Near misses - mod warning 22/04 - see OP/post 822

Danbo! · 29-03-2017 11:56am

jive wrote: »

Had someone beeping and gesturing at me last week because I wasn't using the rollercoaster part of the N11 cycle lane city-bound by RTE. A certain someone not in a bus or taxi during the restricted hours for bus lane usage :pac:

I used to take the lane in bus lanes when cars were skipping traffic during restricted hours, until I had to make a very quick trip to our lady's hospital via some bus lanes a while back. Now I always make sure it isn't an emergency, but 99.9999% it's just assholes.

BoardsMember · 29-03-2017 12:25pm

Danbo! wrote: »

I used to take the lane in bus lanes when cars were skipping traffic during restricted hours, until I had to make a very quick trip to our lady's hospital via some bus lanes a while back. Now I always make sure it isn't an emergency, but 99.9999% it's just assholes.

How do you do that?

07Lapierre · 29-03-2017 12:33pm

BoardsMember wrote: »

How do you do that?

Easy...if you hear a siren, move to the left.

Fian · 29-03-2017 12:39pm

07Lapierre wrote: »

Easy...if you hear a siren, move to the left.

Except when I drove in to Holles Street Hospital along the bus lanes while my wife was in labour (years ago) I didn't have a siren to activate.

For me it is not sensible to try and "police" other vehicles using the cycle lanes any more than it is appropriate for Taxis/Buses to try to "educate" cyclists out of them.

07Lapierre · 29-03-2017 1:05pm

Fian wrote: »

Except when I drove in to Holles Street Hospital along the bus lanes while my wife was in labour (years ago) I didn't have a siren to activate.

For me it is not sensible to try and "police" other vehicles using the cycle lanes any more than it is appropriate for Taxis/Buses to try to "educate" cyclists out of them.

Since when does having a pregnant woman in you car allow you to use the bus lanes? I understand why you did it, but you are still bound by the ROTR. Next time, contact your local Gardai station and request an escort.

Tombo2001 · 29-03-2017 1:10pm

07Lapierre wrote: »

Since when does having a pregnant woman in you car allow you to use the bus lanes? I understand why you did it, but you are still bound by the ROTR. Next time, contact your local Gardai station and request an escort.

That is correct, and I say that as someone who has broken the lights on the way to the rotunda.

BoardsMember · 29-03-2017 1:10pm

07Lapierre wrote: »

Fian wrote: »

Except when I drove in to Holles Street Hospital along the bus lanes while my wife was in labour (years ago) I didn't have a siren to activate.

For me it is not sensible to try and "police" other vehicles using the cycle lanes any more than it is appropriate for Taxis/Buses to try to "educate" cyclists out of them.

Since when does having a pregnant woman in you car allow you to use the bus lanes? I understand why you did it, but you are still bound by the ROTR. Next time, contact your local Gardai station and request an escort.

Lots of assumptions there....

Tombo2001 · 29-03-2017 1:11pm

BoardsMember wrote: »

Lots of assumptions there....

where are the assumptions.

jive · 29-03-2017 1:16pm

Danbo! wrote: »

I used to take the lane in bus lanes when cars were skipping traffic during restricted hours, until I had to make a very quick trip to our lady's hospital via some bus lanes a while back. Now I always make sure it isn't an emergency, but 99.9999% it's just assholes.

This was just some dude in a van (Ford Transit) being an irate bollox, I didn't even take the lane he was just too wide to squeeze by.

He seemed to be vibrant and full of health

Chuchote · 29-03-2017 1:30pm

Ah now, if someone's in labour they get a free pass; when young Roubaix O'Donnell is on his way in, you don't have time to look for an escort.

07Lapierre · 29-03-2017 1:54pm

Chuchote wrote: »

Ah now, if someone's in labour they get a free pass; when young Roubaix O'Donnell is on his way in, you don't have time to look for an escort.

So Bus lanes can be used by:

Buses,
Cyclists,
Taxis,
Emergency Services vehicles,
Gardai,
Anyone with a medical emergency
Anyone with a passenger with a medical condition
Anyone who feels their journey is more urgent than everyone else!

Did I miss anything?

BoardsMember · 29-03-2017 2:01pm

That there's a local garda station. That its open. That someone answers the phone. That there is a squad car free that might arrive in anything like useful time.

ED E · 29-03-2017 2:06pm

07Lapierre wrote: »

Did I miss anything?

Anyone who needs to park and activates their hazard lights.

07Lapierre · 29-03-2017 2:07pm

BoardsMember wrote: »

That there's a local garda station. That its open. That someone answers the phone. That there is a squad car free that might arrive in anything like useful time.

Lots of assumptions there...wont know the answer unless the phone call is made.

buffalo · 29-03-2017 2:16pm

07Lapierre wrote: »

So Bus lanes can be used by:

Buses,
Cyclists,
Taxis,
Emergency Services vehicles,
Gardai,
Anyone with a medical emergency
Anyone with a passenger with a medical condition
Anyone who feels their journey is more urgent than everyone else!

Did I miss anything?

Mopeds and motorbike users.

BoardsMember · 29-03-2017 2:16pm

07Lapierre wrote: »

Chuchote wrote: »

Ah now, if someone's in labour they get a free pass; when young Roubaix O'Donnell is on his way in, you don't have time to look for an escort.

So Bus lanes can be used by:

Buses,
Cyclists,
Taxis,
Emergency Services vehicles,
Gardai,
Anyone with a medical emergency
Anyone with a passenger with a medical condition
Anyone who feels their journey is more urgent than everyone else!

Did I miss anything?

You missed any sense of empathy or compassion related to the matter at hand.

helimachoptor · 29-03-2017 2:21pm

I used the bus lane to Holles Street (n11) when Heli junior was arriving, no choice really and baby arrived 15 mins after we got there, if i'd stayed in traffic, wife would have ruined the car :pac:

07Lapierre · 29-03-2017 2:29pm

BoardsMember wrote: »

You missed any sense of empathy or compassion related to the matter at hand.

What matter in Hand? I'm not a mind reader... that's why Garda cars have sirens.

AndrewJRenko · 29-03-2017 3:19pm

Chiparus wrote: »

Perhaps if you drive up Bird Avenue and look at the 3m wide footpaths?

You can guess what happens when the church carpark or the sports ground carpark is full

In fairness, the side with the 3m footpaths has lots of cut-outs in the 3m footpaths for parking, right? So now people don't 'have to' park on the pavement the way they used to.

What design would you prefer?

bucketybuck wrote: »

Typical dismissive answer, but do you not think that the markings on those roundabouts give rise to these sorts of incidents? Is there not a case to be made for better information on what those markings mean?

I'm really not sure that 'better information' is the issue. Is there really anyone that doesn't know that you need to stop or yield at a roundabout?

bucketybuck · 29-03-2017 7:33pm

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

I'm really not sure that 'better information' is the issue. Is there really anyone that doesn't know that you need to stop or yield at a roundabout?

Obviously there is, or at the very least there are people who seem to forget this fact at vital times, tragically we have seen the consequences of that already this week.

I do genuinely wonder if there is some psychological effect of how those markings are laid out, the cycle lane on the roundabout in question circles the entire thing in an unbroken line, do cyclists in those lanes have some form of point fixation in that they follow the line and momentarily forget that they should have given way to the right?

This wasn't the case with the idiot who pulled out in front of me, it was clear he just didn't want to stop, but I see so many cyclists pulling out in front of traffic on that route that I do wonder what is contributing to it?

AndrewJRenko · 29-03-2017 7:45pm

bucketybuck wrote: »

Obviously there is, or at the very least there are people who seem to forget this fact at vital times, tragically we have seen the consequences of that already this week.

I do genuinely wonder if there is some psychological effect of how those markings are laid out, the cycle lane on the roundabout in question circles the entire thing in an unbroken line, do cyclists in those lanes have some form of point fixation in that they follow the line and momentarily forget that they should have given way to the right?

This wasn't the case with the idiot who pulled out in front of me, it was clear he just didn't want to stop, but I see so many cyclists pulling out in front of traffic on that route that I do wonder what is contributing to it?

I don't think people 'forget' any more than I think all the drivers on their phones 'forget' the law about phone use. They just don't bother complying.

Danbo! · 29-03-2017 7:48pm

07Lapierre wrote: »

Since when does having a pregnant woman in you car allow you to use the bus lanes? I understand why you did it, but you are still bound by the ROTR. Next time, contact your local Gardai station and request an escort.

If you're making an 8km journey in an emergency, it's very unlikely a garda car can be sent to a non-fixed location in time anyway. In my case, my wife called the gardai, told them where we were, where we were going and they said they'd radio all cars in the district so if we happened to pass one or be seen by one, they'd know what we were at and would have provided an escort, but not to wait around for them. While they specifically didn't tell me to break the rules, they didn't say not to

buffalo · 29-03-2017 8:47pm

bucketybuck wrote: »

Obviously there is, or at the very least there are people who seem to forget this fact at vital times, tragically we have seen the consequences of that already this week.

Are you suggesting that you know what happened on Templeville Road earlier in the week, and that it had to do with one party or the other forgetting the rules of a roundabout?

Unless you're involved in the accident investigation with inside information, I'd respectfully ask you not to use an incident where someone lost their life and where there is no concrete public information to further your stupid point.

bucketybuck · 29-03-2017 8:49pm

buffalo wrote: »

Are you suggesting that you know what happened on Templeville Road earlier in the week, and that it had to do with one party or the other forgetting the rules of a roundabout?

Unless you're involved in the accident investigation with inside information, I'd respectfully ask you not to use an incident where someone lost their life and where there is no concrete public information to further your stupid point.

Spare me your indignation, you do not know me.

Feckofff · 29-03-2017 9:15pm

buffalo wrote: »

Mopeds and motorbike users.

Motorised wheelchairs,

Sarz91 · 29-03-2017 9:30pm

bucketybuck wrote: »

Spare me your indignation, you do not know me.

That's a tad bit hypocritical.

Chuchote · 29-03-2017 10:00pm

Feckofff wrote: »

Motorised wheelchairs,

Golf carts!

07Lapierre · 29-03-2017 10:07pm

Danbo! wrote: »

If you're making an 8km journey in an emergency, it's very unlikely a garda car can be sent to a non-fixed location in time anyway. In my case, my wife called the gardai, told them where we were, where we were going and they said they'd radio all cars in the district so if we happened to pass one or be seen by one, they'd know what we were at and would have provided an escort, but not to wait around for them. While they specifically didn't tell me to break the rules, they didn't say not to

Agree.....look I totally understand why anyone would want to get a pregnant woman to the hospital as soon as possible, but lets face it..the vast majority of near misses/bus lane drivers are simply trying to jump a queue of traffic. Of all reasons for driving in a bus lane, it's probably one of the more valid reasons for doing so. But it is not a license to drive like a madman! The ROTR still apply and common sense/courtesy to other road users still need to be observed.

buffalo · 29-03-2017 10:19pm

bucketybuck wrote: »

Spare me your indignation, you do not know me.

I don't. Enlighten me!

CramCycle · 29-03-2017 10:20pm

Danbo! wrote: »

If you're making an 8km journey in an emergency, it's very unlikely a garda car can be sent to a non-fixed location in time anyway. In my case, my wife called the gardai, told them where we were, where we were going and they said they'd radio all cars in the district so if we happened to pass one or be seen by one, they'd know what we were at and would have provided an escort, but not to wait around for them. While they specifically didn't tell me to break the rules, they didn't say not to

I have done this twice, once where my house was being broken into and my wife and child were hiding in the bedroom. I gave them my house details and location, but as an aside, if they happened to see me breaking several rules on the N11, they would know where I was going. The other was when my child was severely scalded and traffic was so bad an ambulance was potentially over an hour away, it is hard to say to this day whether we should have continued as we were with first aid but in the end he came out of it fine, so I stand by my choice. Neither of my choices in these situations were the right thing to do but I still would do them again. No one is perfect.

It is always something to note for those who feel they can do the job of the gardai and enforce the rules on others, by doing so, you are quite likely putting yourself and others at risk, you are also not a garda and it is not your job to do so, and there are occasionally times when the person has genuine reasons that most of us could understand to put themselves above the rules, even if they shouldn't. These people are generally not those who are skipping rush hour traffic in the bus lane, but you never know, they could be among them. You will normally know by looking around you but I certainly would not advise putting your life on the line to find out.

On a side note, it was lovely to see the gardai lifting a load of them on the N11 today, particularly satisfying to see those who were behind the buses and missed the garda standing in traffic pointing out those who tried to scoot back in to his colleague up the road.

Danbo! · 29-03-2017 10:21pm

BoardsMember wrote: »

How do you do that?

Usually if someone is beeping/driving aggressive I give them both the benefit of the doubt and a wide berth because I don't trust them. In most cases they just sullenly dawdle along behind you. I'm not saying I'm out policing bus lanes on every cycle, but I'm not exactly doing them any favours by moving right to the kerb to allow them squeeze by.

07Lapierre wrote: »

Agree.....look I totally understand why anyone would want to get a pregnant woman to the hospital as soon as possible, but lets face it..the vast majority of near misses/bus lane drivers are simply trying to jump a queue of traffic. Of all reasons for driving in a bus lane, it's probably one of the more valid reasons for doing so. But it is not a license to drive like a madman! The ROTR still apply and common sense/courtesy to other road users still need to be observed.

Yep absolutely, I've had countless near misses on the bike in a few "bus lane skipping hotspots" - our lady's school templeogue, Harolds cross inbound, Patrick's street, etc.

In my case it wasn't rush hour thankfully so I used bus lanes to skip some queues, did some cheeky yet legal lane changes/skips, and mercifully didn't meet a red light. My wife was in the back tending to the little one and keeping my driving in check (standard stuff from her

).

bucketybuck · 29-03-2017 10:25pm

buffalo wrote: »

I don't. Enlighten me!

Give you details so you can score points on the internet? No. I have no intention of explaining my personal situation to you. Take that whatever way you will.

Chuchote · 29-03-2017 10:26pm

There's only one solution: if someone pretends to be in labour to use the bus lane, the punishment must be that they must really get pregnant. We must have this legally enacted immediately.

John_Rambo · 29-03-2017 10:27pm

If there's someone acting like a nutcase behind me when I'm in the car or on the bike part of me imagines a kid with meningitis in the back seat! So, I pull in and stop (drama:)).

Pulling right in (in the car) usually is treated with a sheepish wave.

Pulling right in (on the bike) is usually treated with an indignant glare.

(That glare turns in to a frowning examination of the windscreen as I cycle by them 20 metres up the road)

josip · 29-03-2017 10:47pm

Near miss on Monday, but I was the driver this time.
I was pulling left out on to Killiney Road, looked to the right and although there was a low sun I could see that the cars coming down the hill were far enough away.
I had a quick check left although I wasn't crossing the road and then checked back right just before I pulled out.
Lo and behold a cyclist had emerged from the sun and if I hadn't done a 2nd check right I wouldn't see him. I'd have either T-boned him or he'd have T-boned me. He was absolutely perfectly in line with the sun the first time I looked.
Other days of the week, I'm the one on the bike coming down the hill with a good head of steam. Bit of a wake up moment for me both as the driver and the cyclist.

CramCycle · 29-03-2017 11:11pm

bucketybuck wrote: »

Spare me your indignation, you do not know me.

MOD VOICE: And you don't know him, I imagine if you were a close friend or witness to the accident, you would not be making such comments. If you are a witness, take yourself to the gardai, they are looking for witnesses. Other than that show some respect to the poor girls family and friends, they don't need someone they don't know casting aspersions without proof, knowledge or otherwise. Any questions, via PM.

Thinkingaboutit · 29-03-2017 11:59pm

Weepsie wrote: »

Also a couple of things. The Bus Eireann strike has lead to a lot more private coach operators in Dublin the past few days. Operators who might rarely drive in urban areas, and operators I rarely see on my route but have seen a lot of the past few days. I'd be taking extra care with them around at the moment, as I feel they're less likely to be aware of the cyclists around the place.

Also, on Sunday had someone wait patiently enough behind me while cycling near Dunboyne/Clonee. They then thought a bend was a good spot. Luckily for them I could see a car ahead and waved at them to pull in behind me. They looked a little spooked and gave an appreciative wave as I possibly saved them and someone else serious injury.

I did have a closs pass on the Quays coming from the point to the IFSC too. I'm not sure what the point of the cycle lane there is at all. I don't know where you're supposed to get onto to it as it's slightly raised, goes off onto the road and around some busstops and has car parking spaces on some of the exits. It's really a stupid design. That it throws you out onto the little bridge beside the convention centre where there is virtually no space is nuts too.

Don't like that prospect. Private coaches can be even worse than Dublin Bus drivers who make a point of passing very closely and closing off an exit.

It is probably a point made so often, but I highly doubt the Council bureaucrats who design cycle lanes ever cycle. The stupidity of so many designs beggars belief. Most probably laying out cycle lanes is some tick box for a Council manager or other ambitious bureaucrat. Whether the design is bad or danger, is something they are indifferent to. That's the only explanation I can find for bad designs.

John_Rambo · 30-03-2017 12:05am

Thinkingaboutit wrote: »

Don't like that prospect. Private coaches can be even worse than Dublin Bus drivers who make a point of passing very closely and closing off an exit.

It is probably a point made so often, but I highly doubt the Council bureaucrats who design cycle lanes ever cycle. The stupidity of so many designs beggars belief. Most probably laying out cycle lanes is some tick box for a Council manager or other ambitious bureaucrat. Whether the design is bad or danger, is something they are indifferent to. That's the only explanation I can find for bad designs.

I find Dublin bus drivers on my route are fairly clued in when it comes to cyclists. (Howth road). They've forced me to be nice to them! I'd frequently wave them out instead of overtaking them when they're indicating right to merge in to traffic after dropping/picking up.

Wishbone Ash · 30-03-2017 7:45am

07Lapierre wrote: »

Since when does having a pregnant woman in you car allow you to use the bus lanes?....

07Lapierre wrote: »

Agree.....look I totally understand why anyone would want to get a pregnant woman to the hospital as soon as possible....

There's a bit of a difference between having a pregnant woman in the car and a woman in labour!

Chuchote · 30-03-2017 8:20am

Thinkingaboutit wrote: »

Don't like that prospect. Private coaches can be even worse than Dublin Bus drivers who make a point of passing very closely and closing off an exit.

It is probably a point made so often, but I highly doubt the Council bureaucrats who design cycle lanes ever cycle. The stupidity of so many designs beggars belief. Most probably laying out cycle lanes is some tick box for a Council manager or other ambitious bureaucrat. Whether the design is bad or danger, is something they are indifferent to. That's the only explanation I can find for bad designs.

Private coaches are terrifying. The drivers seem as a group to have no concept of how dangerous their vehicle is.

The council and cycle lanes: the odd thing is that they have available the truly excellent instructions issued by Transport for Ireland's cycling section; it may be a failure to communicate with the engineers who produced these.

onmebike · 30-03-2017 8:24am

Cycling in the Long Mile Road in Dublin this morning, a truck passed me in the bus lane. It was before 7am, so that's grand, but he was close enough for me to touch, clearly well in excess of the speed limit and undertaking cars that were in the right-hand lane.

I'm noticing more and more recently, that there seems to be a higher percentage of private cars giving a wide, obvious overtake. However, I'm having a close pass with a HGV, like this morning, at least once a week now.

HivemindXX · 30-03-2017 11:54am

josip wrote: »

Lo and behold a cyclist had emerged from the sun and if I hadn't done a 2nd check right I wouldn't see him. I'd have either T-boned him or he'd have T-boned me. He was absolutely perfectly in line with the sun the first time I looked.

I am always very aware of the danger when the sun is low behind me. At a certain time of year this would happen on my commute for a few weeks. I think it's a significant hazard that all road users should be aware of.

Generally I treat a situation where I think I might be very difficult to see the same as if I think the motorist might be the sort to pull out without looking. I slow down enough to make stopping or swerving easier and take the lane both to make me more visible and to give me more options for evasive manoeuvres.

I think having your lights on when the sun is low is not a bad idea too. It certainly can't hurt your visibility.

cdaly_ · 30-03-2017 1:29pm

HivemindXX wrote: »

I am always very aware of the danger when the sun is low behind me. At a certain time of year this would happen on my commute for a few weeks. I think it's a significant hazard that all road users should be aware of.

Generally I treat a situation where I think I might be very difficult to see the same as if I think the motorist might be the sort to pull out without looking. I slow down enough to make stopping or swerving easier and take the lane both to make me more visible and to give me more options for evasive manoeuvres.

I think having your lights on when the sun is low is not a bad idea too. It certainly can't hurt your visibility.

I reckon it's worse when the sun is directly in front of you as following traffic won't see you.

Weepsie · 30-03-2017 1:39pm

HivemindXX wrote: »

I think having your lights on when the sun is low is not a bad idea too. It certainly can't hurt your visibility.

Hence me having a dynamo now. Though I can turn it off, I never do

CramCycle · 30-03-2017 1:48pm

HivemindXX wrote: »

I think having your lights on when the sun is low is not a bad idea too. It certainly can't hurt your visibility.

It reminds me of the time a Garda friend pulled in a motorist who ran a red (told many times here). He asked why she done it and she said she couldn't see because the sun was too low and in her eyes. He looked her dead in the eyes and said, in that case, in future, you don't ****ing move. (dramatic license used in language, I think he may have facepalmed instead).

Somedude9 · 30-03-2017 2:08pm

Disturbing thread.

shansey · 31-03-2017 9:31am

Can't beat a bus strike for a nice leisurely commute down the quays!!

Chuchote · 31-03-2017 9:36am

One of the world's best cyclist has been struck by a car and killed while racing:

http://cycling.today/one-of-the-worlds-best-ultra-endurance-cyclists-killed-in-accident-during-indian-pacific-wheel-race/

World-renowned long-distance cyclist Mike Hall has been killed after being struck by a car while competing in an epic race from Perth to Sydney, across Australia.

Mike Hall was competing in the inaugural Indian Pacific Wheel Race and was in second place at the time of the collision. Emergency services were notified about 6.30am and the rider died at the scene…

They had been racing with very little sleep. Hall revealed he was having problems with his vision in a recent video posted from the race route.

“It gets dark and all the glare of the light hitting the signage and road furniture just swirls around and blurs,” he said on the race’s Facebook page on Thursday.

“I’ve been thinking that I can’t stay awake because I’m just really tired. But it’s just the fact I can’t see in the dark properly – my eyes are nailed.”

AndrewJRenko · 31-03-2017 2:36pm

My other half spotted a driver driving through a junction yesterday with the phone held at the top of the steering wheel, tapping away as he drove. He ended up taking down a female cyclist and drove on. Either he didn't notice or he didn't care.

The cyclist was shaken but not injured. Nobody got a reg unfortunately.

josip · 31-03-2017 2:39pm

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

My other half spotted a driver driving through a junction yesterday with the phone held at the top of the steering wheel, tapping away as he drove. He ended up taking down a female cyclist and drove on. Either he didn't notice or he didn't care.

The cyclist was shaken but not injured. Nobody got a reg unfortunately.

Not criticising Mrs Renko, but if she was close enough to see him using his phone on the steering wheel, wouldn't she have been close enough to make out the reg?

Near misses - mod warning 22/04 - see OP/post 822

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