CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".
IT’S TRUE!
CCE is 15years old!
Well done to ALL posters
It soon became useful and entertaining. There are regular posters, people who add useful info occasionally and plenty more who drop by to watch. That's fine. If you want to add news/comments it's easy to register and become a member.
RULES No personal insults. No swearing.
stickyBack in the northern hemisphere for mere hours, I encountered this driver turning right straight in front of me. The first 10 seconds are the important bit; the rest of it is just to show that the car didn't get anywhere. My wife thinks the driver simply can't have seen me.
Yesterday while going along West Tollcross - in primary about to overtake a parked car with door open, private hire reg FD08YXJ number 547 aggressively revs, overtakes and sweeps me to the side, all with accompanying vitriol and looks of disbelief. He gained his place at the lights first so he must be proud. He probably objected to me filtering to the front on the right at Brougham Street, but there's very little option there when it's jammed up in my experience unless you want to choose a place to be squeezed into the railings on the left.
Actually the driving was skillful, if just innapropriate.
847AM (I had a chance to check my wristwatch), Slateford Road at the building site on the old Westons Biscuit factory / NHS depot. 6 axle articulated lorry attempted to reverse into the site, cab facing west. A couple of workies trying to help guide him but he could neither see them or hear their instructions over noise of engine.
Ended up completely wedged across both carriageways and both pavements, with a lamp post preventing him turning back out. Through much skillful back and forward rocking he managed to inch himself out somehow, saying he was off to find a roundabout to turn on and come back from the other direction! Think he'd end up at the Lothian Bus garage at Longstone to get one.
While his fine handling prowess of such a combersome vehicle was to be commended, attempting this maneouvre at height of rush hour was just daft. I notice they habitually have multiple tippers parked up on the bike lane before 9AM waiting for the first run of the day.
was me…. in the van I overtook two people on road bikes heading South on the A702 coming past the entrance to to Hillend here - waited for a bit behind them riding two abreast, then overtook as they went into single file, but realised it was going to be a tighter pass than I'd thought and misjudged it a bit with oncoming traffic. It was slow and I think far enough out, but I was expecting and hoping to give more space - I thought it was kaptunik who I'd passed but he assures me it wasn't him, but apologies in any case to whoever it was… I carry POP posters in my van, so any such errors are a bit of an embarrassment
algo - very honest of you. as Anth used to say ' we all make mistakes'.
At least you know what you did was wrong - a point lost on many.
Talking of which. Anyone here had a less than safe encounter with a Horsburgh Bus?
Happened at the badly laid out Argyle Place island set up this morning. Infrastructure isn't an excuse though. If in doubt stay back etc...
I've made a complaint and I've had an answer with request for reg number. Are there really that many I wonder?
There are quite a few EM Horsburgh buses in Livingston. I have a vague recollection of a notably good encouter with the driver of one a while ago. Otherwise they're similar to the First Buses round here; i.e. mostly OK
@Kenny,
I recently had a discussion with a professional large vehicle driving instructor whom I showed my videos to and his comments were that he agreed that they showed bad and or careless driving, however he made the point that perhaps drivers may be being caught out by the speed with which I can close with them, particularly when on my road bike which I can easily and quickly reach speeds of 25+mph with my thighs of steel. :-)
It seems that in your video above (whilst I agree that the driver was at fault)you may have been in a similar situation as you were going some, and he/she may not have expected a mere push bike to be belting along at such speed. Just a thought.
This video from not from today but a while ago.
I reported this to Edinburgh Council:
"The taxi driver has been traced and interviewed, he was advised of the nature and details of the complaint and was shown the video clip that you supplied.
The driver was warned about future behaviour with regards to this incident. He has been advised that the circumstances of this incident have been attached to his driver record and may be referred to should he come to our attention in the future.
He apologised for his behaviour and accepted that advice given by Inspector Smith."
Very good of the council to investigate and deal with this properly.
That's an interesting piece of cycle "infrastructure" there - the cycle lane appears to drop to 1/3 width though the build-out, suggesting that whoever designed the road thought it would be a good idea for a bike to continue through on that whilst a car is coming the other way. The taxi driver certainly seemed to think that...
Yeesh...
@condor2378 - I think that's a fair conclusion.
@Kenny, a fair conclusion but a poor excuse. If you can't judge the speed of another vehicle on the road accurately then you should always err on the side of caution.
fimm - There are quite a few EM Horsburgh buses in Livingston. I have a vague recollection of a notably good encouter with the driver of one a while ago.
"If you can't judge the speed of another vehicle on the road accurately then you should always err on the side of caution."
Control at Horsburgh did follow my enquiry up and have spoken with driver involved. I thought it was a useful exchange - I think the guy in question knew it had been a bad judgement - related to speed as quote above. They have CCTV on these buses and I'm sure it would back up what I described. In 'road rage' terms it would have been easy to go ballistic at the time and then hunker down.
Of course I did my utmost to avoid getting run over so we could have a friendly chat later!
Special thanks to the lady of the silver Audi 4x4 last night circa 21:00 who pulled out of Falcon Avenue up the hill on Morningside Road so that our trajectories met as I passed the junction.
She performed the move only to join a queue of stationary traffic a car's length further on but as I braked hard(er) to stop myself ploughing headfirst into the side of her vehicle, she deliberately moved her 4x4 as close to the parked cars to my left as she could get her oversized bonnet, leaving me wedged between her monstrosity and the parked cars.
If my brakes had have worked just a smidgeon less, my handlebars would have forced the stop as they wedged between her 4x4 and the parked cars, and then I'd have been crushed as she moved forward with the traffic flow, continuing to close against the parked cars and then turned left down Morningside Place.
Even open-hand slapping her bodywork after I'd come to a wedged standstill didn't get her attention or her to stop to discuss why she felt she was entitled to put my life at risk. So shaken up I didn't remember her number plate.
@acsimpson: "@Kenny, a fair conclusion but a poor excuse. If you can't judge the speed of another vehicle on the road accurately then you should always err on the side of caution." - Couldn't agree more.
I normally have very little to report from my commutes into work, but I had 2 SMIDSY's within half a mile this morning - one at Haymarket, then one outside the Sainsbury's on Morrison Street heading for Lothian Road. In both cases, cars drifting left into my lane at the point I was occupying as if I wasn't there.
Arrived at work grumpy but unharmed, at least!
In both cases, cars drifting left into my lane at the point I was occupying as if I wasn't there.
Get that more often than I care at the Roundabout of South Gyle Access / South Gyle Crescent / South Gyle Broadway. As soon as the bonnet draws level with my front wheel the driver must feel their past and begins to slow slightly and drift across. I've taken to cycling to the right of the middle of the lane (super primary?) as we approach the roundabout to ward off this activity.
In my book "superprimary" is the only safe place to be on the approach to a roundabout. I do the same at Picardy Place, London Road/Elm Row, bottom of Broughton Street.
Just watch out for cars trying to undertake you on the left. You just can't win ;-)
Get that more often than I care at the Roundabout of South Gyle Access / South Gyle Crescent / South Gyle Broadway. As soon as the bonnet draws level with my front wheel the driver must feel their past and begins to slow slightly and drift across. I've taken to cycling to the right of the middle of the lane (super primary?) as we approach the roundabout to ward off this activity.
Ha! Same defensive strategy here, at the very same roundabout even.
Yeah thats the approach I usually take at that roundabout too.
This kind of thing seems to be getting far too common:
CJC I've had very similar with two central taxi's over the last week.
On another note check out this woman who after a slight altercation with a disabled cyclist, decided to try and ram him taking out a van, the cyclist and an innocent flower shop at the same time. She had 5(!) children in the car with her at the time.
(not edinburgh)
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/motorist-arrested-on-suspicion-of-attempted-grievous-bodily-harm-after-autistic-cyclist-is-knocked-off-bike-in-road-rage-crash-9511055.html
ARobComp: how do they distinguish between attempted GBH and attempted murder? I'm sure I've seen other court cases where someone has tried to run someone down with a car and gets the more serious charge.
Yeah it's an interesting one. Also its pretty amazing how "oh well at least everyone's alright" everyone is...
More Taxis
Dear City Cabs.
I raised a complaint via twitter last night and you told me to get in touch with context. I'd have come straight to you but I was pretty wound up and forgot to check which company the guy was working for but snapped a photo of his licence number to remind me. This is now the fourth dangerous move by a taxi driver in the last week where I've had to take action to avoid being hit. For "professional" drivers this is ridiculous (2 other incidents were reported to Central taxis as they were both their cab, didn't get the other guy)
I was heading from morrison street to haymarket terrace having come from Shandwick place around the one way system. The lights turned green as I approached them and I took the cycle lane to go past haymarket.
As you'll know this cycle lane goes into the taxi drop off area,which is not ideal and is advisory and as no-one was signalling otherwise I chose to keep going straight to use the main roadway (which I am 100% entitled to do) I even stayed fairly far back to give the taxi (113) room to follow the lane as it's pretty tight there with cars in both lanes and I'd need to manoeuvre the tram lines.
Continuing along I noticed a drift in the taxi's movements and realised that he was starting to pull into haymarket drop off. I slammed on my brakes otherwise I would have been into the back of him, or worse, under the back wheels.
There was no indication, or indicators, and I was watching his head (as I always try to) and saw no head check or mirror check (these are what we cyclists use as a double check as people who forget their indicators will usually make at least one check).
I followed the driver into the drop off area, and pointed out that the small stem on the side of his steering wheel was for indicating and that he'd almost hit me.
His answer was to say "well you's all run read lights don't you" (I don't)
I again iterated that he had almost hit me and that you can't just turn without indicating.
At which point I received 2 fingers and some abuse.
I then left (on the green light) after taking a photo of his licence plate.
He was dropping off passengers at the time and as I left he was speaking to them no doubt waxing lyrical about the virtues of "all cyclists".
I shouldn't need to point out that he is driving a large several tonne taxicab. He was in the wrong. I am not "all cyclists", as I'm sure he is not "all taxi drivers". I have every right to be where I was. He has a licence to drive a potential killing machine and to make his living on the roads (please note I also have a car and a licence). He scared the crap out of me. That's not cool either.
That road is badly designed for all of us, a less experienced cyclist would have been led down into the lane next to the taxi and would have been hit.
As for red light jumping. There are idiots in control of all forms of transport, while it's not a good idea, luckily idiots on bikes don't tend to kill people. Idiots in cars and trucks and buses and taxis could and do.
Look forward to hearing what action is taken.
Sounds like a pretty nasty piece of work. Do Taxis attract aggressive, rude morons or does driving a taxi for a living turn otherwise reasonable people into thugs?
I often don't post incidents here but this morning OV59FOJ stepped the meaning of incident up a level by left hooking me on ferrytoll roundabout. Why he couldn't wait 3 seconds for me to clear the lane he wanted to take only he will ever know.
Reply from City Cabs suggesting I report him to the licencing board... maybe previous and known troublemaker?
"Please accept my sincere apologies on behalf of City Cabs for the abuse you were subjected to by this taxi driver who is unfortunately one of ours. I assure you that he will be brought in and spoken to formally in regards to the 2 fingers incident but in relation to the road safety rules and regulations I am afraid we are limited in what we can actually do i.e. we can strongly remind him of the danger involved and reiterate to him the rules/regulations relating to road safety, cyclists and other road user in the hope he will adhere to them in the future. However as this is a road traffic offence which, in my opinion should be treated with a lot more severity than this I would strongly advise you to raise your complaint with the Taxi Licensing Board, as they do have the authority to act on matters such as these.
If you decide to follow my advice, the email address you will require is licensing@edinburgh.gov.uk or alternatively if you would prefer to call them direct the telephone number is 0131 529 4202.
Thank you for taking the time to bring this matter to our attention and if you should require anything further, then please do not hesitate to contact me again direct and I shall do my very best to assist."
SafariScreenSnapz001 by aedan, on Flickr
An advert appeared on the video after I watched it.
Not sure if there is a "Rubbish Passenger" thread but this thread seems appropriate. Friday 6th about 3:30pm I was heading along Duddingston Road West headed for Craigmillar Castle Road. After a bit of filtering up the left I started following a flatbed truck. As we approach the lights a large pile of McDonalds junk is chucked out of the passenger side window. All captured on helmetcam along with the registration of the SiteXOrbis liveried van. I reported this initially to the police as an offence under section 87 of the Environment Act 1990 and an officer visited me at home yesterday to view the footage. He explained that he couldn't charge any individual without corroboration and it may be better to go via the council environmental wardens. So I did. I also emailed Orbis with the details and the council reference number so that they can provide the details of the passenger so that the fine can be issued. If nothing comes of that I'll post the footage on Youtube with an explanation of the company's failure to act on this.
"If nothing comes of that I'll post the footage on Youtube with an explanation of the company's failure to act on this."
Sounds reasonable!
Reply from City Cabs suggesting I report him to the licencing board... maybe previous and known troublemaker?
It seems utterly mental that they cannot deal with this as internal matter given how seriously they apparently take it. But are willing to continually take the reputation hit from bad drivers representing them while the victim of said driving has to go to the licensing board.
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