CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!

Today's rubbish driving...

(11258 posts)
  • Started 12 years ago by Stepdoh
  • Latest reply from chdot
  • This topic is sticky

1…216217218…376

  1. PS
    Member

    I guess the coach I'd passed on the cycle lane had flashed his lights to encourage everyone to do their manoeuvers regardless of my presence.

    The three instances where I have been closest to being skittled on a bike in Edinburgh have all been caused by this sort of behaviour. TBH, I'm not sure what can be done to avoid it beyond proceeding through any junction with extreme caution (or building some decent cycling infrastructure, CEC... [As an aside, CEC, I've had reason to cycle down the "quality bike corridor" a few times in the past fortnight. It really is awful and deserves not even the slightest bit of promotion as a cycling facility.])

    Posted 6 years ago #

  2. algo
    Member

    yes - I have almost come a cropper on account of this too a few times. I think it's understandable that human nature make drivers respond to the apparent generosity of the flashing lights by assuming it is a green light to proceed - in a sort of show of appreciation.... unfortunately little consideration is given to the fact that other road users should also be involved in this decision.

    Not long ago while waiting to turn right from a side road (accompanied at the time my MrSRD) a coach flashed a friend of his to say hello, and I took it to mean he was letting us out, so I set off only to be beeped at and met with a look of incredulity. Pretty stupid on my part, but another instance where the collateral implications of a seemingly friendly flash of the lights should be considered.(I should add mrSRD was savvy enough to stay put)

    Posted 6 years ago #

  3. amir
    Member

    On an advanced driving session at work many moons ago, we told very clearly that you shouldn't flash to let people out. Apart from anything (e.g. misinterpretation) you're implicitly telling others that it's safe to make these manouevres.

    It's about time the driving test was lifted to advanced status. Refreshers would also be beneficial.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  4. Stickman
    Member

    I was waiting for the pedestrian crossing at the Filmhouse yesterday and a driver in the queue waved for me to cross before I got the green light. He looked angry when I didn't go because his van meant I couldn't see if anything was coming in the inside lane.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  5. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    The psychology of the light-flash/handwave thing is revealing. I've had drivers get quite angry when I've ignored such signals based on my own observation of the road hazards.

    Best advice I ever got when I started learning to ride a motor bicycle was to 'Ride your own ride, not someone else's'.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  6. Min
    Member

    He looked angry when I didn't go because his van meant I couldn't see if anything was coming in the inside lane.

    I often get those when there are blatantly cars whizzing past in the other lane. Am I meant to throw myself under their wheels or what?

    Posted 6 years ago #

  7. jonty
    Member

    To add some balance to the discussion, once when driving near Stirling I was hanging back at a safe (I hope) distance behind a guy on a bike as we approached a blind summit. The second he got to the top, he beckoned me to pass in a very slow and official-looking way. I stayed where I was so he turned round briefly, as if to query why I hadn't launched my car onto the wrong side of a 60mph road at the blindest bit of a blind summit purely on the strength of his stately wave. I happily waited the extra 5 seconds it took for me to be able to double check.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  8. ih
    Member

    My driving instructor aeons ago said, "flashing lights means only 'I am here.'" Sadly even in those days, this was far from the truth, but the lesson has stuck with me.

    +1 for this being one of the major hazards for urban cycling. Filtering inside queuing traffic, even on a cycle lane, you will always encounter traffic from the other direction crossing your line at junctions. Take care.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  9. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    I seem to be a loony magnet this week.

    Going south along Causewayside at the Pear Tree a car rolls out into the road in front of me so I stop to see what it's going to do.

    The lady driver (who looks older than me but is likely much younger) rolls down the window.

    'Dinnae look at me ah never f"<&ing saw ye.'

    I wait, impassive.

    'Dinnae f"<&ing look at me like that ya f"<&ing green monger.'

    And she pulls out and turns right, heading into town. The cyclist behind her looks at me, and I look at him.

    I cricked my neck sleeping last night, otherwise I'd probably have rear-observed and gone round her like normal. Insight into the worlds of disabled and less confident cyclists I expect. I wasn't looking for trouble.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  10. fimm
    Member

    Three, yes THREE passes of the "If I had a camera that would be going to the police" in ONE COMMUTE!

    Two persons* in charge of vans who couldn't wait 10 seconds but just barged through and one <bleep> <bleeeeeep> <BLEEEEEEP> person* in charge of a Volvo who whizzed past on the A70 (therefore probably doing at least 70) with oncoming traffic and without deviating from their line at all, as far as I could see. I could tell they were coming and was already yelling, swearing, and getting as close to the verge as I could before they passed.

    * insert insult of your choice here. The more offensive the better.

    Edited to add: I forgot the private hire driver who was parked on the right hand side of the road but facing my direction of travel who decided to pull away onto the bit of road I was cycling on. A loud yell from me stopped him. Your indicators don't work, Mr PH Driver...

    Posted 6 years ago #

  11. dougal
    Member

    @fimm That feeling of "why do I leave the house some days" eh? I had too many to mention including being beeped and buzzed by one of the intercity coaches near Haymarket.

    This morning I was barely twenty yards out of the front door when someone pulled out of Dalmeny Street straight at me. Being in primary was the only thing that saved me from buying a new bike/leg. The person* didn't even stop, apologise or look when I shouted at them.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  12. ejstubbs
    Member

    @amir

    "On an advanced driving session at work many moons ago, we told very clearly that you shouldn't flash to let people out. Apart from anything (e.g. misinterpretation) you're implicitly telling others that it's safe to make these manouevres.

    It's about time the driving test was lifted to advanced status. Refreshers would also be beneficial."

    There shouldn't be any need to change the driving test. The advice about headlight flashing is already in the Highway Code*, knowledge of which is supposed to be part of the test. [OK, I'm not being entirely serious, but the point nonetheless stands.]

    I wonder whether someone flashing their headlights is included in the hazard perception part of the current test? Whether someone is flashing their headlights to let you know that they are there, or to let you out, it represents a possible hazard IMO.

    The other headlight flashing behaviour that grates with me is when someone sees me waiting eg at a junction and they slow down to let me out, flashing furiously, when theirs is the only vehicle I was waiting for, and both of us would have been delayed less if they'd just carried on. It's polite to leave space for people to get out when the traffic is congested (while leaving it to the other person's discretion whether or not to make use of it) but not when the only 'congestion' is them. I'm afraid that I usually refuse to move in such cases: I don't see any point in encouraging (by giving the other person a cosy warm feeling of having done someone a 'good turn') behaviour that actually benefits no-one, and is also contrary to the Highway Code.

    * It does seem odd that it's in the section on "Other stopping procedures" though.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  13. Frenchy
    Member

    Driver of a Vauxhall flatbed van - DF15 HDH. Lots of engine revving and tailgating along Drum Street. Even if I hadn't been there, he'd have been stuck behind all the traffic in front of me. Anyway, with a clearly inconsiderate driver behind me, I felt it was prudent to stay in the middle of the lane as I waited to turn right further along, rather than squeeze over to the right hand side of the lane so that he could squeeze past. More vroom vroom VROOOMMing when he was able to set off.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  14. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    My loony magnet week finished off in fine style.

    First, on my quiet residential street at the spot where the Silver Fox van overtook me on the pavement I encountered a people carrier coming the other way. Parked cars on my side, bit tight so I planned to pull in and let her have her right of way. But she mounts the pavement and comes right ahead at full speed so that I don't have to. Summer holidays, kids in the street and she's flying down a pavement past garden gates.

    Then, on the way home only just avoided getting doored in the Green Lane on South Clerk Street. Asian guy, late for his work, very apologetic but I actually stood the bike on the front wheel I was braking so hard. Good workout for my bodged caliper posts I suppose.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  15. gembo
    Member

    @Iwrats, you need a holiday from the mean streets of Edinburgh, only going to get worse with the festival production promoters and runners about to arrive down a one way street the wrong way near you soon.

    In my trip to Ayr I would have had one ridiculously close pass probably on the bottle of Aperol pannier side but something about the noise of the approaching vehicle made me veer over the white line on the left converting it into merely a close pass.

    I was given two friendly toots by two different lorry drivers for pulling in to let them pass. Of course cars a bit further back do not know I have had this shared road attitude when I am holding them up when there is no passing place. Only one really bad example of being overtaken when lorries were coming the other way and whilst looking quite scary it was not the worst I have ever seen, I believe the lorry driver took his or her foot off the gas.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  16. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @Iwrats, you need a holiday from the mean streets of Edinburgh

    Nephew has booked his flights, highlands beckon. I will borrow the neighbour's MTB (I bought it for him at the Bike Station and service it so this is cool plus he is a lovely guy and takes me eagle spotting) and I will lead nephew and madame IWRATS on an expedition along the Dava Way, maybe Great Glen too. Anybody know if there is a way to get from Forres to Grantown-on-Spey by public trasnsport he asked, laughing at the very concept. Train maybe? Ho ho how drole.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  17. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    Just checked, and as I thought quicker to cycle back on the road and fetch the car. 2h47m to do 22 miles by coach. 8mph overall. I could just about run it faster.

    Why do people buy cars again?

    Posted 6 years ago #

  18. Arellcat
    Moderator

    Barely warmed up on my training ride this morning and I was very nearly smashed to pieces by the driver of a brown Mercedes on the Calder Road. I'm navigating the roundabout, going north, and the driver steams down the offside eastbound lane and blithely assumes there is no-one on the roundabout.

    My spidey senses were already on the alert because of the way a previous driver barely reduced speed either, while I was further back on the roundabout.

    Cue an immediate hard swerve to the right on my part, and a marvellous screech of tyres from the driver as they stopped a few feet beyond the Give Way line.

    This is how I remember it; I have the whole thing on video, but I haven't watched it yet, and I don't think the registration will visible.

    Later, on the A8 Newbridge to Broxburn, twice drivers just had to overtake me, despite looming pedestrian crossing islands. It's a 50 limit, and I would've been rattling along at about 27mph, but may as well have been doing 7mph. I despair, I really do.

    Then when I got to Hermiston on my return run the spring inside my rear derailleur broke, leaving me with only three gears, so not the best start to my Saturday.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  19. gembo
    Member

    @arellcat, that is bad. Hope you got home before the rain

    Posted 6 years ago #

  20. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @Arrelcat

    Sounds terrifying. Take it easy.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  21. Frenchy
    Member

    Doesn't sound fun at all, @Arellcat, how you're all right.

    Mine today is the driver of a bin lorry turning right out of Rose Street whilst on her phone. Will be complaining to the company.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  22. Arellcat
    Moderator

    Thanks all. The rain started while I was footering about with the drivetrain, but I was home before the worst of it.

    Video posted on the Close Pass thread.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  23. Frenchy
    Member

    Very quick response from the Managing Director of the bin lorry company mentioned above, saying "...totally unacceptable...will take the appropriate action against this driver".

    Posted 6 years ago #

  24. piosad
    Member

    Almost got hit yesterday by a driver impatient to overtake at the traffic island outside the Polwarth Scotmid. They literally saved all of a second by doing that, without even the excuse of oncoming traffic to potentially hold them up. Need I mention I caught up with them queuing at the Gray's Loan lights?

    Posted 6 years ago #

  25. morepathsplease
    Member

    piosad - did you speak to the driver when you caught up with them? What does one do in that situation - any 'best advice'? Just wonder as I find it very difficult not to speak to the driver when that happens although I'm never sure what to say bar 'you didn't leave enough room there'. I can get very angry and have to remember to keep that in check (for self preservation as much as anything else).

    Posted 6 years ago #

  26. gembo
    Member

    @morepathsplease, you get all sorts of reactions, from very sorry through to actually ignoring you to road rage. Just never touch their vehicle, they go nuts if you do that, regardless that they were millimetres from taking you out, you must never touch their vehicle.

    My current comeback if I get lip is to try to stay calm and say, I think you are better than this as a person, just once in a car and driving it you lose a bit of your humanity (so far this is in my head as I have used very very powerful mindfulness techniques to keep my Zen, except with BT Openreach who drove at me in the Cowgate who I asked when I caught him at the lights, Were you trying to kill me? and he replied You should not have come out like that [letting front cAr pass me then trying to get in behind it and BT openreach] lost my Zen, no mindfulness just went with BT Openreach cyclist killers, very loud)

    Posted 6 years ago #

  27. sallyhinch
    Member

    yikes Arellcat - and that in the torpedo, which is not exactly inconspicuous

    Posted 6 years ago #

  28. HankChief
    Member

    @morepaths - My standard response is 'you really scared me...' something they can't argue with and hopefully will give them something to think about later on.

    If you respond with 'you idiot (or similar)...' or 'you nearly hit me...' it just creates opposing views and an argument.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  29. chdot
    Admin

    http://www.scotsman.com/news/white-van-rams-into-front-entrance-of-ayr-police-station-1-4511783

    Posted 6 years ago #

  30. gembo
    Member

    @chdot, timely as @frenchy was asking for my route to Ayr. Basically A70 until after Muirkirk Ane o Scotland's leid toun's and home to the covenant martyrs, just after Ane o the totem poles o Muirkirk take the B743 to Sorn and Mauchline, climb a lot then descend to Ayr via Mossblown. The very hilly B743 ends after auchincruive agricultural college at the roundabout at the top of Whitletts road. You go straight over this towards town centre rather than left as that is the Ayr bypass, not great to cycle on. There is a cycle path down by the river but not great for road bike. Straight over takes you to Whiletts road. Two lanes but inside lane is bus lane with lots of cars parked in it at random intervals and lots of sets of traffic lights with left and right turns, so not the best end to a long cycle. Whitletts road ends at another big roundabout and the police station that was rammed by the tarbolton van man sits just off that roundabout. So this last section requires all your concentration.

    Posted 6 years ago #

RSS feed for this topic

1…216217218…376

Reply »

You must log in to post.


Video embedded using Easy Video Embed plugin