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

Pinch Flat · 10-12-2019 9:47pm

Good to see Dublin motorists getting in the Christmas spirit. Defo a touch of lunacy around this evening.

My commute started with a left hook at Poolbeg street by some tool in a large Volvo. Continues up the bus lane then bullied his way across O’connell bridge and headed out towards Heuston.

Got tail gated and beeped for several hundred meters by a taxi on the bus / bike lane on the south quays, which I duly ignored, as it is almost normal at this stage. Wasn’t enough for this tool though - he drew along side at the red light at parliament st and started berating me out his passenger window. Two gardai passed and ignored the commotion, despite me saying he’d hassled me for 200 meters plus.

The fun really started at the Guinness brewery. Despite taking primary in the bus lane and indicating right to move across, the car that tailgated eventually had enough and slipped up my left - simultaneously the motorist behind me on my right, who had ignored my hand signal, spotted his opportunity and also close passed me. So managed a double close pass - one on each side, less that a foot from each of my my shoulders. Kind of lost it with the motorist who at this point had pulled to a red light. Just had a rant, he stared ahead.

Traffic heading into the park was mad with the Christmas lights thing on. Taxi behind me started beeping - presumably for me to move across two lanes of traffic. Duly ignored and took primary up the hill at park gate street. He joined the queue of traffic that stretched almost the entire length of the park, to Castleknock gate.

Tail gated out of Castleknock at myos which is almost customary at this stage. Guy in a bmw on my wheel to the M50 bridge

The evening wasn’t done yet - time for one more close pass squeezed in at laurel lodge - into oncoming traffic. Fair play to him though for left hooking across me. I hope his dinner didn’t get too cold with all that.

sy_flembeck · 10-12-2019 11:51pm

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Nodded apologetically while continuing his phone call, until I suggested strongly that he needed to end the call now. "Listen, I'll call you back as soon as I can get away from this eejit".

I must admit I did 'LOL' (as the kids would say!) at this one

Weepsie · 11-12-2019 12:23am

Had my first bad one in an absolute age this evening. Air coach with acres of room squeezed by me on Drumcondra road a bit past Quinn's.

Couldn't catch up with to get the licence plate

Kaisr Sose · 11-12-2019 1:14am

Weepsie wrote: »

Had my first bad one in an absolute age this evening. Air coach with acres of room squeezed by me on Drumcondra road a bit past Quinn's.

Couldn't catch up with to get the licence plate

If you have the time and location ring them to complain. They will know who that driver was from their onboard GPS tracking, which they are sure to have on all vehicles. Between them and Swords Express its a race to the bottom of bad driving. Swords Express drivers are regularly passing red lights at O'Connell Bridge, only to block the junction and hold up other traffic, particularly the LUAS. Supremely bad!

tnegun · 11-12-2019 11:56am

Been commuting a bit later this week and mixing with the schools traffic, will check the camera later for anything worth posting but had a near miss with 2 pedestrians I was on a brand new mixed cycle path and taking it a little easy.
There was a pedestrian up ahead to my left so slowed up thinking he might step in front of me just as I get to him he does so I go on the brakes and at exactly the same time a girl steps out from in front of a van to my right. Had I not slowed I've of hit both!
Then a pedestrian crossing I was slowing as a lady was approaching so anticipated she might cross and yes steps out onto the road then looks for traffic!
Lastly preparing to turn right, I sat up, looked over my shoulder let the a car pass then held my arm out and began to move right with plenty of room before the next car would reach me. Kept turning to look back and made eye contact with the driver and she was in panic mode didn't know what to do and just kept driving at me then passed me as I got to the center of the lane :mad::mad:

tnegun · 11-12-2019 11:02pm

Bike down in Leixlip this evening at the top of the hill just before the garda station hope all was and its minor. He/she was still on the road covered in blankets when I passed about 6.20 with several cars stopped at the scene.

Makes these few clips seem very trivial.

Ninja bike wrong side of the road with no lights!

Crosses without even looking I know she had right of way but at least check nothing is going to run you over!

Pedestrian on the left steps off the path into the side of me just as one steps out from the right from in front of a van!

Signalling to turn right and begin my move but no I'll pass you any way

Almost lost it, the front wheel went on the mucky soup road sweepers leave behind just got my foot down in time to save it

McGrath5 · 12-12-2019 12:46pm

Multiple close passes yesterday evening going up Stocking Lane just by the entrance to Prospect, it's like the first driver did it then the rest just followed suit. The sound of all those weedy diesel engines been floored by their angry user is still rattling around in my head!

kenmm · 12-12-2019 12:49pm

5uspect wrote: »

Idiot in black with no lights running the red light at the Barge on Friday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGcGP4acvKo

The amount of fools with no lights. :mad:

I thought you meant the guy creeping through the other side, until the last second! Holy sh!t!

(could cut the clip a bit tho..)

tnegun · 12-12-2019 1:13pm

Seth Brundle wrote: »

Some from my journey home yesterday...

Ignorant cow in 07-TN-3272 (ironically I went this route from liffey valley because I thought it would be safer :rolleyes:)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBx-JCc5B8Y

That's definitely reportable complete lack of awareness / consideration

Weepsie · 12-12-2019 3:07pm

magicbastarder wrote: »

it's a day for it; walking through the combined car park/rat run at the local spar, a chap came gunning through in a car, towards me, and took umbrage at me telling him to slow down.
'no, *you* slow down' was his considered response.

That car park is awful for people just not looking.

12-12-2019 5:28pm

Mc Love wrote: »

This was me on my first week back. Genuinely frightening but have adjusted my cycling to ride more defensively especially at tight spots like this

Jesus :eek:

Good on the driver behind checking on you. Easy to say with hindsight but I'd have asked them if they had dash cam of that one. You hardly got the reg from yours? Disgraceful driving , couldn't sit behind you a few seconds until the road is clear. Video demonstrates that people can properly over take a cyclist but all it takes is one gob****e to put you and others in serious danger.

tnegun · 12-12-2019 5:47pm

They shouldn't be on the road, hard to see exactly so they crossed over the white line to pass you straight into on coming traffic and then pulled in sharply just in front of you when the on coming car beeped?

tnegun · 12-12-2019 10:27pm

Mc Love wrote: »

They overtook on a slight bend here: https://www.google.ie/maps/@52.6386782,-8.6322173,3a,37y,16.41h,87.33t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sZkM07rS9_x95X_q1iYVXgQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en&authuser=0

They were fully over the white line, didnt see the oncoming lights, were still half over the white line when the oncoming car beeped them, and still more or less on the other side when passing the second oncoming car.

I was actually close to tears such was the shock I got.

That puts it into perspective alright. I'm lucky in that for the bulk of the 80kph sections of my commute I've a hard shoulder to use the bits without are similar country roads and are nerve wracking for their short duration.

Kaisr Sose · 12-12-2019 11:38pm

@McLove
That is shocking. It really is amazing the amount of clean cars with dirty reg plates. Deliberate. Shame on AGS for tolerating this and cars with blown bulbs.

Utter Consternation · 13-12-2019 10:45am

Jesus McLove, that was rough. Those roads don't look the best. I think i'd take cycling through Dublin CC before those roads.

Speaking of which, the South Quays were a nightmare yesterday evening at five. It was like there was one long double decker bus parked in the bike lane from O'Connell Bridge all the way down to the City Council Buildings where i turn off.

tnegun · 13-12-2019 10:58am

Duckjob wrote: »

Primary. Primary. Primary.

If I'm riding that road like that with traffic on the other side meaning no way for cars to pass me safely, then you'll find me slap bang in the middle of the lane- just put a stop to all that nonsense.

That's easy enough said but on a road like that you can suddenly find yourself being passed and then traffic approaching on the other side pushes the passing cars closer and it would of done nothing in this instance as the car almost completely crossed the white line the danger here was if they collided with the on coming car and ended up hitting Mc Love.

victor17 · 13-12-2019 12:43pm

Not a near-miss, but what's the deal with some of these 'professional' coach drivers? I had in no way delayed him yet he just had to beep at me when I wasn't even in his lane and he was turning right further down the road anyway.

You can see him gesticulating towards the end point of the cycle lane / footpath at the end of the video.

https://streamable.com/41z2v

crisco10 · 13-12-2019 4:32pm

Seth Brundle wrote: »

There seems to be a scary percentage of the public that believe that cyclists must wear helmets, wear high viz and use cycle paths. Presumably this belief is propogated mainly by the crap from the RSA.
However, I'm aghast at the number of so-called professional drivers that believe this nonsense.

Ha, If that is their attitude, I'm sure they check their lights, tires, fluid etc regularly as the RSA recommend. Not to mention doing a visual walk around every day.

tnegun · 13-12-2019 8:28pm

I think we've the same one, they're useless so I've given up reporting there. Had stuff stolen from the from of my house low value but it was the principal. I had CCTV, stills and got the guys names spent hours in the station waiting around then giving statement, got called back another statement then the guard went AWOL and I got fed up was told I'd have to make the report again last time I called!!

kenmm · 15-12-2019 2:32pm

victor17 wrote: »

Not a near-miss, but what's the deal with some of these 'professional' coach drivers? I had in no way delayed him yet he just had to beep at me when I wasn't even in his lane and he was turning right further down the road anyway. You can see him gesticulating towards the end point of the cycle lane / footpath at the end of the video.

https://streamable.com/41z2v

That stretch just seems to wind up certain drivers. Its a classic "there is a bike lane, use it". If you were to use it tho you'd never get anywhere as they all end with a yield to a constantly busy road..

Steoller · 16-12-2019 1:37pm

kenmm wrote: »

That stretch just seems to wind up certain drivers. Its a classic "there is a bike lane, use it". If you were to use it tho you'd never get anywhere as they all end with a yield to a constantly busy road..

and the sightlines at the crossings that the lane does bring you to are extremely dangerous.
I do use that cycle lane, but i join the road to go through the roundabouts.

Also, they've forgotten to put dipped kerbs for crossing when they re-did the roundabout at Intel.

stoneill · 16-12-2019 2:30pm

buffalo wrote: »

Had similar yesterday evening, truck driver with a total lack of anticipation who struggled to overtake on a dual carriageway:

Why didn't you use the cycle path that is right there, right beside you?

CramCycle · 16-12-2019 2:37pm

stoneill wrote: »

Why didn't you use the cycle path that is right there, right beside you?

Shared space, unlit pedestrians, no access points, slippy grates, poorly marked, creates dangerous interactions at junctions. Why not ask why the lorry was unable to move over and overtake without hassle on a dual carriageway where there was plenty of space and time to do so?

tnegun · 16-12-2019 3:05pm

CramCycle wrote: »

Shared space, unlit pedestrians, no access points, slippy grates, poorly marked, creates dangerous interactions at junctions. Why not ask why the lorry was unable to move over and overtake without hassle on a dual carriageway where there was plenty of space and time to do so?

Don't forget full of assorted rubbish and probably most of this year's leaf fall. Another example of how poor or bad cycle lanes are worst than none at all. That driver thought he was 100% in the right to blow you out of it as a cycle lane existed in the vicinity. Probably working on the Intel site and might be worth an email to them on the PR front.

Steoller · 16-12-2019 3:14pm

stoneill wrote: »

Why didn't you use the cycle path that is right there, right beside you?

Because it leads to a roundabout, where if you are

a) exiting left, you are dumped onto a cyclelane that has more craters on it than the moon,

b)going straight ahead or right, you are brought to a crossing point with useless sightlines to traffic exiting the roundabout. You have to hope no-one comes off the roundabout at speed when you start to cross. -much safer to go around the roundabout in the traffic lane.

Utter Consternation · 16-12-2019 4:44pm

Seth Brundle wrote: »

Cycle paths are designed by people ejo never use them and will therefore never properly understand why people won't use them.
Motorists passing them see what appears to be a brilliant facility not being used which adds to the ill-informed resentment against cyclists.

Very well said. Some of the problems i find with them on my commute:

Holes in them
Man hole covers that protrude up through the paths
Some of them inexplicably end and lead you directly out in conflict with other road users
People have a tendency to leave their bins in them
Pedestrians
Cars parked in them
And multiple other feckin reasons because they're badly designed in the main

Taxuser1 · 16-12-2019 4:56pm

very eerie sequence of events in one street last week.

waiting at red lights at Fitzwilliam Street Lower and Lower Baggot Street on way home. Lady passes on the bike with her child in the child seat heading south. Taxi driver right behind her must not have seen her despite it being bright, screeched brakes last second and swerved right into the next lane to avoid back-ending them. Honestly thought it was all over for them - the swerve was something else and had another car been there there would have been some bang.

Just pulling myself together and I continued up Fitzwilliam Street to Leeson Street X where, with lights just having turned green, I cycled towards Adelaide Road. My front wheel was almost on the other side when a Land Rover came up from my left over the bridge through the red lights. so close. closest ever I'd say.

CramCycle · 16-12-2019 4:59pm

Utter Consternation wrote: »

Man hole covers that protrude up through the paths

One on my commute has a double wide manhole cover that crosses the entire path, on a sharp bend, uphill. Nearly took me out of it before, reported to council. There is a cyclist down on it every few months. Never gets fixed or even a caution sign put up.

Some of them inexplicably end and lead you directly out in conflict with other road users

Or they take you away from traffic and then just stop with nowhere to go

People have a tendency to leave their bins in them

And walk in them, or to get off the road if they break down, or make a phone call, or send an email etc. Shure, where else can a person eat their roll and drink a cuppa tea/coffee

Pedestrians

Well they are basically footpaths :eek:

Cars parked in them

My favourites are the cars who block cyclepaths and footpaths so if your a wheel chair user or your mobility is impaired, your f*cked.

Utter Consternation · 16-12-2019 5:34pm

I've nearly been hit a few times here by drivers mounting the footpath and going into the cycle lane (in the cycle lane on the left).

The traffic lanes split into two and motorists turning right often hold up the people going straight on or left, therefore the obvious thing for motorists to do is undertake and drive over the curb and into the cycle lane. The cycle lane converges with the road shortly after this point here, so it's handy for the drivers to get their car back onto the road.

It's a bloody ridiculous situation.

Effects · 16-12-2019 7:12pm

magicbastarder wrote: »

instead of having the kerb dished, which in an ideal world would be a condition of the planning permission, they've subcontracted the issue out onto the main road.

It looks like it continues on to the right hand side, where it isn't even needed. So most likely it was part of the access for the original site, and nothing was ever changed since construction started.

Prospector1989 · 18-12-2019 9:59am

Very close pass here this morning.

I was driving having just turned off the roundabout. Car in front of my overtook a cyclist on the bend with oncoming traffic.

Query for regular cyclists. This cyclist was cycling his bike while pulling another bike along beside him. He was going quite slow as it was uphill and as a result was a bit erratic. Definitely not excusing the dangerous overtake but just wondering what the opinion on it would be from a cyclists point of view.

**I'm in no way condoning the dangerous overtake **

Prospector1989 · 18-12-2019 10:30am

buffalo wrote: »

It's pretty much two abreast, which is perfectly fine as long as you do not endanger, inconvenience or obstruct other traffic or pedestrians. It's how I get my bike to the bike shop (and then I can cycle home again).

Fair enough. I assumed as much. My concern was more that he looked like he wasn't in complete control going up the incline while steering two bikes. Not a regular cyclist myself so was interest to see what others thought.

I'm sure the lad that overtook would have done so regardless of what was on the road.

Weepsie · 18-12-2019 10:43am

I wish I could do that. I'm hopeless at it though, had to give the OH a call to come take a bike from me when I was collecting one from the LBS and cycling another. She wasn't impressed.

kenmm · 18-12-2019 10:56am

Prospector1989 wrote: »

This cyclist was cycling his bike while pulling another bike along beside him. He was going quite slow as it was uphill and as a result was a bit erratic.

Ive done it on occasion, but I would want to be pretty confident on the route (i.e. no big hills or crazy junctions).

Pretty sure its illegal, but its Ireland - not like the rules generally matter..

If like the OP above, I wouldn't be trying it near a busy road on a bend, you are just looking to p!ss off other people with that behaviour - and at the end of the day thats what decent road use should be about - not inconveniencing or being a d!ck to others (Why can't we all just get along, merry Christmas etc!!).

EDIT: (Just remembered.. I also done it after a chrismas party - moving my bike to be locked up and using a Dublin bike - dunno why - I was drunk and it was only 200 meters on a backstreet. It did not end in success and came off, heavy dublin bike on top of me, brand new jeans ruined. Fully deserved for being a twat..). Thing was I was moving the bikes to get a cab home as I already realised I was too drunk to cycle..

Pinch Flat · 18-12-2019 11:02am

Nearly got caught out by a white van man this morning. He was driving down the bus lane at bachelors quay, so figured he would turn left. He came up the outside of me and a bike in front, presumably to overtake us and left hook. Changed his mind at the last minute and darted in left behind us. Must look back in the rear camera but he was very close.

joinme · 18-12-2019 11:37am

I was cycling home from work on Bunratty road Coolock the other day. I was well lit up all the usual safety gear. This road is never overly busy but does have the 27 bus and cars tend to drive too fast despite ramps. Anyway I am cycling toward Northside shopping centre and there is a car coming towards me on the opposite side. Next of all out of nowhere a scrambler bike with two passengers comes flying out from behind the car to overtake but right into my path. The driver (if i can call a 15 yr old a driver) only clocks me at the last second and somehow we miss each other by about an inch. It happened so fast and I got a massive fright, the bike raged on down the road all I could muster was to roar 'f*ckin w*nker' after it.

There is problem with scrambler bikes around this part of Dublin and I've seen a few incidents over the years but this is the closest call I have had with one. Dangerous vehicles to have on the road.

kenmm · 18-12-2019 12:13pm

buffalo wrote: »

What makes you pretty sure about that?

No expert, but cycling with one hand on the bars, trying to balance another bicycle and swerving across the carriageway - There must be some law that would have you done - similar to driving without due care and attention.

Doesn't really matter - if you can't control it and are holding up others, then you are being a bot of a prick regardless.

I was specifically talking about the case here, but even if you are able to cycle with the other bike, you are not really in full control of your own bike. Doesn't matter how good you are at it - you cant brake as effectively etc.

Kaisr Sose · 18-12-2019 1:05pm

buffalo wrote: »

What makes you pretty sure about that?

I am also pretty sure he is right. Unlikely to be enforced.

Thr rationale being you are not fully in control of either bike. Some people will argue they are and that's fine, but others, will admit they can't do it. So it all gets subjective. I have done it loads of times, and while able to, would say you don't have as much control of either bike as you would a single bike.

For that reason, its probably deemed 'unsafe'. Dare I suggest a FCN of driving a cycle without due consideration could be issued? It would be harsh but in some situations, might be appropriate.

Pinch Flat · 18-12-2019 7:28pm

Jaysus joe motorist really hasn’t a clue. Sheets of rain and Flooding all over Dublin - on the commute home and I was trying to memorise dodgy manholes on the south quays, so staying centre in a lot of the lanes. Didn’t stop cars squeezing by though.

In saying that, was heartened to see a flashing 1.5m sign at Castleknock this morning. A notorious stretch for close passing, no matter how far you take the lane. Be interesting to see if this adjusts driver behaviour along here.

Zzippy · 19-12-2019 11:27am

magicbastarder wrote: »

is it legal to cycle no-hands, pulling *two* bikes alongside, one in each hand?

Not only is it legal, you get a medal from the President for pulling it off...

Effects · 19-12-2019 11:29pm

Zzippy wrote: »

Not only is it legal, you get a medal from the President for pulling it off...

How do you pull it off if you're using both your hands on the two bikes?

20-12-2019 12:33am

I'd put that up there with the question as to how to wipe your backside with 2 broken collar bones

bingobars · 20-12-2019 11:53pm

Finding it impossible to get a reply to a complaint with Bus Éireann. I was nearly flattened by a bus that ran a junction in May. I filed a complaint within 2 hours providing all the details of bus, route, google maps image of spot, time and date and requested footage as part of the complaint. Unfortunately I didn’t have my Cycliq as it was on another bike at the time. I got a reply asking for my contact number initially but dead air ever since.

Anyway the incident. I was in a junction moving to exit from it and could hear a bus moving at a fairly handy speed towards the only blind entry to it. It was 100m into pace building from a stop and was emitting that distinctive bus roar. I decided to make a stop in the junction and let the driver continue to accelerate through the Yield sign. I could see the shock in the drivers face as he saw me pulling to a stop as he crossed my path. I would have been flattened.

Anyway no joy from Bus Éireann to date. I’ve pulled the GDPR line on further requests as I feel entitled to the footage of the driver running the junction and will keep filing complaint tickets for now (anyone got any tips??).

Finally. The most memorable part of the story after was when I told a ‘comedian’ creative colleague at work and he managed to mock up the entire incident in hilarious format. It’s the complete reverse of what happened me on the morning.

Anyway. For giggles

https://gfycat.com/jovialgrandacouchi

fryup · 21-12-2019 12:01am

magicbastarder wrote: »

is it legal to cycle no-hands, pulling *two* bikes alongside, one in each hand?

have you actually seen this?

Eamonnator · 21-12-2019 12:00pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I'd put that up there with the question as to how to wipe your backside with 2 broken collar bones

or my favourite:
Can you pick up teeth with broken fingers?

eeeee · 22-12-2019 12:20am

Eamonnator wrote: »

or my favourite:
Can you pick up teeth with broken fingers?

Jesus that's grim :eek:

22-12-2019 1:07am

eeeee wrote: »

Jesus that's grim :eek:

He was playing bad cop when he'd use that line, good cop would have picked up the teeth for the poor unfortunate with the broken fingers :P

Utter Consternation · 24-12-2019 10:32am

Acquiescence · 27-12-2019 2:14pm

Some of the driving I've witnessed over the past few days is incredible.

I've had to jam on and swerve at 40kph+ twice for people pulling straight across me at junctions with no hardshoulder.

One guy yesterday was totally oblivious to me even as I whispered in his window at him for a good ten seconds. When he finally looked at me it was clear he had no idea I was there despite being the only road user within 200m of him and having come down a straight stretch of road before he looked through me and pulled out.

CramCycle · 29-12-2019 11:22pm

Pa ElGrande wrote: »

Notice the cultural difference between China and a country like Ireland, nobody gets out of their car to help him.

Trying lying on the road in Dublin, I have had people drive around me before

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

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