Near misses - mod warning 22/04 - see OP/post 822

Alanstrainor

Paradicia wrote: »

Hi All,

I'm new to cycling and I'm always looking for ways to stay safer. I've noticed a common thing for cyclists to do since I've been on the bike around, is for folk to weave on the inside lane between buses that are nearly stretched to the side of the path. Now I'm fine with doing that as long as there's enough space but

I'm not too sure I understand what you mean by "weave on the inside lane between buses". Can you explain in more detail?

Paradicia

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I'm not too sure I understand what you mean by "weave on the inside lane between buses". Can you explain in more detail?

By that, I mean -- cycling through the gap between a bus and the footpath.

Sorry I should have been more clear on that part of my post.

Steoller

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

jjpep wrote: »

I know this makes me a snob and a horrible person on general but I never bother engaging with taxi drivers for the simple reason that's its not a job that attracts bright and intelligent people.

I'm not sure that's a fair generalisation. I've had some interesting chats as a taxi passenger, with drivers who are clearly decent, smart people. There are a lot of dicks too of course.

The value of engaging is not the immediate response you get. You may well get a defensive or abusive response, but it is still worth engaging. There is a chance that your engagement will result in a second thought next time he is in that scenario.

This is probably an issue of  sampling bias - in that the "good" taxi drivers don't drive in a way that you need to engage with them, whereas the "bad" taxi drivers don't care.

onmebike

Paradicia wrote: »

Hi All,

I'm new to cycling and I'm always looking for ways to ride safer. I've noticed a common thing for cyclists to do since I've been on the bike around town, is for folk to weave on the inside lane between buses that are nearly stretched to the side of the path. Now, I'm fine with doing that as long as there's enough space but at times where it seems near impossible to fit between the gaps, some people try and stretch through. I'd consider myself confident enough on the bike but at times I just feels there's unneeded risk by trying to fit through a gap that tight.

Confidence is one thing but thinking you can fit through a gap when there's a person driving a vehicle that is capable of making a mistake or not noticing you is a different thing.

My view would be that if the bus is moving, then definitely don't do it. If the bus is stopped in traffic, then gauge to see if it's likely to start moving by the time you get to the front of it. If you have to put your foot on the kerb to scoot along beside the stationary bus, then I think there isn't enough room.

I think it takes a bit of experience to build up your own internal rule-set. Hang back and look at what other cyclists do. If you see somebody doing that and you think 'what if the bus driver didn't see them', then it's probably a good way to see that it's a bad idea.

Paradicia

onmebike wrote: »

Confidence is one thing but thinking you can fit through a gap when there's a person driving a vehicle that is capable of making a mistake or not noticing you is a different thing.

My view would be that if the bus is moving, then definitely don't do it. If the bus is stopped in traffic, then gauge to see if it's likely to start moving by the time you get to the front of it. If you have to put your foot on the kerb to scoot along beside the stationary bus, then I think there isn't enough room.

I think it takes a bit of experience to build up your own internal rule-set. Hang back and look at what other cyclists do. If you see somebody doing that and you think 'what if the bus driver didn't see them', then it's probably a good way to see that it's a bad idea.

Thanks for the insight. My bike is quite large compared to a normal commuter or rented Dublin bike so I think I will wait and see what others are doing before making a decision and hang back in the traffic and wait. I feel a lot safer being in the middle as opposed to the side of the road, as I'm always on the lookout for people walking out onto the street or cars pulling out.

I could hear a scratching noise as I was passing through a pathway on D'Oiler street on Saturday between a bus that was nearly over onto the footpath. I was staying close to the footpath in an effort to avoid any contact with the bus.

After that, I thought I should be way more careful when it comes to trying to get through on the inside.

magicbastarder

and to add to the above - if you see the bus is within 50m of a bus stop, don't go up the inside, just in case the driver decides to let a passenger out 'near' the stop.

Steoller

Also, there's no rule that says you can't overtake the Bus on the outside, you don't have to stay beside the footpath. A lot of the time it's safer to take the lane.

ED E

magicbastarder wrote: »

and to add to the above - if you see the bus is within 50m of a bus stop, don't go up the inside, just in case the driver decides to let a passenger out 'near' the stop.

Stops are often only 150m apart so that is literally 2/3 of the time :pac:

buffalo

I had one of those interactions today that upon reflection, I did not handle in the best fashion. Sitting at a red light from Hume St onto Stephen's Green, waiting to turn left. Right-turning traffic has a green, I'm standing patiently at the white line in the left-most lane, beside the kerb.

A Dublin Bus came from behind me, with the mirror passing so close to my head I felt the breeze. The driver pulled out into the junction so the white line is about halfway down the bus, and then stops with his left indicator flashing.

I'm now in this awkward position where if I don't move, I could get pinned by the bus. The safest (and probably most mature) option would've been to pull up onto the footpath, but that's for people who don't enjoy endangering themselves to make a point.

As soon as the light went green, I shot up his inside before he started his manoeuvre and made sure I got out in front before he swung around. From his facial expression I think it was more surprise of 'where did he come from?' rather than 'that cyclist should've stayed out of my way'.

I'm torn as to whether to report it. He clearly just did not see me at all despite it being daylight (17.00), but he did seem to learn a lesson from the shock of it, as he stayed well behind me for the length of Earlsfort Terrace. There was no shouting or punishment passing.

Then again, I'm disappointed that's my bar for reporting something - 'well hey, he didn't follow up his complete lack of observation with any maliciousness!'

magicbastarder

interesting one today which had me wondering for a while if i was the one in the wrong. stopped at the lights, heading northbound through this junction:
https://www.google.ie/maps/@53.2889901,-6.1748943,184a,51.4y,1.9t/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

i was close to the kerb - close enough to have my left foot on it, while waiting to head straight on, and a couple of metres to my right was a motorcyclist, also waiting at the lights. the light went green, and as i was pulling away the motorbike veered hard across in front of me. i yelled a couple of 'OI's and he ened up veering around the traffic island on the left turn to avoid me.
i couldn't remember as i was cycling away whether there was an advance stop box there based on what had just happened, but going by the satellite there is. i don't recall if he had his indicator on, but i don't think i paid enough heed to say he did or didn't.

but for a while i was wondering; as he got there first, was (probably) indicating - does his position in the lane matter? did i pull up alongside him and just assume that due to his lane position (in the middle or to the right of his lane i think), mean that he was going straight on?

i think he may have decided he was in the wrong, as i was crossing the bottom of carysfort avenue a few minutes later, he was waiting at the lights and gave me what looked like a conciliatory wave.

ED E

Can't say for definite legally - but practically he's crossing your parallel path of travel so should be making sure its clear before moving.

mr spuckler

a near miss on the coast cycle path on my way home yesterday!

myself and another lad were cycling close together between the causeway and the bottom of the Howth road. we were on the left side of our cycle lane, going along at an ok pace but nothing crazy. a guy on a bike coming against us decided to swerve completely across the cycle lane in order to avoid a few bumps on his side of the cycle lane, this despite the 2 oncoming cyclists and the lack of pedestrians to his left. the guy in front of me swerved hard into the footpath section and let out a roar along the lines of 'JESUS, WOULD YOU WATCH OUT', nothing more explicit than that. the vitriol in the response of the guy coming against us was something to behold.

turned up onto the Howth road about 30 seconds later and there was a car completely blocking the cycle lane so its desperate passenger (male in his 50s) could relieve himself against a fence. good times.

'68 Fastback

buffalo wrote: »

I had one of those interactions today that upon reflection, I did not handle in the best fashion. Sitting at a red light from Hume St onto Stephen's Green, waiting to turn left. Right-turning traffic has a green, I'm standing patiently at the white line in the left-most lane, beside the kerb.

A Dublin Bus came from behind me, with the mirror passing so close to my head I felt the breeze. The driver pulled out into the junction so the white line is about halfway down the bus, and then stops with his left indicator flashing.

I'm now in this awkward position where if I don't move, I could get pinned by the bus. The safest (and probably most mature) option would've been to pull up onto the footpath, but that's for people who don't enjoy endangering themselves to make a point.

As soon as the light went green, I shot up his inside before he started his manoeuvre and made sure I got out in front before he swung around. From his facial expression I think it was more surprise of 'where did he come from?' rather than 'that cyclist should've stayed out of my way'.

I'm torn as to whether to report it. He clearly just did not see me at all despite it being daylight (17.00), but he did seem to learn a lesson from the shock of it, as he stayed well behind me for the length of Earlsfort Terrace. There was no shouting or punishment passing.

Then again, I'm disappointed that's my bar for reporting something - 'well hey, he didn't follow up his complete lack of observation with any maliciousness!'

I am stopped at those lights, turning left, everyday at around the same time. It's very rare for both the left and right filters to go green together so maybe the driver was new to the route and misstook the right filter for a full green? I doubt it though!

Alanstrainor

mr spuckler wrote: »

a near miss on the coast cycle path on my way home yesterday!

myself and another lad were cycling close together between the causeway and the bottom of the Howth road. we were on the left side of our cycle lane, going along at an ok pace but nothing crazy. a guy on a bike coming against us decided to swerve completely across the cycle lane in order to avoid a few bumps on his side of the cycle lane, this despite the 2 oncoming cyclists and the lack of pedestrians to his left. the guy in front of me swerved hard into the footpath section and let out a roar along the lines of 'JESUS, WOULD YOU WATCH OUT', nothing more explicit than that. the vitriol in the response of the guy coming against us was something to behold.

turned up onto the Howth road about 30 seconds later and there was a car completely blocking the cycle lane so its desperate passenger (male in his 50s) could relieve himself against a fence. good times.

The surface can be quite bad on that track, and it is narrow enough if you keep between the lines. But I think you both should have returned to single file when you saw another cyclist approaching and allowed them to pass.

That being said, obviously this guy was silly to swerve in to you both given the circumstances. But there was action that both of you could have taken.

What Username Guidelines

Alanstrainor wrote: »

The surface can be quite bad on that track, and it is narrow enough if you keep between the lines. But I think you both should have returned to single file when you saw another cyclist approaching and allowed them to pass.

That being said, obviously this guy was silly to swerve in to you both given the circumstances. But there was action that both of you could have taken.

Read it that way first myself, but think they were single file and cycling 'together' refers to one in front of the other

mr spuckler

What Username Guidelines wrote: »

Read it that way first myself, but think they were single file and cycling 'together' refers to one in front of the other

yes sorry, I was on his wheel, we weren't 2 abreast. I wouldn't be giving out if we were!

Alanstrainor

mr spuckler wrote: »

yes sorry, I was on his wheel, we weren't 2 abreast. I wouldn't be giving out if we were!

Oh! Sorry. He's 100% a numpty so!

Pinch Flat

Coming home this being through the Phoenix park, just entered the cycle lane at the cricket club heading out of town. Heavy rain, 6.30pm.

Noticed a scobily dressed (hoody, tracksuit, unfeasibly white runners) gentleman on my right as I entered the cycle lane, who made a deliberate lunge towards me in an effort to knock me off the bike. Thankfully 100kg mass and considerable speed brushed him off. Not sure if a confrontation to see if I’d stop. That’s scobes for ya.

What Username Guidelines

Not mine but holy moly...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPdAquDVwtQ

magicbastarder

it's his own fault, he clearly didn't read the sticker on the back of the van.

Pinch Flat

Can’t really read the sign. Doss it say “cyclists - van driven by idiot”?

papu

Where is this MPD law?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RirjoI_hR4o

I left so much footage in as when I confronted the driver he didn't say much but another taxi driver followed me and said I was all over the road.

Pinch Flat

papu wrote: »

Where is this MPD law?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RirjoI_hR4o

I left so much footage in as when I confronted the driver he didn't say much but another taxi driver followed me and said I was all over the road.

A lot of taxi drivers make a point of deliberately clipping cyclists in shared bus / bike lanes. It’s their way of showing we shouldn’t be on their road. The only way this is going to change is if the gardai are bombarded with these videos. Pulse numbers recorded and follow ups done. Time consuming and tedious but at the moment in my own view there’s a lot of nutty taxi drivers out there who clearly don’t give a sh!te about cyclists and that pose the biggest risks to city cyclists.

ED E

Lots of taxis on phones, easy way to get them a nice few points for their insurer.

Duckjob

This is actually pretty much the opposite to a near miss but thought I would post it to counter some of the negative experiences people are having out there.

Was out on a short ride this morning, Co Dublin rural road, was coming to the end of long straight approaching a somewhat blind bend where I've had many cars charging past me too fast and too close, so desperate not to have to wait a couple of seconds.

I heard a car approaching from behind and I was waiting for them to do the the usual "charge through at all costs". Instead I was pleasantly surprised when they slowed down behind me and waited patiently for me to get through the bend to where there was better visibility before giving me a nice wide overtake.

Gave them a wave as they passed only to realise it was a Garda car. Fair play lads, It was really nice to see gardai setting such a good example on the roads. More of that desperately needed.

What Username Guidelines

Maybe it’s just the weather and bank holiday, but this thread has quietened right down since the 1.5m ads on tv. I’ve had a couple of close-ish passes in the last week and maybe it’s jusg confirmation bias, but could it be working already? Have noticed more patience out there. I think.

Kaisr Sose

What Username Guidelines wrote: »

Maybe it’s just the weather and bank holiday, but this thread has quietened right down since the 1.5m ads on tv. I’ve had a couple of close-ish passes in the last week and maybe it’s jusg confirmation bias, but could it be working already? Have noticed more patience out there. I think.

Hopefully it is working. However, I had a taxi (minibus) tailgate me today when he had no hope of overtaking me with on-coming traffic. The lights ahead were red making it even more pointless/aggressive. Then he blasted past beeping and shouting out an open window that I was blocking the road (cars parked on left were the hazard, not me). At the lights. I asked him what he gained from driving just behind my back wheel and he said he gave me enough space and I was delaying him.....(this from a guy stopped at a red light behind lots of other cars while talking to the slow guy he accused of delaying him) Then two idiots in an ice cream van ahead of the taxi on the next lane then joined in and said that I did not pay road tax so what was my problem. I said it’s about respecting all road users not tax...One of them then said something like if he had €25 for every cyclist he met with an attitude like mine they would be rich. Total dicks, rough sounding guys too!

I see no hope for min passing with the likes of these driving on public roads...

Glass Prison 1214

What Username Guidelines wrote: »

Maybe it’s just the weather and bank holiday, but this thread has quietened right down since the 1.5m ads on tv. I’ve had a couple of close-ish passes in the last week and maybe it’s jusg confirmation bias, but could it be working already? Have noticed more patience out there. I think.

Not my experience anyway. I have felt that over the past year I have been experiencing an increase in close passes, and last Friday I had the most near misses I can remember in one day. I was out on the bike for three hours and had 6! very close passes. Three vans, two cars and one cement mixing Lorry.

The lorry was within a metre, the vans and one of the cars all within half a metre, and the second car dangerously overtook me on a single lane roundabout. The worst part was that the majority of these passes took place on wide sections of the Enniskerry road, where there is more than enough room to give 1.5 metres without moving into the oncoming lane.

homer911

Last night at the Northumberland Rd/Haddington Road junction a cyclist decided to "go" on the pedestrian lights, just as three pedestrians stepped into the road in front of him. Absolute disgrace and the reason why we collectively get such a bad name - cyclists are always jumping these lights but that was the worst I have seen


This morning at UCD/N11 another impatient cyclist decided he could cycle through a red light (parallel to N11) when the lights went green for traffic exiting UCD. The driver pointed at the lights and wagged his finger at the cyclist. Another example of bad behavior that could get the rider/pedestrian injured or killed - come one everyone, we have to do better than this, don't give the other road users an excuse!

Type 17

homer911 wrote: »

...come one everyone, we have to do better than this, don't give the other road users an excuse!

You can be fairly sure that neither of those people read this thread...