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

Corca Baiscinn

Parchment wrote: »

I know its a civilian who logs it but im saying if you make a complaint/call every time something happens they will take you less seriously.

The solution to that is as some people here recommend that EVERYBODY who experiences a dangerous motorist/cyclist interaction reports it so even if there are a lot on record from A, the ones from B, C, D, etc will show that it'snot just a crank or nervous Nellie reporting them. There will quite likely be more incidents from certain routes as while there can be poor driving decisions anywhere the layout of certain roads/junctions seems to lend itself to problems. Many posters have commented on how dangerous the Smithfield junction where the collision happened the other day is for eg

ED E

Corca Baiscinn wrote: »

The solution to that is as some people here recommend that EVERYBODY who experiences a dangerous motorist/cyclist interaction reports it so even if there are a lot on record from A, the ones from B, C, D, etc will show that it'snot just a crank or nervous Nellie reporting them. There will quite likely be more incidents from certain routes as while there can be poor driving decisions anywhere the layout of certain roads/junctions seems to lend itself to problems. Many posters have commented on how dangerous the Smithfield junction where the collision happened the other day is for eg

This is why we need an app.

1. See bad driving
2. Enter reg and make/model + location. Optional pic
3. When Johnny Road W@nker has 5 hits a week AGS could go have a chat about his road skills.

But we've more chance of a toddler setting that up than our keepers of the peace corruption.

Corca Baiscinn

Danbo! wrote: »

Said that to the Garda afterwards, he just said "sure they'll just send it on to us". Maybe their hands are tied, but it seemed that I wasn't injured to the point an ambulance was required, so no big deal. Ugh.

I dont know you from Adam, Danbo, but I had knots in my stomach reading about your experience, I think because of the one fatality and one serious injury already this week. Glad you are ok but the attitude of the Garda in your case and some others recounted on this thread and the "Is it worth it anymore ?" thread fills me with despair.

It's somewhat reassuring that Kaisr's case is proceeding but it appears as if these cases should be in court on a weekly if not a daily basis. I dont know anything about the Law but if appears as if the sometimes much vaunted Garda power of discretion is the problem here. Any of us might be glad of a friendly word rather than a fine/court appearance if we are caught committing a minor traffic offence but this refusal to take it seriously when a cyclist's safety has been threatened is beyond a joke.

I would like to see the Garda force being directed to prosecute all offences where there is indication (injury/ camera footage, witnesses) that a pedestrian's or cyclist's safety has been compromised but I don't know if this would require new legislation or not.

Of course as Phil Skelton has often pointed out, many countries have the law of presumed liability, where unless there is overwhelming evidence that the cyclist was in the wrong the presumption is that the larger more powerful vehicle is at fault.

Something needs to be done to safeguard those of us who already cycle and make it more attractive to those who currently consider it too dangerous. If the Minimum Passing Distance Bill is enacted that will help. So will better cycling infrastructure of course but even if there was the will that would take years to accomplish. In the meantime there needs to be consequences for motorists who endanger cyclists and pedestrians.

How about if those of you who have camera footage or experiences of actual collisions and dangerous near misses were to send your stories/copies of the footage to the All Party Oireachtas Cycling Group which was relaunched recently? They might at least ask the Min for Justice a PQ or a series of them on the lines of "Is the Minister aware...." etc etc, "What plans does the Minister have to ensure ...? etc etc

Or does anybody have any other ideas?

RacoonQueen

ED E wrote: »

This is why we need an app.

1. See bad driving
2. Enter reg and make/model + location. Optional pic
3. When Johnny Road W@nker has 5 hits a week AGS could go have a chat about his road skills.

But we've more chance of a toddler setting that up than our keepers of the peace corruption.

Hard to enforce - whats stopping your ex and their mates sabotaging you with fake reports or some such. And one person's definition of bad driving - the person who uses roundabouts wrong thinks the person who uses roundabout correctly is a bad driver so reports them etc..

WAPAIC

shootermacg wrote: »

I suppose because cash was taken, that's an end to it. I wasn't impressed with the guard's response. They are the definition of lazy. It looks like the guards have a points system in place and traffic accidents (incidents) are pretty low on that list.

The civil side of the matter may well be considered to be sorted, unless there are further expenses such as medical. However it is certainly not too late to report the driver to trafficwatch (which means it's on a list somewhere and has to be dealt with). Driver certainly deserves penalty points to reinforce the lesson.

LpPepper

Another one this morning....

Heading towards Ardclough in Kildare on a nice descent and this idiot in a X5 decides to overtake two cyclists on a blind bend... Had to brake fairly hard - not a nice feeling seeing a big 4x4 coming in your direction. Scary...

ED E

I dont want to stereotype but....X5 drivers...

HivemindXX

Corca Baiscinn wrote: »

How about if those of you who have camera footage or experiences of actual collisions and dangerous near misses were to send your stories/copies of the footage to the All Party Oireachtas Cycling Group which was relaunched recently? They might at least ask the Min for Justice a PQ or a series of them on the lines of "Is the Minister aware...." etc etc, "What plans does the Minister have to ensure ...? etc etc

The worst part about that video is the story that the guards didn't give a damn. That is very clearly, on video, dangerous driving. How on earth is that not the business of the guards? That would be the gist of my question to the minister.

It disgusts me that incidents like that are ignored. Apparently as policy. Then when someone is killed or crippled we get told "sure it's just a random accident, the driver is usually very good, we're not robots".

Kaisr Sose

ED E wrote: »

I dont want to stereotype but....X5 drivers...

I drive one...

Generalisations et al...:D

Kaisr Sose

LpPepper wrote: »

Another one this morning....

Heading towards Ardclough in Kildare on a nice descent and this idiot in a X5 decides to overtake two cyclists on a blind bend...

Way too frequent an occurrence...not only X5's mind!!

Unknown Soldier

LpPepper wrote: »

Another one this morning....

Heading towards Ardclough in Kildare on a nice descent and this idiot in a X5 decides to overtake two cyclists on a blind bend... Had to brake fairly hard - not a nice feeling seeing a big 4x4 coming in your direction. Scary...

You need to anticipate this type of stuff more.

Your head down, ass up approach won't end well, like that time you rear ended a car.

Just because you can go downhill really fast, doesn't mean you have to, for obvious reasons.

Danger might be around any corner.

LpPepper

Unknown Soldier wrote: »

You need to anticipate this type of stuff more.

Your head down, ass up approach won't end well, like that time you rear ended a car.

Just because you can go downhill really fast, doesn't mean you have to, for obvious reasons.

Danger might be around any corner.

Head wasn't down actually. Just got a new GoPro and only the first spin with it - pointed it down too much so looks like I am constantly looking down. I can assure you I was looking straight ahead...Why would I not look ahead on a descent?

ED E

The Beamer only comes into view of Pepper as it emerges behind the sign (YT can play at 1/4 speed btw) when its already mid overtake, cant fault him one bit there.

Unknown Soldier

LpPepper wrote: »

Head wasn't down actually. Just got a new GoPro and only the first spin with it - pointed it down too much so looks like I am constantly looking down. I can assure you I was looking straight ahead...Why would I not look ahead on a descent?

It's a turn of speech. it refers to your cycling style.

moonshadow

I'm actually out of his thread....
I love cycling, leading a group of newbies ATM and have had many dodgy experiences over the last few weeks.....with three marshalls guiding 10/20 on group spins , the joys of the newbies outways the scares this thread has shown me.
Don't get me wrong .... they happen ...it's not nice ....but it's get on with it or watch this and get scared to go out.....that was happening me.
Anyways today we had 22 newbies complete a 120k spin all got home safe ...
I pressed the button on the go pro several times but the memory card was in the pc.
I remember nothing.

Cakewheels

moonshadow wrote: »

I'm actually out of his thread....
I love cycling, leading a group of newbies ATM and have had many dodgy experiences over the last few weeks.....with three marshalls guiding 10/20 on group spins , the joys of the newbies outways the scares this thread has shown me.
Don't get me wrong .... they happen ...it's not nice ....but it's get on with it or watch this and get scared to go out.....that was happening me.
Anyways today we had 22 newbies complete a 120k spin all got home safe ...
I pressed the button on the go pro several times but the memory card was in the pc.
I remember nothing.

Great you're leading newbies, I'm sure it is much appreciated! I also know what you mean about the thread, even though I don't think people should stop posting on it, as it could end up being valuable for various people in authority to get a better sense of what cyclists are facing. Re guiding 10/20 , - the maximum number of people in a single group is supposed to be 16. I was told this at a Cycling Ireland course and it was also mentioned that insurance may not even be valid when the group is over this number, but obviously I don't know if that part is true. Apologies if I've misunderstood and the groups you mentioned were already split up into less than this.

Beasty

Cakewheels wrote: »

Great you're leading newbies, I'm sure it is much appreciated! I also know what you mean about the thread, even though I don't think people should stop posting on it, as it could end up being valuable for various people in authority to get a better sense of what cyclists are facing. Re guiding 10/20 , - the maximum number of people in a single group is supposed to be 16. I was told this at a Cycling Ireland course and it was also mentioned that insurance may not even be valid when the group is over this number, but obviously I don't know if that part is true. Apologies if I've misunderstood and the groups you mentioned were already split up into less than this.

I have scrutinised various CI insurance documents and guidance. I've also contacted CI to clarify one or two issues. Never have I seen a limit of 16 in a group suggested. Indeed CI's very own event, the Great Dublin Bike Ride, had groups that vastly outnumbered 16 (and given the numbers taking part trying to impose groups of this size would be completely impractical as it would for most sportives). CI are not in a position to impose any such restriction without advising all clubs accordingly. Hence unless you can point to some specific official document laying this out, I do not believe any such restriction is in place

Pinch Flat

Cakewheels wrote: »

Re guiding 10/20 , - the maximum number of people in a single group is supposed to be 16. I was told this at a Cycling Ireland course and it was also mentioned that insurance may not even be valid when the group is over this number....

Be interested to see some links to the above.

ThisRegard

HivemindXX wrote: »

The worst part about that video is the story that the guards didn't give a damn. That is very clearly, on video, dangerous driving. How on earth is that not the business of the guards? That would be the gist of my question to the minister.

It's pure bollox isn't it, trying to fob it off as a civil matter. Careless driving at the least.

plodder

Cycling down the hill through Garristown yesterday morning, a farmer in a jeep is pulling out from my left, I can see him check his left, but not his right where I'm coming from, starts to pull out, then sees me, decides to keep going, and we end up close enough so he can lip read the expletive I uttered at him. Didn't faze him in the slightest though.

Pinch Flat

Had a car pull right out in front of me at outfarm lane, coming on to the Castleknock Road this morning. Driver saw a gap and gunned it - my flashing light of no use. It's located here. https://goo.gl/maps/B4aPhPV1Z6v

Driver was a school kid (wearing the local school uniform) - in a small Corsa, so presumably mammy's car.

The lane is located about 500 meters from the school.

Chuchote

Pinch Flat wrote: »

Had a car pull right out in front of me at outfarm lane, coming on to the Castleknock Road this morning. Driver saw a gap and gunned it - my flashing light of no use. It's located here. https://goo.gl/maps/B4aPhPV1Z6v

Driver was a school kid (wearing the local school uniform) - in a small Corsa, so presumably mammy's car.

The lane is located about 500 meters from the school.

:eek:

CramCycle

Report it to the school. We had a code of conduct expected in school uniform. They banned cars and tractors being used by students to get in and out eventually.

VW 1

CramCycle wrote:

They banned cars and tractors

Surely not commuting in the tractor!?

Had an incident last night where a passenger opened a door in traffic in phibsborough and I cycled into the door, luckily it was fully open and not me cycling into the sharp end of it.

The driver shouted at the passenger to close the door and took off. I caught up to him at glasnevin cemetery and gave him a pier of my mind, didn't catch the reg in my rage.

If he had said sorry are you ok at the time of the incident I would have said fine no problem, just check the mirror in future. I was livid he thought it ok to take off.

ED E

VW 1 wrote: »

Surely not commuting in the tractor!?

Video doing the rounds on FB last week of a lad with a 40 minute commute by tractor every day.

amcalester

ED E wrote: »

Video doing the rounds on FB last week of a lad with a 40 minute commute by tractor every day.

I knew a lad in college who used to take the tractor into town on a Saturday night, he lived out in the sticks and didnt drink. So tractor in and tractor home.

CramCycle

You can drive a tractor at 16 so the lads with big farms thought it was a good way to go. They banned them from the school car park, then the NS car park down the road. Then they had to ask a neighbouring house would they ban them from the front of their house. Once they got past 200m walking, they all returned to using the bus.

helimachoptor

had an elder gentlemen today think the bike lane at frascati was a normal road lane, so he drove his mini up until he got stuck :pac:

Chuchote

CramCycle wrote: »

You can drive a tractor at 16 so the lads with big farms thought it was a good way to go. They banned them from the school car park, then the NS car park down the road. Then they had to ask a neighbouring house would they ban them from the front of their house. Once they got past 200m walking, they all returned to using the bus.

As cycling fashion spreads out into the countryside they may discover that they have legs…

magicbastarder

i used to have farmer johns tyres on my raleigh memphis, which were like tractor tyres. maybe they could start making them again, it might be popular among those kids.