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

Did you tell him you had him on camera

Cycling in from Parkgate St towards the quays this morning at 06:30 and at Wolftone Quay (here: https://www.google.ie/maps/@53.347412,-6.2902263,3a,75y,105.12h,72.93t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-16pGzQtZgjZ8FaUTsX2Sg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) using the narrow and poorly surfaced dedicated cycle lane there was a cyclist in front of me so had reduced speed. Silver Prius left hooked us and cyclist in front nearly went over the handlebars with rear wheel off the road trying to brake in time. I’m covered in high vis with two rear lights and a strong front light used to light dark country roads so he saw us but proceeded anyway so I let a shout and he stopped after he’d completed his turn. He then got out of his car to defend his decision and was adamant he had right of way and that cyclists had to yield to him and for some reason he kept pointing at the sign above which is No Left Turn from 07:00 – 10:00, Mon – Sat. Calmer than I’d usually be since it wasn’t too much of a close pass for me and it’s a section I’d always be weary off I just said if you’re that stupid you can plead your case with the guards which he was very willing to do. Will log a call with traffic watch later with the details and his registration since it’s something he’ll do again with his might is right ruling.

In the UK he would be a typical candidate for A Driver’s Awareness course but here nothing will happen since he didn’t kill anyone. Hopefully the guard can at least advise him as there was no point in me arguing with him this morning so I continued on.

They don't make it easy, rang Traffic Watch this morning and logged above but they called back some time later asking me to call Bridewell Garda station also. I tried that a number of times and was on endless hold once I got through the switchboard operator.

Bridewell have an Email this Garda Station option on their website so filled out the online form with the details so hopefully someone eventually sees it and responds. They do advise "The email account is monitored periodically during standard business hours." If the email is viewed and acted upon it would be a useful means of reporting incidents, everything in writing and saves trying to get someone on the phone or worse in person for them to write everything down.

Yes people do cut off from the right, a lot. The cyclist was a bit heedless of road marking (yes, road marking are applicable to all vehicles using the road and so going to the middle lane has been okay so far), but taxis and vans do use filter lanes to get ahead of those they think are slowcoaches, and people just have to watch out for those. That said, bicycles are small and the bigger vehicle have a superior right of way seems way too common. That said in the last two potential close calls, the car about to turn left (wide single carriage road) slowed so I could move ahead - in those two cases my road position wasn't ideal, that is, not moving a bit to the centre going straight ahead at a junction. That was nice.

There was no expectation of the driver completing the movement to the left (never mind a reasonable expectation) before the cyclist. They were of similar speed so driver should have waited a few seconds.

Good question with regards a cycle track being defined as a lane in terms of legislation. They are more commonly known as cycle lanes with a track to me being more something off road or on a greenway. I don't know an answer but if not then they should just close all cycle lanes since they offer no legal protection to cyclists and thus make them a danger as in the video above.

Had no cycle lane existed then the cyclist would have been in the driving lane and have flexibility to overtake on the right once the driver started to indicate and veer left.

I don't know why any of that is relevant?

Imagine you're driving behind someone, and you move out - still behind them - to overtake them (on the right). They put on the right hand indicator - do you proceed with the overtake?

The onus is on the overtaker - whether on the left or right - to ensure they do so safely and legally. The overtaken should of course be wary about not causing an accident particularly to a more vulnerable road user, but the primary responsibility lies with the person overtaking. Read the law I linked, it's very clear that the cyclist should not have overtaken on the left in this situation.

I'm of the belief that the law is an ass in this situation, but that's what it says.

They are not driving behind them, they are cycling to the left in a separate cycle lane. Maybe if no segregated cycle lane there you could possibly argue that point.

Im sure there is none otherwise you would have found it but its irrelevant to the original point of whether the cyclist could drive on left of car before it overtook. Read the highlighted part below, that car could not move to the left before the bike overtook it unless its ok to drive into cyclists 😂

However as a cyclist you cannot overtake on the inside if the vehicle you intend to overtake:

• Is signalling an intention to turn to the left and will move to the left before you overtake it
• Is stationary for the purpose of allowing a passenger to alight or board the vehicle
• Is stationary for the purposes of loading or unloading

Talking about blind spots annoys me as it's an excuse for inattentive driving that gets thrown around too often. There's no such thing as a blind spot if you're looking, it's the responsibility of the driver to pay attention, use mirrors, shoulder check when changing lanes etc. If that driver was actually paying attention, they would have clocked the cyclist further back and noted they may be in the lane beside them (and subsequently paid extra attention when making the left turn). Driving isn't about just paying attention at the point of potential conflict it's about assessing everything at all times to reduce any risk of a poor decision that can lead to a collision.

For example, if I am driving and taking the left filter at the criminal courts (coming from Islandbridge), I've already observed if there are likely to be any cyclists before I've even passed the lights at the bus garage, then I spend any time sitting in traffic checking my mirrors for any cyclists that may have come out from Phoenix Park. Then mirror, shoulder check, mirror and turn. No blind spot exists.

The blind spot argument is absolutely nonsensical. Imagine using that as an excuse for crossing into another lane and crashing into other motorist, cyclist, etc.

Driver: "They were in my blind spot your honour"

Judge: "Case dismissed"

😂

Also that L driver would fail his driving test if they did that. Check mirror, signal and move when clear. He did the signal part - that was it.

Sounds like you're missing the point completely yourself. See my last reply where I stated that the cyclist was in control - ready to slow as he anticipated the driver might left hook him. That said - blind spot is a nonsensical argument whether its a motorist or cyclist. Most of the discussion so far is about who's to blame - were you asleep.