Near Misses Thread Volume 2 (So close you can feel it)

Seth Brundle · 20-05-2022 02:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119089197#Comment_119089197

They're not right!

buffalo · 26-05-2022 08:43AM

One on foot this morning - walking on a footpath alongside a green, that meets the footpath alongside the road in a T junction. As I wheeled the buggy onto the footpath by the road, coming out from behind a fence, it was barely missed by a driver driving on the footpath. I'd say there was about a foot in it.

I let out a roar, and made a few wtf gestures, but the driver was either frozen or didn't care - either way they didn't react as they sat in the middle of the road where they'd swung out. Driving an SUV tank and too lazy/incompetent to do a three-point turn on the road, they'd obviously mounted the footpath to take it wide.

I walked on, but I got more worked up then when I saw the driver drop their child at a bus stop and then drive home... to the next estate. They'd driven their child 250m so she could stand and wait in the rain with no shelter. 🤷‍♂️

Now I wish I'd screamed "you're everything that's wrong with drivers" at them.

5uspect · 26-05-2022 08:57PM

I bring the kids along there in the cargo bike. Always some people walking in the cycle lane and they always move in the opposite direction of the footpath when I approach. I’ve no idea what’s so hard about walking.

Seth Brundle · 27-05-2022 08:47AM

Yeah your probably right. I've been lucky there and haven't had any issues.

As someone who lives near that junction, I often encounter drivers who will attempt an overtake anywhere between Leixlip garda station and Aldi, regardless of oncoming traffic or the fact that there may be red lights at the church or outside Aldi. My speed or road position doesn't come into it; it's pure MGIF!

Dr_Colossus · 31-05-2022 09:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119084323#Comment_119084323

I presume this is the case posted a few pages back but surprised it would have gone to court already. If that's the case involving the Cumnor Construction van there really is no justice system in this country. Legislation for everything and nothing enforced. If that's not the definition of a close pass then I guess only a collision and possible death suffices.

MojoMaker · 02-06-2022 10:24AM

That kinda frightens me a bit. To think there are idiots out there who are convinced they are perfectly 'normal' drivers.

Seth Brundle · 02-06-2022 01:50PM

A law of 1/1.5m is no use

There is no such law here though: it was proposed in 2018 but subsequently abandoned in 2019 when the AG raised concerns about being able to measure the 1.5m

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/new-law-on-drivers-overtaking-cyclists-abandoned-1.3745451

What we have now is a strengthened version of what used to be there...

https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2019/si/495/made/en/print

which says:

“(1) (a) A driver shall not overtake or attempt to overtake if to do so would endanger or cause inconvenience to a pedal cyclist.

DoraDelite · 02-06-2022 03:13PM

Just back from a couple of weeks in Berlin, where cycling is a serene and relaxing experience, even on non-segregated streets. Well, welcome back to Dublin with a bang (literally almost). Had a couple of bits to do around town today, first up was the famous Lombard street junction. Almost wiped out by a car turning left despite the fact there's a flashing amber for them and I had my front light on along with a fairly bright orange hoodie. Jammed on the brakes and skidded, if it had been wet, I'd have slid into them, no indicator used either by them.

Second instance was an obnoxiously close pass by a taxi driver in a bus lane despite the fact the lane beside him was clear to move into. 100% a punishment pass. As is usual in these cases, I caught up with him while he was stuck in traffic at the lights less than 100 metres on. I'd say I was home before he even got through that set of lights. Utterly pointless pass and horrible behaviour to deliberately try to use his vehicle to intimidate me.

Comparing the two cities, it's clear we have a massive problem with an aggressive driving culture in Ireland, the zero enforcement policy of AGS (and DCC when it comes to footpath parking) in my mind plays a significant part in enabling this culture. In the whole two weeks in Berlin cycling around every day, I didn't have a single instance of being endangered. In Dublin, it's every time you get on a bike it seems.

5uspect · 05-06-2022 12:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119152375#Comment_119152375

I’ve used Blender to do a 3D track of some videos. It’s a bit involved but very powerful.

https://twitter.com/nolankucd/status/1273608691892105217?s=21&t=BotnScmgnCzLMcpn0lJ8Ww

10-06-2022 12:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119182813#Comment_119182813

RE: Blocking the lanes.......It's so endemic that I've even seen Gardaí and DCC vehicles doing it. They installed the mini wands on Westland Row because it was so unsafe, but had to leave a patch clear for the bus stop halfway up the road. Now it just means there's always a few cars parked there with the 'park anywhere' lights on.

https://twitter.com/Shiftinho/status/1526873832522383360/photo/2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119182938#Comment_119182938

Also, sometimes I need to turn right at this junction and for the life of me I don't know what the safest way of doing it is.

I used to take a route that had a horrible right hand turn, and another which had no right turn. In both cases, I used to take a left, then immediately do a mini u-turn so I was now sitting at the lights, facing in the direction of the horrible/non-existent right, if you get me. Not 100% legal, but much safer for everyone concerned. Certainly safer than trying to manoeuvre out into the right hand side of 2 or 3 lanes of fast moving, heavy traffic.

Seth Brundle · 10-06-2022 12:46PM

Are those two photos from the R149 between Lucan & Clonee? If so, I hate that stretch because you will always encounter impatient agressive drivers who are of the view that you have absolutley no right to be there and they do their best to let you know this.

10-06-2022 01:24PM

Yeah, I'm working off the assumption that your original lights are green and the traffic coming from your left, that you're about to join, is stationary. Otherwise you can just filter to the front and take up primary position in the turning lane in front of the traffic.

Breezer · 10-06-2022 07:43PM

It’s an awful junction in general and there’s often a van doing exactly what you described there.

Edit: in relation to Patrick St/Kevin St

11-06-2022 06:24PM

Horrific. 😢

Breezer · 13-06-2022 11:45AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119195480#Comment_119195480

My understanding is that motorists can drive in a non-mandatory (broken white line) cycle lane to avoid an obstruction, someone turning right, etc. The same doesn’t apply to a mandatory (solid white line) cycle lane. For the avoidance of doubt, “mandatory” means “mandatory for non-bicycle traffic to keep out”, not “mandatory for cyclists to use”.

You can park a car in them outside their hours of operation.

Seth Brundle · 14-06-2022 08:30AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119199543#Comment_119199543

This one?

I think that stretch might be under clearway signage. However, it is not a mandatory cycle lane along the hatched area (it can't be so that vehicles can enter the loading bay).

I'd say the that he was parked close to the junction might be what would point to whether or not the parking was legal

PaulieC · 14-06-2022 10:39AM

Not a close pass this morning, but I did get a nice volley of horn from a lovely lady in a Range Rover as I was going straight at this junction 6 R113 - Google Maps. Both lights were exactly as they are in the pic, both arrows green. As far as I am aware, I have right of way when going straight. She was turning left and beeped me for going straight. She said something out the window, but that was drowned out by me telling her what I thought of her.

I was thinking after, even if I was in the right, she thought I was wrong and she's going to tell her friends how reckless cyclists are and they'll all agree and so perpetuate the feeling abut cyclists.

Seth Brundle · 14-06-2022 10:54AM

Both lights were exactly as they are in the pic, both arrows green. As far as I am aware, I have right of way when going straight.

Just wondering (based on the Streetview image) - did you have a red or green light (assuming you were in the cycle lane)?

PaulieC · 14-06-2022 11:05AM

I was in the cycle lane that goes straight. Doh! I just noticed that there is a red cycle light which means I should have stopped. Nevermind, please move on, nothing to see here. The lady was right. I'll go look her up and apologise :-|

bloody cyclists...

fixXxer · 14-06-2022 02:39PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119201390#Comment_119201390

Going by the picture, the left road lane is left turn only, the right lane is straight only. The bike lane is segregated and has its own lights.

I cycle that way every day, got taken clean out of it by a van on the far side of the junction last week.

fixXxer · 14-06-2022 03:05PM

This is the one I'm commenting on, I think you're taking about the delivery van picture?

Cabaal · 14-06-2022 03:48PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119201692#Comment_119201692

Well that seems like a perfectly well designed bike lane where nothing could ever go wrong if you go straight.

fixXxer · 14-06-2022 04:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119201906#Comment_119201906

It's not the worse but it is awkward. The problem is cars speeding up for orange/going through red and cyclists going into the middle of the junction waiting for the light to change. Be a better experience if everyone just behaved 😅

buffalo · 15-06-2022 08:39AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119204883#Comment_119204883

County councils get to say, "we've created 100km of cycle lanes, be grateful!"

Seth Brundle · 15-06-2022 09:16AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119204883#Comment_119204883

There are a number of reasons:

box ticking as @buffalo pointed out
by having a separate cycle lane, you're getting cyclists out of the way of those who our councils prioritise on the roads
they're designed and constructed by people who don't cycle so they don't know any better. These engineers also seem to know what cyclists require more so than people who actually cycle because they usually do not seek consultation or when they do, just ignore the advice.
did I mention box ticking?

Seth Brundle · 15-06-2022 12:43PM

Whilst cycle lanes are, on the whole, white lines painted at the side of the road, they offer no protection to the user. That said, it is not the engineer that makes the decision to cross it or to drive too close to it while there is a cyclist in the lane. With few exceptions, whilst engineers in the councils create poor infrastructure, it is impatient or inconsiderate drivers that make them unsafe.

16-06-2022 03:28PM

Cycled up past Pearse Street DART station from Westland Row around towards Merrion Sq. West.

Just as I'm hitting Merrion Sq where the Oscar Wilde statue is, the lights go green. There are 4 lanes, left to right:

Lane 1 is left turn only onto Merrion Sq Nth.

Lanes 2 and 3 are for all heading straight up towards Baggot st.

Lane 4 is right turn only onto Lincoln Place.

Everyone moves off slowly except a taxi in Lane 3, who spots a hand out over beside the park and then cuts across to the footpath without indicating, nearly taking me out. Both brakes pressed so hard I came up off the bike and I'm left holding it in one hand while sprawled across his boot.

"sorry pal, didn't see you there" is a brutal justification for nearly ruining someone's week/summer/bike/legs

MojoMaker · 16-06-2022 04:23PM

At least you know who to send the bill to.

DeadSkin · 16-06-2022 05:15PM

All the recent posts on mandatory/non-mandatory cycle lanes reminded me of this post by MaxFlower in the "Galway Traffic" thread in the Galway forum https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119178394/#Comment_119178394

https://streamable.com/lwt8za

It's been like this for years.

16-06-2022 07:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119212277#Comment_119212277

All good, thanks. Just a sharp reminder that you never know where the next incident is coming from

Near Misses Thread Volume 2 (So close you can feel it)

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