CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!

Engaging with the enemy

(44 posts)
  • Started 12 years ago by chdot
  • Latest reply from ruggtomcat

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  1. Darkerside
    Member

    Take ten points whoever submitted:

    Driver was a young woman with an Australian accent, sunglasses (it was cloudy) and the entire contents of the Boots make-up department on her face.

    Had a good chuckle. Anyway, thanks for positive feedback. I'll give it until Saturday afternoon for anyone else to give suggestions, then update appropriately for a final revision before a definite 'do we want to go ahead with this' decision. chdot - is this something citycyclingedinburgh would be interested in parenting, or would you rather it remained something neutral? Poll?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  2. gembo
    Member

    Darkerside excellent. I hope CCE can host. Left hook where overtaken and vehicle now in front immediately turns left. too obvious to need explanation, just a thought. Would love button for White Van. As although sample will be biased it would at least provide data. My money being on the white van factor being no more prominent than the BMW factor. Ah BMW would need a button too. :-)

    Posted 12 years ago #

  3. Dave
    Member

    Promising, but I think there's too much on there (even though it's optional), some of which will inevitably be damaging - the EEN could run a feature about reckless cyclists putting themselves in harm's way as 2/3rds did not wear hiviz, for instance, even though that's not relevant to an allegation of dangerous driving, or cruddy roads, or whatever.

    I would cull the whole last section.

    The bit at the top about liability is odd too. All of the options are an allegation of wrongdoing and liability on behalf of the third party. There is no non-liable way to fail to give way, for example? Maybe I'm not understanding the text.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  4. Darkerside
    Member

    On the damaging data front, yes, it's a risk. I'm not sure what correlation the cyclist's clothing will have to anything, which is why I put it in there. I'd be really interested to find out, for example, whether cyclists without helmets suffer more honking of horns but less close passes. Self-selecting sample and all, but who knows?

    What I will read up on over the weekend is whether it's possible to exert an element of control over the conclusions drawn. A clause like 'any person or organisation can request access to this data. However, if obviously incorrect conclusions are quoted as fact by twisting the data, they must be acknowledged as wrong and withdrawn'. My main concern on that front is someone saying 'there were only 5 cases of left hooks in Edinburgh last month', failing to acknowledge that the data would only capture a subset of those that were actually reported.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  5. Darkerside
    Member

    On liability I meant 'don't incriminate yourself in what you submit, unless you're happy for that information to be in the public domain'. Will ensure final wording is clear.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  6. Baldcyclist
    Member

    I tried directly engaging with the enemy on the way home last night. I can report that they won, my bike is broken, and I'm cut to shreds!

    [EDIT]Although I did leave a rather large bottom shaped dent in the wing of their car, so it wasn't a complete loss. ;)

    Posted 12 years ago #

  7. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    It seems to me that we could benefit from the support, advice and training that can be provided by equalities and non-violent direct action experts.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  8. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Saw that on Facebook last night Baldie - not good. Though the bottom shaped dent is a good advert for cycling giving you buns of steel. ;)

    Posted 12 years ago #

  9. ExcitableBoy
    Member

    Had somebody deliberately drive their car at me on the way home this morning!
    After coming down the Royal mile and past Parliament, I was overtaken very closely and at speed by a blue car as I went around the bend near the gates to the Palace. I shouted "oi!", then I caught up with the car as it sat in the right-hand lane at the mini-roundabout, to go west/South around the park. As I passed on his left (I was heading towards Meadowbank), I looked at him and signaled with my hand the closeness of his pass. He threw his hand up and mouthed something. Then, he turned his car and drove half way into the left lane, directly at me, before giving up and carrying on around the roundabout.
    Close passing and hand gestures are almost par for the course, but deliberately being driven at is something else.
    So, I took a note of his registation number and reported the incident to the police in Portobello, who say they will have a word with him about his driving.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  10. Darkerside
    Member

    Slightly later than advertised, a form updated with your feedback is now here. Changelog:

    • Opening paragraph tidied, in particular with regards to liability and a bit better spacing
    • Minor wording changes throughout, in line with your comments
    • Adjusted the options within the final yes/no block. Feedback please on whether the 'was the cyclist male' question is appropriately phrased. I think the sex of the cyclist could be interesting given Ian Walker's research, but didn't really want to put in a separate drop down box as it then makes it appear too important/makes the form longer. Effectively if you scan over the question without it standing out as odd, all's well
    • Closing paragraph added, with links to the forum and CTC and LFGSS 'what to do in case of an accident' threads.
    • I've also included my google 'cycling stuff' email for any technical queries or form feedback. If this detracts from the community endeavour feel of the form I'm open to alternatives!

    Will post a 'possible next steps' after I've wolfed down some curry!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  11. ruggtomcat
    Member

    Can I request 'apparently male' instead of male please?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  12. Darkerside
    Member

    Umm, yes?

    As we also have a Good Drivers thread, there might be benefit to having a (much simpler) way to report good drivers, particularly from companies or taxis? I could see being able to send something along the lines of 'Thanks - your drivers were commended for their considerate driving 6 times in February' to someone's PR wing might be more effective than repeated slaps on the wrist.

    Possibly overthinking this

    Posted 12 years ago #

  13. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    No that's not a bad idea. Positive reinforcement and all that jazz. Every 'congratulation' I've ever sent has been graciously replied to, and I'd hope they filter the message down to the driver involved and make them more likely to do the same again.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  14. ruggtomcat
    Member

    @darkerside thanks!

    Posted 12 years ago #

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