CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".
IT’S TRUE!
CCE is 14years 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.
stickyTK07 FOS (grey Fiat): driver tried to overtake mid-road-works on Leith Walk and couldn't. Then beeped me before speeding off as the lane split into two again. The following conversation at the next lights didn't reveal anything more than the her entitlement to dictate who is and isn't a valid road user.
I will let you guess which category cyclists ended up in.
Hasty turnip who appeared to have been using an empty parking space in the middle of George St to pull a U-turn came within a couple of inches of getting me this morning.
Arnold Clark branded van going at a good speed hugged the gutter way too close as I (accompanied by offspring) was pedestrianing along the narrow pavement on the north side of Greenbank Drive — it was so close it almost grazed my elbow. I think they were trying to avoid passing oncoming traffic too closely. Slowing down was apparently not an option.
Cut up by a really close pass by Number 13 bus turning from George St to Hanover St - usually finding bus drivers pretty good at the moment so was quite unfortunate. Felt the closest pass by a vehicle, never mind a bus, in a good while.
Sun seems to have brought all the impatient drivers out. Several instances of fast approach from behind tonight but prize bozo was Mr Impatient in the Gyle Shopping Centre car park. I take the lane going through there as it makes me more visible to anyone exiting or entering the numerous side entrances along the main thoroughfare. Anyway, tonight I could hear another fast approaching car and imagine my surprise to be overtaken by a young guy driving a red Vauxhall Astra (MM65 KGE). I gave him a shout of 'what are you doing' and was rewarded with heavy braking as he pulled in front of me, accompanied by beginning of gesturing and of course, blaming me. He drove on when I tapped the camera mounted on my bike. Unfortunately that was playing up (what is it with GoPro!?) and hasn't captured any of it.
Saw him again at Gogar Roundabout where he was once again pulling the Mr Impatient act and bypassing queueing traffic to attempt to push in to lanes heading to Maybury. Clearly this is an important person who must not be delayed!
Pretty annoyed that someone could think that was a reasonable way to drive through a car park, particularly when all they achieved was reach queueing traffic a bit quicker. If he behaves like that in those circumstances I'm sure he's a delight elsewhere on the roads.
Silver minicab AP09HFZ (I think) executed the perfect left hook on a rider in front of me at Dundee Terrace this evening. Fortunately the cyclist was on the brakes quickly and avoided the schweinhund.
@ Muirwoods if you want to start a bonfire of GoPros, I'll join you.
#worsegadgetever
Two this afternoon.
Due to the building work at the old Homebase on St Leonard's Street, the road is down to one lane, with traffic lights controlling it. Since it was narrow, we took a primary position as we cycled there, and since we were turning right, we signalled and kept to the right when the road widened out again. Despite there being absolutely no other option for us, the driver behind felt the need to lay on the horn then wind down the window and shout at us to "pick a lane".
Then, going up Gilmerton Road, a close pass as we took primary to overtake a parked van. (Followed not long after by a driver who actually slowed down when going through a pinch point - I was starting to think it wasn't possible!)
@ Iain McR might join you in that. Spend most of the time I use it cursing the thing! One benefit is if it's spotted it changes behaviour.
Arnold Clark van on George Street, which left-hooked me as it swiftly pulled into a parking space. Front wheel all Pringley now. Knee/elbow slightly scraped. Assume I it would be sensible to get the fork checked by a shop. Does anyone have any experience of getting insurance out of a company when one of their drivers has caused damage? He seemed very keen to settle privately.
@wingpig - bad luck - hope you knee/elbow are ok. If you need to borrow a bike let me know. I believe you can pay to find out the insurance company and then include this cost in the claim - by your own advice I'd be very wary of the private settlement argument, especially as your wheels are likely to be decent. Hopefully someone will be along with more cogent advice soon - and do definitely get the whole bike checked out.
Does cyclelaw not have a loyalty scheme Wingpig?
It's the prior experience which is making me dread the whole process. A hire van rented by a small-looking company wouldn't result in insurance details through askMID. Last time the police didn't do much.
yeah I can understand that. Still not sure how much luck you'd have, maybe your insurance company could chase theirs on your behalf?
Does anyone have any experience of getting insurance out of a company when one of their drivers has caused damage?
Yes, but everything was handled by solicitors. Happy to provide their details, if you want.
"Arnold Clark van"
Presumably hired, probably festivals related.
Presume you got number and driver details?
"He seemed very keen to settle privately"
Well if you can agree on a suitable number of £20 notes (apparently there some dodgy 50s going around).
Get forks/frame checked first + any kit/clothing damaged, add price of good 'recovery' meal for two (with babysitting costs).
If that all frightens the miscreant, phone AC.
Hope you're really OK(?)
Witnesses?
Witnessed by his colleague in the passenger seat, assuming he was paying attention. Might be some street CCTV on the NatWest. Passers-by stopped to check I was OK but didn't see the happening. I have a video clip of him admitting fault.
"I have a video clip of him admitting fault"
Useful!
Possibly not enough for 'careless driving' conviction.
"Knee/elbow slightly scraped" think police supposed to be notified/ought to take an interest(?) Perhaps your choice(?)
I'd like it to appear in their stats and I assume it would be useful to have an incident reference in case financial recovery gets sticky later.
@wingpig "I have a video clip of him admitting fault" - top notch. Good luck with compensation.
Definitely report it to 101 ASAP. Insurers will probably ask for a number anyway I imagine?
Would have thought you would be claiming off Arnold Clark's hire insurance, presuming you eschew hard-to-enforce private arrangements? Might actually work out OK, inconvenience apart, especially as AC/their insurers will have recourse against the driver for an excess etc.
@wingpig - provided both parties stopped at the scene and exchanged details you've complied with the requirements of a 'reportable accident'.
In your case you can retrospectively report the collision. It won't be investigated due to the described 'slight injury' (no disrespect - just Police terms) but it is recorded on systems for info.
I'd always advise to call the police at the time of the collision especially if there's the inference of an offence. You'll get a unique reference number and it will allow a decision to be taken on police attendance or not.
Personally (not official police line) I'd recommend using a specialist cycling solicitor to handle your claim. They're generally very thorough and will consider things you've not yet thought about. The minimum they will require is the registration of the offending vehicle to get the ball rolling quickly.
If you look back on Cycle Law Scotlands Facebook page they've got a post about this including a copy of the information slip the police give out which might be useful to all.
@ Dom D
"provided both parties stopped at the scene and exchanged details you've complied with the requirements of a 'reportable accident'."
Thanks for clarifying that.
Yeah (such as) Cycle Law good idea. CL has produced good outcomes for several people on here.
@wingpig, sorry to hear. You now need to go to Cycle Law. I recall multiple drivers keen to settle privately who them change their tune.
Called in to 101 and acquired my incident number.
The last time someone pushed me off (Dec 2013?) the attending police said that if I was happy with the perpetrator's offer to pay privately that that was fine with them. It got fiddly when the frame turned out to be bent - there's a whole thread about it somewhere. After the same incident Cycle Law Scotland thanked me for my enquiry but I was insufficiently injured to be taken on. The main learn from the previous incident is that the moment the driver starts not paying up immediately, head for the insurance.
I'll walk past at lunchtime to see if there's any CCTV not apparent on StreetView. There's a camera-bubble on the wall by the Natwest entrance.
After an incident earlier in the year, police advised me CEC only keep CCTV for a fortnight - maybe insist this is requested before its wiped?
Just had a poke for cameras - nothing on NatWest, maybe a couple on the Dome and a couple on poles looking the wrong way. In between dropping the bike off and checking for cameras I bumped into the perpetrator on the street. Then again, a couple of minutes later. Shortly after that a presumed colleague asked if I was looking for the guys from the van when I was looking at the side of the van to see if it had acquired any dents.
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