CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!

Today's rubbish driving...

(11251 posts)
  • Started 12 years ago by Stepdoh
  • Latest reply from neddie
  • This topic is sticky

  1. mcairney
    Member

    The prat who came within inches of T-boning me (I actually had to jump off my bike to avoid him) on the protected cycle path outside St Leonards this morning (GL15 CCN). In amongst my ranting he refused to take the blame (despite being well over the give way lines) and suggested I calm down and if I have a problem pop inside the police station and have a word with them! Unfortunately the desk was closed so I couldn't call his bluff. The good news is that both bike and rider appear intact.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  2. piosad
    Member

    Black cab refusing to signal when turning right on the Polwarth mini-roundabout. I had entered the roundabout already and he just went and turned in front of me. I had to brake sharply and was rewarded with a glare.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  3. StepRam
    Member

    Anyone know the Cyclist in this Video https://youtu.be/-KVa6GO5eYM

    PS it was me that Filmed it!

    Posted 6 years ago #
  4. Nelly
    Member

    Nope, but I suspect the cyclist, after overtaking the​ bus, forgot his position on the road and was a bit further across than they intended.

    While I'm all for retaining a strong position (I think you were too close to the bus myself, allowing the eejit in the car to squeeze past) on that stretch I would have pulled in a bit - simply because there is plenty of room for bike and car.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  5. Frenchy
    Member

    A bit more space between yourself and the bus also gives you a bit more leeway if a pedestrian walks out from in front of it.

    Overtaking a cyclist through the zigzag lines at the pedestrian crossing is legal, but I would argue it's still not a smart move, and this may be one reason the cyclist in front held their position.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  6. StepRam
    Member

    I agree with you on my position being too close to the bus. Having seen a number of busses excite the Manoeuvre, Signal Mirror Approach (They do Signal First a lot of the time, But NEVER Mirror!) I tend to give buses an excessively wide birth Now.

    I think the other Cyclist's Position is Fine, he as about to turn right, had an aggressive driver up his bum and held a strong road position at or near the speed limit for the road. I don't see anything wrong with that.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  7. Nelly
    Member

    He wasn't about to turn right......or if he was, his position was too passive and he didn't indicate.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  8. Stickman
    Member

    Black cab 1062 which tailgated me along the West Coates bus lane. Was TTFO in no uncertain terms.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  9. Stickman
    Member

    Very important businessman in his very important Mercedes (SL64JPV) reading something very important on his phone while driving through the west end today. So important that he missed lights changing to green twice.

    Utterly sick of this - I see it every day whether I'm on the bike, walking or on the bus.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  10. Big_Smoke
    Member

    @Stickman - I have counted at least 5 people on one trip alone while on the bus doing so completely oblivious to what's going on outside even if you stare back at them. Some have the nerve to try to hid the phone by their knees in the hope they won't be caught which is more of a hazard if you're not looking straight ahead.

    All the time they're on the phone while sitting in traffic and I'm wondering why they didn't just take the bus after all? They'd cause less congestion this way and finish their updates when they reach their destination without realizing making the journey seem faster than they thought.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  11. qwerty
    Member

    The right-turning car driver to the right of Slateford train station, turning right as if to go to the Asda, who cut in front of me this morning despite my having a green light and priority to go. I think he misjudged how fast I was travelling and decided to risk it. It would have only been another few seconds until his filter would have let him through (at least, I think there's one there).

    Posted 6 years ago #
  12. Greenroofer
    Member

    While I was out yesterday...

    In Lasswade, a silver Nissan X-trail (SG05 TFN) towing a caravan came by so close that I could have touched the caravan with my elbow. I remember the registration number from the mnemonic that it was Too Flippin' Near.

    Further south, on a completely empty, clear, straight, road, an oncoming Citroen Berlingo deliberately drove across the white at me. The driver looked me in the eye while doing so. I'm still bewildered by this one. I'm not sure if it was meant to be a joke or a threat (neither being acceptable, obviously). If I'd had a camera on I would have sent it to the police.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  13. gembo
    Member

    The caravan is bad driving but the Berlinger is insanity.

    We had a guy in back seat of a well driven car flip us the bird for no apparent reason near fauldhouse. The car was then stuck at temp traffic lights at fauldhouse with all of us behind. Big Ewan was musing on the reason, the window was down, I was a little concerned but no further bother.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  14. Ed1
    Member

    Very nearly hit by a van that ran the roundabout without stopping or looking in livi, it missed me by by a few feet when it finally noticed me. This was poor driving as I was in at the right of the lane in very primary position. I know if cycle in the left at the edge this can happen. Livingston has far too many roundabouts although this roundabout is a 30 mph, never understand why when cycle down from livi south the in town roundabout is a 50mph you go from a 30mph to 50 then back to a 30 when you pass the roundabout seems nonsensical in Edinburgh think they would have corrected that years ago. West Lothian council seem a bit hopeless not 1 asl in livi that can think of.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  15. chdot
    Admin

  16. Frenchy
    Member

    ...and the comments are mostly about cyclists. AAGAGAHHHH.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  17. davidsonsdave
    Member

    Charlie Irons Coach travelling at approx twice the speed limit on Roseburn Street yesterday shortly after 5.30pm.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  18. wishicouldgofaster
    Member

    Frenchy - I think they are being sarcastic

    Posted 6 years ago #
  19. Frenchy
    Member

    Some definitely are, others I'm not willing to put enough thought into figuring out for sure. Best to assume they all are, I suppose.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  20. A plumbing trade supplies (PTS) lorry tanked round from morrison street into torphichen place this morning, almost wiping me out as I waited at the ASL to turn right towards haymarket.

    It cut about 2m into the bike box. I got a real fright and had to jump off the bike!

    A bus was alongside, so hopefully plod can get the CCTV off LRT.

    I really thought I was a gonner for a second.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  21. ejstubbs
    Member

    Frenchy: ...and the comments are mostly about cyclists. AAGAGAHHHH.

    This seems to have become ~a thing" on the EEN web pages recently. I think it started when a new poster started posting ironic comments under every "bad news" story stating that cyclists were to blame for whatever-it-was. At least, I think they were meant to be ironic.

    Anyway, since then a number of other posters seem to have tried to join in with the 'joke' but I get the distinct impression that some of them just didn't 'get' the original joke/point-that-was-being-made.

    So I don't think it's rabid anti-cyclist sentiment in this case, more likely just an edgy joke that's been dragged off course by people too stupid to understand it.

    UPDATE: It looks like "Man The Barricades", who I think was the person who started the whole thing, has now added their contribution to that story.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  22. SRD
    Moderator

    @ECT I had the same experience this morning at the King's junction with a 'CTD' lorry, albeit not quite so bad. came close to thumping side of lorry / jumping off but in the end was able to stay upright.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  23. Frenchy
    Member

    @ECT: Definitely worth chasing up for footage of that - I had a similar incident a couple of months ago which resulted in a ticket for the driver. Sounds like yours was more serious than mine, as well.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  24. SpeedyG
    Member

    I was almost going to fire this in to rubbish cycling but decided to stick it in here as "priority" lay with me.
    This morning on Drum Brae RAB I entered at a decent speed from Meadow Place Rd and was taking a right towards town, a driver in a black Toyota Aygo entered the RAB from the A8 heading west to east, once on the roundabout the driver saw me, mouthed sorry then proceeded to stop, I grabbed as much brake as I could but ended up skidding and I hit the rear quarter of the car. The bike & car were fine but I usually cover/2 finger brake when cycling so I ended up trapping my ring finger/pinky with the brake lever.
    The driver actually tried to get out the car whilst on the RAB but I encouraged her to carry on as I was more embarrassed about not being able to avoid one of the smallest cars on a decent sized roundabout and there was plenty witnesses to my ineptitude.
    We leap-frogged each other all the way down to Western Corner where I thought she might stop to either inspect her car or speak to me in a more suitable location, she did neither.
    I blame myself in part as I reckon I entered the roundabout too fast (although my entry was clear you just KNOW someone will jump in front of you) but mostly because I was wearing my high viz tabard this morning, I swear I attract a lot more lunatics when I'm visible!

    Posted 6 years ago #
  25. dessert rat
    Member

    was today national 'its OK to use your mobile while driving day' ?? I must have missed that memo.

    Since the penalty increase a couple of months ago I really thought it was so much better - today along from Newhaven to Porty it was by far the worst I've ever seen.

    So much so that I have now unearthed the almost long forgotten GoPro and strapped it to my helmet - is it reportable or even worth reporting ?

    Posted 6 years ago #
  26. chdot
    Admin

    Yes - with clear shots of use and reg no.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  27. Frenchy
    Member

    I asked a police officer about using helmet camera footage to take action against mobile phone users. The response was:

    In practical terms it is better to have first hand corroborated evidence of offences being committed provided by two eye witnesses. Video recorded footage can be used but there must be evidence of the phone being used either with the phone users seen to be talking or pressing buttons on the device to secure a prosecution. The Police can use video recorded evidence however the footage must be clear and identification of the phone user must be possible. There are also issue with the time and date the footage was recorded and it must be clear that the person using the phone was indeed driving and not merely stationary.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  28. Roibeard
    Member

    @Frenchy - it must be clear that the person using the phone was indeed driving and not merely stationary

    So the police are treating mobile phone use in stationary queues as unenforced...

    Pity, as I'm certain that drivers will become aware that the queue has moved and will move off in a rush without being aware of vulnerable road users - the pedestrian crossing since the queue hasn't moved, the cyclist filtering up the inside that's about to be left hooked, etc.

    I presumed that was why the law prohibits handheld phone use for stationary traffic unless parked.

    Robert

    Posted 6 years ago #
  29. Min
    Member

    Pity, as I'm certain that drivers will become aware that the queue has moved and will move off in a rush without being aware of vulnerable road users - the pedestrian crossing since the queue hasn't moved, the cyclist filtering up the inside that's about to be left hooked, etc.

    They absolutely do. You see them glancing up, realising everyone else has gone and driving forward whilst looking back down and finishing off whatever it was they were doing on their phone. I am sure if you asked them they would never use their mobile phone while driving.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  30. jonty
    Member

    Saw a queuing car drifting into the bike lane on Rodney Street last year - I turned around after filtering past to see the driver reading her phone. She raised her hands and apologised. I assume she was a "never while driving" driver that had subconsciously advanced to "never while driving that fast".

    Even if you look up when moving, I wouldn't be surprised if you totally lose awareness of your road position.

    Posted 6 years ago #

RSS feed for this topic

Reply »

You must log in to post.


Video embedded using Easy Video Embed plugin