CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!

Today's rubbish driving...

(11337 posts)
  • Started 13 years ago by Stepdoh
  • Latest reply from chdot
  • This topic is sticky

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  1. Arellcat
    Moderator

    Well today's commute was no less exciting than yesterday's. First I met a large white Vauxhall Movano LWB van, *** 13F whose driver, approaching from my left, only bothered to stop when he was almost on top of the mini roundabout at Colinton Mains' Tesco. I had anticipated this and hauled on the brakes to stop be me being squished. He then had the temerity to gesture that it was my right of way! He was very conscientious when he overtook me a minute later, signalling right and pulling out wide.

    Then a bit futher down the road I caught up with a shiny black Renault Clio Dynamique, S*0* *XR, being driven by a lady who was more concerned with applying blusher and fiddling with her hair, than to bother indicating at junctions or driving in a straight line. She had her makeup bag on the passenger seat and dipped into it every time she stopped. I followed her for about two miles.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  2. earthowned
    Member

    The urge to overtake cyclists is so strong for some drivers that it overides both what the road signage and their own common sense is telling them. It seems to be some unnatural psychological compulsion that they have no control over. Must. Overtake. Cyclist.

    I was cycling along Links Gardens with my 2 year old in the co-pilot seat approaching one of those artificial pinch points built out into the road to slow down traffic. Obeying the 'Traffic coming other way has priority' sign I slowed down to let an oncoming car through. A silver astra behind saw this as a sign of weakness and pounced into the gap as the oncoming car was advancing. After a squealing of breaks and a split second mexican standoff the astra pushed its way through anyway. God knows what was going through the drivers mind, probably something like this:

    Hurry hurry hurry. Must overtake bike. Wait why big car in front? No space to fit. Sign says bad thing. Me make mistake. Feel embarrassed. Me go anyway.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  3. recombodna
    Member

    "Hurry hurry hurry. Must overtake bike. Wait why big car in front? No space to fit. Sign says bad thing. Me make mistake. Feel embarrassed. Me go anyway."

    Ha ha ha you've hit the nail right on the head there mate!!!!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  4. Snowy
    Member

    Cycling along Lochside Crescent this morning at 20mph, which also happens to be the speed limit. Moved into primary about 100 yards before the roundabout at which I am going to turn right...granted quite early to start positioning but I *was* going at the speed limit so didn't feel I was holding anyone up - so thankyou very much to the angry-looking woman in the silver vauxhaul who decided to blare her horn at me and overtake into the oncoming traffic at about 35mph (in a 20 zone)....only to immediately have to stop at the roundabout.
    ***I'M LATE, HOW DARE A CYCLIST GET IN MY WAY!!??***
    Sigh.

    Two dishonourable mentions to the knackered ancient red transit in Bruntsfield Place for failing to observe, well, pretty-much *anything* going on in the outside world; and to the woman on Whitehouse Loan who nearly ran over the lollipop lady but did have the grace to look mortified as she sped off. Missed by at least 6 inches, no need to apologise, right?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  5. kaputnik
    Moderator

    BMW 5 series with bumpers down to the ground making the not-allowed right turn from Slateford Road down Robertson Avenue, right infront of a Police Panda car that was directyl behind me. I looked around with a sort of "well then?" expression, but the occupants weren't paying attention.

    If you can break the law infront of the law, and get away with it, when can't you break it?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  6. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Carlton Reid (@carltonreid)
    06/10/2012 17:03
    Got a 'punishment tap' from Boy Racer in a Fiat Punto today, rammed me from behind. Police to charge him with *at least* careless driving.

    Carlton Reid (@carltonreid)
    06/10/2012 17:04
    I was thrown from bike, bit injured but not seriously. Guy in car in front saw it all, stopped & will be a witness.

    "

    Posted 12 years ago #

  7. chdot
    Admin

    Update -

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/carltonreid/8059771263

    Posted 12 years ago #

  8. Its_Me_Knees
    Member

    Silver Octavia passed me on the bridge over the water that is part of Sandport Place in Leith, and then threw a left turn onto Shore...past a pair of gleaming No Entry signs *and* (unusually) clear road markings *and* a sign saying 'except buses and cycles'... <sighs>

    Posted 12 years ago #

  9. SRD
    Moderator

    Very sorry to report that the student who was hit by car in Nicholson square last week didn't make it. Prayers today at the mosque at 3.45. 1.30pm

    Posted 12 years ago #

  10. Lezzles
    Member

    Just to say - the taxi driver I got suspended for bad driving has replied to the allegations. Unsurprisingly his memory of events is entirely different to mine. I suppose when you are at risk of losing your livelihood the best defence you have is lying. Its a classic case of he says/she says so I very much doubt much will come of this.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  11. Baldcyclist
    Member

    3 minor instances today, which is more than I usually see in a fortnight.
    2 very poor 'I must get past you at all costs', one undertake, one overtake, and a taxi driver that wanted to discuss why "I was using the whole greenway"?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  12. 559
    Member

    Not really driving, but a driver.
    Driving up Lauriston Farm Road last night, driver of parked white van appears out from the front of the van, just as Iam driving past.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  13. Kirst
    Member

    Heading south on Duddingston Park South approaching the mini-roundabout, check to see what the traffic coming the other way is doing. Black car coming towards the roundabout has right indicator on and I know I don't have time to get on the roundabout before him, so I slow and stop at the white line to wait for him to pass. Indicator then goes off and car goes straight on - no need for me to have stopped. In the meantime however, the car behind me has pulled up alongside me and moves off in front of me rather than letting me go. *rolls eyes*

    Posted 12 years ago #

  14. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Chap near my house who decided the best place to overtake was as I was going past a parked car, with a car coming the other way, and speed cushions ahead that he wanted to swerve left to go over with the middle of his car.

    I think he was upset at my having taken primary from some lights (mainly because ahead was a road narrowing for the lights on the other side, then 25 yards or so further on the parked cars, one of which had just stopped to decant children for the school meaning someone could get out at any point).

    He also forced the car coming the other way to brake (didn't see till checking the video how close they actually came), and then when I gave my best Gallic shrug in the mirrors (no shouting, no obscene gestures, just exasperation) the brake lights come on and he waves something back at me.

    Must have cost him all of ten seconds.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  15. earthowned
    Member

    This morning I was overtaken by a red honda civic who then immediately turned left. They knew they were going to do it beforehand as they overtook with their left turn indicators on. Got it all on camera so will upload to youtube for your viewing delight later.

    But, the question I have is where did they think I was going to go?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  16. chdot
    Admin

    You're using that word "think" again...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  17. chdot
    Admin

    Though they probably 'think' you'll brake to save the hassle of running into them.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  18. Min
    Member

    Well you were going to have to go and slam your brakes on otherwise you would have caused a nasty accident.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  19. Min
    Member

    Great minds think alike..

    Posted 12 years ago #

  20. chdot
    Admin

    "Great minds think alike.."

    There's an alternative version of that.

    But obviously (in our case) that would be WRONG...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  21. Min
    Member

    Obviously! :-)

    Posted 12 years ago #

  22. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Twice in the past two days I've been on that little road linking Holyrood Palace/Parliament with the road through the Park. The one with the two 90 degree bends one after the other, with a bus sotp on the second one. Twice in the past two days someone has overtaken me just before the first 90 degree bend. Twice I've then sat on their bumper because I can go round corners like that much much quicker than them. Twice they were BMWs.

    Once... The driver turned left at the roundabout to go up the Royal Mile befoire realising he'd got that wrong and had to U-turn in front of me. That one was this morning, might put it online.

    Oh, and twice, past St Margaret's Loch, a gazillion cars going past in clear floutation of the 20mph speed limit. Is it ever enforced? Is it a private road and therefore not police-enforceable and merely advisory?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  23. SRD
    Moderator

    on the BMW thing, I've been amused to note that the cars which I encounter attempting to make 3 point turns at the end of Montpelier are all either BMWs or Rangerovers. Mostly BMWs though. (maybe we should resurrect the old Dear Mr BMW driver thread)

    Posted 12 years ago #

  24. beerdrinker77
    Member

    Kirst wrote:
    "Black car coming towards the roundabout has right indicator on and I know I don't have time to get on the roundabout before him, so I slow and stop at the white line to wait for him to pass. Indicator then goes off and car goes straight on - no need for me to have stopped
    "

    Kirst, you did the right thing stopping at the roundabout, even if indicators are on that should never be used to make your judgement - you'd have been in the wrong to pull out even if he'd had left indicator but was going to turn right.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  25. Min
    Member

    Why is that? Roundabouts would never work if no-one could ever go when there is another vehicle on it.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  26. steveo
    Member

    Vehicles on the roundabout have priority and most people can't use indicators properly. So unless the vehicle has cleared your entrance or your sure you can get past the other vehicles exit you should stop and wait for it to clear.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  27. EddieD
    Member

    Dalry Road this morning, near the Murieston Crescent intersection, about 8:10 - queues starting to build up, a guy, heading west, hangs back to create a space, and then tries to fling his car round in a U-turn, very nearly collecting a lass cycling east. He then stalled, nicely blocking both lanes. Ho hum.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  28. minus six
    Member

    ..clear floutation of the 20mph speed limit. Is it ever enforced?

    I've reached a personal mental health tipping point, where I must conclude that Official Policy for the entire UK Road Network is that all speed limits are merely advisory.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  29. chdot
    Admin

    "
    The Highway Code (@HighwayCodeGB)

    11/10/2012 10:50
    When taking 1st exit to left on roundabout, unless signs show otherwise, signal left and approach in left-hand lane #HighwayCode rule 186

    "

    Posted 12 years ago #

  30. steveo
    Member

    Does the @HighwayCodeGB account monitor us? It seems to tweet a rule pertinent to our discussion virtual every day!

    Its not just the council watching us... the man is watching us

    Posted 12 years ago #

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