Trafalgar Tours seem terrible - "nothing to do with us, it's a subcontractor" attitude.
Feel free to prove to them that their subcontractor behaviour does indeed impact their reputation in the internet age...
Robert
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
Today's rubbish driving...
(11335 posts)- Started 13 years ago by Stepdoh
- Latest reply from acsimpson
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Posted 7 years ago #
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Trafalgar Tours seem terrible - "nothing to do with us, it's a subcontractor" attitude
Someone needs to point out to them that you can't outsource responsibility. Also, a wee word about reputational damage might not go amiss.
With that sort of attitude I would very much doubt that they have an effective risk management function, which is a legal requirement.
Posted 7 years ago # -
I stopped for the zebra crossing where Blacket Avenue crosses Minto Street. Slightly queasy second or two wondering which lane the car transporter behind me was in as it gunned its motor to blast through on red. I caught it up a minute later of course.
Posted 7 years ago # -
The brae at the south end of Mayfield Road, on approach to King's Buildings continues to be unpleasant.
It's one of those spots where I just can't seem to find a good road position. Too far left, and you get close passes. Too far right and you get tailgated (or close passes when there's no oncoming traffic). I can't find a middle ground - the two possibilities seem to overlap.
This morning a driver passed fairly close and waved that I should be in the bike lane. I wasn't in the bike lane as I was overtaking another cyclist. Filtered up to the driver's window at the red light, asked if there was a problem. Firmly but politely (well, I didn't swear) corrected him when he told me I should be in the bike lane.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Just witnessed a terrible but of driving. Van coming from Dewar Place was tailgating a cyclist heading over to Gardners Crescent then forced her to stop at the side as he went past. I don't know whether it being an Evans van made it worse or not.
Posted 7 years ago # -
@Frenchy
Kirk Brae or Liberton Brae?
I prefer Liberton Brae because you have the bus lane which gives everyone a bit more space. At least in principle, until the car drivers start hurling their cars into it to join the back of the queue that's in the last 100-200 metres of the bus lane at busy times.
Same going uphill, bit more space on Liberton Brae.
Neither are what I would call a nice route though.
Posted 7 years ago # -
I'm meaning the bit of Mayfield Road between the Braidburn Inn and the first entrance to King's Buildings.
I prefer Kirk Brae on the way down the hill. I don't like the bend in Liberton Brae, there's always some loose crap in the bus lane and I'm too thrawn to slow down for it. I find the gradient on both is enough to let me keep up with traffic anyway, so taking the lane doesn't (normally) pose any problems.
Posted 7 years ago # -
yes, the off camber gritty bus lane at the top is a bit exciting. I know what you mean about that first bit of mayfield road. The worst spot for me is the traffic island right opposite the turning (which I take) into KB - a pinch point just as you are cycle one-armed so as to indicate.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Ah, hello fellow Gate 4 user! I'm usually just glad to get back into the cycle lane after the parked cars by that point.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Haymarket roadworks have opened up a new spot for rubbish driving. The lanes go from two to one on West Coates at the turn up to Magdala. Perfect opportunity for drivers to try to squeeze you out in an effort to save a second before joining the massive queue. This morning's effort brought to you by a stereotypical BMW driver. There may have been adrenaline induced swearing.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Running into work this morning and was about to cross on Belford road and realised a woman in a black softtop bmw was texting as she rolled forward towards me. 2 cars behind there was a police car with 3 officers in it . I gesticulated that the driver was txting and they gave me the thumbs up .... as they moved slowly past iiindicated i'd like to speak with them and asked them to roll down their window ..they didnt ...i asked again ...they turned away .... i jogged along beside them and when they came to a stop they relented and deigned to speak to me. I gave the registration and asked them if they could stop her, their response 'we'll see what we can do' ... they stayed in the car rolled past her on palmerston place and did absolutley f*** all. This is why i cant be bothered reporting incidents to the police anymore
Posted 7 years ago # -
Cops removing wreckage from the Craigmillar Park/Lady Road Junction. Two cars totaled in a 30 zone, nobody hurt.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Ragingbike - I would put in a complaint questioning their will to uphold the law. Might ruffle a few feathers.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Not trying to police bash but...last night, well after dark, a police BMW X5 managed to travel at least a kilometre along Oxgangs Road North and Colinton Road with only front daytime running lights (i.e. no lights at the rear).
Since the dashboard would have been dark and instrumentation invisible, I'm not quite sure how the driver was monitoring his speed.Posted 7 years ago # -
@Luath - what year plate was it? Rough time? Sounds like firearms. If they weren’t too busy eating crayons the new zenon daytime running lights are extremely bright and I’ve seen similar incidents with drivers running them unaware. The dash’s are lit at all times so there’s no traditional giveaway.
I’ll make them aware of it. Thanks.
@Ragingbike - whilst I don’t know the full circumstances from my experience given that there was 3 in a car they were very likely committed to an operation. It’s hard enough getting two so three would not be ‘routine’ patrol. I appreciate it is very frustrating - I feel the same.
Posted 7 years ago # -
@Dom thanks! :-)
Posted 7 years ago # -
Point of interest? Are daylight running lights treated differently from side lights? As I understand it side lights are the legal minimum? (max needed in a city imo)
edit: Looked it up, DLR lights aren't sufficent as they don't have a rear DLR light.
Posted 7 years ago # -
[side lights] max needed in a city imo
Agreed.
How can we start a trend to get urban drivers to drive around with side-lights only at night?
Posted 7 years ago # -
@steveo: <pedant mode>The abbreviation for daylight running lights is DRLs. The DLR is a mass transit system in east London.</pedant mode>
@nedd1e_h: How can we start a trend to get urban drivers to drive around with side-lights only at night?
You mean, get the ones who drive around on side lights and fog lights to turn their fog lights off when visibility is not seriously reduced? (Reference Highway Code rules 236 & 226, and the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 sections 25 & 27.)
Posted 7 years ago # -
I'd have thought neddie_h was referencing the side lights/headlight conundrum.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Here's one for you ...what do you say or do in this situation ....for once i was just stunned into silence
preamble
So the lorry merging in to my lane means i need to slow down and let him in. No problem with that but as his window is open I do stop to ask him really nicely if he really needed to pass me at that point and after a polite exchange he feels he was justified as i was coming into his lane ... fair enough as he reads it...all fairly amicable... I turn the corner and then move out to turn right in my lane ... a car decides to overtake on my side of the road ...the lorry who has also turned comes round my inside ...only possible as ive moved to the right and then he and the car driver start abusing me.... the driver is clearly overtaking on my side of the road the lorry has undertaken me with not a whole lot of room . The car driver says im a 'tosser' and 'whats he on' ...and then scrapes past me ...the lorry driver saying 'I'm at it again' '... i haven''t sworn at anyone, i've obeyed the rules of the road, i've been polite and i get all the abuse ...The irony of the lorry driver passing me on the inside because I've moved right seems lost on him ....
Posted 7 years ago # -
Standard British respect for rules seems to have gone by the board this last year. I can feel it myself - an impulse to just do stuff I know I'll get away with.
That right turner's just through the looking glass.
Posted 7 years ago # -
That’s not a “lorry” it’s a very long one that needs reporting for a dangerous overtake.
Part 2 not clear if car IS in wrong lane - but you were there!
Posted 7 years ago # -
Ragingbike - my view on it is
1) dangerous overtake my the lorry and ridiculous attitude from him
2) the woman was in your lane - but you're on a bike and how dare you be on the road!
3) lorry driver being a dick again but looks like there was enough room (if that woman wasn't being a numpty) and I am presuming you were going right by your road positionSadly none of it surprises me as the attitude towards cyclists is a disgrace these days.
Posted 7 years ago # -
@chdot re lane yes she was, i know the junction well, been passing it on foot, by car and by bike for 20+ years . The road narrows and then widens again for the lights, loads of drivers 'nip' round on the other side of the road...and you can see when she exits she knows full well she's in the wrong lane...and when cars are coming up to turn right they seldom do it.
Posted 7 years ago # -
@Dom D Just checked the video and the daytime running lights are indeed extremely bright! Didn't get close enough to get a registration plate but it was about 1850 on Tuesday evening. It wasn't a big deal at all really, I just posted to highlight that even the best of us can forget to switch our lights on, especially if the dash is permanently lit.
Posted 7 years ago # -
@Luath - thanks. I passed it on yesterday. There’s a couple of new 17 plates with the xenon headlights so they’ll pass it on to the other teams as well. Funnily enough I saw a Ford Focus yesterday evening doing exactly the same thing.
Posted 7 years ago # -
The driver of the 45 bus that was arriving at Heriot-Watt just now, who either failed to anticipate that I might be planning on crossing the zebra crossing that I was all but starting to cross or who simply didn't care. A quick shoulder check and an abrupt halt prevented me from being taken out. I will be reporting this incident shortly...
Posted 7 years ago # -
'I wasn't on the bus but was very nearly underneath it. Despite the fact that Heriot-Watt has a 20 mph speed limit and I was about to step out onto the zebra crossing while walking away from the approaching bus, the driver of the no. 45, that was on Boundary Road East approaching the right turn onto The Avenue at 13:30, either failed to anticipate my plans to cross the road at the zebra crossing or chose to keep going over the crossing before I had the opportunity to step out. It was only the fact that I quickly checked over my shoulder and was able to come to an abrupt halt that prevented me from being hit as the bus passed by at speed within perhaps a foot of where I was standing. A less mobile pedestrain may not have been able to react. This was clearly shockingly poor driving. Despite being a regular cyclist and pedestrian in the city centre, this is by far the scariest situation I have found myself in with regards a Lothian Bus.'
Posted 7 years ago #
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