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A week of nearly getting milled out of it (MOD WARNING #127)

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  • 23-09-2011 7:53pm
    #1
    doc1976
    Registered Users Posts: 164 ✭✭


    Been almost milled out of it a few times this week. What the hell is goin on?

    I'm pretty well lit up coming home in the evenings, do I need to dress up as a lightbulb???

    The good old Gardai had a go at knocking me down to, they were driving in a double cycle lane with an empty road beside them. BTW no sirens going so I don't think there was an emergency.

    DOC


«13456

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    #2
    CianRyan
    Registered Users Posts: 14,721 ✭✭✭✭CianRyan


    Lights, reflective jacket and presume everyone wants to kill you. :)


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    #3
    christeb
    Registered Users Posts: 2,435 ✭✭✭christeb


    I've got disc brakes and cycle with hands constantly over the levers in heavy traffic. I'm quite a defensive aggressive cyclist, I think you gotta be.

    Maybe it's; the change in weather, schools back etc but other motorists have been slightly crazier this week. Be careful out there


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    #4
    tomasrojo
    Registered Users Posts: 11,764 ✭✭✭✭tomasrojo


    I mentioned this already today, but I find these make a big difference.

    130775.jpg


    Home-made, adapted from an obsolete make of iPod shuffle wrist bands.

    It's not that they make you more visible the way fixed lights would. It's that you can suddenly become more visible by moving your hand (vigorously, if you have to). You can also angle the light to make you as visible as possible. For example, if you're merging with another road (say, turning right up to Parnell Square from Parnell Street), you can point the light towards the traffic to your left and make yourself suddenly very conspicuous. When you're stopped at lights, you can rest a hand so it is turned towards approaching traffic for a bit of extra visibility. There are quite a few other situations where they come in handy.


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    #5
    Surveyor11
    Registered Users Posts: 1,036 ✭✭✭Surveyor11


    2 taxi drivers, 2 consecutive days, almost killed me. First pulled out of Blackhorse Ave at the Ashtown exit of the Phoenix Park on Thurs evening, I mean right in front of me - and the kn*b proceed to block up alll the traffic to gt into the traffic queue to the Nav Road - god knows what this'll be like when the road works kick off. Another this evening at the filling station at Castleknock, coming towards me and suddendly veers accross my path to do a 3 point turn. Ah don't mind me, only a cyclist. Only for I stopped really quick he would have t-boned me, closest call I've been in ages to coming a cropper. And I'm lit up with a cateye strobe at the front. A**holes.:mad:


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    #6
    Beasty
    Administrators, Social & Fun Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 76,094 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Beasty


    Or there's this:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiBtVFoqP-I



    Available at BeeSeenOnABike


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    #7
    tomasrojo
    Registered Users Posts: 11,764 ✭✭✭✭tomasrojo


    Beasty wrote: »
    Or there's this:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiBtVFoqP-I



    Available at BeeSeenOnABike
    Funnily enough, a friend of mine bought one of them to emulate my home-made wrist lights. They didn't work out too well. They weren't nearly as conspicuous, they were heavier and the solar panel never seemed to recharge the light. That is, if that is the light he bought, but it looks like it.

    There were Australian ones, which looked ok, but they must have gone out of business because the Safe Turn website seems to be a porn site now.

    They're still on Amazon though:
    41vS3vW%2B90L._SL500_AA300_.jpg
    http://www.amazon.com/Safe-Turn-Portable-Bicycle-Indicator/dp/B0015MIEX2
    (Mixed reviews)

    Maybe BBB or Cateye should look into making wrist mounts for their products. That's all I've done. I do get asked by other cyclists where I bought them, so there's modest demand for them (probably).


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    #8
    Stollaire
    Registered Users Posts: 865 ✭✭✭Stollaire


    I heard this morning that a cyclist was knocked down at the junction of the N11 and Foster's Avenue in Mount Merrion.
    The collision may have happened with a 4x4 jeep


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    #9
    doc1976
    Registered Users Posts: 164 ✭✭doc1976


    Two days out cycling to work and two near misses!!!

    One guy was driving up the wrong side of the road towards me, the d**k had the balls to start gesticulating towards me!!!

    On a side note it would be interesting to film a month in the life of a cyclist in Dublin. Where would one get a camera that could fit on your helmet??

    DOC


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    #10
    Rew
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 8,679 Mod ✭✭✭✭Rew


    doc1976 wrote: »
    Two days out cycling to work and two near misses!!!

    One guy was driving up the wrong side of the road towards me, the d**k had the balls to start gesticulating towards me!!!

    On a side note it would be interesting to film a month in the life of a cyclist in Dublin. Where would one get a camera that could fit on your helmet??

    DOC

    Either:
    http://gopro.com/

    or:
    http://contour.com/

    Neither are great at night, both are/should be available in Dublin shops (cons cameras, and Great Outdoors have GoPro's)


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    #11
    SerialComplaint
    Registered Users Posts: 2,644 ✭✭✭SerialComplaint


    doc1976 wrote: »
    On a side note it would be interesting to film a month in the life of a cyclist in Dublin.

    99% of it would be dead boring. Here's the highlights of my past few weeks;

    http://www.youtube.com/user/CycleDub

    doc1976 wrote: »
    Where would one get a camera that could fit on your helmet??

    You can get fairly cheap helmet cams easily enough;

    http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_8&products_id=110950


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    #12
    canhascheez
    Registered Users Posts: 43 ✭canhascheez


    SerialComplaint wrote: »
    99% of it would be dead boring. Here's the highlights of my past few weeks;

    http://www.youtube.com/user/CycleDub

    Are you serious? I cycle daily, drivers don't own the road... neither do I. Give and take.

    I can't imagine being so up tight that I would film my daily commute and take it upon myself to enforce the rules of the road for all.

    Edit: http://www.youtube.com/user/CycleDub#p/u/7/vlo8kyr0DUI you didn't come to a complete stop at the stop sign :)


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    #13
    SerialComplaint
    Registered Users Posts: 2,644 ✭✭✭SerialComplaint


    canhascheez wrote: »
    Edit: http://www.youtube.com/user/CycleDub#p/u/7/vlo8kyr0DUI you didn't come to a complete stop at the stop sign :)
    Actually, there are two stop signs in that clip that I didn't come to a complete stop for. :D I do use my eyes and ears to check for traffic as I go through these junctions.
    canhascheez wrote: »
    Are you serious? I cycle daily, drivers don't own the road... neither do I. Give and take.
    I don't own the road, but I am assertive about taking the space I need. If a driver cuts me up, or stops in traffic right up to the gutter leaving no room for filtering, I'll let them know. Generally, this is done in a warm, friendly manner. Generally, it gets a warm friendly reaction (though it does occasionally result in threats of violence etc).
    canhascheez wrote: »
    I can't imagine being so up tight that I would film my daily commute and take it upon myself to enforce the rules of the road for all.

    It's a bit mad all right, but there is a whole community of helmetcaming commuting cyclists on Youtube, from foul-mouthed Magnatom in Glasgow to confrontational Taypet in Bristol to the TheVexatiousLitigant in NZ. It's really no more or less mad than many web communities.


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    #14
    mp31
    Registered Users Posts: 814 ✭✭✭mp31


    SerialComplaint wrote: »
    99% of it would be dead boring. Here's the highlights of my past few weeks;

    http://www.youtube.com/user/CycleDub




    You can get fairly cheap helmet cams easily enough;

    http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_8&products_id=110950

    Is this the camera you used for your YouTube vids or did you use something else?


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    #15
    SerialComplaint
    Registered Users Posts: 2,644 ✭✭✭SerialComplaint


    mp31 wrote: »
    Is this the camera you used for your YouTube vids or did you use something else?

    It was an earlier model from that same supplier - similar spec and cost, but mine is probably a bit bulkier by the looks of it.


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    #16
    bad2dabone
    Registered Users Posts: 6,333 ✭✭✭bad2dabone


    i'd like to get a camera but I think if the mrs saw how many near incidents happen on my commute she'd flip out and have me back on the Bus to work. And i'm not going back!


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    #17
    tomasrojo
    Registered Users Posts: 11,764 ✭✭✭✭tomasrojo


    bad2dabone wrote: »
    i'd like to get a camera but I think if the mrs saw how many near incidents happen on my commute she'd flip out and have me back on the Bus to work. And i'm not going back!
    Perhaps reconsider your route? I don't think anyone should be having frequent near misses, although occasional ones are inevitable.


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    #18
    bad2dabone
    Registered Users Posts: 6,333 ✭✭✭bad2dabone


    Ah its probably only once a twice a week on my commute, I just tend to remember the incidents for ages and try to anticipate the same thing happening again. Folks pulling out in front of you, taxis and busses squeezing you while in the bus lane etc. Once I get out of the city centre its usually fine.


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    #19
    BostonB
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,056 ✭✭✭✭BostonB


    Surveyor11 wrote: »
    2 taxi drivers, 2 consecutive days, almost killed me. First pulled out of Blackhorse Ave at the Ashtown exit of the Phoenix Park on Thurs evening, I mean right in front of me - and the kn*b proceed to block up alll the traffic to gt into the traffic queue to the Nav Road - god knows what this'll be like when the road works kick off. Another this evening at the filling station at Castleknock, coming towards me and suddendly veers accross my path to do a 3 point turn. Ah don't mind me, only a cyclist. Only for I stopped really quick he would have t-boned me, closest call I've been in ages to coming a cropper. And I'm lit up with a cateye strobe at the front. A**holes.:mad:


    Perhaps you could go a different way. That Ashtown exit is dangerous in a car never mind a bike.

    If you're having a lot of grief on a route sometime, going a different way even if its a few minutes longer, makes more sense.


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    #20
    blorg
    Registered Users Posts: 15,989 ✭✭✭✭blorg


    Presume drivers will do something stupid and don't cycle with any sense of entitlement. And relax. Things will go a lot smoother I guarantee (I have been cycling the last year in an environment infinitely more noxious than Dublin.)


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    #21
    tomasrojo
    Registered Users Posts: 11,764 ✭✭✭✭tomasrojo


    BostonB wrote: »
    Perhaps you could go a different way. That Ashtown exit is dangerous in a car never mind a bike.

    If you're having a lot of grief on a route sometime, going a different way even if its a few minutes longer, makes more sense.
    Largely cutting the North Circular Road out of my commutes resulted in a much happier time for me.


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    #22
    alie
    Registered Users Posts: 1,780 ✭✭✭alie


    SerialComplaint wrote: »
    mp31 wrote: »
    Is this the camera you used for your YouTube vids or did you use something else?

    It was an earlier model from that same supplier - similar spec and cost, but mine is probably a bit bulkier by the looks of it.
    I cycle every day and I find the worst offenders are taxi drivers and pedestrians. I always cycle with my hands on the brakes.


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    #23
    BostonB
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,056 ✭✭✭✭BostonB


    For me it would depend which way I go. some routes are worse than others for hazards. Also the time your travelling. Sometimes, leaving 30 mins later or earlier means you miss most of the pedestrians.


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    #24
    alie
    Registered Users Posts: 1,780 ✭✭✭alie


    BostonB wrote: »
    For me it would depend which way I go. some routes are worse than others for hazards. Also the time your travelling. Sometimes, leaving 30 mins later or earlier means you miss most of the pedestrians.
    I work in community care so am going from house to house at set times so can't leave early.


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    #25
    Surveyor11
    Registered Users Posts: 1,036 ✭✭✭Surveyor11


    tomasrojo wrote: »
    Largely cutting the North Circular Road out of my commutes resulted in a much happier time for me.

    Agree, for some strange reason, I go in to work through the Park, and out the North Circular on the way home. Going through the park is a lot less stressful, now just got pedestrians in the cycle lane to contend with.:rolleyes:


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    #26
    SerialComplaint
    Registered Users Posts: 2,644 ✭✭✭SerialComplaint


    tomasrojo wrote: »
    Perhaps reconsider your route? I don't think anyone should be having frequent near misses, although occasional ones are inevitable.

    I've changed my route to avoid the twice-crossing of the green Luas line that I used to be part of my routine, following this incident. I know the family involved.


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    #27
    SerialComplaint
    Registered Users Posts: 2,644 ✭✭✭SerialComplaint


    Here's a great reason for cyclists to wear cameras;

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qycF0raqpg


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    #28
    Chips Lovell
    Moderators, Politics Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,269 Mod ✭✭✭✭Chips Lovell


    SerialComplaint wrote: »
    99% of it would be dead boring. Here's the highlights of my past few weeks;

    http://www.youtube.com/user/CycleDub

    You're shouting at people over that? Seriously?


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    #29
    SerialComplaint
    Registered Users Posts: 2,644 ✭✭✭SerialComplaint


    Vladimir Kurtains wrote: »
    You're shouting at people over that? Seriously?

    Assuming that you're referring to the recent 'mooching' video, then yes - when a car is driving into my path, showing no sign of stopping and the driver hasn't seen me - I start shouting. What do you do?


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    #30
    Chips Lovell
    Moderators, Politics Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,269 Mod ✭✭✭✭Chips Lovell


    SerialComplaint wrote: »
    Assuming that you're referring to the recent 'mooching' video, then yes - when a car is driving into my path, showing no sign of stopping and the driver hasn't seen me - I start shouting. What do you do?

    Nothing.

    That car was barely moving and posed no threat. I don't think you're doing yourself any favours behaving like that.


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    #31
    ROK ON
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,831 ✭✭✭ROK ON


    SerialComplaint wrote: »
    Assuming that you're referring to the recent 'mooching' video, then yes - when a car is driving into my path, showing no sign of stopping and the driver hasn't seen me - I start shouting. What do you do?

    I am not sure what to make of the videos. On the mooching video, it seemed that the car was already in your path as opposed to moving into your path (which is dangerous).

    If I felt the need to wear a camera to record incidents while cycling, then I wouldnt bother cycling - but that's just me.

    I think there is a fine line between being prepared for encounters with people who cannot use the road and sort of hoping that when you meet one you record it. Again, just not sure what to make of it.
    BTW, I am not having a go at you as I am a bit of a shouter on a bike also and from your videos you seem pretty mild compared to me.
    Just that everytime I see these cycling cam videos, I wonder why bother.


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