Dem cyclists all break de lights Joe!

cdaly_

Chuchote wrote: »

If I do as you suggest, and go hell for leather, and switch into the right-hand lane early on, drivers freak out and blare their horns, convinced that I'm in the wrong lane. That's dangerous.

This is my preferred option for a right turn along with a 'screw you' attitude to the blown horn...

Chuchote

cdaly_ wrote: »

This is my preferred option for a right turn along with a 'screw you' attitude to the blown horn...

But remember the old rhyme:

Here likes the body of John F Jay
He died defending
His right of way.

trellheim

Victoria Quay can get fairly hardcore as the long distance buses take no prisoners along that stretch.

cython

jpm4 wrote: »

Cyclists have a problem that motorists don't have when changing lanes to get into a position to turn right - when a car does this the car behind going straight ahead will either wait behind the turning car, or move out to the other lane to pass if they can.

If you are doing the same on a bike, the car behind may do as above or else start beeping the horn, cursing and generally frightening the life out of you.

You have no way of knowing in advance which is going to happen so what can you do? Be a reverse Zoolander?

That's where a thick skin (figuratively!) becomes invaluable :D:D

Alek

But in fairness on todays commute (8am and 5:30pm) I've seen maybe 80% cyclists breaking reds, usually in quite safe manner but nevertheless. Sad, what else to say....

Moflojo

Whataboutery Update:

Cycling home just now at 9pm in Dublin. Waiting at a red light to turn left, the filter light turns green for straight on & right. Car behind me revs his engine, drives past me, through the red filter and breezes through the amber pedestrian light.

Here's the worst part; the motorist wasn't even wearing a helmet.

magicbastarder

that happens all the time at the junction just up from my house.

jive

Moflojo wrote: »

Whataboutery Update:

Cycling home just now at 9pm in Dublin. Waiting at a red light to turn left, the filter light turns green for straight on & right. Car behind me revs his engine, drives past me, through the red filter and breezes through the amber pedestrian light.

Here's the worst part; the motorist wasn't even wearing a helmet.

Did he have a high vis on at least?

ted1

jive wrote: »

Did he have a high vis on at least?

Was he listening to the radio? Was his tax in date ?

tomasrojo

I bet he went on to park on the footpad.

Chuchote

tomasrojo wrote: »

I bet he went on to park on the footpad.

Hopefully not! I'm all for capturing criminals, but parking on them is going a bit far!

eeguy

You definitely don't get the same courtesy motorists give each other.

I was merging into a spot between two cars in stopped traffic yesterday. Lovely woman in the white Audi closed the gap and almost tipped the bumper of the car ahead of her.

Moflojo

jive wrote: »

Did he have a high vis on at least?

Can confirm; he was not wearing a hi vis.

He wasn't wearing driving gloves either, what's that about? I thought all motorists were fanatical racing types who think they're Steve McQueen?

jive

Moflojo wrote: »

Can confirm; he was not wearing a hi vis.

He wasn't wearing driving gloves either, what's that about? I thought all motorists were fanatical racing types who think they're Steve McQueen?

The amount of motorists I see not wearing driving jackets is alarming, enforcement is the issue

tomasrojo

I know they're not required by law, but surely five-point harnesses are a no-brainer?

Lumen

tomasrojo wrote: »

I know they're not required by law, but surely five-point harnesses are a no-brainer?

I used to own a car with 5 point harnesses. Good in a crash, not so much when pulling out of a T-junction.

Moflojo

tomasrojo wrote: »

I know they're not required by law, but surely five-point harnesses are a no-brainer?

There's a militant element out there that are diametrically opposed to wearing any seatbelts at all. There are studies that show drivers behave more cautiously when not wearing a seatbelt because they're more aware of the danger.

Skrynesaver

Forget seat belts watch how handy they take it with one of these safety features added...

2RockMountain

tomasrojo wrote: »

I know they're not required by law, but surely five-point harnesses are a no-brainer?

If it saves one life...

Chuchote

Moflojo wrote: »

There's a militant element out there that are diametrically opposed to wearing any seatbelts at all. There are studies that show drivers behave more cautiously when not wearing a seatbelt because they're more aware of the danger.

Not a lot of help when you're doing 120 on a motorway and someone comes sailing out of a slip road.

Moflojo

Chuchote wrote: »

Not a lot of help when you're doing 120 on a motorway and someone comes sailing out of a slip road.

I think you misheard me, I said: "There are studies..."

End of.

Pinch Flat

My story of motorist impatience at lights. Coming from work the other evening, I was in the left lane waiting to go through the junction at the centra at laurel lodge near where I live, guy in a micra pulls up in the right lane, turning right I thought.

Lights go green, he shoots forward, into oncoming traffic, then overtakes the car he was trying to get in front of on a blind bend, into oncoming traffic who had to break sharply. Gets in front of the guy he was overtaking and proceeds on without a breeze in the world. Nearly caused a nasty accident.

No one dying or in labour in the front seat from what I could see, but then again it was dark. You'd never know.

ThisRegard

Reminds me of the time I was out for a run and running on a footpath against traffic, rush hour. From way back I see a Micra mount the footpath and straddle the cycle lane/footpath in order to skip the queuing traffic. Who's this f'ing eejit I was thinking. As it got closer there was a woman, very obviously in labour pain, in the passenger seat.

And a few years ago I was rushing my concussed daughter, who was vomiting, to Temple Street one Saturday afternoon. I was using the bus lanes and there was no end to the people who tried to block me off by moving over and straddling the lanes, including a private coach which purposely slowed down to hold me up, who then got very angry when I drove around it.

Now when I see cars doing similar I think that they might be in a similar situation. But more often than not they're just being dumb.

Chuchote

ThisRegard wrote: »

Reminds me of the time I was out for a run and running on a footpath against traffic, rush hour. From way back I see a Micra mount the footpath and straddle the cycle lane/footpath in order to skip the queuing traffic. Who's this f'ing eejit I was thinking. As it got closer there was a woman, very obviously in labour pain, in the passenger seat.

And a few years ago I was rushing my concussed daughter, who was vomiting, to Temple Street one Saturday afternoon. I was using the bus lanes and there was no end to the people who tried to block me off by moving over and straddling the lanes, including a private coach which purposely slowed down to hold me up, who then got very angry when I drove around it.

Now when I see cars doing similar I think that they might be in a similar situation. But more often than not they're just being dumb.

Yeah, a few years ago I was rushing a friend home fast after his portable oxygen tank ran out and was blocked on the Triangle in Ranelagh by a van. He was dying of a particularly horrible and incurable lung disease. I hopped out and knocked on the window. The van driver ignored me. I knocked harder, and he rolled the window down with a put-upon sigh. I said "I'm sorry, but my friend's oxygen has run out, and - "

I didn't get any further - the driver stood on his accelerator and disappeared at speed. Sometimes people can be very decent.

Fian

ThisRegard wrote: »

Reminds me of the time I was out for a run and running on a footpath against traffic, rush hour. From way back I see a Micra mount the footpath and straddle the cycle lane/footpath in order to skip the queuing traffic. Who's this f'ing eejit I was thinking. As it got closer there was a woman, very obviously in labour pain, in the passenger seat.

I got pulled by a garda in the bus lane on the stillorgan dual carriageway while driving my wife into holles street for our third I think. He pulled the car in front of me as well. The traffic on the main lanes did not feel like co-operating as i overtook the first car he had pulled. put down passenger window and explained to the Garda. He told me he would give me an escort the rest of the way. I told him it was fine there was a bus lane more or less the whole way in and I continued on. Weeks later I suddenly realised that the driver he had stopped must have been praying that I take up his offer.

magicbastarder

i've heard a couple of stories of gardai on motorbikes giving an escort in for people in that situation; as much out of goodwill as a proper expectation of how seriously 'take it easy' warning will be taken.

Chuchote

magicbastarder wrote: »

i've heard a couple of stories of gardai on motorbikes giving an escort in for people in that situation; as much out of goodwill as a proper expectation of how seriously 'take it easy' warning will be taken.

No it's not. It's terror for fear they'd have to deliver the babby.

ted1

Had an incident on the N 11 today , a Guard pulled over a 161 black Land Rover today , but the muppet pulled up on the bike Lane cutting off myself and a female cyclist. We both looked at the Garda and give him a what the Fuc? Look.

In fairness the first words out if the Gardas mouth was to tip the driver a new one for stopping in the bike lane as oppose to the bus lane and fir not using mirrors, I get the feeling that his driving while using the mobile was upgraded to dangerous driving

NiallBoo

Moflojo wrote: »

There are studies that show drivers behave more cautiously when not wearing a seatbelt because they're more aware of the danger.

It's a phenomenon that occurs with all safety equipment. Perception of safety increases our willingness to take risks.

We're great we are.

Chuchote

NiallBoo wrote: »

It's a phenomenon that occurs with all safety equipment. Perception of safety increases our willingness to take risks.

We're great we are.

And to give risks, as in drivers not giving as much room to cyclists who have helmets on.