CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!

Today's rubbish cycling

(4520 posts)

1…808182…151

  1. threefromleith
    Member

    The cyclist in full reflectives / hi-viz, with good lights, who belts the length of the Shore from the King's Wark to Cafe Truva on the pavement every morning about 6.45 - which means he's weaving his way through the folk waiting at the bus stop outside Mimi's at speed.

    I know the Shore's setts are a frame-cracking, teeth-rattling, light-loosening pain, but if I can ride them on a road bike, he can ride them on a MTB with suspension forks. It's not like the road's busy and scary at that time of the morning either - it's almost always empty when I see the guy.

    Hope he grows up and uses the road before he hits someone. It's bad enough passing people at that stop on foot without them stepping into your path absent-mindedly.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  2. SRD
    Moderator

    Cyclist who was coming down MMW, as I came uphill, signalled and waited to turn into George Square, who went slower and slower, never making eye contact, before finally turning. WHY? is it so hard to indicate that you're turning? really?

    Posted 8 years ago #

  3. Colonies_Chris
    Member

    A friend of a friend (in Melbourne) has just posted this on FB:

    "Happy to report I just got a call from the Bayside police to tell me that a properly nasty human has gone to jail for 14 months. I witnessed an unprovoked attack by a cyclist on a woman driving her car. He punched her drivers side window yelling abuse while her small children were in the car. I was in the car in front and it was frightening to see. I had to pick up boys from school but went back to check 10 mins later. She was still sitting in her car sobbing uncontrollably, her 4WD window had been smashed from the force of his 2-3 punches. Nobody had stopped to see if she was ok. So I stopped and gave her a big hug and tried to comfort her and her kids and I called the police. I stayed for only half an hour and gave a statement. Luckily one of the kids had taken a photo of the guy so he was easily identifiable. The police today told me that witnesses statements make all the difference in getting bad guys off the streets. At the time I was scared that he might learn who I am and come after me and my family but now I know I've done the right thing."

    (and a lot more)
    But, Googling, I can't find any mention anywhere of this incident. Anyone heard any more details about it? There's obviously more to the story than what's given in this report.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  4. Min
    Member

    14 months jail for damaging a car?

    Posted 8 years ago #

  5. fimm
    Member

    In British Law (yes I know there's no such thing) that would be "Assault", wouldn't it? Assault actually means making someone scared that they're going to be hurt (or something along those lines).
    Totally agree that there must be more to the story.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  6. algo
    Member

    Unwittingly rubbish I'd say. I was cycling behind someone with ostensibly no rear light last night. As I went to overtake I realised she had quite a reasonable rear light which was entirely obscured by various bits of bike furniture. I tried to be as polite as possible in letting her know - hopefully it was helpful rather than obtrusive.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  7. Stickman
    Member

    "@FrankRoss06 Walking the dog on the shared path at Broomhouse. Verbally abused by cyclist for using THEIR path!"

    Oh bloody hell, it's not like Cllr Ross hates cyclists enough as it is.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  8. acsimpson
    Member

    Were they walking their dog or was their dog running wild in front of other path users?

    Posted 8 years ago #

  9. 559
    Member

    @algo,
    Seen quite a few cyclists recently with hidden rear lights, lights themselves are fine, but from certain angles totally obscured. Saw one cyclist from about 10 car lengths who appeared to have no rear light on getting closer the light appeared from behind a large reflector.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  10. Klaxon
    Member

    Pointed out to a pair of cyclists last night at the bottom of Holyrood Rd that their front lights (hyper-blinkies) were comparable to camera flashguns constantly going off and not actually useful for helping others judge speed, position or distance.

    I also pointed out that they're particularly blinding in unstreetlit areas.

    One ignored me and the other gave me a wry smile and nod that in British trannslates roughly to '**** off ya prick' without engaging in further conversation.

    Off into Holyrood and much to my surprise their rear lights were barely visible.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  11. twinspark
    Member

    @Klaxon, Was in the car so just flashed lights / fog light to cyclist near Liberton Hospital this morning. Only saw them because of their pedal reflectors! They didn't appear to have a rear reflector or rear light. Front light was superb - non-dazzling but bright and clear.

    I've seen quite a few occurrences of this lately.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  12. Stickman
    Member

    I get annoyed when I see people giving advice to new bike commuters to "just buy some Cree lights off eBay" - they are way too bright for anything other than nighttime MTB.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  13. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Bloke on a blue and black gnarly-tyred MTB, solid BMX-type helmet with a good quantity of grey hair poking out from underneath, fluo jacket and HUMP cover. Went through the red crossing light at end of Roseburn Terrace outside the Murrayfield Bar at the same time as the school crossing patrol was walking out onto it.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  14. CycleCommute.CC
    Member

    @Stickman, for city use you are probably right, but out of town on unlit country roads you need a fair few lumens to light up the way.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  15. wishicouldgofaster
    Member

    I shouted at another cyclist last night as they were all in black with no lights. Must have been a case of forgetting as the light went on straight away.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  16. SRD
    Moderator

    Idiot who overtook me on the right as I signalled that I was turning right into George square from MMW. And I was not pootling, for once.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  17. Murun Buchstansangur
    Member

    What are people's opinions of being (cycle) overtaken on the inside? Is it ever acceptable? I had to wait at the George St/Frederick St junction for right-turning traffic, and when I moved off I was surprised to find myself abreast someone on an MTB on my inside (had passed said person earlier on George St). Felt compelled to give him/myself some room which put me a bit wider on the junction than I'm usually happy with. Also distracted me from watching the zebra crossing on the far side, so when he steamed through, I did the same, belatedly realising there were peds just arriving to cross on both sides. I ended up passing him before we even got to Hollister as he mashed and slipped his way through his cassette for a second time in 2 blocks. Seemed a bit of a pointless manouevre on his part.

    Have also had probs with people setting up on my inside intending to go straight on when I'm in a strong primary but intending to go left at a light-controlled crossroads. Do I really need to set up in the gutter just so MGIFs get the message?

    Posted 8 years ago #

  18. wingpig
    Member

    "Have also had probs with people setting up on my inside intending to go straight on when I'm in a strong primary but intending to go left at a light-controlled crossroads."

    I get that too, particularly at London Road/Abbey Lane, Haymarket Terrace/yards, Jock's Lodge, Seafield Road, all along George Street and so on. It's got to the point where I sometimes ask people where they're thinking of going. I'm not going to sit in the gutter in places where I don't want to be barged past. At Haymarket Yards I often need to wait after the lights go green whilst pedestrians cross at the end of the road, which I'd rather do in a visible position in case there's something bigger than a bike behind which also wants to go left.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  19. ih
    Member

    Is undertaking ever acceptable?

    In very general terms, no. Some exception could be made as for cars, that is only when driving slowly in lanes. Thing is, if cycles are 'in lanes' they're going to be car sized lanes so no problem.

    When sitting waiting to turn left, and someone squeezes by on the inside, I also ask them if they're going straight on.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  20. Edinburgh Cycle Training
    Member

    Sometimes the problem is the on road paint. Many boxes with ASL's have a bike lane on the left to enter. If I am the first to enter one like that I will adopt Primary even if turning left, so as not to block the entrance lane. It then involves a bit of common sense - a chat, another arm signal. If I'm going straight on and someone comes in to my left, I'd only have an issue if they then turned right in front of me.

    I'd agree in general its not a good idea, but I've undertaken a cyclist on my bike because it seemed the sensible and safe thing to do at the time.

    Things aren't always simple or have one correct answer!

    Posted 8 years ago #

  21. cb
    Member

    I assume those in primary-waiting-to-turn-left are indicating left whilst waiting?

    Posted 8 years ago #

  22. wingpig
    Member

    "I assume those in primary-waiting-to-turn-left are indicating left whilst waiting?"

    No. If someone rolls up to my left shoulder just as the lights are about to change and there's not time to speak at them I'll start signalling pointedly at them but I tend not to sit at junctions for three minutes with my arm held out the whole time. If I'm about to start moving then slow down to wait for pedestrians I'll signal pointedly at any vehicles immediately behind me as I move off.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  23. cb
    Member

    No

    Found the problem!

    Posted 8 years ago #

  24. wingpig
    Member

    Do you seriously claim to keep your whole arm out from the moment you stop to the moment you set off? A finger pointing out to the side from an arm at your side doesn't count.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  25. algo
    Member

    I'm with wingpig here - I don't hold my arm out to the left for the entire phase of a traffic light sequence. I wait until just before I'm about to set off and indicate. If there is an issue of potential misunderstanding I tend to voice my intentions.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  26. cb
    Member

    I don't claim anything, but I can understand why someone might pull up to your left if you are sitting in primary.

    I can imagine a 'rubbish cycling' thread somewhere else from the other perspective. "And then, unbelievably, despite being in the middle of the lane they end up turning left!"

    Personally I would probably pull up to your left, hanging back a bit and give you a bit of a head start to see what you were going to do.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  27. algo
    Member

    @cb I think @BE puts it quite well - I'd guess we all try to be considerate cyclists but considerate behaviour is dependent on the specific circumstance. I too pull up away from the filter lane to ASLs to allow the cyclists behind to get into the ASL and not be trapped on the left a vehicle. I also do it a bit to prevent a close pass as I'm setting off to turn left which if you sit on the left quite often happens. My solution to this is communication, but every situation is different and requires some compromise. There are bits of my commute where I can't physically control a bike with one hand over the potholes despite turning right and wanting to indicate for example - I suppose that's technically rubbish cycling.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  28. cb
    Member

    @algo, yes I think @BE does put it quite well.
    I wasn't really having a go at anyone, although it probably sounded like it. I just think I can understand why you would end up with someone on your left.

    I guess that this is partly the result of ASLs being a bit of a fudge and the requirement to potentially have to change tactics depending on how busy they get.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  29. algo
    Member

    nicely put - a fudge indeed...

    Posted 8 years ago #

  30. ih
    Member

    And I'm not having a go either but I'm with @cb. If you're a bit too primary it does give the impression of wanting to go straight ahead so not really surprising if someone does come up on the left.

    Does show that ASLs, although better than nothing, aren't really fit for purpose for more than 2 or 3 bikes at any one time, and why on busy roads, segregated tracks are necessary.

    Posted 8 years ago #

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