A motor-scooter/moped sort of thing was driven an inch from my right elbow as it overtook whilst I was crossing the Richmond junction on Nicolson Street yesterday evening. I don't know if my complaints got through their hat but they at least looked behind them and saw me approaching before trying to filter through to the ASL at Abbeymount.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
Today's rubbish driving...
(11337 posts)- Started 13 years ago by Stepdoh
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Posted 7 years ago #
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I was overtaken not overly close and fast, but closer (a metre or so) and faster (closer to 30 mph than 20) than I would have liked especially given that nothing was coming in the other direction, when heading west on Gilmore Place this morning by the driver of a silver estate. In case the driver looked in his mirrors and for the benefit of anyone behind (nobody was actually there), I gesticulated that I would have preferred to have been given more space. I saw the car turn right onto Lower Gilmore Place and the driver had parked to the left of the road and was exiting the vehicle as I passed so I politely asked/shouted that he please give a bit more space when passing. All I heard in response was a slightly surprised and sheepish 'sorry' so hopefully he will bear that in mind, at least for the rest of the morning.
Posted 7 years ago # -
After a close overtake by a driver rushing towards the queue at the east end of Hawkhill Avenue, I made the usual leave-more-space gestures at their wind mirror, which appeaed to elicit a beep from behind. As I turned down onto the squiggle down to the bike path I caught sight of the passenger of the following car glaring at me as they started to brake when they realised that the queue wasn't going to disappear before their arrival.
Posted 7 years ago # -
As I filtered in front down the Harrison Rd bridge to turn right into Polwarth Terrace I figured I was in for a sticky situation, with the two cards behind me signalling right, the car going in the other opposite direction signalling left, the two behind it signalling right and those behind them going straight ahead (the trouble at that junction is that the road is wide enough for anyone going straight on from Gillsland Rd to undertake right-turners at speed, which they often do, so it's risky to turn right while the traffic going the other way turns the other way). Luckily I was spared my doubts when it turned out the left-turning driver was so engrossed in the morning reverie (aka the phone) that I had very comfortably cleared the right turn before hearing a second beep a few seconds after I'd turned. At least ten seconds they'd been standing still on the green.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Cycling from Dalry Road to make the right turn at Haymarket towards the City Centre: I'm in the ASL in the left hand lane and a bus arrives behind me. I make big right turn signals. When the lights change, I head off slowly, signalling right until I get to the tram tracks where I slow down even more and get both hands onto the handlebars. I then turn left in order to cross the tram tracks at as straight an angle as possible. Then I start signalling right again and make my right turn.
The bus driver behind decides to sound his horn at me. Now I get that this looks like a weird manoeuvre but it is what the council tell us to do. And yes Mr Bus Driver I knew you were there and hooting at me will not make me disappear or speed up. Thank you.
(I did note the registration number and then forgot it again.)
Posted 7 years ago # -
@fimm - I sympathise. I've had someone turn down Grosvenor Street across me as I did that awkward left jink across the tracks. And the advisory signs are for cyclists to take care - no message to drivers not to overtake cyclists of course - it's all on the cyclist...
Posted 7 years ago # -
Would a painted bike lane along the best course for cyclists help drivers understand what cyclists are doing?
Posted 7 years ago # -
@fimm
If you know the place and time Lothian Buses will find the driver. Using the horn as a weapon while a cyclist crosses that minefield should result in disciplinary proceedings.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Can I nominate the two German motorcyclists who rode down the pedestrianised section of Castle Street, across the pavement on to Princes Street and then turned left along Princes Street eastbound. Every single part of that manoeuvre was illegal. And they couldn't claim that they didn't understand the road signs, because they use the same signs we do. (Although it's true that there are no signs for traffic joining Princes Street from Castle Street, that's probably because simply being in that location in or on a vehicle is illegal.)
Posted 7 years ago # -
1) Shocking head on pass on Craiglockhart Rd just before Craiglockhart Ave with a non Edinburgh private hire vehicle that I imagine was on a school run. IT had a small red plate "178" at the front which I didn't recognise. I'm now wondering if it's a military transport as it's near the barracks.
It came head on up the road between two parked cars in the middle of the road. Myself and another rider had both already entered the narrow channel between the two parked cars coming down hill and had to squeeze right over to the left to avoid being hit. Not nice2) Motorcyclists - a group of about 10 passed myself and a buddy riding down the A83 on the west side of Loch Fyne towards LochGilphead. This was pretty dissapointing. I was riding in primary and they all passed between me and the white line. Bearing in mind they all had big wide panniers and were very loud this was very disconcerting. I got a bit annoyed.
3) Literally everyone who passed us in the rain on the A82 between Corran and Fort William on sunday morning. Close passes, passes with oncoming vehicles, blind bends and hill overtakes, Following the car infront when they couldn't see anything. Just mind boggling. In incredibly wet conditions too. Utterly crazy.
Posted 7 years ago # -
@ARobComp, that bit of road from Corran to FW is horrendous. I rode up it earlier this year and: NOPE. Never again. It was terrifying. The moment something a bit like a pavement appeared to my left I was right up on it with huge relief.
Posted 7 years ago # -
The closest close pass I have experienced.... was this eve (approx 6.35pm) heading along West Coates towards Roseburn.
There were two transit vans with hazzards on parked in the "bus lane" so I was cycling about 30cm to RHS of the wide white line dividing the two lanes. Several cars passed giving plenty of space - it is wide road, and little traffic coming the other way - but then one gave me what felt like about 10cm of clearance. So close it took my breath away.
Anyway I soon caught up with him as he was about the 6th or 7th car waiting in line for the lights at Roseburn. So it was not as if I had impeded him in any way.
Registration was ?G 12 PLJ (I think it was FG, or PG, or SG.... FG 12 PLJ, but the first letter vanished from my brain)
I chapped on his passenger window. (I've never done this before).
He buzzed the window down while taking his ear buds out of his ears. (Listening to music or on phone, or ... I don't know).
"Is everything all right?" asked the young(ish) male driver sweetly.
I suggested not given how close he'd driven, and it was dangerous.
He seemed
(a) unaware that he'd done this, or
(b) that is might be dangerous, and/or
(c) both.He apologised.
No idea whether this incident will have any impact, but on this driver in longer term, but let's hope so.
It was pretty windy out this evening so both I and the driver were lucky not to come off any worse.
Posted 7 years ago # -
@Jules878 - sounds utterly horrific, hope you're all right.
Here are the makes and models of all cars with license plates *G12 PLJ, in case that's useful for you:
FG12 PLJ - black Ford Focus
HG12 PLJ - white Volkswagen Tiguan
LG12 PLJ - white Toyota Aygo
SG12 PLJ - grey Vauxhall Insignia
WG12 PLJ - white Kia Sportage
YG12 PLJ - silver Vauxhall MovanoPosted 7 years ago # -
@Frenchy Thanks. It was dark car. I'm a bit of a numpty when comes to makes, but I know it wasn't a Focus... It was very sleek looking vehicle. Just googled Vauxhall Insignia and I reckon that's the one, so SG 12 PLJ.
But as I understand from close pass thread nothing can be done without any video evidence.
It was clear driver had either no idea he'd done it, or perhaps no idea it was dangerous. I'm confident it wasn't malicious 'anti cyclist' action, but it was very thoughtless.
Time to move on...
Posted 7 years ago # -
Good work @Frenchy! Have you written a script to do that or was it by hand?
Posted 7 years ago # -
Written script? Of the number plate. No. I was in my head. Added it to Strava at end of journey.
Confident 're PLJ... Used to drink PLJ as a child so that easily stuck in my mind! Confident about the
?G 12 PLJ
Just 'lost' first letter from brain by end of journey.
Met off duty police man shortly after reaching destination and he probably regrets saying "Hi, how are you?" because i had a little rant. Not his fault, and he was in leisure time. I feel guilty about that now.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Private cab pulled the classic u-turn because nothing's coming apart from that bicycle on Minto Street then stopped so I had the ideal opportunity for the full Gembotronic eighteenth-century level of politeness chat. 'If I ever incommode you on the road again I can only apologise. Let me know your intentions in advance and I shall endeavour to clear the way for your magnificent vehicle etc etc.'
Guy was of Asian heritage, not the best English, utterly baffled.
Posted 7 years ago # -
@algo - calling it a "script" is perhaps being generous, but aye:
for a in A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
do
firefox "https://cazana.com/uk/plate/"$a"G12PLJ"
doneThis opens a tab in firefox for each letter.
Posted 7 years ago # -
@frenchy what language is that?
Posted 7 years ago # -
Sorry to hear that jules.
SG is a Glasgow plate designation - so most likely.
(Anything with S in it is usually Scottish registered, the others not)
If they had ear-buds in, most likely they were fiddling with their phone when they passed you - probably didn't "see" you at all i.e. wasn't looking.
Posted 7 years ago # -
@jules878 - the script comment was aimed at Frenchy. Sorry to hear about your incident - sounds horrible.
@fimm - looks like bash script to me
Posted 7 years ago # -
Yes, bash.
Posted 7 years ago # -
@algo... Realised that belatedly. Doh!
Posted 7 years ago # -
Taxi this morning taking a right on to Craigleith Rd totalling ignoring that I was coming down it at approx. 25 mph. He had a passenger so I'm hoping he/she reports him as I didn't get his number.
Posted 7 years ago # -
The driver and passengers of a small white car reg SM15 GNU about 17.45 this evening - overtook on the top section of Easter Rd in order to arrive at the next set of red lights a second sooner, passed the time waiting for the lights to change by making strange dog and cat noises, pushed past at junction. They then followed another cyclist very close down Easter Rd, back seat passenger shouting 'get the F out of the way'. I was concerned enough to get the reg number before I turned off. If that was anyone on here and you had any more trouble from them and are considering reporting it, give me a shout.
Posted 7 years ago # -
"
British drivers would rather break the law than cede control of their car to autonomous systems, according to a new survey.
A quarter of motorists questioned by tyre manufacturer Continental said that they did not want future car technology to prevent them from actions such as speeding or illegally using a phone.
"
Posted 7 years ago # -
A long wheelbase Transit branded as Forfar Removals ran a red light on a Pelican crossing on Clerk Street, scattering the pedestrians on the crossing.
I caught up with him later and gave him The Look. Wound his window down and apologised to me. He needed to get out and apologise to the people who must have had heart attacks.
Posted 7 years ago # -
A water deliver van (Aqua Aid, I think) this morning which was stuck in the usual queue of eastbound just before Roseburn this morning but wanted to deliver to "Murrayburgh House" (the old Kwik Fit HQ) on the opposite side of the road, so pulled out of the eastbound queue, crossed onto the westbound bus lane and drove a good 100m down the wrong side of the road before mounting the pavement and continuing his journey. Being westbound in the bus lane myself at this point, I pretty much had to come to a stop to allow him to complete his manoeuvre.
Posted 7 years ago # -
The chavved up Mazda (ST56 OXU) who decided to do a U-turn into my path opposite Morrisons on Portobello Road.
Either he didn't see me, he saw me and seriously misjudged my speed or just didn't give a toss.
Had to break so hard that my read wheel left the ground to avoid him.
The gold faux-BBSes aren't fooling anyone either- it's a granny spec Mazda 3 and it isn't (and never will be) a Civic Type RPosted 7 years ago # -
CHAPS (Central Heating And Plumbing Specialists) van fishtailing at speed round the inside of the corner from Princes Street to North Charlotte Street just now. Didn't get the registration to report it as I was disheartened by the two first names next to mobile phone numbers on the back, suggesting it was perhaps an owner/operator driving. If anyone sees it, record the registration and I'll 101 it in case they do anything else stupid later.
Posted 7 years ago #
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