In the spirit of constructive criticism: It is all very well being an assertive cyclist. (& indeed as an ex motorbike courier I think I am pretty assertive) But... there comes apoint where being assertive merges into an unecessarily aggressive cyclist. Some of the videos I have seen on here are getting pretty close to the latter. Getting rattled by other peoples behaviour to the extent that it affects your judgement is not a route to a long and happy cycling life.
Just my tuppence worth.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
Today's rubbish driving...
(11258 posts)- Started 12 years ago by Stepdoh
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Posted 4 years ago #
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My interpretation of rule 72 is that it refers to filtering on the nearside in the same lane, not using a cycle lane.
@stiltskin - Agreed, though I should mention that I rarely get actually angry while cycling, unless someone drivers especially badly around me (I.e. is actually endangering my life). The vast majority of my sweary exclamations are just because I'm a sweary person :)
@themightysimmonite - Thanks again for the feedback! Agreed on my speed, perhaps I was going a bit quick if I can't stop safely in 2-3 seconds if I have to. I'm certainly not free from blame, but I still disagree that I'm more than 50% at fault. I'd accept 50%, but the highway code is quite clear about who needs to give way in this situation - again, I appreciate that being "right" doesn't help if I'm hit by a car, and I could have done more to reduce the chance of being hit. Equally (and I'm clutching at straws here), maybe this incident will make the driver look for cyclists in future.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@ ECC
IMO you had right of way on leith Walk so the car driver was definitely in the wrong. It's a fight I wouldn't have picked though, discretion and all that!
If you ever want to do some on road training DM me (any CCE'er for that matter) happy to do so, free of charge if its a day/time that suits me!
ECT
Posted 4 years ago # -
Some drivers seem to forget that MSM stands for Mirror Signal Manoeuvre and not Manouevre Signal Mirror!
I'm finding it difficult to see when they started indicating because of the rain droplets on the camera but they do seem to apply the brakes first which is a clue they might be about to do something.
In saying that though if he'd bothered to use his mirror he'd have spotted the cyclist on his inside.Posted 4 years ago # -
Re: Incident 2.
If I were the driver of the white car, I would've deliberately positioned myself over the cycle lane to prevent undertaking by cyclists at that point.
(Only if moving - I would not block the cycle lane if the traffic were stationary).
This kind of positioning (blocking other users from over/undertaking) is recommended for the Advanced Drivers Licence (which my granny passed and who gave me some tips)
The trouble is, now, there are a lot of "lazy steerers" who take the racing-line because they can't be bothered to turn the steering wheel as much. Unfortunately the racing-line is usually the worst for road positioning and visibility. (see also going around left bends on national speed limit roads, where you should stay on the right of the lane, near the centreline for best visibility [and not cut into the apex of the bend])
Posted 4 years ago # -
I think incident 2 is the driver's fault. There is a cycle lane and he is turning across 'a lane' if it were a bus lane im sure he would have looked and waited.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Some very poor driving from the driver of a Big Black Ego Enhancer at home time today, King's junction. Me and another cyclist have filtered to the front in Tarvit Street, the other cyclist is off to a very quick start in a very straight line, I am slower and take a line that's too cautious, so the driver behind overtakes me far too closely due to the vehicles in the opposite lane, then speeds away and attempts to overtake the fast cyclist, who is taking a very assertive line. They fail because there is no space due to a cyclist coming the other way and have to really hit the brakes, almost running into the cyclist they're attempting to overtake. Finally the road clears and the car speeds away, only for me (let along the fast cyclists) to catch up with it at the temporary lights at Lower Gilmore Place. Absolutely diabolical, pure impatience/entitlement.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Private hire driver texting with both hands as he drove along West Coates this afternoon.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I stopped at these lights heading south and a black BMW emerged from Lutton Place and rear-ended the SUNLIT Uplander.
I got him to write down his name and number and took his reg. Back wheel buckled - rode to the Bike Station and trued it as well as the impact allowed.
Don't suppose he'll spring for a new wheel but we'll see.
Taxi drivers shouting at me after 30 seconds as I forced him to get out and talk to me by standing my ground on the street.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Good man IWRATS. 30 seconds tolerance on taxi driver front is amazing
Posted 4 years ago # -
If you feel so inclined, report it to the Council. Private Hire drivers are licensed for a reason after all.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@Morningsider
Ah no, he wasn't a cabbie. Cabbies behind started shouting.
I did spot you all dapper in Bruntsfield at three o'clock though. New bike?
Posted 4 years ago # -
IWRATS - my mistake, I now see you meant the driver's phone number. I assumed you meant licence number.
Yes - new town bike. Speed and comfort of a lovely old couch.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Speed and comfort of a lovely old couch.
Wonderful. New thread required?
Posted 4 years ago # -
Argh. AT least it's just the wheel and not the frame?
Don't suppose he'll spring for a new wheel but we'll see.
His insurance certainly should. Also i you haven't yet, report to 101 so there's a record of a traffic collision.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Would the police be interested in a bent wheel?
Posted 4 years ago # -
Well, technically if you have swapped details you don't also have to tell the police about minor traffic collisions. However, I understand that drivers should report even the most minor collisions to their insurer - but may well not, so I'd be inclined to 101 it so there's a record in the system. ETA: doesn't matter if the police are interested or not, once it's on record you can quote the incident number if you make a claim on the driver's insurance.
Also, they drove into you! And it sounds like they then hoped to just leave the scene...
ETA2: pictures of your bent wheel pre-truing would have been helful, but I suppose you have witnesses at the Bike Station!
Posted 4 years ago # -
I guess it costs nothing...and yes, both Davie and Rich admired the proto-pringle that I hammered into a pseudo-hoop.
Posted 4 years ago # -
askMID is the thingby to get the insurance details if you need them - a police incident number is vital if your perpetrator declines to pay up voluntarily.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Undertaken on Hope Park Terrace for driving at 20mph. Guy swooped and turned right from the left hand lane in front of me, giving the cyclist in front of me a real fright.
Nutter.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Traffic jams always bring out the worst in drivers.
Almost taken out twice by PHCs (surprise surprise). First one on Gorgie Road where a driver decides to try and take a right despite mean being in the bike lane. Wouldn't be surprised if he was waved on mind by the driver to my right.
Second one was worse with the driver realised (finally) that the cars in front were indicating right just swaps lanes without looking causing me to hammer on the breaks.
Then I had an exchange of pleasantries with some idiot coming towards town who knows he isn't going to clear the junction but drives forward and blocks me from taking a right turn.
Posted 4 years ago # -
MoD hard top Land Rover being driven quite casually through a red light at the Bush crossroads this afternoon.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Impatient, entitled motor-oaves punishment-passing far too closely on Grange Road are apparently not just a term-time problem.
Posted 4 years ago # -
depressingly unpleasant encounter with a Lothian's AirLink 200 bus on Lower Granton Rd this evening.
Will be 101-ing it tomorrow. Hope the cctv doesn't mysteriously get misplaced.
Posted 4 years ago # -
The bus drivers are off the leash now, innit?
Posted 4 years ago # -
@Iain McR
Yawright pal?
Posted 4 years ago # -
Had my first bike-related RTC today after a van decided to pull out and do a U-turn at the taxi-rank on Lothian Rd right into my path. Managed to slow down and manouevre sufficiently that only very light contact was made between my brake lever and his driver-side corner. Bike and rider unharmed, van has a small scuff in the paintwork but I'm sure it'll T-cut out.
Unfortunately I didn't get either the company name or the registration plate.
Typically it happened on the day where I forgot my helmet!Posted 4 years ago # -
This morning two drivers turning right from West Mains Road onto Mayfield Road cut the corner so much that a driver making the opposite manoeuvre had to stop.
Last night three drivers overtook a stopped bus on the narrow bit of Gilmerton Road at the Robin's Nest, despite oncoming traffic (i.e., me).
Posted 4 years ago # -
I was filtering past all the cars on South Bridge and only once I saw the ASZ at the crossroads with the High Street realised there wasn't sufficient space, because a car was stopped halfway into it. I "made room", which is a tricky thing to do when your "bike" is the better part of three metres long.
Boy racer boy behind me didn't appreciate it and revved his engine. I took off at the green light, and he accelerated hard behind me and undertook at something over 30mph in the 20mph limit.
He reached the east end junction seconds before I did, and to my surprise stopped fully behind the ASZ. So two bits of rubbish driving and one bit of good driving. On the next green he accelerated hard down Leith Street because apparently he was just of that nature.
Posted 4 years ago #
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