CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!

Today's rubbish cycling

(4503 posts)

  1. algo
    Member

    I'm putting this here as I have to accept some responsibility for what happened but I may mirror it in the rubbish driving thread.

    I joined Forrest Road from Teviot Place, at the same as two cyclists joining from MMW. I overtook one of the cyclists but that was daft as there was a red light up ahead to join George IVth bridge. That was a misjudgement on my part. I was intending to go right on Chambers Street but inadvisedly used the filter lane on the left - I can't remember why now. I would normally join the queue of traffic. As the lights changed I attempted to filter into the flow of traffic behind the first car, but the car behind accelerated to close the gap while gesticulating so I couldn't despite me indicating right and looking over my shoulder. I therefore let this car pass and went to filter in front of the white van behind that, but it also tried to close the gap. I had already started to move so the driver leaned on the horn without apparently slowing and came incredibly close to knocking me off as I turned right, shouting something unintelligeable as I went past. I don't know exactly how close he came but I was really shaken up.

    I accept that I made some bad decisions coming up Forrest Road and apologise to the cyclist who I overtook who will have witnessed all this. I also accept that I didn't properly shoulder check to move into the gap behind the belligerent second car, but that was pretty tricky at the time. I think the van driver had been annoyed by my previous filtering on Teviot Place and was intent not to let me out. I also drive a white van and would never think about overtaking a cyclist there - going right or not.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  2. LaidBack
    Member

    Forrest Road though is a special case!

    1. It features the only merging bike lane in Edinburgh - maybe anywhere.
    2. Said bike lane is rarely clear with parked cars and bus stops so normal to move centre.
    3. So staying out to right should have indicated to an experienced driver that you weren't going straight on and staying clear of hazardous Candlemaker Row junction.
    4. Forrest Road ped light could do with ASL or maybe just make it bikes and buses with a nice two way segregated cycle lane with room to move?

    All in all I don't think you commited any serious misdemeanors.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  3. algo
    Member

    Thanks @LB... good analysis :-)

    Posted 9 years ago #
  4. SRD
    Moderator

    So many people on NEPN with 'blinders'. (Copyright gembo). I know they must have started in the dark, and on an off-road path, but surely they could dip them a little?

    I did suggest that to a few people with a 'please' and got some baffled responses.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  5. ARobComp
    Member

    IT's the blinding flashers that get me on the NEPN. Are they worried cars are going to pull out infront of them?

    Posted 9 years ago #
  6. wingpig
    Member

    One NEPN user yesterday morning, yesterday evening and this morning appears to be under the misapprehension that I'm waving a greeting at him as he sort of waved at me this morning when I asked him for a third time to point his light down or switch it off. It's one of those which is searingly bright with an extra-bright pulse every second. Man has beard and may wear bicycle-glasses and a hat.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  7. acsimpson
    Member

    I think the problem with some blinders is that they can't be dipped. I assume these are MTB lights designed for riding twisty singletrack at night where a consistent even spread of light is a good thing.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  8. wingpig
    Member

    If a light doesn't dip/dim and is fastened too securely (so that it doesn't come off during EXTREME! activities) to push down a bit then EXTREME!ities should have a second light with a more civilized beam-spread for use in non-EXTREME! conditions.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  9. Was the cyclist yesterday who swore at me after I slowed to a near stop to let him get by on the path to the Edinburgh Park Station underpass.

    The scene: Lots of people around all over the path, me keeping hard left. Guy cycling the other way, staying hard right (so hard left from my perspective) and therefore coming straight towards me. I thought he was there as he was overtaking peds, so I slowed to let him get around the girl in front on him on his left, so he could then get back onto the correct side of the path.

    But no - he kept coming. I crept slowly forward, expecting him to move over to his left when he'd passed the girl - I didn't want to move right as I suspected that's where he'd be after passing her. As a result I ended up having to swing right out of HIS way, and got sworn at just for good measure.

    So, sticking to the correct side of the path (left), slowing to be considerate and let someone pass means I get a mouthful.

    Some people need to take a long, hard look at themselves :-(

    Posted 9 years ago #
  10. SRD
    Moderator

    Me, possibly.. Or maybe a bloke who expressed exasperation with me...

    A mum with occupied childseat and a preschooler on his own bike were trying to cross Merchiston ave (ie they had been on the road going along Gilmore place towards Polwarth roundabout). Mum had got off road/bike to cross with child. They weren't getting across. So, I looked, and then stood on the corner with my bike and told them to go. (I had been walking, pushing bike with my daughter).

    I clearly annoyed a guy on a bike who was turning up Merchiston ave. if he had signaled, I hadn't seen him. Still think we had right to cross - Highway Code 170 and all that. (Of course I didn't manage to remember to mention that).

    Posted 9 years ago #
  11. Kenny
    Member

    I rarely go along the canal towpath, but I did today, and tbh I'm glad I don't normally take that route, if this evening's rush hour antics were anything to go by. The number of people on bikes going the other way that stayed in the middle of the path while I had to cling on for dear life to the last remaining 2cm of path that I had was disappointing, as was the number of people who just battered their way through on the wrong side of the path when they had an obstruction on their side. This doesn't happen on the NEPN...

    Posted 9 years ago #
  12. gembo
    Member

    Watched a woman being buzzed by two speedsters on the towpath this morning, she had earphones in so there was quite a delay between getting buzzed and her reaction. Also the headphones meant she was a lot louder and basically shouting the following

    FFS, for Fs sake. Men and f-ing r
    Testosterone
    I'd be better off driving.

    She was not happy

    Posted 9 years ago #
  13. Mandopicker101
    Member

    @Kenny - faced with a commute out to Saughton House this morning, I reckoned it was either the towpath or ride through traffic.

    After last time, with people gaily edging me canalwards, I elected to ride with traffic. I arrived at work mildly adrenaline-ated, but in one piece. No idea how people commute via the canal towpath!

    Posted 9 years ago #
  14. Kenny
    Member

    I'm with you there, @Mandopicker101. Bus lanes FTW.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  15. ianfieldhouse
    Member

    Loads of eejits on the towpath last night, but worst of the lot were a group of 3 or 4 riders heading into town who were travelling much too fast almost as if they were in a chain gang. They had a pedestrian on their side of the towpath walking towards them but instead of slowing down to let the cyclist in front of me an myself pass the pedestrian just forced their way through almost colliding with the poor pedestrian. Absolute w*nkers and made me remember why I don't like using the towpath. In summer it's far too busy in winter there are too many blinding lights so most of the time I'd rather cycle in the traffic.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  16. Charlethepar
    Member

    @ianfieldhouse

    It is a sad commentary on human nature that so many cyclists' attitude to pedestrians on the tow path closely matches so many drivers' attitude to cyclists on the road.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  17. Kenny
    Member

    @ianfieldhouse - was this around 5:45? I saw such a bunch loudly arrive on the path at craiglockhart, heading into town. They had all the hallmarks of the attitude you describe.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  18. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    Most folks manage to rub along on the canal. Maybe there's a pulse of negative energy as people try to get to work for nine? It seems to be cool for most cats (© gembo) heading out of town without a clock to beat, certainly.

    Persistent offenders might well find themselves in the canal. We are all a bit vulnerable, and that tends to improve manners in my experience.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  19. ianfieldhouse
    Member

    @Kenny Yeah, it must have been very close to that time so might well have been them. It was on the stretch that passes alongside Meggetland from the access at Allan Park which also tallies.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  20. Kenny
    Member

    That was them, that's exactly where they came out from, ringing their bells aggressively. This suggests you and I were very close to each other. If you were heading out of town, I was the guy too scared to ride across the aquaduct, so hence was pushing his bike across and forcing everyone else to stop. Sorry about that - the thought of riding across that in 25mm slicks scares the crap out of me.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  21. gembo
    Member

    @IWRATS

    Cool for cats is copyright Difford and Tillbrook

    cats is spud in Trainspotting

    Posted 9 years ago #
  22. wingpig
    Member

    NEPN wheelsucker, clickingly freewheeling inches from my wheel going north on the Roseburn this evening. He appeared to miss my first over-the-shoulder get-the-something-past-or-stay-the-something-back so I slowed after we were through the next few groups of oncomers and exhorted him more clearly.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  23. chdot
    Admin

    "exhorted him more clearly"

    Hope it was rude.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  24. chdot
    Admin

    "

    The best front bike lights you can buy today resemble small hand-held torches which you can mount angled downwards to light up the road ahead without dazzling people approaching from the opposite direction in cars, on bikes or on foot.

    "

    http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/news/clocks-go-back-this-weekend-try-a-high-powered-light-for-confident-night-riding-win-390-worth-of-cateye-lights

    Posted 9 years ago #
  25. bdellar
    Member

    I've had lots of problems trying to ride on the left on Porty Prom, mainly at the Seafield end. It seems like LOADS of folk want to ride on the right when heading Porty-wards.

    Some folk just stay on their right and play chicken. I generally just stop. But I've had abuse as well.

    What's so good about that side of the path?

    Posted 9 years ago #
  26. wingpig
    Member

    Fewer dogturds inland? Fewer shell fragments? The infill on that trench being a bit smoother than the seaward rutscape? I'll move over when someone is approaching, though.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  27. chdot
    Admin

    "I'll move over when someone is approaching, though."

    Which is really the point - why would anyone 'conventionally in the wrong place' not move aside??

    Posted 9 years ago #
  28. jdanielp
    Member

    Possibly more down to the change of pace following a bit of a holiday, but some of the commuting cyclists heading into town along the canal towpath seemed overly entitled this morning... One almost incident involved a train of four cyclists overtaking a pedestrian walking in their direction on the left of the path as I approached from town - the first of the four had time to complete the manoeuvre safely, the second at a push given that I had slowed. The third was really taking advantage of the situation to sneak through and the fourth tried to do the same but had to emergency stop as I was almost forced to do the same...

    Posted 9 years ago #
  29. wingpig
    Member

    Three ultrabright morons on the NEPN and ten ninja. Also the lights are out between Crew(e) Toll and Boswall Drive.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  30. Greenroofer
    Member

    Chap ahead of me on the towpath in black with no lights and no reflectives at all this evening. He was completely (and I mean completely) invisible from 50m away.

    Odd thing is that he was dressed as a 'cyclist' in lycra, and was going at a fair pace, so should perhaps have known better. It was also odd that he had nothing reflective on his bike at all: it's pretty hard to avoid Scotchlite nowadays...

    Posted 9 years ago #

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