CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!

  1. paul.mag
    Member

    The white combi van turning left onto Palmerston place from West Maitland without indicating as a cyclist, who was going straight on, was level with the back wheels. Not entirely sure this doesn't deserve to be in the bad cycling thread as well due to the cyclist being in the gutter whilst attempting to go straight in a lane that has a left turn on it. I think though that the lack of indication from the driver makes it bad driving

    Posted 10 years ago #
  2. BaseCut
    Member

    This morning at about 8.10, heading along Murieston Cres to Russell Road from Dalry to the NEP. I'm going a decent pace. Corstorphine Roofing van (SJ03 ???) pulls out of Mcleod St right into my path - must have been 10 feet in front when he started his pull out, I jammed on the anchors, avoided his rear by going slightly to the side of him. He stops at his depot all of 100 feet away (double parking). I can't let this one drop and bang on his window - young lad. Says he saw me and I had plenty of space, no apology, just aggression. I was expecting him to say SMIDSY, but the fact that he was clear in that he saw me and still pulled out, I couldn't take. I'm at his place of work so decide to go in and speak to his boss. I'm polite by this stage and explain that either the lad can apologise and I'll take it no further or I'll do as much to spread the word on the internet about the way his company treats cyclists. Penny drops by this stage and he asks the lad to apologise, which he does in the loosest sense of the word. I turn my back and start to exit the yard, at which point there are peels of laughter behind me and hence the post. Avoid Corstorphine Roofing and Building Ltd if you value courtious and safe drivers (corstorphineroofing.co.uk) - not sure how to link.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  3. twq
    Member

    Had one of the closest passes to date at the pinch point going from Holyrood Rd to Cowgate across Pleasance. Silver Audi RJ10 UKD. Caught up with him on Grassmarket and said "that pass was a bit close" and he just shrugged him shoulders and looked confused. Told him I had him on camera and would be reporting him, and cycled off. Only now realise I'd been throwing a false accusation at him, and the actual car must have turned off at some point. Oops! Need to ask him to be a witness now, which he might not take kindly too...

    Posted 10 years ago #
  4. Stickman
    Member

    I was approaching the lights on Roseburn Street, traffic ahead so I knew I wouldn't get through on that phase. I pulled up to the stop line as the light turned red. A white van behind me sped up, cut into the left hand land and then shot through the red to turn right onto Wester Coates. Light had been at red for a few seconds before he went through, so no excuse at all - just mindless impatience and dangerous driving.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  5. Firedog
    Member

    Stickman - as I've said in another thread, that junction is lethal for rljs both ways. Without exception, a red light will be jumped every time. I've half a mind to spend a few minutes recording it.

    And just to tie in with the comment further up the thread, the van I witnessed go through on a blatant red this morning was a Corstorphine Roofing and Building van. I'd agree I wouldn't trust this lot on my house if their approach to building work is as slapdash as their driving.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  6. Stickman
    Member

    Firedog - I think this company's name cropped up a lot in the press reporting on the "irregularities" in the council statutory repairs.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  7. sg37409
    Member

    Couple of great u-turns last 1 days.
    Some big FO white van doing a 3 point turn on haymarket terrace this morning, no traffic, just a bike.

    Funny one was the old guy in a silver corsa who came down corstorphine bank drive. Got to the junction with corstorphine road, decided he didnt like the look of that and tried a u-turn to go back up the way he'd came. Didnt manage it, and ended up on the pavement, blocking it for the couple of peds, and now faced with the prospect of reversing into the main road. Left him there, no idea how long he was "trapped" for.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  8. They're the same lot as Murrayfield Building Co (share most of the same directors & I've seen both sets of vehicles parked outside the owner's place).

    I pass the owner's house every morning on my commute. They have a huge paved gated driveway, but they park their cars partly on the pavement on the street. Most have illegally-space plates on them, eg the huge BMW X5, reg "K3LL5".

    I'm probably over-generalising based on their lax parking and illegal plates, but it's hardly surprising then that their attitude towards vulnerable road users stinks.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  9. holisticglint
    Member

    @Basecut, QFiedog - I'm having an extension built next year so be assured that Corstorphine Roofing and Building will not be gettting any of my money.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  10. skinnypins
    Member

    Two separate RLJs (one at high speed down the Mound by a Luton-type van, turning right towards Waverley), and a very close (and ultimately pointless) pass on Causewayside which gave me a hell of a fright. I politely told the driver 1.5 feet of space was too little when overtaking a cyclist, to which they indignantly replied it was plenty (!). Told them to read the Highway Code, and continued on my merry way.

    Also, hello! Longtime lurker, first time poster, etc etc...

    Posted 10 years ago #
  11. earthowned
    Member

    Friday must be idiot driver day. The drivers who 'forgot' to give priority to traffic approaching from the right on the roundabout at the bottom of the Canongate are certainly idiots. It's a horrible feeling to be turning right on a roundabout when you realise the car entering from the side is not going to stop.

    I particularly appreciated their frank response to a polite wave to wish them 'good morning and please don't run me over' and a vexxed shake of the head when they tried to do so anyway. Somehow they thought it was my fault. The sad reality is that some drivers just think you are in the way.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  12. PS
    Member

    (one at high speed down the Mound by a Luton-type van, turning right towards Waverley)

    Are you allowed to turn right towards Waverley there? I thought it was Hanover Street only from The Mound?

    Posted 10 years ago #
  13. chdot
    Admin

    "Are you allowed to turn right"

    I thought that - suspect Market St (OK) not Princes (not OK).

    Posted 10 years ago #
  14. Firedog
    Member

    threefromleith: I don't think you're generalising. That number plate sounds very familiar: I think my wife has mentioned it to me as a car to avoid.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  15. twq
    Member

    Called 101 to report this morning's punishment pass, and was told to visit police station. Just went down to station on Torphichen Place but it's closed. Eugh.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  16. Focus
    Member

    @ BaseCut

    Corstorphine Roofing. If there's a single company with which I've had more dangerous and inconsiderate experiences with regard to their driving when I'm riding, I can't think of one! I have had numerous bad passes, been cut up, had them coming out of junctions right in front of me...

    I don't know if there's some sort of ingrained hatred of cyclists which has been passed on whenever anyone joins the company or what, but it's been like that for many years. I would certainly never give them any work.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  17. skinnypins
    Member

    @PS and chdot

    Apologies, you're right, I meant from N Bank St towards Market St, not the Mound. I'll blame it on caffeine withdrawal.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  18. chdot
    Admin

    Don't worry - as far as I'm concerned 'down The Mound' starts at the High Street.

    BofS is 'on The Mound'.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  19. Bloody hell! A black cab only went and pulled the same dangerous and illegal manoeuvre, at the same junction, as the DirtMasters van last night!

    Edinburgh Taxi 1055

    Will scour posts to find the address for reporting taxis, but if anyone reading this knows it, i'd appreciate a reminder.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  20. wee folding bike
    Member

    But you guys will of course be asking for quotations from these roofing guys so that they have to spend time costing the job before you give the business to someone else?

    Posted 10 years ago #
  21. dg145
    Member

    Or, indeed, then deciding that the roof doesn't actually need repairs anyway. Ah, well ...

    Posted 10 years ago #
  22. my search skills are improving. Complaint away.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  23. adamthekiwi
    Member

    Is there any way of (or point in) passing video of a driver blatantly ignoring 2 No Entry signs on Shandwick Place last night to the police, given that they're in the middle of a crackdown?

    Posted 10 years ago #
  24. fimm
    Member

    I blogged about the eventual outcome of my complaint to the police about their driving here:
    http://wisob.wordpress.com/2013/11/16/on-some-dealings-with-the-police/

    @adamthekiwi I think there's an email address for non-emergency contacts. If you're on twitter you might try tweeting them - I think they do monitor and respond to tweets.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  25. algo
    Member

    @fimm - thanks for blogging that. Quite an encouraging read....

    Posted 10 years ago #
  26. Nelly
    Member

    So, this thread is 2 years old, has 1800 posts, some of which are about the same incident but clearly all bad driving in town doesn't get reported on CCE, indeed I only post 'really' bad passes now.

    What does this tell us about driver attitudes to cycling?

    Posted 10 years ago #
  27. gembo
    Member

    Not sure, have had quite a lot of good driving lately too but quite a lot of stupid driving where you get cut up just before a red light and filter past the vehicle as the driver has not looked ahead.

    Bad driving last night guy trying to drive his van at me from the blinkbonny junction as I struggled with my right of way into the wind and slowing down in case he did actually roll onto the a70. From his perspective I think he was trying to avoid rolling back down the hill?

    We are more vulnerable on our bikes than other road users. So the bad driving affects us more.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  28. Greenroofer
    Member

    I spotted this car turning out of Meggetland this morning. The passenger was leaning out looking at the front of the car, and seemed to be giving the driver directions ("forward a bit, bit more, stop" kind of thing). It's not hugely obvious in the picture, but the windscreen was completely misted up and she was telling him when to stop at the white line.

    On the other side, the driver had his window down too.

    They both seemed to think it was hugely entertaining. I don't normally talk to drivers, but I couldn't help but say "You shouldn't be driving like that" as I went past the driver's open window.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  29. adamthekiwi
    Member

    No camera today, but on my cross bike, doing a couple of loops of Queen's Drive, a silver BMW 1-series tried to pass me on the single lane uphill section near the top and actually made contact. Most annoyingly, this was 2 metres from the second-to-top bay, where I was intending to let them past. They seemed to think this was my fault...

    Posted 10 years ago #
  30. SRD
    Moderator

    @greenroofer - what do they need more - a grain of common sense, or a rag?

    Posted 10 years ago #

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