@kenny Yes I often have to play a game of chicken with drivers coming the opposite direction that don't have right of way. It's odd that for a residential road it's so problematic. All the parked cars squeezing the street to a single lane is clearly an issue, but surprising that driver behaviour is so aggressive on a residential street with a school very nearby and a park with kids playing etc.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
Today's rubbish driving...
(11330 posts)- Started 13 years ago by Stepdoh
- Latest reply from fergus
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Posted 10 years ago #
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@559 I am too scared to play a full on game with them - folk in cars often don't stop for me. Might be to do with my road positioning, gender, speed? Saying that, some drivers are extremely courteous and give me plenty time and space. Really is a mixed bag. This woman this evening was clearly bonkers though. She was in a black corsa I think.
@Chdot It's diagonal and runs down to the primary school, so see lots of parents with kids in the morning. Not sure if it's too much of a rat run as the road is a dead end onto Queensferry Road, but certainly a reasonable amount of traffic on it.
Posted 10 years ago # -
My approach for the rare occasions that I end up 'talking' to a driver, I start with "you scared me..."
Tends to stop things escalating and hopefully gves them something to reflect on when they think back on the incident later on.
Posted 10 years ago # -
@hankchief That's also a good tip. It is hard to keep cool when someone is shouting in your face, but hopefully the combo of advice here will help in case I ever have another mad woman/man to attempt a conversation with...
Posted 10 years ago # -
@claire
Iam sorry to say, but i do think there is gender issues going on@kenny,
head down in primary, yup works for me@hankchief,
Think your approach has merit, unfortunately, for me fear, translates to annoyance, which makes the "scared" approach difficult for me to pull off.Posted 10 years ago # -
NHS van nearly takes me and stoker out at Holy corner. Should have pic up shortly.
Can't believe we used to go through there every day.
Roads pretty quiet otherwise though.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Good to get reg of NHS van as this is not the first NHS van reported on here in morningside and also little France.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Thanks k'nik for advice re link.
in case you're wondering my light was FULL green, and I had a car behind. So no, even though it was near the end of the phase, stopping in ASL was not an option.
Apologies for the magnatomesque girly scream.
Posted 10 years ago # -
@SRD - don't use the shortened tweet-friendly link (i.e. yout.ube)
Posted 10 years ago # -
righto. Letter of complaint has gone to NHS. Ends by asking them to ensure all their drivers are trained to drive around cyclists, and suggests they consider purchasing vehicles with better sight-lines.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Oh, just remembered the two drivers who went through the absolutely, blatantly, totally and utterly red light to make the left turn from Ponton Street to Fountainbridge the other evening.
I was flabbergasted.
Posted 10 years ago # -
It was BMW Day today (as it seems to be more often than not).
1) Approaching the top end of Canaan Lane at Newbattle Terr, I saw a cyclist indicating to turn right into the Lane. As he was waiting, it alerted me that an approaching vehicle may turn down the Lane first, so I slowed before reaching the junction. Just as well I did as a mid-blue BMW coupe flew round the corner and stopped short of hitting me only because I had already stopped in anticipation. He came round far too fast and far too wide. No excuse.
2) Once on Bruntsfield Pl, I reached the ped crossing at Leamington Terr to find a black BMW LR06 ZGO parked in the zig-zag area in front of the crossing. I called out that it was illegal and passed him. The loading bay immediately behind him was empty! Then there was a blast of his horn accompanied by rude gestures, a winding down of the window and swearing, including telling me to "Foxtrot Oscar". All this with his pre-teen daughter in the front seat!
As I turned down Leamington Terr, he was right on my tail and I decided to stop to tell him to keep his distance. He was about 5 or 6 centimetres away from hitting me. He shouted at me to move to the side to which I replied I was entitled to be where I was (besides "the side" was full of parked cars!). I pointed out he was driving and behaving like that with his daughter in the car before setting off slower than I would have done normally. He was therefore forced to pass properly.
What kind of example does he think he is setting for his little girl? Disgusting.
Posted 10 years ago # -
A woman driving along Haymarket Terrace while doing her makeup.
Minor compared to some of the recent posts above.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Nerk who overtook where the road wasn't really wide enough on Queen Street this morning looked like he might have been on the phone as I passed him when he reached the straight-on-lane queue.
This morning's attempt-to-merge-right-without-looking-from-the-left-turn-lane-which-becomes-a-bus-lane on Princes Street/Lothian Road did eventually notice that there was something in their presumed gap.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Tonight about 540pm, SK51 CHF Pale Blue metallic Jaguar.
This all started I think, when I had to filter in front of him in Dundee Street to turn right down Henderson Terrace.
First overtake attempt on Murieston Place bend, kept my positioning out to prevent his manoeuvre
He then overtook on Murieston Crescent, Iam in primary, comes right alongside, forces car coming the other way to move to their left.
Then attempts to cut me out at the viaduct.
Posted 10 years ago # -
After all my bigging it up, I'm afraid I'm going to have to send my fluoro Gabba back to Wiggle. I bought that colour on the basis that when I'm out in the evenings it would make me more visible to drivers than the alternative black. However, this evening's cycle seemed to demonstrate that it doesn't work. Nor does my knog Gecko flashing LED light. That'll have to go too.
Leith Street to Broughton Street. In correct lane at the Picardy Place roundabout (the middle lane). Onto the roundabout, exit onto the Broughton Street lane ten metres behind a car waiting at the lights. Then a young lady in slow moving Mini Cooper One SL62RZR occupying the wrong lane (middle of the three exiting towards York Place/Broughton) signals right and starts moving into my space. She doesn't stop, just keeps nosing into my space, despite me rolling into it and clearly having right of way.
After a lot a waving and "hey hey heys" I let her in, then follow her down Broughton Street, where she has to stop at the traffic lights. Unfortunately, the failure of Castelli's design skills was confirmed as I pulled up to her bumper (not in the Grace Jones way) and stared into her rear window and waved. She didn't notice me at all. Just stared straight ahead or to the right. She had Apple earbuds in, which surprised me as I'd have thought a Mini Cooper would come with a radio as standard...
Posted 10 years ago # -
@PS even drivers can suffer ipod oblivion it seems.
I assume this was one of the "new minis" ie a BMW with a mini badge.
Posted 10 years ago # -
1) Viewforth junction on Dundee Street again. I'm about to look, signal and manoeuvre into the right turn lane as soon as I reach the end of the hash markings on the road, to have a black cab pass me in the markings and immediately cut me up to make it to the back of the car in front of me at the red light. I asked him through his open window what the point of that had been as I made my way past to the still red light.
2) Coming down Leamington Terr, northbound, the white miniature camper van LF62 ORH in front of me suddenly brakes and pulls into the kerb without indicating. As I went past, I called out, "Indicate" and made a left turn signal. And that was it as far as I was concerned... Until I heard a blast on the horn and turned to see the driver giving me repeated V signs. I stopped and looked at him before deciding that was unacceptable considering he had been in the wrong, and slowly made my way back up the hill towards him. His wife(?) seemed to visibly sink into her seat, leading me to believe it's not the first time he's shown a lack of composure on the road.
I stopped about 20 feet short of him as he got out the van to remonstrate. He was swearing and telling me to go away, and what was the problem? I told him that he'd made no signal and that it was dangerous and inconsiderate to others, which he refused to acknowledge, still prattling on.
He then said, rather sarcastically, "I apologise if I inconvenienced you." before havering on again. I pointed out that it wasn't inconvenience, it was danger and lack of consideration for others. "Now look...", he started. "This should be good", I replied as I folded my arms and waited for his pearl of wisdom. And he resorted to saying there are bad cyclists and I shouldn't be high and mighty! I explained I wasn't the one who'd done anything wrong. I also wasn't the one swearing. Again, a half-hearted apology, about to be the start of another moan. I put my hand up and said, "You should just leave it there, instead of swearing again".
"Move on, move on!" (and other rambling nonsense). I read out his registration number clearly and continued on my slightly less merry way. This guy was probably in his late 50s by the way, happier acting his shoe size it seems.
3) Russell Rd, approaching the start of the shared path leading to the zig-zag t the NEPN. White transit van BF10 LXL of Hamilton and Colvin All Trades Contractor (tel 656 9669) heading towards me with the driver on his hand-held mobile. He pulled into the kerb, presumably to continue his call, but by then he'd already broken the law.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Friday nights crazy driver was a Red Cross Ambulance (registration AE05KTF). As I was cycling towards on of the traffic islands on Maybury Road I was passed by the ambulance just before the traffic island forcing me to slow down so that we weren't level on arrival at the island. I don't know if he was trying to create work for himself but thankfully no physical harm done.
I emailed the Red Cross to let them know and they came back saying "Take it up with the local office", and no we don't have an email address for them.
Posted 10 years ago # -
acsimpson,
The Edinburgh Red Cross office is very close to there - just behind the Shell garage opposite the casino. Office phone number appears to be 0131 3385700 if you want to take it further.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Also PM'd - that's a disappointing response, particularly given both East and West coast of Scotland BRC now have cycle units...
Posted 10 years ago # -
Almost hit by a lorry during a very close pass in London this morning. I was on a boris bike and this scaffolding lorry passed about 2 feet to my left and started moving in. I had to break but VERY uncomfortable. They got stuck in traffic LITERALLY 20 yards further on.
I was pretty calm tbh and just shouted into the window to the driver
"Hey mate, that was pretty terrifying back there"
**shrugs**
"seriously you passed me pretty close and it was very scary, you could have seen that you would have had to stop in about 20 yards anyway!"
**Yeah I suppose you're right - sorry about that mate**Not convinced he thought he had done anything wrong but at least it was a civil enough conversation.
Suppose my message was meant to be - 0 seconds gained, almost on life changed for ever.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Actually yesterday's rubbish driving. Fortunately I'm still here to upload it.
Posted 10 years ago # -
@AME
Well that's just crazy. Why would anyone even consider this as an option?
Posted 10 years ago # -
Lots of craziness tonight, probably linked to the delays on the FRB. There was the car which caused me to brake while descending Castlandhill Road in Fife, The car which came out of the wrong side of the junction in South Queensferry, the 2 cars driving up the wrong side of the road to jump stationary queues or the usual overtakes at traffic islands on Maybury road. The prize however goes to the unbranded HGV (reg MK57CHF).
Firstly while climbing Castlandhill Road out of Rosyth he tried to overtake with oncoming traffic while passing parked cars before realising he couldn't, but not before the oncoming traffic had already stopped. That was scary enough for me to take primary plus and stop him thinking about passing again before coming over the hill and seeing both sides of the road clear. I kindly (or so I thought) pulled in near the side but he still decided the appropriate thing to do was try and pass on my side of the road within 2 feet of my arm. As usually happens in these scenarios I caught up with him at the bottom of the hill but decided not to try and have a conversation with him.
Posted 10 years ago # -
About half twelve this lunch time, heading westbound on the A199 through Musselburgh about half a mile shy of the Milton Rd junction, I was subjected to an overtake and immediate left turn across my path by an idiot in a white Focus on an 11 plate. Gap between my front wheel and Idiot's rear wing was less than a yard, and that only thanks to my swift application of the anchors. Almost a textbook left hook...
Posted 10 years ago # -
Around 5.30 tonight traffic was backed up on St John's Road. Dark blue VW Golf J13PPS came speeding along the bus lane at, I would guess, well over 40mph. He nearly took the front off a car that had started to edge out of the Forestry Commission, had to do an emergency stop and then gave the driver all sorts of abuse. Immediately screeched off with a puff of tyre smoke, then forced his way into the queue about 100 yards further on.
I glanced in as I passed him by in the queue (I was on foot) and he gave me the finger, even though my expression was totally neutral. He looked like the stereotypical shaven headed steroid munching meathead.
Avoid this nutcase if possible.
Posted 10 years ago # -
1) Viewforth again! Yesterday, I was followed onto Viewforth from Dundee St by a yellow highway maintenance truck (the name on it seemed something like "Shivas" but I was too concerned with the way it was driven to be sure. It passed me on the way up to the canal bridge without properly changing lanes and cut in so quickly that the attached trailer carrying a roller was close to swiping me off the road.
2) Craigleith Sainsbury's car park. I was riding between parking bays, parallel to the main circular road past the Burton Group shops, and therefore should have had right of way over a car coming from that road, but not according to the people carrier driver who drove her vehicle right across my path and straight into a disabled bay. I don't know what her (or her child passenger's) disability is (there was a sticker on the vehicle), but sadly she certainly suffers from lack of attention behind the wheel. And no sticker permits that. I stopped and called out (non-aggresively), as her window was down, but it then went up and they didn't get out. Either I wasn't heard or I was ignored.
Posted 10 years ago # -
WHY?
Posted 10 years ago # -
Large red motorcycle J505EUG being ridden more than 100m on the pavement at Arden St, with lots of aggressive revving. Now parked on same pavement.
Posted 10 years ago #
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