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

Danbo!

07Lapierre wrote: »

Yes...that's called: not looking correctly;)

Yeah I find it very common for motorists to start looking off to their right before they get to the roundabout, subconsciously assuming that anything on the roundabout will be visible in their peripheral, or more likely gone by the time they enter, not considering slower moving stuff like cyclists.

Can happen at T-junctions too and I find the more visibility at the junction, the more risk. A tiny little lane way will mean they’ll need to stop and have a proper look.

AndrewJRenko

Kaisr Sose wrote: »

Unfortunately, he got them from me! Lesson learned but I just did not want to be around this guy any longer than I had to. I had to subsequently report him for harassment and a decision is pending with the DPP on that. The Garda were very sympathetic and helpful.

Since last week, I have thought a solicitor would have been better but this court is supposed to be non-adversarial, easy accessible to represent yourself etc. Adding a solicitor on top would have outweighed the financial benefit of winning as you don't get costs.

I am more disappointed with the process. How can an award be made to someone that did not and probably could not prove a loss. Zero paper work. I doubt they got it repaired as it was not broken! How could a hand break a wing miror casing while at the same time keep balance? I have good bike handling but this level of force would have resulted in me falling off. It just crumpled. Like it was damaged already. The Judge did not want to know.

That's a shame, I'd be very reluctant to give my name to anyone in circumstances like this. I'd give my details to a Garda if required, but not to a driver who had just close-passed me.

Are you sure that the person you dealt with in the Small Claims Court was actually the judge? I read something about them using staff rather than judges in the first instance to try to agree cases. You'd need to confirm if you got a ruling from a judge or not.

Kaisr Sose

It was a District Coutr judge. You are referring to the informal settlement prior to hearing.

Big lesson learned-never ever give details to anybody other than a Garda. I never thought this guy would be like this but he became obsessed.

Judges do no live in the the same world as us. Look at the amount of scrots before them on a daily basis who show up with 50 convictions under their belt and who's solicitors paid for with your taxes tell the judge he's from a broken home, addiction problems or the one that really grinds my gears "Of previous good character"

tobdom

Kaisr Sose wrote: »

It was a District Coutr judge. You are referring to the informal settlement prior to hearing.

Big lesson learned-never ever give details to anybody other than a Garda. I never thought this guy would be like this but he became obsessed.

Sorry to hear of your ordeal, sounds ridiculous.....

Would you perhaps get in touch with the various cycling bodies/campaigns and see if they could or would be willing to help somehow, if you go to appeal? (which it sounds like you should, but I appreciate it's not a decision to take lightly).

Pinch Flat

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

Out at 7:30 for a spin before work, leaving my estate my route took me right at the roundabout at the entrance to my area. As I entered the R/A I could see a car coming from my left. No sweat, I think, sure he see's me. I was fully compliant with road position and used hand signals but this bloke simply didn't see me ........as I reached the first exit (ie his entrance to the R/A) I sensed he was going too fast but I was tight to the R/A, he hits the brakes, locks up, skids 15-20ft onto the R/A and I being to **** myself (not literally). I tried (and failed ) to bunny hop onto a low kerb that forms part of the roundabout and gentle tumbled as I also fail to unclip. He pulls forward and asks if I'm OK. I tell him not so politely to be on his way....

I doubt I would have escaped without a pretty serious injury if I had been taking the second exit to the R/A. He would have t-boned me on the LHS

Just another day on the road. fcuk.

https://goo.gl/maps/rGK8y64CCT62

This is the roundabout at the end of my road - put there specifically to break up what was a fast stretch of road with cars frequently overshooting and embedding themselves in the neighbours' garden walls.

My Sunday spin takes me on a right turn through this. It's a 3 way roundabout. I'd say 9 times out of 10, cars will not yield - they just blast through. Hand signals / Hi vis / strobes do nothing. I'd say they see me ok - just couldn't care. it's a shame that no one gives a toss at 8am on a Sunday morning.

De Bhál

Pinch Flat wrote: »

https://goo.gl/maps/rGK8y64CCT62

just couldn't care. it's a shame that no one gives a toss at 8am on a Sunday morning.

You're stopping them getting to church

Fian

Deleted User wrote: »

<snip> or the one that really grinds my gears "Of previous good character"

Why does this annoy you - do you not agree that people should be treated more harshly if they have loads of previous convictions than someone who has never been in trouble before?

tobdom

Fian wrote: »

Why does this annoy you - do you not agree that people should be treated more harshly if they have loads of previous convictions than someone who has never been in trouble before?

I'd have no problem with that logic myself if previous convictions actually seemed to mean anything to judges...... 135 previous convictions but a report says that "he/she has a good chance of rehabilitation" and he/she gets off with a(nother) slap on the wrist.... it's a farce mostly

Sarz91

Heading from rathmines this afternoon, just after the Garda station there. The road swings around to the left and also continues straight on at the lights. Light was green for those continuing left. I was going left.

There was a bus stopped at the lights as the lights were red for those continuing straight. The road kind of pinches at the apex of that left turn. As I go to take the corner a taxi man veers into the cycle lane. I let it go at first but he kept edging to the point where his wing mirror was millimeters away from my elbow.

He kept moving into the cycle lane and I hit his wing mirror with my hand folding it back against the door. I panicked. He either had no idea I was there or didn't care. Started saying that "I didn't hit you so what's the problem?".

We exchanged a few more verbals and I continued on. He caught up (obviously) and slowed down to have a word saying that "that's where you belong" pointing to the cycle lane. I asked him what lane he thought I was in going around that corner and being that close to the kerb. He said that that particular cycle track had a broken white line which allowed him to move into it.

At that I just left the conversation. Now granted I was probably in the wrong for touching his car but I don't know how else I could have gotten him to stop. It's the last thing I wanted to do to be honest. If anyone has any suggestions as to how to handle this type of scenario I'm all ears.

Type 17

Sarz91 wrote: »

...He said that that particular cycle track had a broken white line which allowed him to move into it.
... granted I was probably in the wrong for touching his car...

A broken line on a bike lane does not give him the right to come in all over you.

It's not wrong to touch a car if it is close enough to be touched

However, it's a bad idea to cause damage, so avoid touching the mirror, as some are weak/damaged and will break if touched - I knock on the door, like you'd knock on the door of a house.

AndrewJRenko

Sarz91 wrote: »

Now granted I was probably in the wrong for touching his car but I don't know how else I could have gotten him to stop. It's the last thing I wanted to do to be honest. If anyone has any suggestions as to how to handle this type of scenario I'm all ears.

The RSA video tells him to leave 1.5m when passing you. Presuming that you're arm isn't 1.5m long, if you can touch his car, he is way too close. If you can knock or bang a window or panel without unbalancing yourself, do it. If you can't, brake.

And get a helmetcamera or two.

CramCycle

Type 17 wrote: »

However, it's a bad idea to cause damage, so avoid touching the mirror, as some are weak/damaged and will break if touched - I knock on the door, like you'd knock on the door of a house.

I once knocked on a car door with my knee when two lads who were far bigger than me, looked like they were in a mood to discuss pleasantries. It didn't seem to work so I had to take out my bike lock in case I needed to knock harder as the driver got out. He decided the conversation was over and that was that, thankfully, as my conversation is terrible and I fear he would have talked me to death.

magicbastarder

Pinch Flat wrote: »

https://goo.gl/maps/rGK8y64CCT62

This is the roundabout at the end of my road

interestingly, my brother is a near neighbour of yours and has recently started introducing his kids to road cycling. i must warn him about your experiences.

Danjamin1

Had a young lady stroll across my path this evening just before KCR, she gave the most cursory of glances at the road she was crossing before burying her face in her phone, didn't even know I was there til I let a shout at her to wake up as she walked straight in front of me. Amazing how much people just rely on their hearing crossing roads.

CramCycle

Danjamin1 wrote: »

Had a young lady stroll across my path this evening just before KCR, she gave the most cursory of glances at the road she was crossing before burying her face in her phone, didn't even know I was there til I let a shout at her to wake up as she walked straight in front of me. Amazing how much people just rely on their hearing crossing roads.

Coming through Bray tonight, I seen a lady about to step out in front of me (I had a green). I slowed because I knew she would do it. I called out but she just stared vacantly at the cars who were stuck in traffic. She stepped out, I called out politely but she did not even flinch. I started to move on when I seen a young lad go for the same, I called out, nothing. I eventually roared "CAREFUL" before he even noticed. He looked genuinely shocked that I was there.

Effects

Was heading to Blackrock from Seapoinnt yesterday evening. Taking the right onto Newtown Ave. I was in the right lane, in between the two right arrows when an oil truck pulled into the left turning lane to overtake me. As he was in the left turning lane the only idea I had that he was going to turn right was his indicator.


I pulled ahead and turned rather than him turn on top of me. Stayed in the centre of the road then for fear he'd try and overtake me on a single lane road. He tailgated me as a result.

Tailgating is fairly common on Newtown Avenue, as is beeping.

mr spuckler

2 this morning, pedestrian stepped out onto the road in my estate as I was bringing junior to creche on the bike, I let out a loud "careful" and he stopped suddenly and apologised profusely. seemed like a nice man, may well have never encountered a cyclist in years of crossing the road in our estate!

then coming through ballsbridge on the junction from landsdowne road to pembroke road, traffic joins from the left and is subject to this yield sign. lady in a Jaguar didn't look my way at any point that i was watching her and was driving right across my path when i had to roar at her to stop. she stopped and waved to acknowledge her error.

it definitely reduces the annoyance levels when people acknowledge that they're in the wrong but would be such a pleasant change for them to take responsibility for not endangering us in the first place!

mr spuckler

mr spuckler wrote:

it definitely reduces the annoyance levels when people acknowledge that they're in the wrong but would be such a pleasant change for them to take responsibility for not endangering us in the first place!

The simple fact is that only a select few are capable of operating fast-moving killing machines without significantly endangering others. I really cannot fathom why it's considered normal or acceptable for almost everyone to have a car and drive them in cities.

mr spuckler

Deleted User wrote: »

The simple fact is that only a select few are capable of operating fast-moving killing machines without significantly endangering others. I really cannot fathom why it's considered normal or acceptable for almost everyone to have a car and drive them in cities.

the strange thing for me is that although i've been cycling for around 30 years and commuting in dublin for about 15 years, it's only now that i'm fully buying into this way of thinking and a large part of that has been to do with discussions and education from this forum.

i say that because it worries me that if it took me so long to reach this conclusion then what hope do we have for people who pretty much see driving as a civil right?

check_six

mr spuckler wrote: »

then coming through ballsbridge on the junction from landsdowne road to pembroke road, traffic joins from the left and is subject to this yield sign. lady in a Jaguar didn't look my way at any point that i was watching her and was driving right across my path when i had to roar at her to stop. she stopped and waved to acknowledge her error.

See also the junction at the Leeson St end of Adelaide Road for getting a similar fright. Can't understand how people can fail to check to their right when yielding to people on their right, but yet I see it all the time!

Can't understand how people aren't checking all around them all the time either for that matter. I mean, in a car you have a bunch of mirrors to help also. And yet, I have talked to people who assume that checking your mirrors regularly is only something for the day of their driving test and never again! :mad:

Next time you're getting a lift from someone have a look at their observation routine to see what they're up to. I got a taxi recently where the driver didn't move his head from a laser gaze out the front windscreen for the whole journey. :eek:

Danjamin1

check_six wrote: »

Next time you're getting a lift from someone have a look at their observation routine to see what they're up to. I got a taxi recently where the driver didn't move his head from a laser gaze out the front windscreen for the whole journey. :eek:

What a pro

papu

Danjamin1 wrote: »

What a pro

A fun one is to inform them that their indicators aren't working, when they say
"what, they are"
you reply,
"well you aren't using them" while tapping your Go-Pro.:pac:

ED E

Taxi men are wonderful people. Always so great. Best drivers on our roads.

I love Sean nos

Observed a couple of near misses this morning in Cabinteely village involving a motorist, who then became a pedestian.

I'm walking to work and I see this lady pull her little black car into one of the much sought after parking spaces on the Bray road. No indicator was used and she kind of dived in, which caught my attention. Not a BMW or an Audi mind, but this was about 07:40, so there was no rush.

There's a chap in cycling gear and a dropbar bike approaching her car from behind. He's making a decent pace, he has seen her and moved out of the door zone with a bit of room to spare. Still not enough because as soon as the car had stopped moving, she hoped out of the car. It happened remarkably fast. Door opens fully and she's out. He moves out even further and thankfully he's now close enough to pass her, because she's off now to cross the road. Didn't look. Oncoming van has to brake (I can tell from the engine noise) and she's still going.

Wasn't wearing headphones. Wasn't looking down. Appeared to be looking in her direction of travel, but there was no one home.

check_six

ED E wrote: »

Taxi men are wonderful people. Always so great. Best drivers on our roads.

They certainly get enough practice to be inanyways!

CramCycle

I love Sean nos wrote: »

but there was no one home.

More and more common alas.

Coming through Bray last night, I am approaching the main crossroads in town. A car is waiting at the lights indicating left, so I just stop behind it. I know the light sequence and it is about to change. A car pulls up beside me as I haven't fully taken the lane. No indicator so he must be going straight on. He must have seen me as he pulled up beside rather than on top of me but I just had that feeling. Light changes, first car pulls off. I push off slowly and as the car beside me lurches forward, faster than required, I see it, indicator on. I sit up as I see the wheel turn. At this point I am where he should be looking. I let a roar and instead of stopping he panics and puts the foot down to clear the corner. Nearly mounts the curb.

Further up the road, approaching the turn for church st. I see a van speeding towards the turn form the opposite direction. It is tight enough whether he should go in front of me or not. I know he is going for it though, he turns early, takes the apex of the turn (if a car had been there it would have been a head on collision). The pedestrian mid crossing though gets the fright of his life, as the vans front bumper misses his knees by microns.

amcalester

CramCycle wrote: »

More and more common alas.

Coming through Bray last night, I am approaching the main crossroads in town. A car is waiting at the lights indicating left, so I just stop behind it. I know the light sequence and it is about to change. A car pulls up beside me as I haven't fully taken the lane. No indicator so he must be going straight on. He must have seen me as he pulled up beside rather than on top of me but I just had that feeling. Light changes, first car pulls off. I push off slowly and as the car beside me lurches forward, faster than required, I see it, indicator on. I sit up as I see the wheel turn. At this point I am where he should be looking. I let a roar and instead of stopping he panics and puts the foot down to clear the corner. Nearly mounts the curb.

I always make a point of turning and looking at both the driver and the indicator when a motorist pulls up behind me like that, it won't necessarily stop someone doing something stupid but I find it helps.

Had a pedestrian with her head buried in her phone step out into the cycle lane in front of me this morning, I swerved to go around her and got shouted at. Idiot.

Saw a lad on a bike having a shouting match with a coach driver in Booterstown the other day, outside Ferris Wheels. A good guess as to what happened would be the coach driver either passed him too closely or started beeping at him for not using the cycle lane. I'd bet on it.

It has happened to me dozens of times. The sooner they remove that useless death trap, the better.