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CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
Today's rubbish driving...
(11330 posts)- Started 13 years ago by Stepdoh
- Latest reply from fergus
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Posted 11 years ago #
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"Yep, town was mad today"
yup. i was trying to get from george square to commie pool 5.30ish and it was mad. traffic backed up everywhere. the lights on the pedestrian crossing in front of the pool weren't working. I wondered if some of the other lights had been out too? seemed a lot of police cars about as well.
Posted 11 years ago # -
@chdot <grin>
I made him aware of my presence, yes...
As per the IBM original manuals, a sharp report with the flat of the hand was applied.
Shouting wasn't working!
Robert
Posted 11 years ago # -
Sounds like self defence!
Did you 'phone Police?
Posted 11 years ago # -
the lights on the pedestrian crossing in front of the pool weren't working. I wondered if some of the other lights had been out too? seemed a lot of police cars about as well.
First garden party of the year - road down from the Commie to Holyrood was closed, plenty cars doubling back at the roundabout in the park, motorbike cops about. Funny how they can close off whole roads, in rush hour, for things like that...
Posted 11 years ago # -
What is it with bad weather that brings out the half wits.
I think there are different factors at work.
The first is, as soon as it rains, all the folk who might have strolled in the sunshine (or even taken the cobweb covered bike) to grab the small bag of messages from the supermarché, immediately take the car. Hey, they don't want to get wet!
The second is, the resulting congestion caused by the first factor irritates all the drivers, but especially the ones who would have driven to the supermarché regardless of the weather.
Third, what, there's an effing cyclist in the way!
My muppet of choice ( I had at least 10 to choose from today!) was a guy in a people carrier who pulled out from a side street in front of me without looking right at all. I know, I was glaring at him. As I feathered the brakes on the tandem I shouted 'Hey!' and he flinched, turned towards me, clocked the bike, and then I kid you not, rolled his eyes slyward. No doubt thinking 'O effing hell, an effing cyclist!"
Why is it cyclists are held in such utter contempt by so many drivers? Is it just the power thing, the 'might is right' principle? Is it just that we're an annoyance, a hindrance, and maybe a lippy, obsteporous one at that?
Posted 11 years ago # -
@wc I even knew about the garden party, but it didn't occur to me that that would affect traffic along the pleasance/dalkeith rd. duh! also explains why left turn lane totally empty (except where I had to get off and walk along pavement because of vehicles blocking it - doubtles those that had realized too late they needed to merge into main queue)
Posted 11 years ago # -
Drove to Fife today. It felt like National Drive Like a D*ck Day. Worst driver? Hard to say as, while I stood watching a lorry try to pull an overturned car off the road between Colinsburgh and Upper Largo, the man standing next to me said it was the second overturned car he'd seen today. As his spot was on a straight road and a single vehicle incident I'll go with his. And if that sounds callous remember that I was second in line to have been the car he would have hit had I spent less time saying cheerio to my mum.
Posted 11 years ago # -
@chdot - spent an hour in the station before they finally suggested taking a statement. By which stage I'd run out of time, and I'm not sure I can be bothered this morning...
The officers thought it might be dangerous or careless driving which I take to mean it's a waste of time without witnesses, damage or injury.
<grump>
And I had been looking forward to a cycling holiday next week...
...since the plan wasn't for a Dutch excursion, it's now a bit less appealing!
Robert
Posted 11 years ago # -
I rode the length of the QBC this morning and for the most part it was fine, but that bit down from the Tesco Metro, is it full of vans every single morning? Must have been 8 or 9. Ah yes, enforcement? Really? Jeez it's a shambles...
Wagged a finger at a driver at Tollcross. I was coming down from Lauriston and get the green after the traffic descending from Home Street, and every single sequence there are one or two cars coming down that jump the red. There was a look of confusion on the girl's face as I issued my comical admonishment.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Hey Mr. Smart Car, just because your conveyance is small and nippy it does not follow that overtaking me at a traffic island while going downhill is a good idea. We still won't both fit in the gap. And why the rush? So you could get to your parking place 200 yards further on Easter Road 5 seconds earlier. Well that was worth risking lives for, wasn't it? My young stoker and I fart in your general direction.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Drifting car full of kids and mum overtook on Melville drive this morning and swiftly drifted left pretty badly about halfway into the cycle lane..... Then back out..... Then back in. Could see kids leaping about in the stern of the car (what's that bit called again).
Pretty bad driving tbh. Also a Timber Lorry was NOT driving well on clerk street.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Majestic Tours bus V528 ESC, which appeared to be under the impression that there is never anything approaching from the west when pulling out of North Leith Sands to head towards Ocean Terminal.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Westbound on Pier Place, Newhaven, car overtakes me at traffic island at Harbour Inn and immediately slows down to pull in to attempt to park in the first space in the parking bay beyond. I'm going a fair clip on the roadie so they have saved a fraction of a second in doing so. Much gesticulation. Jeez.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Massive artic parked up outside Londis on Easter Road this morning to make a delivery, entirely on the pavement. On a corner too. Pavement build outs there to narrow road, no parking places, so just drive on the pavement to park?
Difficult one. On one hand, if the lorry was parked in the road, there would have been a big tailback trying to get past. On the other, has the driver not noticed side streets? One literally just round the corner.
I wonder if the designers of the 'new' Leith Walk have taken this kind of (completely illegal) parking into account? Easter Road pavement mostly tarmac, so presumably unadamaged. Those nice new grey paving slabs however: how will they cope with a six axle monster lorry squarely on top of them? After a year or two I expect the new paving slabs will be in a broken mess rather like the current paving slabs are...
Posted 11 years ago # -
This morning heading along Wester Coates just past Donaldson's School. I was in primary just about to go through the roadworks where the road narrows to one lane; two cyclists ahead were already going through the narrow bit.
Large black Honda Chelsea-tractor then decides that he could try to nip in ahead of me and behind the other cyclists to save, ooh, quarter of a second. Fortunately he realised he wasn't going to make it and pulled back.
I'd been aware of him so was prepared for him doing something stupid, but bad driving none the less.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Lower Granton Road, I was approaching a broken down van park half on the kerb on my side of the road, young female driver of a red V-reg Nissan thought it would be a good idea to over take me as I past the van whilst a car approached in the opposite direction. I offered the usual waving of arms and gesticulated 'your nuts'! She looked sheepish when I past her on Lindsay Road and gave her a full on Paddington hard stare for good measure!
Another incident a few minutes later, at the bridge on the shore, another young female driver in a dark green mini was driving within 3 feet of my back wheel trying to overtake, I shouted at her to watch her space, to which she ignored and continued. As I turned down toward The Ship, I could see she was shaking her head and mutter something, clearly not happy at being told off. You would think if a cyclist wasn't happy about the proximity of your car, you would back off? I feel like just getting of the bike, holding up the traffic and screaming at them like a maniac, but understand It wouldn't help, as these types of morons won't learn until they have an accident.
Pretty peeved off this morning!
Posted 11 years ago # -
This morning we had the Toyota that pulled alongside me as I was going up Comiston Road at a decent pace, which was signalling left and edging over. Yes they wanted to go into the petrol station. I had to back off and then almost come to a halt as given the huge area of empty forecourt available and the numerous empty pumps they wanted to stop in the entrance way to work out which one to go to. I did ask them what they thought they were doing and how they'd almost taken me out. It was alright however as:-
- They had been indicating for about 250 metres whilst behind me (surely that would mean they were going along past Greenbank Church?).
- Its a city and people have to get about. They had cars behind them and didn't want to stop them. So it was OK to inconvenience me and lets ignore the fact that they wouldn't have had to stop as I was going at a decent pace.
- They too were also cyclists! (Of course this trumps everything).Argh!
Then coming home we had the numbskull who despite me being clearly visible pulled well on to the wrong side of Braid Hills Road (i.e. my side) at high speed to do some overtaking. The car they were overtaking wasn't going slowly so not sure what they gained.
This was after receiving a close pass over one of the speed humps by a horse box. Please remind me again, when I'm in the car I've to overtake a horse and rider:-
a) At high speed.
b) Very closely.
c) Making excessive noise. (I get finesse points by flipping up a gear as I'm about to hit the rev-limiter don't I?).
d) Sounding the horns.
e) All of the above.Is it the warm weather that affects peoples brains?
Posted 11 years ago # -
Not really rubbish, just funny...
I got a fast overtake by two men in a black Audi who then had to brake for a cyclist turning right (she'd made her move well in advance of the junction, when they were still a very long way away). They then flew off and drove as far as they could into the ASL at the lights. I just rolled up right behind them, and contemplated writing something rude on their car but 1) decided not to and too 2) it was clean and shiny anyway. And then another Audi came along and pulled into the ASL next to them!!!I just laughed until the lights changed. They probably thought I was a complete nutter...
Posted 11 years ago # -
Posted 11 years ago #
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A proper nutter in an Audi this morning. I'm coming out of the wooded section beyond Balerno, where there's a section of double white lines due to there being a dip in the road that can hide a car. I spot a car disappearing into the dip and I'm also aware of a car coming behind me, so I move a bit further out to try and make myself look a bit bigger and suggest that the car behind slow down a bit and think before going for the overtake. This Audi driver, however, is having none of this thinking malarky and blasts through - I move in sharpish, grab my brakes and then let of some steam/adrenaline by making rude gestures at his rear window.
There was another car behind the Audi. I think he may have given me a moment to get myself together, but he then drew alongside at my speed with his passenger window down, and said,
"He tried to run me off the road as well. Absolute nutter..."
I agreed.
I though that was nice of the second driver.Posted 11 years ago # -
Beware white van SP02 VBO around Willowbrae Road. He might try to vehicularly persuade you to move leftwards, as demonstrated:
Posted 11 years ago # -
What a loon
must get in front of the bike
honestly what was the point of the pulling in front of you?
not that it matters,but its not like he was going to be 'stuck' behind youPosted 11 years ago # -
(Not today)
"
Mark Cavendish (@MarkCavendish)
08/12/2012 13:35
This man just tried to run me & @RussellHampton off the road. Now HE'S threatening to call the police! We want him to.http://pic.twitter.com/Eznos8bB
"
Posted 11 years ago # -
I had a few closer than usual calls on my weekends riding. One bus on the A7 and someone else coming up to a traffic island. Both were overtakes with pull in's that were FAR too close to me. I had to break rather than be crushed by the Bus (didn't get the make or number plate unfortunately) and I had to feather for the car that overrook by the traffic island. No need on either side as plenty of space not far ahead.
Posted 11 years ago # -
One of my neighbours tried to kill (al least it was slowly) me while I was going out for my Saturday cycle. I hadn't even left the street!
Just turned out of my Cul de sac, spot a neighbour reversing out of her drive, wave, smile, yep she definitely saw me. Cycling to the junction at the end of the road, doing about 15 in a 20 zone. I'm in primary, arm out indicating a right turn, and she starts to overtake me whilst again waving, so she still see's me, even though there isn't enough room to overtake before the junction, or indeed for her to start turning left which she does forcing me into the gutter.
My next greeting wasn't so friendly through her open passenger window!
Posted 11 years ago # -
My gripe this weekend was too many occassions of cars following me up to a roundabout who realised they weren't going to squeeze past in time and then sat about 3 inches off my wheel "waiting" behind. I'm sure they thought they were doing me a favour by easing marginally off the go-pedal, but the problem is that it makes it very difficult to confidently move over the lane if you want to turn right on the roundabout with someone so close behind in a road position suggesting they are about to pass.
I also prefer to be looking AHEAD when approaching a junction and not checking over my shoulder what the chump behind me is up to.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Today...
- 2 people driving while using mobile phones (one texting).
- 1 BMW concept mini who decides to undertake me while I am turning right so he can also turn right but 'make it' through the lights just after they go to red.Posted 11 years ago # -
...was the Scottish Power white van who blatantly ignored the no-entry signs from the roundabout to the bit of Bankhead Drive beside Edinburgh Park station (or is it part of Cultins Road). 0930 this morning.
Added points for driving one-handed while staring at his lap and not where he was going, for a good 50 yard stretch. Whether mobile phone or anything else, the effect's the same.
Fortunately all pedestrians saw him coming and swiftly scarpered off the road crossing point.
Posted 11 years ago # -
"
Cycling Edinburgh (@CyclingEdin)
16/07/2013 15:50
@ScottishPowerCould this really be one of your drivers??
citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.…
#cyclesafe #corporateresponsibility #Edinburgh
"
"ScottishPower (@SP_EnergyPeople)
16/07/2013 16:50
@CyclingEdin Hi, thanks for letting us we'll feed it back to the depot manager to raise internally. Regards Gerry"
Posted 11 years ago #
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