Dem cyclists all break de lights Joe!

jon1981 · 14-10-2016 10:27AM

magicbastarder wrote: »

i've had motorists do this for me.

+1 me too.

tomasrojo · 14-10-2016 10:40AM

Chuchote wrote: »

I'll signal and draw in to one of the few gaps between parking spaces to allow a car or cars to pass. (It's not necessary to do so; it would only take a few seconds longer for them to wait behind me. I'm just being kind when I do this.)

The universal reaction is for the driver to whizz by me, certainly not flashing a 'thanks', and staring straight ahead, not even bothering to look at the person who has just inconvenienced herself to allow them to speed through.

I've noticed this as well. It's not that they never thank you, but when I occasionally drive, it's very noticeable how much more drivers thank you for courtesies.

However, I get thanked all the time (little waves and little raise of the finger off the steering wheel) when on the bakfiets. I guess it's like half a car.

CramCycle · 14-10-2016 10:44AM

I always attempt to give a thumbs up or a polite wave when someone lets me across them or clearly slows to facilitate me. Nearly always gets a nod, wave or smile back. Doesn't slow or harm anyone. It is just nice to be nice.

NiallBoo · 14-10-2016 10:49AM

ThisRegard wrote: »

But you spotted him all the same. Well done that cyclist for having such dreamy healthy eyes.

Some people get quite indignant.

I really wonder what kind of logic a person possesses when they shout "i can't see you" at someone.

josip · 14-10-2016 10:52AM

ThisRegard wrote: »

One armed people are banned from cycling?

Not banned, but they'd need the bike modified slightly to be able to use it with confidence.
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/bike-brakes-for-people-with-one-hand

CramCycle · 14-10-2016 11:05AM

NiallBoo wrote: »

Some people get quite indignant.

I really wonder what kind of logic a person possesses when they shout "i can't see you" at someone.

A coworker got pulled alongsode one night by an irate motorist for not being able to see him without Hi Vis on. Apparently his fairly decent Cateye lights were not enough. He did ask how was he able to pull over to give out to him if he couldn't see him to let him know he was invisible. The driver just huffed and went away.

tomasrojo · 14-10-2016 11:11AM

It happened to me once. I was told I was very hard to see and needed a yellow jacket. I was pulling a trailer with white reflective stripes and red reflectors, nice and low down for dipped headlights) with a Smart Lunar R1 mounted at the back, white wrist lights and a strong Cateye headlight at the front. The driver clearly saw me from way back on the road, because I could hear her slow down and change lane way back (I was going straight on, and she was turning left; I think me being "in the middle of the road" was really what bothered her).

magicbastarder · 14-10-2016 11:17AM

CramCycle wrote: »

I always attempt to give a thumbs up or a polite wave when someone lets me across them or clearly slows to facilitate me. Nearly always gets a nod, wave or smile back. Doesn't slow or harm anyone. It is just nice to be nice.

i have been known to take the primary position on windy roads, and pull in when there's a clear overtaking opportunity - and give a signal which i suppose means '*now* you can overtake'.

generally speaking, i'll pull in specifically for tractors and the like on country roads when i get a chance, as they simply don't have the acceleration to overtake even when the road ahead is clear - i usually do get a wave or a flash as thank you for this.

Moflojo · 14-10-2016 11:17AM

jon1981 wrote: »

*The Ninja cyclist*All dressed in black, black backpack, black bike, black wheels... no reflectors, no lights.

Here's an anecdote about Ninja cyclists, I hope you enjoy it.

My girlfriend and I were walking home from a pub near Harold's Cross one dark winter evening and as we were crossing the road we just about noticed a black-clad cyclist with no lights whizzing towards us. As it happened I had recently told my girlfriend about how such cyclists are referred to as "Ninja cyclists", so as this particular Ninja whizzed by my girlfriend pronounced, loudly enough for the cyclist to hear, "Oh, ninja cyclist!"

It was only as the words had left her mouth, and the cyclist was within touching distance of us, that we noticed he was, in fact, Asian (and probably Japanese).

Alas, there was no time for us to explain to him that we were not simply being casual racists, for he disappeared into the black night as quickly as he had emerged from it.

cdaly_ · 14-10-2016 11:52AM

Moflojo wrote: »

Here's an anecdote about Ninja cyclists, I hope you enjoy it.

...

for he disappeared into the black night as quickly as he had emerged from it.

https://xkcd.com/417/

onmebike · 14-10-2016 11:57AM

CramCycle wrote: »

I always attempt to give a thumbs up or a polite wave when someone lets me across them or clearly slows to facilitate me. Nearly always gets a nod, wave or smile back. Doesn't slow or harm anyone. It is just nice to be nice.

I do too and sometimes even when somebody doesn't just blatantly cut across me. As well as acknowledging the moment, I think it also helps put cyclists in people's minds and make them (and others who see it) that little bit more aware.

prinzeugen · 14-10-2016 11:59AM

http://www.cycledublin.ie/blog/index.php/2016/10/red-lights-arent-optional/

MediaMan · 14-10-2016 12:12PM

prinzeugen wrote: »

http://www.cycledublin.ie/blog/index.php/2016/10/red-lights-arent-optional/

Love it!

(Shame about all the hi-viz in the later photos, but that's another story.)

RayCun · 14-10-2016 01:18PM

NiallBoo wrote: »

I really wonder what kind of logic a person possesses when they shout "i can't see you" at someone.

In fairness, there are some people that you only see when they cross in front of a light source

RayCun · 14-10-2016 01:25PM

Pinch Flat wrote: »

Another thing I notice is motorists driving almost at the kerb, presumably with the intention of stopping cyclists filtering. Had one this morning at Castleknock, but a while back I had someone stay left, then deliberately veer right to try stop me passing them.

Milltown Road, coming down the hill from Dartry, on my way to work. Drives me crazy.
It isn't deliberate, it's cars are turning right at the bottom of the hill so they overtake all the way down, and the cars going straight pull in to give them more room, but they don't leave any room for bikes on the inside, some of them are practically on the path...

Chuchote · 14-10-2016 01:28PM

RayCun wrote: »

Milltown Road, coming down the hill from Dartry, on my way to work. Drives me crazy.
It isn't deliberate, it's cars are turning right at the bottom of the hill so they overtake all the way down, and the cars going straight pull in to give them more room, but they don't leave any room for bikes on the inside, some of them are practically on the path...

Yeah, you're better off to cut into the park just before the Nine Arches and go straight through to Clonskeagh (if that's where you're going to).

RayCun · 14-10-2016 01:32PM

Chuchote wrote: »

Yeah, you're better off to cut into the park just before the Nine Arches and go straight through to Clonskeagh (if that's where you're going to).

that section of the path along the Dodder, behind the Dropping Well pub, is not mixed-use

Chuchote · 14-10-2016 01:43PM

RayCun wrote: »

that section of the path along the Dodder, behind the Dropping Well pub, is not mixed-use

Really? Didn't realise that.

average_runner · 14-10-2016 01:45PM

Now ye are just reminding me of my old days when I lived in Milltown:(

RayCun · 14-10-2016 01:54PM

Chuchote wrote: »

Really? Didn't realise that.

the other side of the river is, and the section from Dundrum Road to Clonskeagh, and the section beside Dartry park is, but Milltown Road to Dundrum Road on the north of the river isn't...

NiallBoo · 14-10-2016 02:26PM

ThisRegard wrote: »

So it you were a teacher you wouldn't know which group was which at a quick glance, and if you were a child who fell behind you could end up running after the wrong group.

Ah sure they're just kids, same difference. So long as you leave with the right number.

Chuchote · 14-10-2016 03:14PM

RayCun wrote: »

the other side of the river is, and the section from Dundrum Road to Clonskeagh, and the section beside Dartry park is, but Milltown Road to Dundrum Road on the north of the river isn't...

Ah, ok, so you just have to go in at the entrance near North House or at the Dropping Well, cross the river and off you go to Clonskeagh, with a brief trip to the surface at the Unnamed Metal Bridge.

Chips Lovell · 14-10-2016 04:10PM

High viz chat moved to the high viz thread

RayCun · 14-10-2016 04:16PM

Chuchote wrote: »

Ah, ok, so you just have to go in at the entrance near North House or at the Dropping Well, cross the river and off you go to Clonskeagh, with a brief trip to the surface at the Unnamed Metal Bridge.

all along here
https://www.google.ie/maps/dir/53.3086286,-6.259157/53.30802,-6.2544205/53.3104811,-6.2479303/@53.3085131,-6.2546036,17z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e2
including the bit behind the Dropping Well where the path doesn't show up, is not shared use

Chuchote · 14-10-2016 04:18PM

RayCun wrote: »

all along here
https://www.google.ie/maps/dir/53.3086286,-6.259157/53.30802,-6.2544205/53.3104811,-6.2479303/@53.3085131,-6.2546036,17z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e2
including the bit behind the Dropping Well where the path doesn't show up, is not shared use

Ah, that needs to change.

average_runner · 14-10-2016 04:23PM

That bit behind the dropping well floods alot also.

josip · 14-10-2016 06:57PM

average_runner wrote: »

That bit behind the dropping well floods alot also.

No problem to Danny

cython · 14-10-2016 08:11PM

Chuchote wrote: »

What do they reckon is a spurious signal? 'Spurious' would seem to mean false?

You may have missed the "cyclist (usually hi-vized and helmeted)" (do you object to hi-viz and helmet? That's unusual among drivers) looking behind before signalling. Most drivers don't watch cyclists unwaveringly.

The general recommendation for motorists changing lane or turning is mirror-signal-mirror-manoeuvre (and blind spot checks, of course), so any cyclist would do well to check the way is (still) clear after signalling and before executing a manoeuvre. Even if they checked the way before signalling, a hand signal (no more than indicators) does confer right of way so they should not assume that a motorist in the lane is going to let them across. Expectations of courtesy should not enter into matters of self-preservation.

Chuchote · 14-10-2016 08:22PM

cython wrote: »

The general recommendation for motorists changing lane or turning is mirror-signal-mirror-manoeuvre (and blind spot checks, of course), so any cyclist would do well to check the way is (still) clear after signalling and before executing a manoeuvre. Even if they checked the way before signalling, a hand signal (no more than indicators) does confer right of way so they should not assume that a motorist in the lane is going to let them across. Expectations of courtesy should not enter into matters of self-preservation.

We all have to trust each other on the road, though.

cython · 14-10-2016 08:35PM

Chuchote wrote: »

We all have to trust each other on the road, though.

Call me a cynic if you want, but regardless of my mode of transport, the only thing I trust other road users to do is "something stupid". If you assume/anticipate the worst and act accordingly, and you'll be pleasantly surprised when it doesn't happen. If you are overly trusting and encounter someone careless or reckless enough, you risk ending up under or on top of their vehicle as a cyclist.

It's unfortunate, but the prevalence of essentially "bad road users", means that it's very difficult, and indeed potentially dangerous to trust random strangers on the road.

Dem cyclists all break de lights Joe!

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