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

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Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,942 ✭✭✭Danbo!


    ED E wrote: »
    Has anyone got a link to the video of the Garda flashing his badge after trying to run a cycle courier down on the quays a couple years back? Can't find the thing.

    Cant find it myself, but I did see it only about 2 weeks ago.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,170 ✭✭✭✭ED E


    cython wrote: »
    Original sticky bottle article is here with a broken video, so I suspect it was taken down. Whether voluntarily or under some form of duress/compulsion (e.g. if some follow up was taking place) is anyone's guess.

    Somehow I dont think it was the poster being disappointed with his cinematography. Thanks for the link :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,123 ✭✭✭mr spuckler


    screenshot here of badge flash!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,760 ✭✭✭Effects


    I stayed just behind him as i always do seeing that a left turn was coming up, he wasn't indicating.

    Am half tempted to set up a twitter account and send the video on to an post later.

    Send it to Broadsheet instead. Higher view count if they show it and more chance of An Post doing anything about it.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,942 ✭✭✭Danbo!


    Two close ones today on the way home.

    First, at terenure village cross roads. I’m coming from town taking a right towards templeogue, no turn-filter light yet, and there’s a coach coming towards me but turning left, so he has to yield. I turn right and I can see the driver isn’t looking at all, and he heads out beyond his yield line. I have to awkwardly check behind me to move out around him, and coupled with me slowing down when I realised he’s not paying full attention, I end up at a crawling pace right in front of him. But he then decides to go with me inches from the bumper. Lots of gesturing and waving from me, but he’s away with the fairies. Video will be going to coach company. Looking back I should have stopped dead before getting in front of him, hindsight is a wonderful thing. :)

    A bit up the road, my old favourite close pass spot outside Ashfield college, I twig a “small” car transporter behind me in the mirror and he looks to be left wheels in cycle lane. We’re about 30ft from where the road opens up into 3 lanes, and the light is red, surely he won’t, will he? Of course he ****ing will. It looked small from the front, non-artic type, but the thing was long and so close. Gave him a wave at the lights up ahead and made the “too close” gesture and he waved to apologise. Hmm.


  • Registered Users Posts: 39 bob b


    I had an unusual close pass on the way home yesterday. Stopped at a red light on the way up North Strand Road and a taxi came so close I had to move my right foot as otherwise it would have been run over. A quizzical look at the drive was met with a glare followed by much revving of the engine and a racing start when the lights changed. I got another glare when I passed him 20 meters up the road at the next red light.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 919 ✭✭✭Danjamin1


    bob b wrote: »
    I had an unusual close pass on the way home yesterday. Stopped at a red light on the way up North Strand Road and a taxi came so close I had to move my right foot as otherwise it would have been run over. A quizzical look at the drive was met with a glare followed by much revving of the engine and a racing start when the lights changed. I got another glare when I passed him 20 meters up the road at the next red light.

    Ah you had the misfortune of encountering the frequently spotted c**t. This species is very common on Irish roads.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,360 ✭✭✭I love Sean nos


    bob b wrote: »
    a taxi came so close I had to move my right foot as otherwise it would have been run over.
    Professional driver. :pac:


  • Registered Users Posts: 897 ✭✭✭NyOmnishambles


    I have recently enough started cycling to work, through the Phoenix Park and up the quays and then up towards Stephen's green

    So far thankfully I have nothing major to report in this thread but reading it has been a useful education in how to be safe, I am fairly cautious and happy to let faster people by wherever I can as I always leave myself plenty of time to get where i am going

    This morning when approaching the junction with Church street where the buses/cars have to cross the cycle lane to turn left up Church street I was overtaken by another cyclist

    There was a car ahead of both of us who was indicating that he was going to turn left and had to cross the cycle lane, he had indicated correctly and in plenty of time and had the right of way as he was ahead of both of us and started his maneuver before we approached

    The other cyclist guy continues on up the cycle lane and forces the car to jam on the brakes so as to not knock him off, cyclist proceeds to continue around the car as if he had the right of way

    So a near miss all of the other cyclists making, the poor car driver was shocked from nearly knocking someone down and then got blasted off the road by a bus for missing the light


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,062 ✭✭✭cjt156


    Just another piece of evidence that there are idiots in all modes of transport; most of whom are completely unaware of their own idiocy.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 27,833 ✭✭✭✭ThisRegard


    I have recently enough started cycling to work, through the Phoenix Park and up the quays and then up towards Stephen's green

    You'll have a much more pleasant cycle by exiting the park and going through Kilmainham and down the canal until you turn off where you need to head around by the green.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,479 ✭✭✭plodder


    I have recently enough started cycling to work, through the Phoenix Park and up the quays and then up towards Stephen's green

    So far thankfully I have nothing major to report in this thread but reading it has been a useful education in how to be safe, I am fairly cautious and happy to let faster people by wherever I can as I always leave myself plenty of time to get where i am going

    This morning when approaching the junction with Church street where the buses/cars have to cross the cycle lane to turn left up Church street I was overtaken by another cyclist

    There was a car ahead of both of us who was indicating that he was going to turn left and had to cross the cycle lane, he had indicated correctly and in plenty of time and had the right of way as he was ahead of both of us and started his maneuver before we approached

    The other cyclist guy continues on up the cycle lane and forces the car to jam on the brakes so as to not knock him off, cyclist proceeds to continue around the car as if he had the right of way

    So a near miss all of the other cyclists making, the poor car driver was shocked from nearly knocking someone down and then got blasted off the road by a bus for missing the light
    Probably the cyclist's fault all right. But, would you say the motorist was a bit hesitant, after indicating? If they had indicated in good time and were safely ahead of both of you, why didn't they just go for it? How fast was the other cyclist going?

    I think the RSA could be doing more to offer guidance on this situation. On street cycle lanes at junctions like that may be creating an impression of absolute right of way, of cyclists over other traffic that needs to turn.

    Had a near miss myself yesterday, not involving bikes though. Near head on collision with me coming round a bend to meet a car overtaking on continuous white line, approaching the bend on a bad stretch of the N5. Very hard braking required to avoid collision. I can't remember a shave as close as that ever. Scary stuff.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,733 ✭✭✭Tombo2001


    I have recently enough started cycling to work, through the Phoenix Park and up the quays and then up towards Stephen's green

    So far thankfully I have nothing major to report in this thread but reading it has been a useful education in how to be safe, I am fairly cautious and happy to let faster people by wherever I can as I always leave myself plenty of time to get where i am going

    This morning when approaching the junction with Church street where the buses/cars have to cross the cycle lane to turn left up Church street I was overtaken by another cyclist

    There was a car ahead of both of us who was indicating that he was going to turn left and had to cross the cycle lane, he had indicated correctly and in plenty of time and had the right of way as he was ahead of both of us and started his maneuver before we approached

    The other cyclist guy continues on up the cycle lane and forces the car to jam on the brakes so as to not knock him off, cyclist proceeds to continue around the car as if he had the right of way

    So a near miss all of the other cyclists making, the poor car driver was shocked from nearly knocking someone down and then got blasted off the road by a bus for missing the light


    I'd agree with you that the cyclist was in the wrong here; however it is a bit of a grey area.

    For example, if I am on the motorway driving, and I want to move Left from Lane A to Lane B = if there is a Car driving in Lane B beside me - I cant cut across that car.

    What you are saying here is that the car is turning left across the cycle lane - it did indicate - but it is saying to the cyclists 'you have to stop now so I can cut across the cycle lane' .....if I understand you correctly.

    A lot of cyclists will feel - this is my lane, you are cutting across it, you should wait for me to come through and then cut across it....

    So - imho - its a grey area......who is right and who is wrong - I'm not 100% sure.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 919 ✭✭✭Danjamin1


    plodder wrote: »
    Probably the cyclist's fault all right. But, would you say the motorist was a bit hesitant, after indicating? If they had indicated in good time and were safely ahead of both of you, why didn't they just go for it? How fast was the other cyclist going?

    I think the RSA could be doing more to offer guidance on this situation. On street cycle lanes at junctions like that may be creating an impression of absolute right of way, of cyclists over other traffic that needs to turn.

    Ah come on, cyclists are at fault some of the time, from reading the post this fella sounded like a total d**k on a bike. No sense in passing some of the blame on to the driver by reading more in to the story than what was posted.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,762 ✭✭✭jive


    Tombo2001 wrote: »
    So - imho - its a grey area......who is right and who is wrong - I'm not 100% sure.

    It's not, if the car is indicating and there in good time it's legally entitled to cross the cycle 'track'. It's not perceived as crossing a proper pane although it probably should be.

    The thing is nobody knows this rule, even people with a full drivers licence. I constantly yield to cars who indicate left to turn across the cycle lane but some of them you can see watching you in the wing mirror and you have to have a bit of a staring contest until they see you wave them on.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,733 ✭✭✭Tombo2001


    jive wrote: »
    It's not, if the car is indicating and there in good time it's legally entitled to cross the cycle 'track'. It's not perceived as crossing a proper pane although it probably should be.

    The thing is nobody knows this rule, even people with a full drivers licence.
    I constantly yield to cars who indicate left to turn across the cycle lane but some of them you can see watching you in the wing mirror and you have to have a bit of a staring contest until they see you wave them on.

    That sounds like a grey area to me.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,778 ✭✭✭cython


    Tombo2001 wrote: »
    I'd agree with you that the cyclist was in the wrong here; however it is a bit of a grey area.

    For example, if I am on the motorway driving, and I want to move Left from Lane A to Lane B = if there is a Car driving in Lane B beside me - I cant cut across that car.

    What you are saying here is that the car is turning left across the cycle lane - it did indicate - but it is saying to the cyclists 'you have to stop now so I can cut across the cycle lane' .....if I understand you correctly.

    A lot of cyclists will feel - this is my lane, you are cutting across it, you should wait for me to come through and then cut across it....

    So - imho - its a grey area......who is right and who is wrong - I'm not 100% sure.
    jive wrote: »
    It's not, if the car is indicating and there in good time it's legally entitled to cross the cycle 'track'. It's not perceived as crossing a proper pane although it probably should be.

    The thing is nobody knows this rule, even people with a full drivers licence. I constantly yield to cars who indicate left to turn across the cycle lane but some of them you can see watching you in the wing mirror and you have to have a bit of a staring contest until they see you wave them on.
    Tombo2001 wrote: »
    That sounds like a grey area to me.

    Well here it is in black and white (my emphasis):
    (b) A pedal cyclist may overtake on the left where vehicles to the pedal cyclist’s right are stationary or are moving more slowly than the overtaking pedal cycle, except where the vehicle to be overtaken—

    (i) has signalled an intention to turn to the left and there is a reasonable expectation that the vehicle in which the driver has signalled an intention to turn to the left will execute a movement to the left before the cycle overtakes the vehicle,


    (ii) is stationary for the purposes of permitting a passenger or passengers to alight or board the vehicle, or

    (iii) is stationary for the purposes of loading or unloading.”,


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,733 ✭✭✭Tombo2001


    On the subject of cyclists acting the d**k...

    I was on the Sutton bike path the other day.

    Cyclist coming towards me swerves in my direction.

    Gentleman was a 'no hands' merchant, reading his phone.... I am normally a defender of cyclists.....however the 'no hands' thing is where I draw the line....


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,733 ✭✭✭Tombo2001


    Grey area

    (b) A pedal cyclist may overtake on the left where vehicles to the pedal cyclist’s right are stationary or are moving more slowly than the overtaking pedal cycle, except where the vehicle to be overtaken—

    (i) has signalled an intention to turn to the left and there is a reasonable expectation that the vehicle in which the driver has signalled an intention to turn to the left will execute a movement to the left before the cycle overtakes the vehicle,

    So again - is a cyclist expected to stop to avoid a collision here? As the car cuts across?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,479 ✭✭✭plodder


    Danjamin1 wrote: »
    Ah come on, cyclists are at fault some of the time, from reading the post this fella sounded like a total d**k on a bike. No sense in passing some of the blame on to the driver by reading more in to the story than what was posted.
    I don't see the problem with teasing out the incident a bit more with a few questions about it to the poster. People don't usually set out to be dicks on bikes or cars for that matter. Maybe he thought he had right of way. I'm absolutely serious as well that the RSA should be doing information videos about situations like this.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,778 ✭✭✭cython


    Tombo2001 wrote: »
    Grey area

    (b) A pedal cyclist may overtake on the left where vehicles to the pedal cyclist’s right are stationary or are moving more slowly than the overtaking pedal cycle, except where the vehicle to be overtaken—

    (i) has signalled an intention to turn to the left and there is a reasonable expectation that the vehicle in which the driver has signalled an intention to turn to the left will execute a movement to the left before the cycle overtakes the vehicle,

    So again - is a cyclist expected to stop to avoid a collision here? As the car cuts across?

    In a word, yes. After all, there is no longer a concept of a cycle lane in law (the same SI only refers to cycle tracks), so the cyclist is overtaking in the same lane, and the obligation on traffic to yield to traffic already in a lane they are crossing/entering thus does not exist.

    If you want to look for an equivalence, a driver should not pass on the right of a vehicle that has indicated an intention to turn right, so why should a cyclist be permitted to do virtually the same thing on the left?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,733 ✭✭✭Tombo2001


    Again - is there an equivalent rule for motorists cutting across cycle lanes?

    By the definition above, a motorist is perfectly entitled to cut across a cycle lane and expect any cyclist coming along it to jam on the brakes to avoid a collision.....


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 919 ✭✭✭Danjamin1


    plodder wrote: »
    I don't see the problem with teasing out the incident a bit more with a few questions about it to the poster. People don't usually set out to be dicks on bikes or cars for that matter. Maybe he thought he had right of way. I'm absolutely serious as well that the RSA should be doing information videos about situations like this.

    Might not set out to be a d**k but some people are d**ks through ignorance of the rules. I was guilty of it myself years back when I was cycling on a footpath until an off-duty Garda politely educated me. Haven't done it since.

    You're right though, in what seems like a poorly understood area of rules of the road/etiquette there should be should be a campaign around expanding people's understanding.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,733 ✭✭✭Tombo2001


    cython wrote: »
    In a word, yes. After all, there is no longer a concept of a cycle lane in law (the same SI only refers to cycle tracks), so the cyclist is overtaking in the same lane, and the obligation on traffic to yield to traffic already in a lane they are crossing/entering thus does not exist.

    Understood.

    So you are saying that in Law, the cycle lane and the motor lane are the same lane.....and that a cyclist should treat a motorist in front of it as being in the same lane.....even though in practice the cycle lane is a separate lane marked out on the LHS of the car lane.

    Not being smart......but I would say not many cyclists are aware of that, or motorists...and its a concept that really doesn't protect cyclists at all.....

    ..which all brings it back again to being a grey area.

    and because (I) in practice a cycle lane is distinct from the motor lane
    and because (II) cyclists are told to be on the left hand side of cars.....thereby creating the impression of two separate lanes.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,733 ✭✭✭Tombo2001


    cython wrote: »
    In a word, yes. After all, there is no longer a concept of a cycle lane in law (the same SI only refers to cycle tracks), so the cyclist is overtaking in the same lane, and the obligation on traffic to yield to traffic already in a lane they are crossing/entering thus does not exist.

    Also....in practice, the lane encourages cyclists to Undertake, not Overtake.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,778 ✭✭✭cython


    Tombo2001 wrote: »
    Understood.

    So you are saying that in Law, the cycle lane and the motor lane are the same lane.....and that a cyclist should treat a motorist in front of it as being in the same lane.....even though in practice the cycle lane is a separate lane marked out on the LHS of the car lane.

    Not being smart......but I would say not many cyclists are aware of that, or motorists...and its a concept that really doesn't protect cyclists at all.....

    ..which all brings it back again to being a grey area.

    and because (I) in practice a cycle lane is distinct from the motor lane
    and because (II) cyclists are told to be on the left hand side of cars.....thereby creating the impression of two separate lanes.
    There you go again, using the word lane, when the track is simply a section of the lane, not a lane of its own. And frankly ignorance of the law does not a grey area make. While arguably there is a need for greater publicity (though all road users have a responsibility to inform themselves and keep current on traffic laws), there is no grey area in the law.
    Tombo2001 wrote: »
    Also....in practice, the lane encourages cyclists to Undertake, not Overtake.
    Overtake on the left, perhaps. I don't believe there is any encouragement in the law for them to organise funerals, however, nor to make any formal pledges.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,733 ✭✭✭Tombo2001


    cython wrote: »
    There you go again, using the word lane, when the track is simply a section of the lane, not a lane of its own. And frankly ignorance of the law does not a grey area make. While arguably there is a need for greater publicity (though all road users have a responsibility to inform themselves and keep current on traffic laws), there is no grey area in the law.


    Overtake on the left, perhaps. I don't believe there is any encouragement in the law for them to organise funerals, however, nor to make any formal pledges.


    Silly me calling them cycle lanes. Dublin city council also call them cycle lanes, you might enlighten them....

    http://www.cycledublin.ie/cycling-facilities/cycle-lanes-and-facilities


  • Registered Users Posts: 897 ✭✭✭NyOmnishambles


    ThisRegard wrote: »
    You'll have a much more pleasant cycle by exiting the park and going through Kilmainham and down the canal until you turn off where you need to head around by the green.

    I will have to give that a go at some stage, though to be honest as I try to come in early there isn't too much traffic so I have had no major issues so far
    plodder wrote: »
    Probably the cyclist's fault all right. But, would you say the motorist was a bit hesitant, after indicating? If they had indicated in good time and were safely ahead of both of you, why didn't they just go for it? How fast was the other cyclist going?

    They were safely ahead of both of us, but there was a bus pulled in at the stop to the left of the lane so i guess they were making sure it wasn't pulling out and then spotted us in the mirror and were making sure we would let them in, which gobsh!te ahead of me didn't
    Neither of us were going that fast and had plenty of time to stop
    Tombo2001 wrote: »

    What you are saying here is that the car is turning left across the cycle lane - it did indicate - but it is saying to the cyclists 'you have to stop now so I can cut across the cycle lane' .....if I understand you correctly.

    A lot of cyclists will feel - this is my lane, you are cutting across it, you should wait for me to come through and then cut across it....

    So - imho - its a grey area......who is right and who is wrong - I'm not 100% sure.
    jive wrote: »
    It's not, if the car is indicating and there in good time it's legally entitled to cross the cycle 'track'. It's not perceived as crossing a proper pane although it probably should be.

    I would be of the opinion that the person ahead in the traffic has the right to make the maneuver if they are a safe distance ahead, they would have been if other cyclist had shown a bit of cop on


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,479 ✭✭✭plodder


    cython wrote: »
    In a word, yes. After all, there is no longer a concept of a cycle lane in law (the same SI only refers to cycle tracks), so the cyclist is overtaking in the same lane, and the obligation on traffic to yield to traffic already in a lane they are crossing/entering thus does not exist.
    Rules of the road
    A cycle track or lane is a reserved part of a roadway for bicycles (not
    motorcycles).
    Some cycle tracks are bordered by a continuous white line on the right-hand
    side. These are only for bicycles and motorised wheelchairs, so no other drivers
    may use them or park in them.
    Other cycle tracks have a broken white line on the right-hand side. Other drivers
    may make temporary use of this type of track if it is not occupied.
    If anything, that implies that cyclists do have absolute right of way. Though I realise it could just be wrong.
    They were safely ahead of both of us, but there was a bus pulled in at the stop to the left of the lane so i guess they were making sure it wasn't pulling out and then spotted us in the mirror and were making sure we would let them in, which gobsh!te ahead of me didn't
    Neither of us were going that fast and had plenty of time to stop
    Fair enough. Cyclist's fault then.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,121 ✭✭✭buffalo


    Tombo2001 wrote: »
    So again - is a cyclist expected to stop to avoid a collision here? As the car cuts across?

    No, a cyclist is expected to be looking ahead of them and note the indicators in operation on the vehicle ahead, and adjust speed as necessary if they have a "reasonable expectation" that "the vehicle will execute a movement to the left before the cycle overtakes the vehicle".

    If the driver does not use the indicators properly of course, then collision avoidance measures should be taken.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,733 ✭✭✭Tombo2001


    buffalo wrote: »
    No, a cyclist is expected to be looking ahead of them and note the indicators in operation on the vehicle ahead, and adjust speed as necessary if they have a "reasonable expectation" that "the vehicle will execute a movement to the left before the cycle overtakes the vehicle".

    If the driver does not use the indicators properly of course, then collision avoidance measures should be taken.

    Yes - and what I am reading here is that car was well ahead......fine......indicated .......fine......

    If the car had cut across the lane, with the cyclist well behind it.....then again fine.....cyclist should adjust speed....

    However what I am reading is that the car indicated....and then stopped.....and then finally turned at a time when the cyclist was beside it rather than behind it....hence the potential collision.

    To me, the car is sending out a mixed signal here - it is stopping as if to say - I will wait until you have passed until I turn......but then the car doesn't wait.

    Again, I agree its the cyclists fault, but I can also see how this (potential) collision could happen....and that the driver has some responsibility for not being more decisive on the road.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,121 ✭✭✭buffalo


    Tombo2001 wrote: »
    Yes - and what I am reading here is that car was well ahead......fine......indicated .......fine......

    If the car had cut across the lane, with the cyclist well behind it.....then again fine.....cyclist should adjust speed....

    However what I am reading is that the car indicated....and then stopped.....and then finally turned at a time when the cyclist was beside it rather than behind it....hence the potential collision.

    Where are you reading that?
    There was a car ahead of both of us who was indicating that he was going to turn left and had to cross the cycle lane, he had indicated correctly and in plenty of time and had the right of way as he was ahead of both of us and started his maneuver before we approached

    The other cyclist guy continues on up the cycle lane and forces the car to jam on the brakes so as to not knock him off


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 919 ✭✭✭Danjamin1


    I love how these stories get embellished, why can't the story just be taken as fact without people adding their assumptions to it?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,733 ✭✭✭Tombo2001


    Danjamin1 wrote: »
    I love how these stories get embellished, why can't the story just be taken as fact without people adding their assumptions to it?

    I'll bow out of the conversation here.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 919 ✭✭✭Danjamin1


    Tombo2001 wrote: »
    I'll bow out of the conversation here.

    I'm not having a go, I just don't get why people automatically assume the driver MUST have done something to encourage the stupid manoeuvre when turning. Some people are just d**ks no matter their mode of transport.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,846 ✭✭✭shootermacg


    Clear cut case. The cyclist showed no consideration for the driver ahead. He is clearly in the wrong. The driver should have went for the turn, though I'll always forgive the driver in cases where this becomes a stale-mate because they cared enough for my safety to not make the turn even when they're in the right.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,488 ✭✭✭TheChizler


    The opposite happened to me last week. I was driving and turning left up ahead and passed a guy cycling just as I was coming to the turn. I was indicating and stopped waiting for him since I'd have cut him off if I went for it, but he stopped too and let out a torrent of abuse for me being so slow to make the turn.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,778 ✭✭✭cython


    TheChizler wrote: »
    The opposite happened to me last week. I was driving and turning left up ahead and passed a guy cycling just as I was coming to the turn. I was indicating and stopped waiting for him since I'd have cut him off if I went for it, but he stopped too and let out a torrent of abuse for me being so slow to make the turn.

    Fair play for stopping to let him through, but would you not have just waited behind him and made the turn then? While the RSA have their shortcomings, that is one message (not to overtake a cyclist only to turn/indicate left immediately after) that they are very right in pushing.

    Ultimately what you did sends very mixed messages to other road users (not just the cyclist), and he may have assumed (reasonably enough, since if were going to wait for him to pass anyway the question has to be asked of why overtake in the first place?) that if you overtook you were going to turn across him anyway.

    Sorry, but while the cyclist's reaction does sound a bit OTT, your own driving did leave scope for improvement.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,488 ✭✭✭TheChizler


    Nobody should ever be congratulated for not doing something dangerous i think, it should be the standard course of action! :) Definitely in hindsight I should have hung back, when I made the decision to pass he was going fairly slow up a hill and I would have had plenty of room, but in the meantime he got to the crest (which I didn't anticipate and maybe should have, used to cycle that hill all the time before I disassembled my bike to service it 2 years ago...) and put the foot down which made it borderline. If I'd gone for it I should have ended up on this thread from his point of view! So my intention was ambiguous but didn't warrant the abuse.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,846 ✭✭✭shootermacg


    TheChizler wrote: »
    Nobody should ever be congratulated for not doing something dangerous i think, it should be the standard course of action! :) Definitely in hindsight I should have hung back, when I made the decision to pass he was going fairly slow up a hill and I would have had plenty of room, but in the meantime he got to the crest (which I didn't anticipate and maybe should have, used to cycle that hill all the time before I disassembled my bike to service it 2 years ago...) and put the foot down which made it borderline. If I'd gone for it I should have ended up on this thread from his point of view! So my intention was ambiguous but didn't warrant the abuse.

    If you'd have drove past me only to turn, and it was close enough to cause this stand-off, I wouldn't be happy with your driving either. That's just poor driving. There's a difference between what you did and a car that's ahead at the turn waiting to turn.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,170 ✭✭✭✭ED E


    Im with Cython here, what you've done freezes everything. No way am I risking going for it because you just cant assume a driver wont do something stupid when its 1 tonne vs 80kg.

    Now I'd put my hands up in the air to ask wtf you're at, not yell, but still.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,488 ✭✭✭TheChizler


    I'm not disagreeing, I should have slowed down on the hill and stayed behind him, but at the end of the day all that happened was that we both lost a couple of seconds, there was no danger despite him being justifiably cautious, unlike the situation I was comparing to up above.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,123 ✭✭✭mr spuckler


    it seems TheChizler that you're well intentioned in your posts and fair play for acknowledging that you should have acted differently.

    put yourself in the cyclists place though. when someone feels endangered they tend to react quite strongly and it sounds to me like that's what happened here.

    also, what seems safe to you might not seem safe to the cyclist.

    from personal experience i've pretty much lost all reason when i've been subject to dangerous manouevres in the past. listening back afterwards to what i've shouted on my helmet camera has actually made me cringe and has caused me to try to react better since.


  • Registered Users Posts: 85 ✭✭queldy


    Was commuting along the canal, Parnell road, usually tons of motorcyclists on the cycling line, most of the time they take the line if free and do not endanger anyone - today one idiot coming particularly fast from previous traffic lights, passing me at speed, bending to change trajectory, missing me and the car in front of me for cm, takes the cycling line, goes till the end of it at speed, stops at the next traffic lights on the cycling line. He is signing left.
    I speed up a bit, I reach the lights, I pass him and I stop putting my foot on the ground, I was on the cycling line. He was as well.
    When green, I take a few seconds for starting (I delayed it on purpose, yes) - he passes me, he cuts my way (I was prepared for it, anyway), he swears at me, I tell him to shut up (sure all the people around that corner this morning will remember me as the impolite cyclist against all the motorists in the world)- so he stops the motorcycle and tries to push me down my bike (tip for the next time idiot: if you want me down my bike, push on the handlebar, not on my shoulder).
    Just sharing the funny story.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,282 ✭✭✭07Lapierre


    Cycling along a narrow country road in NCD yesterday evening. A BMW 320 convertible pulls out of a driveway right in front of me and proceeds to travel in front of me in the same direction. The passenger realises i'm behind them and that i was freewheeling, as they were travelling quite slowly. there's a T junction just ahead and they are turning left. I'm turning Right and as i move up to the junction on the right side of the car, the driver shouts "sorry about that", to which i reply " no problem...nice car by the way!". A nice summer evening and a nice cyclist/motorist encounter. :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,196 ✭✭✭PaulieC


    07Lapierre wrote: »
    Cycling along a narrow country road in NCD yesterday evening. A BMW 320 convertible pulls out of a driveway right in front of me and proceeds to travel in front of me in the same direction. The passenger realises i'm behind them and that i was freewheeling, as they were travelling quite slowly. there's a T junction just ahead and they are turning left. I'm turning Right and as i move up to the junction on the right side of the car, the driver shouts "sorry about that", to which i reply " no problem...nice car by the way!". A nice summer evening and a nice cyclist/motorist encounter. :)

    do you have video footage of this ?


  • Registered Users Posts: 85 ✭✭queldy


    07Lapierre wrote: »
    Cycling along a narrow country road in NCD yesterday evening. A BMW 320 convertible pulls out of a driveway right in front of me and proceeds to travel in front of me in the same direction. The passenger realises i'm behind them and that i was freewheeling, as they were travelling quite slowly. there's a T junction just ahead and they are turning left. I'm turning Right and as i move up to the junction on the right side of the car, the driver shouts "sorry about that", to which i reply " no problem...nice car by the way!". A nice summer evening and a nice cyclist/motorist encounter. :)

    was it a dream or it really happens sometimes?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,282 ✭✭✭07Lapierre


    PaulieC wrote: »
    do you have video footage of this ?
    queldy wrote: »
    was it a dream or it really happens sometimes?


    I assure you i wouldn't lie about it...these encounters are rare enough, so it's good to acknowledge them.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,990 ✭✭✭Seaswimmer


    it seems TheChizler that you're well intentioned in your posts and fair play for acknowledging that you should have acted differently.

    put yourself in the cyclists place though. when someone feels endangered they tend to react quite strongly and it sounds to me like that's what happened here.

    also, what seems safe to you might not seem safe to the cyclist.

    from personal experience i've pretty much lost all reason when i've been subject to dangerous manouevres in the past. listening back afterwards to what i've shouted on my helmet camera has actually made me cringe and has caused me to try to react better since.

    this is interesting as myself and wife cycled out to airshow in Bray last Sunday. There were a couple of minor incidents on the way. One where a car pulled up on the cycle lane and a passenger got out and another where a pedestrian walked into the cycle lane ahead of us and opened a passenger door to get in.

    In both cases it was obvious to me what was going to happen so I made allowances (moved off my line or slowed down) but in each case she reacted out of character. The first case she said something like "very dangerous" and second case she again said something to the pedestrian.

    We were discussing this after and she explained it was out of fear that made her react like this.

    I tried to explain that if every time you cycle you react to every incident then you will be permanently on edge and stressed. Far better to anticipate and take avoiding action.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 935 ✭✭✭Roadhawk


    Seaswimmer wrote: »

    ...In both cases it was obvious to me what was going to happen so I made allowances (moved off my line or slowed down) but in each case she reacted out of character. The first case she said something like "very dangerous" and second case she again said something to the pedestrian....

    ...I tried to explain that if every time you cycle you react to every incident then you will be permanently on edge and stressed. Far better to anticipate and take avoiding action.

    Great approach, well said.


This discussion has been closed.
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