CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!

Today's rubbish driving...

(11330 posts)
  • Started 13 years ago by Stepdoh
  • Latest reply from fergus
  • This topic is sticky

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  1. Snowy
    Member

    Roads were definitely a lot busier today, including a southbound queue on GSR stretching north of the M8 bridge, which couldn't have been much fun to sit in but since probably 95% of them were rat-running, sympathy was limited.

    On an 'average dry morning' I generally count about 45 bikes passing me on the canal. Today it was 35 in the pouring rain.

    During the school holidays it would be down around 20 on a wet day but as high as 50 on a sunny day. Not very scientific but maybe people have more wiggle room in their transport choice during the holidays.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  2. paulmilne
    Member

    I don't know, I tend to slow down and be more cautious myself.

    Perhaps the increased swooshing of tires on wet streets makes it seem as if the cars are going faster?

    Posted 6 years ago #

  3. Frenchy
    Member

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-45396912

    "The driver of a red Volkswagen was recorded travelling at 141mph on the eastbound side of the A92 near Cowdenbeath at 09:10 on Sunday."

    Posted 6 years ago #

  4. mgj
    Member

    My least favourite section of road again, between the roundabout at Stenhouse Cross and the offroad section at Saughton next to the trams. There are three pedestrian crossing points within 100 yards, all with keep left signs on them. The first two are narrow, the third less so. The first is in the 20 mph zone, the others bizarrely are not (just because vulnerable road users need help crossing a wide road, why would you slow traffic for some of them?). These crossings need a 'No Overtaking' sign. I'm constantly cut up at them; have started to take a primary through all three, but even that is not enought for some drivers who want to get to the inevitably red lights ahead a second earlier. This morning, a Silver Polo, driven by some people who could do with getting some exercise, tried to intimidate me off the road with loud revving just behind my back wheel all the way through the third one, followed by a close punishment pass. I reached Saughton House before they did.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  5. Snowy
    Member

    Horrible bit of road with no design thought whatsoever. I'm still baffled as to how cyclists are supposed to safely reach the cycle path beside the tram when heading west.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  6. mgj
    Member

    Snowy, I think the intention is that you stop on the left hand side of the road and use the crossing, which has a cycle marking as well as pedestrian, but that puts you in a turn left lane with nowhere to go. I tend to turn right at the crossing from the middle of the road if it is clear or on pedestrian, although I think that may put me on the path 20 yards before it starts.

    Other than the point to rejoin the road, going the other way is much better.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  7. Arellcat
    Moderator

    @Snowy, most people I see heading west pretend to turn right into Stenhouse Avenue West, and ride along the footway and past the bus stop, in order to reach the off-road path.

    The official route is the toucan crossing at Saughton Mains Street, but unless the adjacent footways are designated core paths I can't see a wholly legal way of getting to the toucan without dismounting!

    Posted 6 years ago #

  8. steveo
    Member

    I tend to avoid it all together and come West along Stenhouse Ave W then ride along *ahem* the footpath till I join the cycle path.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  9. mgj
    Member

    At the time I am travelling west there are primary school pupils on the pavements. I would consider myself the lowest of the low if I put my safety or convenience above theirs by cycling on the footway. And I'm coming from Chesser, so Stenhouse Ave West isnt an option.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  10. davey2wheels
    Member

    Black Mini Cooper YS56 EPE
    I have no idea what this driver was thinking, attempting to overtake when turning into Fountainbridge. She did back off and eventually made a wide pass, but refused to make eye contact when I looked back to see where the car was after I had made the turn.

    [+] Embed the video | Video DownloadGet the Video Widget

    Posted 6 years ago #

  11. amir
    Member

    It's that time of year when vehicles windows get covered with dew/ice but some drivers aren't alert enough (okay let's be frank, are too stupid) to bother clearing them before starting off. I had a near one when travelling south on S Clerk St and a motorist zoomed out from a side road with no side visibility at all.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  12. ejstubbs
    Member

    @davey2wheels: She did back off and eventually made a wide pass

    An illegal wide pass: overtaking the moving vehicle nearest a pedestrian crossing (Highway Code Rule 191, in particular the various regulations it references).

    Posted 6 years ago #

  13. Murun Buchstansangur
    Member

    @ejstubbs I'm afraid it's only specifically illegal for a motor vehicle to pass another motor vehicle in zigzags (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1997/2400/regulation/24/made and http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1997/2400/regulation/20/made).

    Still an unwise, possibly actionable manoeuvre though and one wonders what the Mini driver's plan was if the zebra lights changed?

    Posted 6 years ago #

  14. miak
    Member

    also looked well over 20mph when she sped away

    Posted 6 years ago #

  15. ejstubbs
    Member

    @Murun Buchstansangar: I'm afraid it's only specifically illegal for a motor vehicle to pass another motor vehicle in zigzags

    Thanks for raising this. Looking at the regulation you linked to, it seems it's even more complicated than that. Paragraph (1)(a) does indeed state that It's illegal to pass "any other motor vehicle proceeding in the same direction". However, paragraph (1)(b) states that it's illegal to pass "a vehicle which is stationary for the purpose of complying with regulation 23, 25 or 26 [i.e. stopped at a red crossing light, or giving priority to pedestrians at a zebra or pelican crossing]". The word "motor" does not appear in paragraph (1)(b), so it would be illegal to pass a bicycle in those circumstances (for fairly obvious reasons, it has to be said).

    I did rather suspect that the Highway Code might have over-simplified things.

    Your link for section 20 doesn't seem to work, for some reason. Let's try this: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1997/2400/regulation/20/made

    @Ragingbike: looked well over 20mph when she speeded [sic] away

    Very true. Did mean to mention that as well but forgot it in all the excitement...

    Posted 6 years ago #

  16. miak
    Member

    @ejstubbs the use of 'speeded' was me using a 'family' expression (once used by a child) without thinking about it ....but on reflection realised what i had done and changed it ... so please for my dignity please please correct it for me on your post ....

    Posted 6 years ago #

  17. slowcoach
    Member

    @Murun Buchstansangar and @ejstubbs - the 1997 Zebra etc regs were revoked by the 2016 TSRGD, which have since been amended in 2018 in Scotland). However, apart from a different name, this doesn't seem to have changed much re zebra rules as far as I've seen.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  18. wingpig
    Member

    Motor bicycle on the Restalrig path around Lochend/Restalrig roads. Going at a fair pace but the driver was wearing a hat so the police won't be interested.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  19. ejstubbs
    Member

    @Ragingbike: Sorry, didn't see your post until just now and it's way too late to go back and edit mine (by which I mean the forum software won't let me).

    Nothing wrong with family joke words and catchphrases IMO. I doubt there exists a family that doesn't have at least one or two such, which will almost inevitably accidentally slip in to conversation with parties unaware of their origin on the odd occasion.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  20. Snowy
    Member

    Dirt bike doing about 45mph down my 20mph street, no reg plate, but I did manage a smile when he hit the hard-to-see speed cushion and got some clearly unexpected hang time.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  21. piosad
    Member

    I think I annoyed the driver of a blue car by repeatedly ending up in front of them at Fountainbridge westbound at home time, so they did a very aggressive overtake at Kwik Fit only to park in front of the Sainsbury's, forcing me to brake while I waited for the possibility to pull out. Not a real left hook but pointlessly nasty/spiteful.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  22. Arellcat
    Moderator

    @Snowy, it might even have been one of the two riders who overtook me going up Gilmerton Road this afternoon. They were somewhat agog as they stared at the red torpedo, and they promptly both pulled wheelies and accelerated out of sight up the hill. No reg plates, no lights, no business being on the carriageway. One was a white Husqvarna, the other was an orange bike with a worn out rear tyre. Shame in a way, because the Husky rider was actually really good at wheelies. I'm assuming they were heading for the former coal store of Monktonhall colliery, as that seems a popular place to practice mad dirt bike skillz.

    Today's rubbish driving was later brought to you by the driver of SD54ODH who had to slam on the brakes when he realised at the last moment that his assumed free and easy way onto the Drum roundabout was in fact already occupied by someone circulating and signalling right.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  23. Rosie
    Member

    Large brown van does a U turn in front of me, forcing me to jam on the brakes. Slight karma when it stalls.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  24. miak
    Member

    So i filmed a driver (stationary) at the lights this morning both hands off the wheel busy texting .. phone on the passenger seat side. I came in front of him where there was space for a small car ... and got his attention.. He hadn't seen i was there. Car emblazoned with 'Scottish Cycling' If the people who are meant to represent us still text while driving there is no f*****g hope...

    Posted 6 years ago #

  25. miak
    Member

    @ejstubbs Thanks for trying .... no worries, I should think before I press send :-)

    Posted 6 years ago #

  26. HankChief
    Member

    Following the lead from @ejstubbs I wrote to dvsa about the driving instructor driving/parking on the pavement.

    Have to admit to being disappointed by the response.

    " Thank you for your email of 26 August about the problems you have had with an approved driving instructor (ADI).

    The ADI Registrar’s role is to ensure that the standard of instruction provided by ADIs is satisfactory, and the instructor is a ‘fit and proper’ person to remain on the Register.

    The circumstances that you outline in your complaint are such that the ADI Registrar cannot get involved on this particular occasion.

    I should point out that being an ADI is a notifiable occupation so, if you were to report this incident to the Police and the individual was charged, the Registrar would be made aware and could take appropriate action.

    Alternatively, you could seek advice from your local the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline who can be reached on 03454 04 05 06 about the best way to proceed. Citizens Advice will advise you on your rights and what further action you should take.

    If they believe the matter needs investigating they will refer the matter to the relevant Trading Standards authority. If the outcome of such action is successful, I should be grateful if you could notify me."

    Posted 6 years ago #

  27. Snowy
    Member

    Interestingly with regard to DVSA enforcing ADIs being 'fit and proper persons' and that their sources of information include 'complaints made to DVSA by public'.

    They similarly require ADIs to 'show a high regard for all aspects of road safety'. My memory's not what it was but I'm pretty sure that driving on the pavement was frowned upon by the police examiner during my advanced driving test. Maybe Instructors do it more safely :-)

    Agreed the response is disappointing but I do get the impression it has been noted?

    Posted 6 years ago #

  28. Arellcat
    Moderator

    Barrelling down the A702 over the bypass this morning and, as Cyclo Math correctly predicted, just as I approached the westbound off-slip, the driver of S19DRX was hidden behind a nearer car also leaving the off-slip. The driver didn't even seem to slow down, blithely assuming the way into the northern roundabout was clear.

    Fortunately it was, but only because I was half a second back from the potential incident. I did have to slam on the anchors though, and skidded both front wheels.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  29. LaidBack
    Member

    Skidded front wheels on velo you mean? That takes some doing on drums.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  30. Arellcat
    Moderator

    Yes, I was in the red torpedo. Running Maxxis BMX race tyres on the front at the moment, they're fast but they do have a little less damp/wet grip than the Racers, and are more prone to The Faeries. I have a pair of Supremes coming as backup, since SJSC has a deal at the moment.

    Posted 6 years ago #

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