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

coming down Shantalla Road last night and will be turning right onto Beaumont road, 50m or so from lights which have just turned orange, I'm turning right at the junction ahead so getting into right hand side of the lane is the place to be, check over shoulder, Dublin bus lamping it a bit behind, i'll stay put thinks I, red light, bus reaches lights and barrels right around the corner through a well cooked red.

Brutal and dangerous driving through a very residential area.

Ridiculous - she's practically in the junction there. Thats not swords road by any chance?

It's in Leixlip just at Intel.

I tried explaining that too but it was no use in her mind I had no right to be there!

I had someone beeping me out of it. Probably thought I shouldn't have been on the road. Ah well, I took my time and completely slowed down without a care in the world.

Thats it and it's another argument why poor/bad infrastructure creates more issues than it solves. The cycle lanes all assume you want to go into Intel here if not you lose priority and have to negotiate 4 junctions vs keeping priority and 1 junction! The other side isn't as bad but I've given up using it as the merge back to road level is often blocked with cars/vans but the haters don't see that just a bike in their way and lay on the horn/punishment pass to prove it!

Of interest (and probably to @tnegun and @Seth Brundle ) is the proposed scheme to upgrade the cycle lane ending at the roundabout, but from the other side. As far as I can make out, it will be segregated as you approach the roundabout, with no easy merge back onto the road to continue straight through toward Maynooth. Instead you'll have to come off at the pedestrian crossing into the queue of traffic (see below).

Experienced cyclists who know the area will probably move onto the road and take the lane from the business park entrance where the cycle track will be level with the road. But some giant bike signs on the road would be useful to let drivers know that not all cyclists can use the cycle track to reach their destination here. Consultation is open until 19th August.

https://consult.kildarecoco.ie/en/consultation/section-38-roads-traffic-act-1994-proposed-interim-cycle-scheme-r148-station-road-leixlip-intel

Last Wednesday saw two MAMILS cycling at speed on the footpath on the Upper Glen Road in the Phoenix Park, adjacent to the closed part of the road. They almost got hit by two pedestrians. Luckily for them the pedestrians were able to jump onto the grass verge. Very close call for the cyclists.

Any chance you have a copy and could you share what you submitted I always struggle to try to articulate this sort of stuff properly! I'd put my own spin on it just to use as a template/guide would be great.

Cool story bro.

I had a driving school car giving instruction at the time try to pass me on a pinch point bend, with on coming traffic. A safe pass at distance was impossible. I was in a cycle lane and moved out ahead of the bend to prevent an overtake. The vehicle slowed only directly behind me, passing safely after the bend.

I did l not know it was a driving school car until it passed. This was poor reading of the situation by the instructor, and sending the wrong message to the pupil.

I stopped at the next lights to question the instructor about awareness of road users and not telling the pupil to back off passing on a bend. His attitude shocked me. He said I should have stayed in the cycle lane, it was OK to pass me and I created the issue. I tried to explain that a safe distance pass could not be effected at that point without crossing over the centre line, which was not possible with oncoming traffic. Also did he not think overtaking a cyclist at a bend is not advisable. This was the reason I moved out, to take the lane, which is good awareness on my behalf. Basically he said that I must stay in the lane and he was permitted to pass I got a bit irate at his attitude and said his awareness of cyclists and knowledge of the rules of the road was sub-par for a professional instructor. I left after advising the pupil they should not waste their money with this school.

Is it possible to make a complaint to the RSA about the standard of instruction given by professional instructors? I have video and audio of the instructors comments. What hope have we got if passing cyclists correctly is not thought at foundation level?

can you post the video?

Nothing I know off in Ireland but could be a good one to forward on to Ashley Neal on YouTube for some commentary and added exposure. He's a driving instructor in Liverpool and often does driving instructor tuition and general road safety and offers some pretty balanced comments, he's getting into cycling now also which should be interesting.