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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.

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CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!

6391. HankChief
      Member

      @Ac - that's not good at all... :-(

      This morning I witnessed a horrid, low speed punishment pass of the cyclist by a coach at Drumbrae Roundabout this morning.

      Heading West I stopped behind a stationary queue of coaches where it was still 2 lanes (just before it splits into 3). A man on a bike went up the inside of the coaches and into the newly formed lefthand lane. The coach alongside him, who was going straight on and should have been in the middle lane, slowly crept to the left until he was about 2 foot from the kerb/railing with the cyclist in between.

      Horrible to watch - can only have been deliberate. Fair enough to cross into the left lane to give yourself more space on the roundabout, but to go that far over the line must have been connected to the cyclist being there.

      Posted 6 years ago #

6392. mgj
      Member

      You'd hope in some ways that the coach could see him. Was the cyclist going straight on? Its tempting to go up the inside but looking at the casualty statistics, you have to ask whether it is worthwhile, (which is presumably why the HWC says don't, just like it advises drivers to watch for folk doing it).

      Posted 6 years ago #

6393. barnton-to-town
      Member

      The junction of West(ern) Approach/Lothian Road was *relatively quiet* when I crossed at lunchtime today.
      However; on two occasions during the same green light phase for a right turn from Lothian Rd into West Approach, pedestrians were crossing the road (ie while a red man was on). Regardless of the rights or wrongs of the pedestrians, for two vehicles (one an Audi A4, the other a #22 Lothian bus) to take the right turn, at speed (within the "too fast" meaning), while blaring their horns, with the sole purpose of scaring the pedestrians (neither could have stopped in time had the pedestrians frozen) is f'ing criminal.

      Posted 6 years ago #

6394. HankChief
      Member

      @mgj - Yes. Cyclist was going straight on.

      I've given up on filtering on approach to the Drumbrae roundabout, as going 3 a breast round the roundabout isn't always going to end that well.

      Doesn't mean the coach driver is in the clear with their actions though...

      Posted 6 years ago #

6395. Frenchy
      Member

      Does anyone know how separate Edinburgh Bus Tours and Lothian Buses are?

      Posted 6 years ago #

6396. chdot
      Admin

      Pretty sure EBT is wholly owned by LB.

      Posted 6 years ago #

6397. algo
      Member

      I complained about my incident with EBT through the LB complaints form, but as yet no response.

      Posted 6 years ago #

6398. Frenchy
      Member

      Ta. So presumably same training, complaints procedures etc., and possibly the same drivers?

      Posted 6 years ago #

6399. GDR
      Member

      Caught the 23 bus today into town. Approaching Morningside Clock junction from Balcarres Street there is guy on a bike. Bus driver pulls even on the outside of the guy even although we are passing the Waiting Room ie just short of the lights. Absolutely no need. Guy on bike then pulls out to go straight ahead to Cluny. No signal but still does not excuse driver who I am pretty sure was also exceeding 20 mph limit. Same driver down at temporary lights at Bruntsfield drives right up behind girl on bike going through the contraflow section. Holds back until she has moved to LHS after this section but still far too close. I have my ticket with the service and driver number. Can someone remind me who do I e mail at Lothian Buses about this? One would hope that bus drivers would have had a sharp reminder of the dangers of moving too close to cyclists given recent tragic events.

      Posted 6 years ago #

6400. Edinburgh Cycle Training
      Member

      "Can someone remind me who do I e mail at Lothian Buses about this?"

      Easily done via their website:

      https://lothianbuses.co.uk/customer-services/contact-customer-services

      Posted 6 years ago #

6401. chdot
      Admin

      "drives right up behind girl on bike going through the contraflow section"

      I was on several buses last week, and this is quite common, especially when coming up to bus stops.

      Drivers clearly want to keep to time, but really cannot know that the bike rider won't hit a pothole, lose a chain., etc before the bus stop.

      Even if the driver is about to slow for the stop, too close is too close.

      Posted 6 years ago #

6402. GDR
      Member

      I have found the complaints section on Lothian Buses website and described the 2 incidents. Now await a response. Maybe I'm just really fed up as on Sunday I had a guy belt past me coming out of Prestonpans just before the Prestongrange museum before he turned left to go and walk his dog in the museum grounds. Was tempted to go and have a word but then thought what's the point. It's mental out there.

      Posted 6 years ago #

6403. Min
      Member

      A Reading bus driver mows down a man walking on the pavement and it is only being investigated "internally"? :-/

      http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-berkshire-40415292/cctv-footage-shows-man-hit-by-bus-in-reading

      Posted 6 years ago #

6404. fimm
      Member

      What the absolute.....?
      What on earth was the bus driver doing? The bus doesn't just hit the man, it ploughs into the bus stop. How can that not be something that gets referred to the police?

      Posted 6 years ago #

6405. LaidBack
      Member

      The Reading bus video sums up the cult of sentient vehicles perfectly. Of course First must have all the info required.
      After being too close to a shocking bit of driving last week by West Coast Motors near Strachur the idea of an out of control bus shouldn't be just an entertainment filler for news channels.

      Meanwhile in Edinburgh - with extremely wet weather today road stupidity was on the up. Driver went straight over at Kings onto Tarvit St ignoring one way signs. When met head on with another car they quickly swerved to right (wrong) side and onto the bike lane to dodge round.

      Posted 6 years ago #

6406. threefromleith
      Member

      Not today but last Saturday - noticed a Rabbie's Tours minibus driver with a microphone mounted on a holder that went round his neck and held the mic in front of his face.

      Given that they recently killed someone, you'd think they'd be very, VERY careful about obeying the laws regarding driver distraction, wouldn't you?

      (Was a passenger in a car, so not on bike with helmetcam - therefore no footage to pass to police).

      Posted 6 years ago #

6407. I were right about that saddle
      Member

      @threefromleith

      It is my intention to call 101 for each instance I see of this happening regardless of video or anything else. It is a crime, and calling it in will be, I feel, a fitting tribute to Ms Soh.

      Posted 6 years ago #

6408. dougal
      Member

      @threefromleith Rabbies are a regular source of terrible road experience for me and this has not changed since that student died. I have even had poor interactions with them on the Lothian Road/Princes Street junction since that event. Their drivers take DGAF to new levels.

      Posted 6 years ago #

6409. neddie
      Member

      @dougal

      Suggest you write directly to Rabbies about your experience(s). Bad perceptions of a company are bad for business - would you recommend Rabbies to any of your visiting friends?

      Suggest to them that all their drivers attend a cyclist awareness training like the one provided by Lothian Buses.

      Posted 6 years ago #

6410. I were right about that saddle
      Member

      The problem for Rabbie's et al is that their whole business model seems to depend on criminality. If they have to hire both driver and guide the ticket prices are likely to rise at least 50%. Price elasticity of demand on these tours may well be quite high.

      Posted 6 years ago #

6411. Frenchy
      Member

      SGN car was parked on the pavement/double yellows on Causewayside, just at the Sciennes junction, the other day. Sent them a slightly snarky email, and today got a phone call thanking me for bringing it to their attention and letting me know that the driver has been reminded of his responsibilities.

      Posted 6 years ago #

6412. Morningsider
      Member

      IWRATS - might be better reporting it to the Traffic Commissioner, who can strip a PSV driver of their licence and ultimately remove an operators' licence if they are found not to be of "good repute". I imagine a string of reports about a PSV operators' drivers all using microphones might get their attention.

      https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/traffic-commissioners/about/access-and-opening#scotland

      Posted 6 years ago #

6413. algo
      Member

      I got this response from the assistant manger of the Edinburgh Tour Buses, having complained via the Lothian Buses Complaints Form. She took the incident seriously when I spoke to her and was apologetic and understanding. I told her that I was keen that the driver at least be educated as to his misconceptions.

      --
      Hi Algo,

      Following our conversation earlier today, I have traced the bus and driver with the information you kindly provided.

      The driver in question usually works in another location within the business so I have spoken to his line manager and passed over all information.

      Again, many apologies for the experience you encountered, the matter will be fully investigated and dealt with internally.

      Thanks again for getting in touch and being so understanding.

      Kind regards,

      Eilidh

      (Eilidh Tait Assistant Tour Operations Manager)
      --

      Posted 6 years ago #

6414. I were right about that saddle
      Member

      @Morningsider

      That's an excellent idea, thanks. No reason not to report to both the police and the Traffic commissioner of course.

      It will be interesting to see how the tour operators respond if there is ever any pressure on them to employ both driver and guide.

      Posted 6 years ago #

6415. LaidBack
      Member

      Some very patient drivers waiting in a queue round to Heriots School. Victoria St is just a big parking lot.

      This is Dumb Urban (im)Mobility in the 21st Century.

      I guarantee that a proportion will be on their smartphones passing the time.

      

      As cycling isn't really catered for correctly in good weather it's no surprise it falls off in bad weather. Bike lanes get driven on in the wet as people vy for position.

      Posted 6 years ago #

6416. wingpig
      Member

      One I forgot from the weekend: going up the slope from the prom to Seafield Road, I waited as a car finished an unidentified manoeuvre. It turned out that the gate at the top had been shut and locked, trapping them. They asked if the barrier at the other end was open; I replied that it was also locked. With the only other access point being the wee lane between the parasite storage facility and garages, which has bollards and parked things blocking it most days, they might have had to abandon their vehicle overnight.

      Posted 6 years ago #

6417. fimm
      Member

      Truck driver sounded horn and went for overtake when I'd taken the lane. Forced me to pull to the kerb. There was no way he had space for an overtake before the roundabout.
      I wish I had a camera.
      I didn't get any details. What's the point?

      Posted 6 years ago #

6418. I were right about that saddle
      Member

      the parasite storage facility

      The Palace of Holyroodhouse?

      Posted 6 years ago #

6419. Cyclingmollie
      Member

      Last week on the path towards New Winton I encountered a car coming towards me. The photo below shows the wider part of the path. At the point where they presumably gave up it is very narrow, single track and blocked off permanently to all but walkers, cyclists and horse riders. I'm guessing it was a sat nav issue.

      

      Posted 6 years ago #

6420. dougal
      Member

      White van liveried with some company called BLE (?) performed a forceful overtake while I was in primary on the single-remaining-lane going up Leith Walk through the roadworks. Did I mention that there was less than a van's length between me and the slow-moving traffic in front?

      Posted 6 years ago #

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