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

Moflojo · 02-05-2017 09:25PM

07Lapierre wrote: »

Did the driver give any reason as to why he/she felt it "wasn't my fault"?

There was another car, in front of the car that struck me, that also pulled right across my path moments before the second car struck me. I was only about 10 metres from the junction when the first car pulled across and I had to brake to avoid t-boning it. It's a dangerous junction where drivers frequently pull right across me so I'm always cautious as I approach it. I had been eyeballing the first driver in expectation that they might pull across me so I was prepared for it. I didn't think for a second that the second driver was going to go for it too!

The driver who struck me was attempting to blame the first driver for causing the collision. I think the logic was that because the first car had pulled across me too, it wasn't his fault that he was just following the first car. He was essentially admitting that he wasn't watching out for other traffic, he was just blindly following the driver in front (who had already carried out a dangerous manoeuvre by pulling across me).

I'm going to get on to the council tomorrow and ask that a red filter light is installed at the junction because these near misses are quite frequent. There is a green filter light but right-turning traffic also gets a full green light which results in these risky right turns. Pedestrians are in danger at the junction because the right-turning traffic comes out at the junction from an unexpected angle. The junction is at the Big Tree for anyone familiar with the area.

shootermacg · 02-05-2017 09:46PM

Moflojo wrote: »

There was another car, in front of the car that struck me, that also pulled right across my path moments before the second car struck me. I was only about 10 metres from the junction when the first car pulled across and I had to brake to avoid t-boning it. It's a dangerous junction where drivers frequently pull right across me so I'm always cautious as I approach it. I had been eyeballing the first driver in expectation that they might pull across me so I was prepared for it. I didn't think for a second that the second driver was going to go for it too!

The driver who struck me was attempting to blame the first driver for causing the collision. I think the logic was that because the first car had pulled across me too, it wasn't his fault that he was just following the first car. He was essentially admitting that he wasn't watching out for other traffic, he was just blindly following the driver in front (who had already carried out a dangerous manoeuvre by pulling across me).

I'm going to get on to the council tomorrow and ask that a red filter light is installed at the junction because these near misses are quite frequent. There is a green filter light but right-turning traffic also gets a full green light which results in these risky right turns. Pedestrians are in danger at the junction because the right-turning traffic comes out at the junction from an unexpected angle. The junction is at the Big Tree for anyone familiar with the area.

I'd lodge a complaint. Really you have some idiot driving without a sense of responsibility or due care for other road users. I would do whatever I could to remove him from the road.

micar · 02-05-2017 09:55PM

Moflojo wrote: »

There is a green filter light but right-turning traffic also gets a full green light which results in these risky right turns. Pedestrians are in danger at the junction because the right-turning traffic comes out at the junction from an unexpected angle. The junction is at the Big Tree for anyone familiar with the area.

Same problem happens to me going through donnybrook after the bridge past the rugby ground. I have a green light to go straight through and cars from the opposite direction turning right also have a green light.

They really should have a flashing amber light.

Am always wary when there are no motorists travelling in the same direction as me.

Had similar incident happen to me there, first car turned car followed immediately by another right which almost hit me.

Hope you're OK

hesker · 02-05-2017 10:17PM

This type of incident is all too common. I have at least 4 junctions on my commute where I have right turning traffic cutting across me regularly. I'm of the mind that drivers are focussed on the line of cars coming towards them and watching that first gap appear so they can go for it. If they could even contemplate that there might be a bike in that gap you might have a chance but it never enters the head of some of them.

I try to keep myself as tall as possible so they might see my head above the car line but most of them are completely oblivious.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i · 02-05-2017 10:21PM

Moflojo wrote: »

I was wearing a full high vis jacket and it was still broad daylight! The driver either wasn't paying attention or simply wasn't in control of the vehicle.

Yes, but were you wearing a helmet?

Hope you are ok, and you should absolutely press charges based on your follow up post.

Moflojo wrote: »

The driver who struck me was attempting to blame the first driver for causing the collision.

That's a new level of stupid really. This person should absolutely not be in command of a vehicle of any type.

Please follow this up with the Gardaí before he puts somebody in an early grave.

Kaisr Sose · 02-05-2017 10:37PM

Moflojo wrote: »

I was struck by a car in Dublin this evening. I was travelling straight and as I went through a junction a driver coming from the opposite direction turned right and drove into my back wheel. The driver braked just before the car struck me so it wasn't a violent collision. The bike was knocked over sideways and I jumped clear, landing on my feet.

Driver pulled in and we exchanged details. There was a squad car passing just afterwards and the Guards pulled in and took information from both of us. A passing cyclist who witnessed the collision gave a statement to the Guards too. Driver was totally without remorse and repeatedly said "It wasn't my fault". The worrying thing was that the driver genuinely seemed to believe this, even though they had just driven their car into oncoming traffic and struck someone.

Anyway, thankfully I was unhurt but it was a stark reminder of how vulnerable we are when we cycle, and how we just cannot expect that drivers are looking out for us. I was wearing a full high vis jacket and it was still broad daylight! The driver either wasn't paying attention or simply wasn't in control of the vehicle.

That sounds just like how I was hit last year at a cross roads. Like you, the driver hit my back wheel and the bike was flattened. I landed on my feet. Apparently no injury...then about 2hrs later I had severe and rapid shooting pains in both arm, stiff neck and a sore knee. 10mths later I am still not 100% and the prognosis is for a further 12mths of symptoms. Driver was very apologetic etc until the Garda got involved and despite accepting responsibility at the time, told the Garda I broke the red light.

buffalo · 02-05-2017 10:45PM

Moflojo wrote: »

I was struck by a car in Dublin this evening.

Hey now, this thread is about near misses, not actual strikes!

07Lapierre · 02-05-2017 10:45PM

Some drivers see cyclists....they just don't give a ****!

http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/video-intimidating-truck-merges-like-irish-club-rider-simply-isnt-there/

micar · 02-05-2017 10:50PM

07Lapierre wrote: »

Some drivers see cyclists....they just don't give a ****!

http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/video-intimidating-truck-merges-like-irish-club-rider-simply-isnt-there/

Holy sh1t......that was so close.....so lucky not to get injured.

Surely some can identify the company the lorry belongs to.

amcalester · 03-05-2017 08:31AM

I had my first close pass in ages this morning, been reading this thread thinking how lucky I've been.

On the R136 between Jobstown and Lucan coming up to the Leisure Centre, coming from Tallaght, I was in the 24 hour bus lane doing about 35 kph when a black golf passed me within inches at serious speed.

I'd forgotten how much of a fright it can give you.

griffdaddy · 03-05-2017 09:58AM

Not as dramatic as some of the near misses here but still incredibly irritating. I was waiting at the lights in a queue of bikes on the cycle path at the Barge pub this morning heading east towards Leeson street. The usual impatient cyclists arrived and skipped the queue by waiting on the wrong side of the path alongside those of us who were queuing. When the lights went green we set off across the road and down the path at the hilton. At some point near the luas bridge one of the cyclists who skipped the queue starts trying to pull in on top of me and starts roaring at me about undertaking him. When I raised the fact that he'd skipped the queue by going on the wrong side of the path at the lights he started arguing that he was entitled to do this and that if I wanted to wait that was my business

Tombo2001 · 03-05-2017 10:02AM

griffdaddy wrote: »

Not as dramatic as some of the near misses here but still incredibly irritating. I was waiting at the lights in a queue of bikes on the cycle path at the Barge pub this morning heading east towards Leeson street. The usual impatient cyclists arrived and skipped the queue by waiting on the wrong side of the path alongside those of us who were queuing. When the lights went green we set off across the road and down the path at the hilton. At some point near the luas bridge one of the cyclists who skipped the queue starts trying to pull in on top of me and starts roaring at me about undertaking him. When I raised the fact that he'd skipped the queue by going on the wrong side of the path at the lights he started arguing that he was entitled to do this and that if I wanted to wait that was my business

So in other words you were just holding your line....?

The thing is - once people start shouting and roaring as that guy did, then right and wrong become an irrelevance....when he becomes the verbal aggressor like that, chances as are he has no interest in finding out he's in the wrong, and will ignore that fact whens its put to him.

amcalester · 03-05-2017 10:09AM

Tombo2001 wrote: »

So in other words you were just holding your line....?

The thing is - once people start shouting and roaring as that guy did, then right and wrong become an irrelevance....when he becomes the verbal aggressor like that, chances as are he has no interest in finding out he's in the wrong, and will ignore that fact whens its put to him.

One of the reasons I enjoy cycling is that it gets rid of the stress of the day. I can't imagine picking fights with other road users, it'd just stress me out.

griffdaddy · 03-05-2017 10:12AM

Tombo2001 wrote: »

So in other words you were just holding your line....?

The thing is - once people start shouting and roaring as that guy did, then right and wrong become an irrelevance....when he becomes the verbal aggressor like that, chances as are he has no interest in finding out he's in the wrong, and will ignore that fact whens its put to him.

Pretty much. He flew off on the wrong side again then and went around that blind corner into the part where the cycle path merges with the footpath at speed. From now on I'm not talking to anyone between home and work ðŸ˜›

Danjamin1 · 03-05-2017 10:12AM

Tombo2001 wrote: »

So in other words you were just holding your line....?

The thing is - once people start shouting and roaring as that guy did, then right and wrong become an irrelevance....when he becomes the verbal aggressor like that, chances as are he has no interest in finding out he's in the wrong, and will ignore that fact whens its put to him.

F***ing queue skippers are the worst, every morning the same people I've overtaken breeze through the red light or go just past the stop line to position themselves at the front of the queue only to be overtaken immediately. It's so irritating! I've yet to say it to anyone, so far I've just settled for letting my blood boil as I overtake again. Let a roar at someone this morning breezing through a left turn onto the main road without even looking, I could see it happening but felt it was worth letting a shout anyway. So many people completely oblivious on the road!

Fighting Tao · 03-05-2017 10:19AM

The way this thread has evolved I think this belongs here:

WHY FACTS DON’T CHANGE OUR MINDS
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/02/27/why-facts-dont-change-our-minds

Ciaran_B · 03-05-2017 11:14AM

Had a Paddy Wagon coach come within about 6 inches of my right handlebar this morning. Going along the north quays on the IFSC block just before that metal arch thing over the road just before the CHQ building. I hadn't undertaken him or anything he was a good distance (at least 6 cars) behind me leaving the traffic lights at the Custom House but he came right in on top of me. Very scary, any wobble from me and I'd have hit him.

Kaisr Sose · 03-05-2017 11:57AM

griffdaddy wrote: »

Not as dramatic as some of the near misses here but still incredibly irritating. I was waiting at the lights in a queue of bikes on the cycle path at the Barge pub this morning heading east towards Leeson street. The usual impatient cyclists arrived and skipped the queue by waiting on the wrong side of the path alongside those of us who were queuing. When the lights went green we set off across the road and down the path at the hilton. At some point near the luas bridge one of the cyclists who skipped the queue starts trying to pull in on top of me and starts roaring at me about undertaking him. When I raised the fact that he'd skipped the queue by going on the wrong side of the path at the lights he started arguing that he was entitled to do this and that if I wanted to wait that was my business

What a dick!! All about him. I reckon he wouldn't give a crap about cyclists if he was driving.

Corca Baiscinn · 03-05-2017 12:45PM

Ciaran_B wrote: »

Had a Paddy Wagon coach come within about 6 inches of my right handlebar this morning. Going along the north quays on the IFSC block just before that metal arch thing over the road just before the CHQ building. I hadn't undertaken him or anything he was a good distance (at least 6 cars) behind me leaving the traffic lights at the Custom House but he came right in on top of me. Very scary, any wobble from me and I'd have hit him.

Report it, from time/location they should be able to identify the bus/driver. Not on for professional drivers to do this

LpPepper · 03-05-2017 01:16PM

amcalester wrote: »

I had my first close pass in ages this morning, been reading this thread thinking how lucky I've been.

On the R136 between Jobstown and Lucan coming up to the Leisure Centre, coming from Tallaght, I was in the 24 hour bus lane doing about 35 kph when a black golf passed me within inches at serious speed.

I'd forgotten how much of a fright it can give you.

That particular stretch of bus lane is terrible for that. I haven't have it happen at the leisure centre but always just past the luas lines towards Roadstone. Some drivers take a serious issue to anyone not using the off road "cycle path" which is always littered in glass and debris and using it means total loss of priority at some junctions.

Hate that stretch of road for that very reason.

amcalester · 03-05-2017 01:24PM

LpPepper wrote: »

That particular stretch of bus lane is terrible for that. I haven't have it happen at the leisure centre but always just past the luas lines towards Roadstone. Some drivers take a serious issue to anyone not using the off road "cycle path" which is always littered in glass and debris and using it means total loss of priority at some junctions.

Hate that stretch of road for that very reason.

I turn off into Citywest at the Luas tracks so not familiar with the road beyond that but you're right about the cycle lane being covered in glass.

My last near miss was actually at the turn for leisure centre, I was using the cycle lane and nearly got left hooked by a motorist, so now I always use the bus lane.

its such a shame that the lane has so much glass on it, it's pretty much unusable, I got 3 punctures in 4 days coming up to the Luas tracks while using the cycle lane, don't use it anymore at all.

Roadhawk · 03-05-2017 01:24PM

LpPepper wrote: »

That particular stretch of bus lane is terrible for that. I haven't have it happen at the leisure centre but always just past the luas lines towards Roadstone. Some drivers take a serious issue to anyone not using the off road "cycle path" which is always littered in glass and debris and using it means total loss of priority at some junctions.

Hate that stretch of road for that very reason.

I was literally about to say that...Why wasn't the extensive infrastructure being used...If its just a case of glass/litter on the track either go around it or log it on fixmystreet.ie...much safer than having a near miss.

LpPepper · 03-05-2017 01:31PM

Roadhawk wrote: »

I was literally about to say that...Why wasn't the extensive infrastructure being used...If its just a case of glass/litter on the track either go around it or log it on fixmystreet.ie...much safer than having a near miss.

Well it's not just a case of glass/litter which by the way usually covers an extensive amount of the path in both directions - I'd rather use the bus lane/road as I'm fully entitled to do than leave myself open to constant punctures and to have to consistently scan the path ahead and swerve around glass - often the glass covers the full width and it's impossible to go around, meaning I would have to come to a complete stop, dismount and lift the bike...

The other issue is loss of priority at junctions - once past Roadstone heading towards Lucan, anyone using the "cycle path" is met with crossing lights at every single roundabout - there are many on the road, meaning you have to nearly come to a complete stop to check if clear or stop and press the button if there is traffic.

If I just stay on the road in the bus lane I a)have much less chance of a puncture, b)have same priority as other road users at junctions and c) am more visible to others at junctions so chances of being left hooked are less likely.

amcalester · 03-05-2017 01:39PM

Roadhawk wrote: »

I was literally about to say that...Why wasn't the extensive infrastructure being used...If its just a case of glass/litter on the track either go around it or log it on fixmystreet.ie...much safer than having a near miss.

I'd happily use it once past the Leisure Centre but there's always glass at random places, every day new broken glass. The council are pretty quick at cleaning it in fairness but there's always fresh glass further up or back.

The bus lane is also a sign-posted Bus/Cycle lane so I'll continue to use it as such.

Roadhawk · 03-05-2017 01:46PM

Fair enough...just a shame to see the infrastructure go used and abandoned.

Danjamin1 · 03-05-2017 01:47PM

Roadhawk wrote: »

Fair enough...just a shame to see the infrastructure go used and abandoned.

That's what happens when something isn't fit for purpose unfortunately.

LpPepper · 03-05-2017 01:48PM

Roadhawk wrote: »

Fair enough...just a shame to see the infrastructure go used and abandoned.

Well that'll be the case when it's poorly designed, poorly maintained and more of a hassle for it's users than other means like the bus lane

CramCycle · 03-05-2017 01:51PM

Roadhawk wrote: »

I was literally about to say that...Why wasn't the extensive infrastructure being used...If its just a case of glass/litter on the track either go around it or log it on fixmystreet.ie...much safer than having a near miss.

Roadhawk wrote: »

Fair enough...just a shame to see the infrastructure go used and abandoned.

MOD VOICE: Regardless of opinions on the matter, disobeying one law or perceived law, gives no one carte blanche to threaten another person with death. As has been discussed (and pointed out), said infrastructure is not up to standard, leave the point there. Any questions, please PM me, do not discuss in thread.

magicbastarder · 03-05-2017 02:15PM

huh?

Chuchote · 03-05-2017 02:55PM

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Responses to fixmystreet.ie issues is very spotty - sometimes Councils respond very quickly and promptly, and other times, possibly for the same Council, issues are just ignored.

It's also really bizarre that fixmystreet has an excellent app - "See it! Say it!" - for reporting graffiti and rubbish dumping, but you can't use it for potholes, though I think you can report bad road surfaces on the fixmystreet website.

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

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