Either all the cyclists who were observing the seemingly pointless temporary 'Cyclist dismount' signs at the top and bottom of Middle Meadow Walk this morning, or me for not doing so. As I rolled slowly down the path, just in case it became apparent why I should have dismounted (it didn't), I did realise that I was the only cyclist not to have done so, which seemed quite surprising. There was a posh car parked on the pedestrian side of the path near Peter's Yard and activity of some kind in the pedestrian plaza area, but I had no idea what was actually going on.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
Today's rubbish cycling
(4520 posts)-
Posted 8 years ago #
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Also the wheelsucker on the canal towpath who turned out to be on a folding bike (possibly Brompton) when I slowed to 'force' him to overtake, which slightly surprised me. He then proceeded not to pull away after overtaking me.
Posted 8 years ago # -
The hipsterbeard turnip-hole heading west on the WoL past the end of the Chancelot path yesterday hometime who was going considerably faster through a cloud of pedestrians than I go through that bit even when it's empty whilst not using his hands. Shortly afterwards there was one of these people who you realise are immediately behind you only when there's a click from their transmission. This morning there was someone else preparing to weave eastwards at high speed through the same section, through a cloud of different pedestrians. Just before him there appeared at my rear (as I slowed on the approach to the Stedfastgate junction) another person in an apparent rush to pull up to my mudguard, but who then crawled extremely slowly past before accelerating to turn towards Victoria Park to try and beat someone turning into it from the other direction.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Cyclist on motorway
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-37429423
Posted 8 years ago # -
Old argument, but I'd like my chances that being at the far left of a 3.3 metre hard shoulder is safer than being in lane with traffic on an A road.
Posted 8 years ago # -
The 'cyclists please dismount' sign was there on MMW at lunchtime today too; there was filming going on at the tables outside the cafe; lots of tech, a full-scale commercial film by the look of it. Strangely, they had someone asking cyclists to not pass while the filming was actually in progress (only 2-3 minutes at a time), but not concerned at all about pedestrians passing.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Aero bars on a shared use path, seriously... No seriously there are dogs on this path you're going to injure yoursef... Seriously....
(Tram path along side the golf course at 0820)
Posted 8 years ago # -
A bike with aero bars? Or using said bars while around other path users?
Posted 8 years ago # -
I saw someone on their aero bars on Fountainbridge (the short section between Lothian Rd & Ponton St) at rush hour the other morning - between lousy road surface, wandering peds and traffic lights, it didn't seem the most advisable, but what do I know...
Posted 8 years ago # -
@fimm head down powering along on the aero bars. No problem with folk having them
Posted 8 years ago # -
I do ride my TT bike along the NEPN - especially to get to the Silverknowes circuit. I'm always cautious on the path - I've been passed by other cyclists (including a chap on a Fat Bike!) but I will also ride on the bars if I can't see any other people/dogs.
It is now guaranteed that next time I go that way an invisible dog will leap out from nowhere and knock me off my bike.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I am perhaps over estimating the danger but it doesn't seem to be very sensible away from a fairly controlled environment but then the average person would probably say the same of cycling in general so what do I know.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Once you get used to it, the move from the bars to the hoods is quick though not quite as quick as changing hand position on dropped handlebars. So if you need to brake in a hurry your reaction time will be slower if you are on the bars. This is why I get back to the hoods with my hands covering the brakes if I see anything that might be a hazard (or if I can't see very far ahead because there's a corner or whatever). You can steer to an extent on the bars, but you need to be on the hoods for proper manoeuvring.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Mudguard-hugger anticlockwise on the NEPN this morning. I'd been doing the usual controllable-speed-with-slowing-and-stopping-for-peds-etc. when I discovered him on the bit after Granton Road, so I assumed he'd been going somewhat faster (or around the same speed but with less slowing/stopping) and was therefore likely to hang on if I tried to speed up. He didn't respond to a verbal request to back off or get past, so I slowed to about 10mph. He didn't seem to get that either, so I slowed to about 6mph. He eventually went past just after Ainslie Park, but then seemed to top out at significantly slower than he'd have had to have been going to have kept up or caught up with me in the first place and fortunately didn't come back when I went past and back to normal speed.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Basket-biker headed from Melville Street to Roseburn this morning. We both waited at the Chester Street lights, so far so good. Both turned right, both caught the red to turn left on to Glencairn Crescent. He wasn't for waiting so made the turn through red light / green man. Nobody crossing, nobody died, not the biggest crime in the world. Caught him again at bottom of Coates Gardens, only to avoid the cobbles he had ridden the length on the pavement, pulling back on to road on the raised table at the bottom, almost T-boning me in the process.
We were now both waiting to turn right, nothing coming from right but there were buses and taxis coming from Haymarket. But captain impatient turns right anyway and proceeds to cycle westbound in the eastbound lane, hoping to squeeze into the correct lane between the buses and taxis. This didn't happen and because traffic was now approaching from Roseburn he found himself moving over to the right / bus lane and cycling against the flow until suitable gaps appeared to allow him to get across in the correct lane.
By which point I was alongside and passing him anyway...
Time saved - 0.
Idiocy points scored - 36.Posted 8 years ago # -
I'm not sure the best response to hearing a bell ding on approach to a blind bridge on the canal towpath is dinging your own bell and bombing ahead, nearly taking out the 7yo cycling in the opposite direction. Nothing bad happened as the path is wide enough (thankfully as the wee one was startled she turned away from the water) but I now have a fight on my hands to get said 7yo to cycle on the towpath rather than crossing three roads on the way to school.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Early on this morning, chap in front sailed through two sets of reds on Strathearn Road, I was going to have a word, but he then went down Greenhill the wrong way.
Might have been drunk but it was a bit early !!
Posted 8 years ago # -
"on the way to school"
Craiglockhart?
School has had various 'slow down' campaigns over the years, with children actually being taken to the towpath to wave placards.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"
Supported by Edinburgh City Council, sustainable transport charity Sustrans, Spokes and Police Scotland, the campaign aims to encourage cyclists to be considerate on the paths by, amongst other things, managing their speed, being aware and respectful of other users and staying alert of both their surroundings and conditions on the route itself. Children from the canalside Craiglockhart Primary School took to the towpaths on their bikes to help launch the campaign alongside representatives from each of the partner organisations.
"
Posted 8 years ago # -
Chap on a panniered MTB on Princes Street around 6.45am, wearing a full-face motorbike helmet! He tried to trackstand at each set of lights and almost fell off sideways less than 2secs later in a dramatic leg-and-arm-flailing comedy routine.
To top it off, he failed to look behind each time he swung out from hugging the kerb to overtake stopped buses, and as a result was frequently close to being wiped out by the bus coming up the inside lane.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Monday night 1810: Just coming out from carpark at the top of innocent tunnel to rejoin the road, MTB’r cutting the corner, put me into the bushes. Had I not been tight for time (aka late) to do baby handover for my wife’s spinning class, I’d have chased him down. The $#$&&^(@#$. I’m sure he’s a lovely chap really.
Last night – maniacal hybrid charging down Leith Walk about 7ish. Dressed head to toe in black. Caught up with him at some lights, pointed out that without lights and dressed in black he was essentially invisible to the cars/busses he was weaving in & out of. Short verbal abuse before he shot off and undertook a number 22 bus. I knew I shouldn't have bothered.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@ 3fromL - saw full face motorbike-helmet-man about 2100ish in Morningside - an odd sight.
Still i guess better than no helmet i suppose.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I met a motorbike wearings MTB riding bloke on the High street last nights. We were both at the head of a (I think broken) temp light. Although he was *itching* to just take off down to canongate, he did wait until a workie finaly ushered us down.
That helmet must weigh a fair bit. offers him maore protection than mine does me I suppose...
Posted 8 years ago # -
I'm not sure if this is just anecdata but with those new led street lights and the German (car) lumens wars unlit riders are much harder to see than I'd really noticed before.
There was a kid messing around in my street the other days which I didn't see until he was in my headlights. I was stopped having just been dazzled by a merc going over a speedbump but dressed in black he genuinely was invisible until scarily close.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"I was stopped having just been dazzled by a merc going over a speedbump but dressed in black he genuinely was invisible until scarily close. "
@steveo - my experience too. The lights dazzle me (especially when it is/has been raining) and I find my reaction to see darker objects is that bit slower. Had to stop sometimes on the A90 path when cycling towards oncoming lights.
Could just be old age...
Posted 8 years ago # -
Could just be old age...
I was hoping that wasn't the answer ;)
Posted 8 years ago # -
@chdot: the very same. She doesn't really like the canal because she gets disorientated when it's busy but the alternative is crossing Harrison Road without a crossing or a lollipop patrol and that has its own set of issues…
Posted 8 years ago # -
"Had to stop sometimes on the A90 path when cycling towards oncoming lights.
Could just be old age..."
No, inadequate 'dazzle protection' there.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"the alternative is crossing Harrison Road without a crossing or a lollipop patrol and that has its own set of issues… "
Is the Dundee Terrace to Harrison Gardens off-road path of any use to you?
Posted 8 years ago # -
Everything-with-lights discourages looking for objects and encourages looking for lights themselves. But it shouldn't have to be like that, especially given the amount of ambient light on a city street.
It's perfectly possible to walk out in the evening lit by streetlights - just like the mythical pedestrian helmets, we have yet to see a campaign to shame pedestrians without head torches. Long may that continue.
Posted 8 years ago #
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