CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Events, rides etc.

rear-ended: cautionary tale

(11 posts)
  • Started 12 years ago by Dave
  • Latest reply from Wilmington's Cow

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  1. Dave
    Member

    Careful if the Auto Express "every cyclist breaks the law" report causes you to be more conscientious - I was shunted by a taxi on the way home this evening as I was stationary at a red light at the top of Leith St...

    There was no queue so I was a little puffed from drafting a bus all the way up, and when the light turned red decided to stop for a rest. Normally I go through lights if they change as I reach them (in the car or on the bike) since I think it's safer than dropping the anchors.

    This was illustrated today as Mr Toad the Tailgating Taxi (who was trying to run the light) had to slam on the brake and stopped about an inch into my rear tyre, which shoved me further up the ASL.

    Nothing broken (including my amazing self control), but I'll definitely be going back to my usual pragmatic approach. Imagine if he'd been going just a couple of mph faster, or been in a heavier vehicle - the bike could have been taco'd!

    Festival fever anyone?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  2. Instography
    Member

    That's what you get for not conforming to the stereotype when the chap behind you is.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  3. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Ouch, that could have been a LOT messier. I'll bet he still thought you were in the wrong.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  4. Dave
    Member

    Good robustness from the muscle wheels on the white bike. New one might not have shrugged it off?

    I was kicking myself afterwards that I didn't give him an admonishing 'two tings' from my new bell!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  5. Instography
    Member

    Was the wheel a self-build? If so, I'm very impressed. I once crashed my bike into the back of a car. Frame folded but the wheel was fine. Built by Jocky Alan on Leith Walk. Fantastic wheel builder.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  6. Dave
    Member

    Yep, it's 32 plain gauge spokes onto an Exal LX17. Probably the 35mm Kojaks play a big role in how robust they are though...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  7. DaveC
    Member

    Hope you got the taxi's number and report them.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  8. Min
    Member

    Yeah, if I am in any doubt about whether I am being tailgated or not I just go through the amber. It is complicated by huge junctions at which there is not enough time to get across even if you are over the stopline before the light goes to amber.

    Still didn't stop me being extremely close to be wiped out by a Firstbus one time when a light at a huge junction started to go amber. I could hear the roar of the engine so glanced behind to see that it was miles away. Perfectly safe to stop. Only it wasn't because Firsttw*t driver slammed his foot on the accelerator to barge through the (by now) red light missing me by inches. Firstbus didn't care when I contacted them.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  9. wingpig
    Member

    "It is complicated by huge junctions at which there is not enough time to get across even if you are over the stopline before the light goes to amber."

    During the last-but-one Princes-Street-being-open phase the long junctions across the end of Waverley Bridge and across the end of Frederick Street would sometimes be all-the-way-red by the time I completed crossing even when I was already moving over the last stop line when it started to turn amber.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  10. Min
    Member

    I think there are loads like that. What I am mainly worried about is when the next phase of lights are already green before you can possibly cross, which is very scary. Dundas Street for example.
    Don't know if it has been fixed now but the filter going right into North bridge from Princes Street used to go amber -> red at exactly the same time as the lights coming from North Bridge would go red/amber -> green.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  11. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    There definitely are quite a number like that (Duddingston crossroads is similar, turning right when coming from Porty - complicated by no advance lights so you can't see when the oncoming stream should be stopping and at least prepare yourself properly to go).

    Posted 12 years ago #

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