcycling instructors."
Good point, I was lucky enough to do a bit of glider training a year or so ago and the instructor was most tickled by my inability to make a turn without doing a "lifesaver". Happy with the habit though :)
Bet you avoided the left hooker through a combination of experience and defensive riding..... ;-)
I can't even turn left or right on foot without looking over my shoulder, so used to it am I.
Who recalls the 'Look Back' Adverts from the 70's [gives away age]
@DaveC Likewise!, don't *think* I remember the advert.. (but then my memory is variable!)
i still look in my non existant mirrors on me bike !
@ smudge Ive got some cool gliding video, taken at condor, viking, cadet looks like hes doing the shoulder take all the time !
I just need to work out how to post pics n vids on here !
"I just need to work out how to post pics n vids on here !"
You can't directly.
You need to put them somewhere like Flickr and You Tube.
Get the URL of the image (not just the page it's on) and click on IMG (above).
With Flickr there is "Share" 'button' - above photo - which will give you BBcode (not the HTML option) - set width for 500.
Videos usually work by just posting their URL.
angry angry little white van driver.
was heading along Slateford road towards the Hermands
traffic was stopped and queuing.
the car in front of me was hanging left and blocking my way.
so i went right around them(traffic is stationary and the gap is under 1/2 a car width)
As i do I hear a horn sound.
think to myself that will be the white van behind me
I ignore it and go on through the(now green) lights behind a bus,and up the hill towards the Shandon lights(going straight on)
my angry comes along side with the standard angry/threatening hand movements
I shake my head.
he then launches into a flurry of horn pressing because the bus in front(same one he was behind at the lights,so has made/lost no time) dared not to move the nanosecond the filter went green.
off we go again and of course at the lights i have easily caught up and passed(making sure i give the obligatory head shakes)
I had decided now if he wanted to play I was going to dismount at Henderson/dundee terrace lights and he could either go toe to toe out of his tin can or i could get his details as he passed.
however by those lights there was o sign of him but I di hear his horn further back. so either it was for me or someone else had dared to use his road.
[dismount and] go toe to toe out of his tin can
Been in that adrenalised situation myself on occasion, but those non-recessed cleats are a real liability...
SPD's ;)
Around 7pm today, coming along McDonald Rd eastbound, at the junction with Leith Walk. Light was green as I approached, so I passed on through. Two cars were signalling to turn right ahead of me. The first turned before I got there (the wee folder is not so fast). The second (silver Corsa) was signalling, but I assumed as I was almost at the car's nose that the driver would wait for me to pass before turning. But no! The car started to turn right into my path! I slammed on the brakes and shouted an exclamation of surprise. Finally, the grey haired driver (or rather his female passenger) spotted me and braked, coming to a halt with his bumper about 2 inches from the side of my right side front fork. A bit further and he would have knocked me over into the road.
I made a loud comment that rather forcefully suggested the driver's IQ may be below normal and audibly questioned his eyesight. He wore the classic expression of a SMIDSY. I dismounted, confidence a little shaken, and walked my bike to the central reservation as by now traffic was passing perpendicular to the direction I was going. I watched the offending car turn and noticed a big dent in the rear. Clearly a driver who makes a habit of collisions!
2! cars opened their doors on me today on the way home
a Vectra on Sth Gyle Crec and a golf off Nicholson Street
Also had a dairy truck this morning barge into the ASZ at the Shandon lights as I was battling fierce winds
A big thank you to the woman in a small car who cut me up on Great Junction Street this evening, and then waved her middle finger at me as I passed her offside window. I think the gesture means "I'm sorry, I know I'm a rubbish driver and I apologise for scaring you, especially when it's dark and foul weather", and I clearly didn't gain any advantage by doing my stupid manoeuvre as you're now passing me while I'm in stationary traffic." I took a note of your numberplate just so that I can thank you personally next time I see you...
Today's rubbish pedestrianing was by me, as I sauntered away from the Bicycle Works with my new wheels for bike#3 along the Melville Drive paths. Sauntered down the cyclist's half of the path, dressed in photon-sooking dark green, deep in autopilot and totally unaware I wasn't on my bike like usual...
Apologies to the guy who had to emergency swerve away from me. I doubt you could have seen me until you were uncomfortably close, and I scampered back to the ped side pronto.
Yesterday's rubbish cycling - Melville Drive near Lonsdale Terrace. Almost collided with ninja cyclist moving slowly in eastbound cycle lane. And in the wrong direction. And punting with feet rather than pedalling.
Gave him some "advice".
Yesterday...
Parked Ka pulls out in front of me, then stops diagonally across the road, unable to make progress due to queuing traffic.
As I filter past, turns out the driver is texting in her lap...
I can't seem to find it now, but didn't someone post a link to a pro-forma for reporting incidents to the police?
Typically, having said I'd got a good response from L&BP, I'm now being asked to go in to a station, so the form would be ideal...
Not sure if a helmet cam would make any difference legally, but I keep thinking they might be an idea for my blood pressure!
Robert
On my way down the hill to Canonmills I have to at some point move from the left of the road to the right filter lane.
This morning the traffic was pretty slow as usual, and I had to decide whether to pass a few cars using the cycle lane or move over to get down into the right filter lane early.
After I moved out, the driver behind beeped his horn, so I waved one finger at him in a friendly manner. He then moved up alongside me (i.e. half in the oncoming lane!) shouting something that I couldn't make out.
Of course the oncoming traffic was pushing him to the left, and me back to the left, but as we were only going about 10mph by this point, I just ducked behind him and flew past on the right, leaving him stuck in traffic.
What a pointless little man!
Okay I'm going in for a big tarry brush here, but what the hell is wrong with Vauxhall drivers? For the fourth time in as many days, I've been buzzed at close range or cut up by some idiot in a Corsa or Astra. What gives? Is it just that there are so many Vauxhall cars out there, that the chances are a fair number are occupied by inconsiderate incompetents? Or are Vauxhall drivers more likely to be Daily Wail reading Clarksonites? What is wrong with these people?
Was brought to you by the First Bus driver who went through the red lights at Morrison link from a standing start and the BMW driver (shocked face) who tried to undertake me within my lane while on the Drumbrae Roundabout and in doing so nearly booking me an appointment with an undertaker.
saw a cyclist almost get taken out on Clerk street this morning 9.30-10am ish
lights were locked on red to traffic coming accross hope park terrace/Bernard terrace
so they just decided to try and drive through the cyclist on green......
yeah loads of rubbish driving today, two close passes and a RLJ cyclist in Newington. A friend got wiped out the other day too :(
Nipped round from LB to TBW on Argyle Place on Fuego. Whole area a festival of double-parking. Who says the car-economy is struggling?
On way back did a U turn in front of shop and headed back up to the narrow junction at Roseneath. The one where the 41 can hardly get round.
A car who had just entered Argyle Place obviously thought I was fair game for bullying and tried to overtake me before the stop line - even though I was clearly signalling right.
I kept moving right as they were the vehicle behind - they then decided not to enter the zone where they might damage their precious car. They then squeezed up my inside to do a left turn. All pointless.
Complete driver failure - should hand in their keys as soon as possible!
May have been a Vauxhall!
"thought I was fair game for bullying"
By contrast.
I'm in London, no real problems - just the odd taxi 'too close'.
When filtering on the left you can actually see vehicles moving RIGHT as drivers are obviously looking in their wing mirrors for bikes/lights!
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