CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!

Today's rubbish driving...

(11330 posts)
  • Started 13 years ago by Stepdoh
  • Latest reply from fergus
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  1. PS
    Member

    @SRD It's not just cycle lanes that they do this for. Twice on a five minute journey in the 44 bus between Duddingston Crossroads and Jock's Lodge this morning the bus had to stop in the bus lane because cars coming out of roads on the left were sitting with their noses a couple of feet into the bus lane.

    For the first one, the bus driver sounded his horn. The driver was busy inspecting his unlit fag, so didn't seem to notice.

    For the second, the bus driver chose what felt like an exaggerated turn out into the next lane and back again while the lady car driver just stared at the bus as it approached, slowed to a stop, then swung out. Not even the slightest thought of anything, let alone reversing, registered with her, going by her glazed expression.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  2. Kenny
    Member

    56 plate Vauxhall Zafira (or similar) this morning on the Queensferry Road dual carriageway, first nearly rammed me from the side as he changed to the inside lane, coming as close as 30cm from my rear wheel (while going 25mph). I had to wave at him to make sure he'd seen me. Then he gesticulated for me to get out the way, then he drove beside me, straddling the white line, this time no more than 20cm from me, while winding his window down to shout at me (couldn't hear him due to the speed/noise). Lovely way to start the week.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  3. gdm
    Member

    I decided to cycle to Fort Kinnaird yesterday. At least 95% of the time getting there and back would have been spent on the NCN1 and others. Still, within the 5% of the remaining time in and around the shops, I was:

    Nearly hit by a driver emerging to her left who clearly didn't care I was there and just looked at me like I was an idiot for not having assumed she would have done something like that anyway;

    Narrowly avoided a right hook on a roundabout. On the approach, the driver looked like she was 'just' going to undertake me, after I had taken primary in the right lane. I assumed that meant she was going straight ahead, until she proceeded to speed around - just missing me - in order to enter the car park about five feet ahead of me, whereupon I overtook her due to the queue of traffic ahead;

    Finally, there were two punishment passes which, in the context of the day, suddenly seemed trifling.

    Worth adding that yesterday was a glorious day and the car parks were full, with the (2) cycle racks available at Fort Kinnaird empty but for me. I honestly thought I was getting some strange looks from people for being on my bicycle in a place so clearly designed for cars. Thoroughly depressing especially on the day with news that Climate Change is apparently even worse than ever expected.

    On the basis of that visit, it will be hard to convince myself to make a return on two wheels.

    Take a bow politicians of Scotland.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  4. Dunny
    Member

    @gdm - don't get put off, remember it was only 5% of the journey. I'm assuming the other 95% was good fun?

    I get it though, that kind of stuff really makes me question how safe the bike is sometimes. I don't have a car though, so for me it's easy - beats walking.

    You want a cuddle?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  5. kaputnik
    Moderator

    There are many reasons not to go to/near Fort Kinnaird on a bike, and the journey you describe is just one of them.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  6. Calum
    Member

    @gdm you're quite right, and what is even more depressing than the grim reality of current conditions is the fact that there's very little to suggest it will ever substantially improve. Scotland's politicians and transport planners are, with a very limited number of exceptions, seemingly incapable of learning.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  7. gdm
    Member

    @Dunny - indeed, you're correct, the remaining 95% was pleasant. I do tend to find though that there's always the few minutes after incidents when you just try and get yourself to calm down again. Maybe a cuddle would have helped at the time!

    I had my In-Laws here over the last few days (it was a delight, just in case you ask...) and I was stunned by something my father-in-law said. Just to help ensure he didn't get a ticket for speeding given he's not from round these here parts, I mentioned he was going over the limit. He started saying how "it isn't possible to keep track of your speed and remaining alert to all the dangers on the road".

    I couldn't believe it! I suggested to him that if he was struggling to do both it might have something to do with his habit of driving at clearly excessive speeds.

    I find those sorts of comments, from apparently educated people, quite terrifying in all honesty. It just gives us a real insight into the extent to which the mass of the public are able to completely disassociate themselves from any contribution to climate change or to absolve themselves from any blame for the absence of safety on our roads.

    Still, if you're reading, Sir, it was lovely having you to stay and I look forward to seeing you again soon.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  8. twq
    Member

    I was up in Fort Kinnaird yesterday, drove as we'd just dropped someone at Waverley and were looping past on the way home. The fiancée mentioned how terribly designed it is for pedestrians, and it looks even worse for cyclists. It's almost as if the designer wants you to drive to every shop you visit, as even walking 100m puts your life in the hands of the gods/distracted drivers.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  9. kaputnik
    Moderator

    A classic example of "enter through the car park*" layout, with no quarter given to those on foot.

    *as inspired by "exit through the gift shop" museum designers. The place also seems to have at least 3 different car parks, neither of which are quite connected, so people seem to be endlessly driving around inside the place moving between them.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  10. cc
    Member

    Fort Kinnaird, yes, yuck. Mind you I was quite pleased when I found that in a far corner of the car park there's a secret hidden path leading to the Innocent Path.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  11. kaputnik
    Moderator

    there's a secret hidden path leading to the Innocent Path

    yes, if you don't turn off it dumps you out onto the main road between the cottages and the pedestrian crossing.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  12. wingpig
    Member

    Hopefully the two horn-beeping litter-dropping almost-cyclist-nudging oaves in the old red car ending -03 ZFW realise deep inside what pillocks they are, even if they attempted to imply that they found themselves amusing.

    Having been the one to ask them to not drop litter (as I went round the Pollockmost roundabout on Holyrood Pk Rd) I thought it wise to stay behind and farther out than the cyclist who'd gone round the roundabout a couple of cars in front of me as we went round the corner towards the RCP, just in case the chumps attempted to communicate that they'll drop litter wherever they like through the medium of revving away a couple of inches from my rear mudguard.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  13. Dave
    Member

    Lothian bus driver changing lanes without indicating this morning, almost smearing a chap on a bike into the railings on the way down Leith St towards the Omni.

    Left hooked by some random van driver, doing up his seatbelt while drinking coffee and not too fussed about his indicators...

    Posted 11 years ago #

  14. gdm
    Member

    Capital Maintenance.

    Avoid them - on the road and for any business-related reasons.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  15. ARobComp
    Member

    Massive cleaning Lorry I think I might have scared coming through Loanhead this morning - he Tooted at me and scared the bejeebus out of me. Couldn't figure out why then decided he'd either not checked his mirror or given it no more than a cursory glance as he pulled across from the wrong side fo the road where he'd been parked. I suspect he didn't see me and decided I didn't have lights or high vis on (in broad daylight with absolutely fine visability) I was therefore at fault. Note that the street lights were OFF.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  16. twq
    Member

    On the way to work from West Port to Lothian rd, taxi very nearly drives into me when overtaking a bus. He stops at the lights, and SMIDSY's me. What annoys me most about that phrase is that it shifts the blame onto me, as if he looked, and it's my fault he didn't see me, when in fact he didn't look. Felt like saying "what didn't you see, the flashing lights or the bright red top?".

    Posted 11 years ago #

  17. SRD
    Moderator

    http://deceasedcanine.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/the-wrong-hat.html

    Okay, it was pretty minor, but given how drivers normally ignore vehicles parked in bus stops, I thought this was unnecessary.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  18. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    SRD, that's weird... And as you say, totally unnecessary.

    twq, must admit I've never thought of 'SMIDSY' as shifting the blame onto the cyclist in that way, to me at least there's a very clear inference that the driver simply didn't look properly, which is very much the driver's fault.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  19. Dunny
    Member

    @SRD - I like your rain hat.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  20. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Should have a very blatant left-hook at a roundabout video to put up later on.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  21. SRD
    Moderator

    Thanks Dunny. I gave up wearing helmet in protest at Mccourt judgment. Today now seems a suitable day to have blogged about the hat ....

    Posted 11 years ago #

  22. Dunny
    Member

    A suitable day indeed, I just heard the verdict on the radio. In fact, I think I will do the same, on the way home tonight my handlebar can wear my helmet instead.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  23. Darkerside
    Member

    Late leaving today, which meant I faced the full wrath of Glasgow's rush hour.

    Top prize goes to the prime buffoon in the Focus. I'm right of centre in flowing traffic, a sensible stopping distance behind the car in front. Aforementioned buffoon attempts to overtake me, and fails to realise he's got no space to move in to until he gets alongside. Facing oncoming traffic, he just slowly pushes me out of the way. At 25mph.

    Git.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  24. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    On the helmet thing, the appeal court has said that the Sheriff was wrong to consider it as a mitigating factor. Which is somethnig at least,a nd should mean it can at least be relied on in the future to suggest there should be medical evidence lead before it can be used in such a way.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  25. Stickman
    Member

    Aston Martin or Jaguar which tried to force its way right from Russell Road onto Roseburn Street. Wasn't able to get in, so was stuck in the opposite lane blocking all traffic. Eventually he just skipped the entire queue and went ahead of the stop line at the lights before racing off at high revs when the amber light came on.

    I'm glad I didn't bother filtering to the front - I suspect he would have viewed me as a movable obstruction.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  26. kaputnik
    Moderator

    [+] Embed the video | Video DownloadGet the Video Widget
    T40 BYG

    Pass in the same lane then left hook entering a roundabout in the rain.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  27. algo
    Member

    Ridiculous driving. How could he not be aware how close you would have to come to his back wheel - especially in the wet. Excellent riding to brake and realise what was happening, I might well have been underneath his car. What if he'd have had to brake on the exit? What an eejit. Did you learn the hand signals from the nwc?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  28. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Oh yeah, I'm not meant to flip them off, am I? I'm meant to apologise for not being nice enough. Or something.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  29. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Someone on Twitter (also of this parish) just pointed out that at 0:14, the rear of the car appears to skid out to the right as driver tries to go around and left in the wet.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  30. Uberuce
    Member

    At that same roundabout this lunchtime(I was coming from the same road that left-hooker went into) my spidersense was tingling at the driver coming from Gyle Broadway so I swung further into the centre in response to the apparent lack of yielding to the vehicles coming from right, namely Uberuce and the car behind me.

    Sure enough he didn't see me, my angelic face and my painfully bright gloves until the front of his car was well into the junction. Slammed brakes etc.

    One pointlessly revvy (although scrupulous fairness dictates I report it was wide enough) overtake later, I spied through his back window a great big cup of coffee or milkshake in his hand. It looked like it was nice.

    Posted 11 years ago #

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