Also agree with @cb on this one
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
Today's rubbish cycling
(4520 posts)-
Posted 8 years ago #
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The cyclist (with a stayless metal mudguard swinging to and fro from its single remaining attachment point) I briefly waited behind going up Leith Walk (on the bit where the bike lane dives to the left behind the bus lane) seemed to be producing more exhalation-vapour than the temperature warranted. It became apparent that they were puffing something, but I couldn't tell if it was a paper or electric thing as they went to the inside of the flatbed truck parked in the bus lane when I went around the right in the other lane.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Pedestrians please note: if you're using or planning on using a pedestrian crossing and see this person approaching, please do your best to not impede him on his important business, or risk damaging his tyres with your feet or his handlebars with your kidneys:
Through two reds on York Place and through two pelicans-with-people-still-on on George Street he went. He was heading down King's Stables Road, perhaps to barge through the pedestrian crossings on the Grassmarket.
Posted 8 years ago # -
First time for a while yesterday morning walked from Frasers to Haymarket just after 7am, saw 6 or 7 cyclists heading into town, all of them had lighting issues;
No lights
Lights with almost dead batteries
Badly located lights (only visible from a particular angle)Lights and batteries are relatively not expensive, so there really is no excuse.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Don't think I did anything wrong but seems the best place for this one. Cycling this morning on the Silverknowes path and as I past a pedestrian she shouted out tring tring. I was a bit surprised at this so stopped and advised there were two reasons I hadn't rang my bell -
1) She was as far right on the path as I was left so I felt there was no chance of a collision and
2) I was not going fast so in the unlikely event of her suddenly moving I would have stoppedShe thanked me for stopping and said she had no issue with me as I was clearly a good cyclist!!
I think I may start constant ringing when on the path from now on :)
Posted 8 years ago # -
Does such a person expect vehicles to constantly sound their horn at them when they're on a pavement? They're likely as close, if not closer, and most probably travelling much faster. Ridiculous. I doubt I would have bothered stopping.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Would be the 'clearly tired of living' idiot who was cycling round Charlotte Square on the wrong side of the road directly towards me this morning, no lights and black clothing and hoody up. As he swerved round me I did point out he was riding on the wrong side to which he replied 'so what'.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@wishicouldgofaster and @Murun I could never work out when it's better to ring and when it isn't, some people thank you and some tell you off whatever you do. Besides generally slowing down, observe people and pass as widely as possible, I was thinking of attaching an old can or similar to my bike that just makes a rattling sound all the time. People can then hear me approach but it doesn't sound like a deliberate "get out of the way" command.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@Stephan Matthiesen I have my D-lock mounted on my handlebars, which generates a light notification rattle on most surfaces.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@wingpig Good idea. Let's just hope they don't resurface all the bike paths with smooth surfaces...
When I have something rattling, many people look around and you can make eye contact and then decide if a bell is still needed.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I'll sometimes change gear (unnecessarily) rather than ring the bell - the click gets people's attention without sounding to potential complainers like a 'get out of my way' demand.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I try to ring well in advance. My tank-about-town has got a loud ding-dong bell that invariably gets people's attention, and often a positive comment.
If I've left it too late sometime just the sound of breaks being applied and brake levers being released and snapping into place do the trick. If not, a gentle "Excuse me" will usually work. Of course this is all happening at a walking pace.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Another rider on the wrong side of the road in as many days along Queensferry Road towards Blackhall from town. At least this guy was in the cycle path although you can get a fair speed coming down the way and wouldn't fancy meeting him on the way up.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I suspect I am just being grumpy, but did the 5 or more cyclists who overtook me and my kids through the single lane roadworks on Gilmore Place *really* need to do so given that there was a red light at the other end? It's not like we were creeping along or anything. I suppose we could have ridden single file, but I always take the lane when going through roadworks, especially with my kids, so we were riding side by side, which doesn't leave a lot of room for random, unannounced overtakes by 20 somethings more concerned with getting to a red light than riding courteously and safely around kids.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@SRD - I entirely sympathise, and no you're not just being grumpy.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Came through that roadwork last night, it is a funny one, the whole lane taken up as the pipe is very near the middle? Mid twenties perspective very different from older people? They probably saw a gap and went for it without considering anything else. Ok to be grumpy about that for a wee while.
Posted 8 years ago # -
MGIF is tragically not just a function of being in a car. Had a roady pass me the other day cms from my bar if I'd swerved for the pothole rather than just riding over it he'd have taken us both down and the bus behind...
Posted 8 years ago # -
An MGIF from someone in front of whom I had been deliberately notGing. At the cross-junction at Bingham I waited for them to go past as they were approaching quite quickly and looked to be pushing themselves and it looked too slippy to be chancing either my ability to successfully accelerate/not fall off and block the path on front of someone who might have been going too fast to safely stop. They were only going a bit slower than I would have done along the Innocent, so I stayed back. I waited behind them at the Duddingston Road crossing, where they nipped across whilst I pressed and waited for the lights. I hung back going through the tunnel (as going fast would have meant standing up and I was seeing if the tunnel was manageable/pleasant on the singlespeed whilst remaining seated), whereas they seemed to be trying to catch the (much slower) person in front; I'd have said that the gap they left when just nipping ahead through the gate at the top was a bit small. When they waited at the end of Hermit's Croft I went down the segregated route, so ended up on Rankeillor Street ahead of them. When I went to the left to reach and press the button they went through on my right but then drifted immediately to their left in what looked like it was deliberately intended to block me, seeing as the crossing was fairly clear. Fortunately they turned right up MMW so I could go at my normal speed after turning left.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I was driving down Esslemont Rd at about 9pm on Wednesday and there as a person on a bicycle, all dressed in black, no lights, close to the kerb, all a bit wobbly.
But very strangely I could see them perfectly well even though I was driving an enormous white van. I thought black cyclists after dusk without lights are supposed to be invisible to white van men?
Posted 8 years ago # -
I underestimated the wind this evening and was surprised by a gust while going up the Maybury Road. It was sufficient to blow me off the pavement onto the road. Luckily there was no traffic behind me. Several other unpleasant gusts on the way home a couple of which moved me considerably North Eastwards. All in all, it felt more uncomfortable than Tuesday when they saw fit to close the bridge.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Just after I turned from MMW onto NMW this morning I was faced with a young lady riding head-on towards me given that I was positioned to the left and she was positioned to the right. I slowed down and moved further left which was met with no reaction so I started braking, at which point she abruptly swerved off the cycle path onto the grass to pass. Nobody appeared to be overtaking at the time so I'm not sure why she didn't just use the path.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Foreign and used to being on the other side of the road?
Posted 8 years ago # -
@LivD I suppose so, but I would be surprised if I was the first cyclist that she'd come across keeping left on NMW this morning even if it was her first cycle in Edinburgh. Having said that, maybe she just isn't a morning person.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Recumbentist running red lights/green man in Semple St. Poor show.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Not me. Must be another Dave ;-)
Posted 8 years ago # -
Complete spanner who barrelled past at full speed on my right yesterday evening at the junction of Middle and North Meadow Walks just as I was turning right. I had signalled right on the approach, was over in the middle of the junction with oodles of room on my left and was just starting to turn into a space between some pedestrians.
Also the knee high red sock muppet with poor forward planning on the NEPN yesterday evening tailgating other bikes and scaring pedestrians. Aggressive cycling for no gain - I was behind you on a bog-standard commuter from Balbirnie to Davidsons Mains.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Tool who undertook me going down Blackford Avenue last night, a totally stupid manoeuvre.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"Complete spanner who barrelled past at full speed on my right yesterday evening at the junction of Middle and North Meadow Walks just as I was turning right. "
I've had this several times recently, despite signalling my intent to turn very clearly.
Really don't understand some folk.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Me...came down like a fast moving sack of tatties in spectacular style coming through Dalmeny yesterday morning. Still a little unsure how I did it but think I may have clipped a kerb avoiding something on the road, no-one else involved fortunately. Now the proud owner of some pretty extensive road rash and several wrecked items of clothing. Remarkably all my bike had was a scrape on the bar tape!
Posted 8 years ago # -
You know how we all dislike cyclists without rear lights?
Mea culpa last night as USB Infini ran out as I got to a meeting in Dalry. Now you would think someone would have had a micro USB charger - but no.So on way back I realised that I could take the cut off to Subway (as in the Roseburn-Canal proposal). So 100 yards on road in gap in traffic. Had front light of course to do right turn and reflector on Helios Cargo tandem.
Then up across by WAR, subway and first right onto canal by new halls.
Then to Edinburgh Quay and into Festival Square by EICC. Crossing now re-opened. Walk over Lothian Rd and round by Traverse and onto wide pavement at Castle St car park then up part of Johnston Terrace on empty pavement. Finally on empty road as one way system with rock fencing work deters east bound drivers.
So I wasn't seen having no back light by any drivers.
Still bad though. Very careless!If I had taken my other bike it has battery free Shimano hub. Wouldn't have got to do a BMX style route though!
Posted 8 years ago #
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