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

magicbastarder · 12-12-2019 2:57pm

mother of god.

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?

Mc Love · 12-12-2019 8:24pm

Deleted User wrote: »

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.

Yeah it was fair nice of them, tbh I was so shaken by it, I didnt even think to ask or even try to shout out the reg so I could pick it up on the camera. I literally shouted aaargh because I thought I was going to be hit. I was raging I couldnt pick up the reg, tried to edit the video but nothing seemed to work. Bought a drift ghost x for a more stable image should it happen again but I've changed how I cycle on that road now, to be more closer to the white line as you know any chance of them overtaking you in a dangerous location they will.

I've been trying to notice reg plates the last few days but even then its quite hard to see them due to the insufficient lighting of the lights and most seemed to be really dirty

tnegun wrote: »

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?

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.

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.

Mc Love · 12-12-2019 10:37pm

That stretch is 50 km/h and rightly so. There is a hard shoulder on the opposite side of the road but you cycle in it at your own peril as drivers will definitely close pass you.

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.

Mc Love · 13-12-2019 9:14am

I dont think they realise the danger they put themselves in by driving like that.

Seth Brundle · 13-12-2019 10:13am

One of the responses to Mc Love's criminal pass...

https://twitter.com/righttobikeit/status/1201869354608025600

Duckjob · 13-12-2019 10:25am

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.

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

Seth Brundle · 13-12-2019 1:35pm

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

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.

buffalo · 13-12-2019 1:44pm

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

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

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.

Seth Brundle · 13-12-2019 8:07pm

Seth Brundle wrote: »

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

Went to my local station this evening only to be told that I could make a statement but the only action the Garda could take was based on this and then we'd head to court.
He couldn't contact her to warn her without a statement: the video could not be considered evidence (it needed to be a statement).
I left because I was in a rush to get home.

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..

Dr_Colossus · 16-12-2019 12:31pm

Dr_Colossus wrote: »

Yet another car that sailed through the first roundabout at the Castleknock Gate end of Chesterfield Avenue this morning without yielding or even slowing. He’d have taken me out of it despite a strong front light and the much fabled high vis if I hadn’t stopped and roared at him. He slowed down after existing the roundabout to utter what I can only hope was an apology but never caught his words. Have the registration so might call traffic watch later to report as find it the most dangerous section of my commute which includes the full length of the quays morning and evening. They have cones circling the roundabout at present due to works but most brain dead morning commuters ignore its status and just veer around it.

Same again this morning, black Vokswagen transporter van entered the roundabout which I was already circling. I let a roar which caused him to lock the front wheels and halt the engine half way into the roundabout and I continued on. Surprised the car behind didn't rear end him also.
I took a mental note of the reg but checking the details now some hours later and they don't match the description. In future I'll pull in and write it in the phone and/or take a picture if vehicle still on the scene which might give the motorist some food for thought for the day ahead.

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?

buffalo · 16-12-2019 2:53pm

stoneill wrote: »

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

Because it wasn't convenient for me.

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.

Seth Brundle · 16-12-2019 3:47pm

stoneill wrote: »

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

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.

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.

magicbastarder · 16-12-2019 5:21pm

this annoys me every time i pass - space is usually quite tight heading westbound at rush hour, and it wouldn't surprise me if someday a cyclist trying to pay heed to the traffic clips this tarmac ramp, which would be inclined to kick their front wheel out into traffic.

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.

https://www.google.com/maps/@53.3814218,-6.2407583,3a,38.7y,260.81h,83.95t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1snES_k_I8cpu1HOca-Ho2EA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

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 **

buffalo · 18-12-2019 10:25am

Prospector1989 wrote: »

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 **

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).

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.

Idleater · 18-12-2019 10:35am

buffalo wrote: »

It's how I get my bike to the bike shop (and then I can cycle home again).

It's how I retrieved my dad's bike when a gouger stole it from the back of the house years ago!

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.

buffalo · 18-12-2019 11:24am

kenmm wrote: »

Pretty sure its illegal

What makes you pretty sure about that?

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.

Chips Lovell · 18-12-2019 12:48pm

It actually is legal.

Road Traffic Act, 1961
100.—(1) A person on a bicycle or a tricycle in a public place shall not hold on to any other vehicle (other than a pedal bicycle which no person is driving) which is in motion or hold on to any person or thing on, in or attached to any such vehicle.

Whether you should do it or not is another story.

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.

magicbastarder · 18-12-2019 1:43pm

Chips Lovell wrote: »

It actually is legal.

Road Traffic Act, 1961
100.—(1) A person on a bicycle or a tricycle in a public place shall not hold on to any other vehicle (other than a pedal bicycle which no person is driving) which is in motion or hold on to any person or thing on, in or attached to any such vehicle.

Whether you should do it or not is another story.

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

Chips Lovell · 18-12-2019 5:54pm

magicbastarder wrote: »

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

I have no idea. I think we need a test case.

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.

Thinkingaboutit · 19-12-2019 9:20am

Almost a variant on a thing too usual to comment on, but anyhow. Some van driver in a small navy blue van (letters vss or similar) exiting Lismore Rd and turning on Fern Rd was angry I interrupted his phone viewing while turning. I shouted as he was likely to drive into me. After that, angry beeping and menacing from him. Drivers of small vans are a histrionic lot. I thought it was too dark for the camera, so I hadn't it running.

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

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