Arthur's Seat is very picturesque, especially when the sun comes out like it did this afternoon, but if you want to take a picture you should really stop your car first instead of sticking your camera phone out of the window. Perhaps the driver of the blue Passat estate would care to think twice before trying that again while negotiating the roundabouts.
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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@douglaswaring I wonder if that was the same blue passat that carved me up in Gorgie? See upthread
Posted 10 years ago # -
Turning right from Braid Road into Braidburn Terrace this evening, at the godawful mini-roundabout, I observed a car driver waiting to exit Hermitage Drive and a car driver waiting to exit Braid Road (opposite me) to turn left into Braidburn Terrace.
As roundabouts go, I had priority and moved off accordingly. Except, the driver opposite thought the same and pulled straight into my path without a glance in my direction.
This was possibly why, when questioned a minute later when she parked in Greenbank Place on whether she understood roudabout priorities, she said "I didn't see you!" No, quite clearly you didn't. Then she tried to shift the blame onto me by saying how she worried about cyclists being on the roads. I politely suggested that the next cyclist she 'doesn't see' might be less charitable in their manner, then reminded her to look on both sides of her windscreen pillar next time, and promptly cycled home, fuming. Mutual respect? Nice Way Code? Bah. I'm beginning to feel safer riding a motorbike.
Posted 10 years ago # -
edd1e_h I thought that too, what are the chances?
Posted 10 years ago # -
I’m in primary in the left lane on Forest road travelling about 10 mph in queued traffic with an articulated lorry two vehicles ahead straddling the cycle lane. The lorry indicates left down Candlemaker Row so just as I’m congratulating myself for not trying to use what’s left of the cycle lane to pass the traffic, the car behind revs their engine and sounds the horn. I glance back and the delightful young lady at the wheel gesticulates and waves to the left with both hands. I carry on in primary comfortably keeping up with the car in front. Once on George IV bridge the road widens and there’s a bus lane, however, as usual, it’s blocked ahead by white van man. So I carry on in primary in the right lane. This is too much for the young lady behind who accelerates hard, sounds the horn again, performs a very close undertake on me by using the bus lane and then cuts across the front of me to avoid hitting white van man. While I’m alongside bus lane white van man, white van man #2 (this one behind me) decides to join the party and also sounds his horn. As soon as the bus lane is clear I move into it and WVM #2 speeds past. All of 60 metres later both offending vehicles screech to halt at the back of a long queue of stationary traffic. As I cruise past in the bus lane I restrict myself to a polite wave. WVM #2 stares straight ahead, young lady screams profanities about cycle lanes through the open passenger side window.
What I find most irritating about this situation is the amount of agro generated because a legal and safe cyclist delayed two vehicles from joining a queue of traffic by about 2-3 seconds. Fortunately the rest of my commute was peaceful enough that I arrived at work happy and relaxed. I doubt the other parties to this incident can say the same.Posted 10 years ago # -
So the NiceWayCode didn't work?
Posted 10 years ago # -
approaching the top of St Margaret Street in Dunfermline this morning I was aware of a car approaching from behind but as I was within 10 metres of the junction assumed they would do the decent thing and wait. Needless to say I was wrong and to preserve my body work had to apply the brakes as he turned in front of me.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Had this three times in the short ride from Pollock Halls to Leith yesterday. First, car attempted to overtake me as I accelerated downhill in the Holyrood park and had to cut in across me to avoid hitting a car coming in the opposite direction. Second, I was in the primary position to go straight ahead down Easter Road at Abbeyhill and got honked at for no apparent reason at all. And then turning right on Great Junction Street onto Henderson St a drive undertook me as I went right (with outstretched arm) and almost killed me turning right in front of me.
The basic levels and courtesy of drivers in the UK is appalling. It's why, much as I'm a supporter of going Dutch, I do realise there is a place for traffic policing and education campaigns.
Posted 10 years ago # -
@pjmatthews, defo courtesy and ability levels
This morning heading down West Nile Street, waiting at red at Sauchihall St lights, they change to green next set of lights are at Bath Street junction(40m ish)at red also. I maintain primary, lady in black BMW revs engine behind me then proceeds to try and overtake but runs out of road when we reach lights.
So she is sitting halfway across centreline of road, half blocking other carriageway.Posted 10 years ago # -
The basic levels and courtesy of drivers in the UK is appalling.
It really feels like the past couple of weeks have seen a huge increase in driver aggression. I've been overtaken whilst in primary, undertaken whilst accelerating in primary to junctions, I've been sworn at, I've been cut up, I've been told that as a cyclist it's too dangerous for me to use the road.
I haven't changed the way I ride. I'm assertive and courteous, and I leave space for emergency manoeuvres, but all of a sudden I'm getting dog's abuse just for existing and frankly I'm fed up.
Posted 10 years ago # -
There's a base impatient selfishness that pervades our roads, which I could understand more if the participants had to make any kind of physical effort to propel themselves around.
Its also a taboo subject. Outside of niche forums like this, its not on anyone's agenda to even acknowledge, never mind discuss.
Posted 10 years ago # -
I am increasingly negotiating Gilmore Place, between the King's Theatre junction and the turn off onto the canal, in primary due to the parked cars and then the decrease in the width of the lane when heading towards the canal, and parked cars, nasty potholes and finally the right-hand filter lane when heading back into town.
This morning, a community ambulance/minibus vehicle, which I had passed by using the bicycle lane to move ahead into the ASZ at the traffic lights, decided to sound its horn and then overtake me at speed in the wrong lane while the driver gesticulated wildly. Not impressed (other than the space allowed, albeit dangerously), except that I have experienced bad driving by the same vehicle (and probably driver) in the same area on a number of occasions in the past. I must note details so I know where to complain...
Posted 10 years ago # -
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Cycling Edinburgh (@CyclingEdin)
30/04/2014 11:03
How should 'cyclists' 'the police' 'society ' deal with drivers like this?http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=83#post-151089
@policescotland @TheAA_UK @IAMgroup
"
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The AA (@TheAA_UK)
30/04/2014 14:14
@CyclingEdin @policescotland @IAMgroup It's best that you continue to cycle safe and keep calm on the road."
Posted 10 years ago # -
It's best that you continue to cycle safe and keep calm on the road
Classic victim blaming
What if the AA had said this to someone threatened with rape, "It's best that you continue to dress safely and keep calm if approached by a rapist."
Posted 10 years ago # -
hmm...great advice from the AA, were it not for the fact that cycling safely is what seems to antagonise some drivers.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Perhaps the safeness and consideration on the part of care-taking cyclists requires aggressive motor-operators to up their game to ensure they still present an acceptably significant risk to cyclists who have anticipated their background-level risk-profference.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Well in one sense the AA is right: we can't do anything about how other people use the road, we can only make sure we use it as well as we can ourselves. I'm sure road users get hassled by other road users for such offences as driving at the speed limit, driving while being old, or driving while towing a caravan. And yes, of course a cyclist is more vulnerable.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Cycling up Bristo Place tonight I was in right hand lane to turn into Teviot Place on the one way system. Was a bit surprised to find a car driving towards me (and the other traffic) on Teviot Place (going the wrong way on the one way system). Still not sure how they got there!
Posted 10 years ago # -
A couple from Monday night.
I was approaching Drumbrae South from Craigs Road and was in the centre of the right hand lane coming up to the give way line.
A small blue car was heading south (downhill) on Drumbrae and turning right into Craigs Road and decided to cut off the corner and drive through my lane and me. I shouted a warning and he corrected himself and drove round me.
This put me on edge for the rest of the night, which led to another incident when I was has heading North onto the Drumbrae/ PC World roundabout at about 10.30pm. I entered the Roundabout and saw a taxi approaching fast from the West.
Our paths were going to coincide and I was worried that I was in his blind spot with him showing no signs of having seen me or slowing down so I shouted (loudly). He stopped (behind the give way line) and indicated that he had seen me earlier. I might need to apologise for waking anyone up with my shout, but I'd prefer to be safe than sorry.
Posted 10 years ago # -
I was waiting to turn right. The car behind me obviously thought I was taking too long over this, and decided to use the pavement to pass me so that they could turn left...
Posted 10 years ago # -
Cycling east from Gogar roundabout and heading straight along Glasgow road I am overtaken by a Mulholand Contractors white van #180 and then beautifully cut up by said van as it takes the left slip at the Maybury Casino I had hoped I might have been able to have a word with the driver as the lights had gone amber but he managed to accelerate and just squeeze through on amber(ish).
Posted 10 years ago # -
Todays rubbish driving:
... brought to you courtesy of X58 Stagecoach driver who mounted the path at Ferrytoll (08:05 left Ferrytoll) slip road (A90 South bound) heading for the bridge and then sped up to 40mph as he continued on the kerb until he rejoined the carrageway near the layby.
eejit!!
Good job no cyclists were heading down the other way or they'd have been squashed!
- just here : http://goo.gl/maps/xXIKC
Posted 10 years ago # -
Do stagecoach buses carry cameras?
Posted 10 years ago # -
I don't know, but when ever I've complained to them about stuff they aknowledge my complaint, but never come back to me, so assume they don't give a stuff!
Posted 10 years ago # -
That's a shame. Citylink gave me quite a good response when I complained about one of their drivers trying to squash me on Shandwick Place a few years back.
What I found most comedic about it was that the driver had the courtesy to point out that his vehicle was fitted with cameras.
Of course whether he actually paid attention to the additional training I was told he had been given or not I have no idea.
Posted 10 years ago # -
I almost died 15 minutes ago.
I was leaving Sainsbury at Craigleigh to the right (headed towards Blackhall path). I was behind a long flat-bed truck, which then stopped at a roundabout.
(This roundabout, headed approx West.)
I stopped behind it, giving it around 6 feet gap.
Then it started reversing. I had to jump off my bike, lift it up and jump onto the dirt/bushes at the side of the road.
If I hadn't done that, I'd have been a goner - as, a couple of seconds later, the truck was occupying the spot where I'd been.
Unfortunately - and I'm kicking myself - I was so shaken, I didn't get the license number and have forgotten the name of the company.
Posted 10 years ago # -
@gibbo - sounds very scary - hope you are unscathed.
I've had this happen to me, and on certain vehicles for which the space directly behind is completely blind, I tend to position myself so the driver can see me in the driver's side mirror. It may well be that you did this and it's just a case of awful driving, but just thought I'd mention it as I occasionally drive large vehicles with no rear view mirror....
Posted 10 years ago # -
@algo,
I'm physically fine. But, having known people (non-cyclists) who have been crushed to death by vehicles, I'm pretty shaken.
I usually position myself to the left (so I can see their mirror). I don't know if I did this time. Maybe I just wasn't thinking.
Though, of course, that doesn't make it ok for them to suddenly reverse into what they know is a blind spot.
(Plus, they would/should have seen me as I turned onto the road. So it was unquestionably the worst driving I've ever seen.)
Posted 10 years ago # -
@gibbo - yes awful. Sorry - didn't mean to suggest otherwise. Very scary - hope you're ok
Posted 10 years ago # -
Gibbo,
Any vehicle like that should have a banksman before even engaging reverse gear anywhere, never mind in a public car park.
The retail park is festooned with CCTV, you could see if it was captured & get a name or reg from that.
Posted 10 years ago #
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