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

WAPAIC · 28-09-2017 9:29am

Lambay island wrote: »

A car made slight contact with me yesterday as they passed me.
I was in a cycle lane at the time and 2 previous cars had just passed me with plenty of space. The next car literally brushed my elbow which momentarily made me lose control but manged to regain stability without hitting the kerb. Both wheels of the car on the passenger side were in the cycle lane.
I cant be 100% sure but it looked to me that the woman was using her phone, her head was definitely looking down at her lap. I don't believe she actually saw me at all, probably didn't feel any contact and drove off without a bother.
I was a little shook but more angry at the situation to be honest. I only got a partial view of the reg but got the first 4 digits and the model. There were no other cars, peds or cycles so no one else saw this.
My question is, is there any point reporting this without the full reg ? as by sounds of previous posts here, even with full reg and video evidence not often is anything done. Battery in my camera was dead :-(

I think so, you can ask the Gardai to help you identify the vehicle using the databases they have access to or CCTV in the area. Or you can try to figure out the full reg yourself - there's a few tools online where you can put the reg in and it will tell you the model. If you're only missing the last two digits, it will take you at most 100 attempts. If it's three digits...the gardai might be a better bet.

papu · 28-09-2017 9:30am

Lambay island wrote: »

A car made slight contact with me yesterday as they passed me.
I was in a cycle lane at the time and 2 previous cars had just passed me with plenty of space. The next car literally brushed my elbow which momentarily made me lose control but manged to regain stability without hitting the kerb. Both wheels of the car on the passenger side were in the cycle lane.
I cant be 100% sure but it looked to me that the woman was using her phone, her head was definitely looking down at her lap. I don't believe she actually saw me at all, probably didn't feel any contact and drove off without a bother.
I was a little shook but more angry at the situation to be honest. I only got a partial view of the reg but got the first 4 digits and the model. There were no other cars, peds or cycles so no one else saw this.
My question is, is there any point reporting this without the full reg ? as by sounds of previous posts here, even with full reg and video evidence not often is anything done. Battery in my camera was dead :-(

Put the first 4 digits into cartell.ie and then iterate through the rest of the digits until you get the model of car you're looking for.

cdaly_ · 28-09-2017 9:56am

Lambay island wrote: »

A car made slight contact with me yesterday as they passed me.
I was in a cycle lane at the time and 2 previous cars had just passed me with plenty of space. The next car literally brushed my elbow which momentarily made me lose control but manged to regain stability without hitting the kerb. Both wheels of the car on the passenger side were in the cycle lane.
I cant be 100% sure but it looked to me that the woman was using her phone, her head was definitely looking down at her lap. I don't believe she actually saw me at all, probably didn't feel any contact and drove off without a bother.
I was a little shook but more angry at the situation to be honest. I only got a partial view of the reg but got the first 4 digits and the model. There were no other cars, peds or cycles so no one else saw this.
My question is, is there any point reporting this without the full reg ? as by sounds of previous posts here, even with full reg and video evidence not often is anything done. Battery in my camera was dead :-(

Report it as hit-and-run. Seek insurance details and raise it with the insurance company also. I don't know if a claim could ensue but they'll surely be talking to their customer at renewal time...

Danbo! · 28-09-2017 10:08am

amcalester wrote: »

I wonder how similar your reply will be.

Word for word what I got. Twice.

TheChizler · 28-09-2017 10:20am

papu wrote: »

Put the first 4 digits into cartell.ie and then iterate through the rest of the digits until you get the model of car you're looking for.

Just if you're getting the full plate via this means let the Gardaí know you used Cartell at least. You're probably right but you're still essentially guessing information yourself, and it's unlikely but you could get an innocent party in trouble. Best just to give them the partial and the make and model.

Borderfox · 28-09-2017 10:26am

tbh if you give them a partial plate and make and model you will not hear from them again

check_six · 28-09-2017 10:51am

Borderfox wrote: »

tbh if you give them a partial plate and make and model you will not hear from them again

Had a weird incident recently where a fellow hit my car and then took off. There was only a scrape, but I was upset that the guy just drove off as I was standing there talking to him. The Guard I spoke to was very enthusiastic about tracking this man down, but even with the full plate and a photo of the car with the guy in it, their system only had a partial address for him and they couldn't locate it!

Sometimes all the clues still won't lead you to the door of the perpetrator. Time to start agitating for giant inflatable dayglo registration plates for all humans at all times!

Borderfox · 28-09-2017 10:57am

one three separate occasions I reported suspected drink drivers with descriptions and full reg plates to Gardaí as they were just getting into their cars and they had no interest in pursuing the matter.

Lambay island · 28-09-2017 1:11pm

Borderfox wrote: »

tbh if you give them a partial plate and make and model you will not hear from them again

Thought as much.

Lux23 · 28-09-2017 1:15pm

Borderfox wrote: »

one three separate occasions I reported suspected drink drivers with descriptions and full reg plates to Gardaí as they were just getting into their cars and they had no interest in pursuing the matter.

But sure how would they prove anything after the fact, they actually have to catch them in the act, turning up on their doorstep isn't an option here.

jive · 28-09-2017 1:20pm

Borderfox wrote: »

tbh if you give them a partial plate and make and model you will not hear from them again

I got doored by a taxi before, driver asked out window if I was alright then took off fairly lively. Some damage done to myself and bike, minor, but I wanted the repairs for the bike covered. I got the reg as he drove off but got a digit wrong, didnt even have make and model of car I was so frazzled after being hit.

Guard took down details and it didn't match any registered taxi. He got a list of all taxis registered in Dublin and found the reg, contacted the driver and I met the driver who gave me the €40 to cover the reparations, no questions asked.

Definitely worth recording it with the guards if someone hits you with their car regardless. If you're very lucky you'll get a guard as good as I did. Still can't believe to this day that he managed to track the car down tbh.

CramCycle · 28-09-2017 2:28pm

If you find the right Garda, alot gets sorted very punctually. Unfortunately or maybe correctly, those days are going. I understand why, but there was something to be said for the quick, quiet word. Not charging anyone with anything, just letting them know, it was seen, it was reported and if a pattern is noticed, then the next time they knock on the door it might be more serious.

ED E · 28-09-2017 2:37pm

Anyone have a traffic watch operative say they're "writing it down"? Why arent you typing it into pulse....did it ever reach pulse?

Kaisr Sose · 28-09-2017 10:51pm

Slightly off topic. Finally upgraded the laptop - principally for video editing. What free software packages are you guys using to compress / convert / edit on your equipment. I tried Vimeo but it's slow and has upload restrictions on the free account.. Cycliq recommend Smart Convertor and Video Pad. I was not able to download on the old PC (too old). I have two clips I would like to show AGS the clips are quite long so need to shorten and then compress to save to disc.

ED E · 28-09-2017 10:57pm

VIRB is free for all and quite good, has GPS overlays that you can use with data from Strava or other.

Kaisr Sose · 28-09-2017 11:31pm

ED E wrote: »

VIRB is free for all and quite good, has GPS overlays that you can use with data from Strava or other.

I have a drift and fly6. Just looking for advice on best computer editing software packages.

Edit : virb has a free package? I must check that out. Handbrake is another I heard of but have no knowledge of using.

twinsen · 28-09-2017 11:33pm

ED E wrote: »

VIRB is free for all and quite good, has GPS overlays that you can use with data from Strava or other.

Virb is decent its just export quality isn't the best. I am using avidemux, handbrake and Vegas steam edition.

ED E · 29-09-2017 1:15am

HB is just an encoder not an editor.

You can bump the output on VIRB if you want to.

Kaisr Sose · 29-09-2017 3:41pm

If I want to take 1 min off a 10min or 30min clip what options do I have? I guess virb will do this?
Thanks

queldy · 29-09-2017 9:01pm

A fresh one:
was with a friend of mine cycling from Dublin along the coast - approaching this traffic light at a speed of 25/30 km/h I hear my colleague from behind screaming to be careful.
https://www.google.ie/maps/@53.2945428,-6.1342017,3a,75y,102.62h,75.03t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s32kD9E5bIlcP1kkjzkFi6g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
So apparentely a bus driver, that had to turn right into Marine Rd decided to overtake us both passing us at a reasonable distance of 15/20 cm; in the meanwhile the light went orange and he had to break suddenly.
On top of that there is a ramp approaching the light - so the professional bus driver, carefully considering the situation, decided to overtake us accelerating in one of the most busy spot of Dun Laoighre, on a ramp, approaching an orange light, having to turn right, in a spot (you may know) that is very busy with buses stopping on left, pedastrians crossing from dart station, cars coming from everywhere.
Do you think this is the end of the story? No it is not.
My colleague managed to jump on the pavement, I stop the bike myself before the light with the bus at 15 cm, then I slowly overtook after he stopped, looked at the driver and politely (yes, surprisingly politely), I made a gesture to say "why are you doing this?"
He made a gesture to say "I did nothing, I am perfectly right"
So I gave up for 2 seconds - after that I thought "I will follow the advice of people on the cycling forum, I could speak to him and politely ask to be more careful and respectful of a life of cyclist (people in general)", so I went at the window and asked him if he could open.
Here it starts the funny part (for which I am so angry at myself, because I still believe in the human race): he didn't care at all, he was just so smug about it, acting like " I do not care who you are, I don't care of you words, of your life, of your colleagues, of your rights - I just do not care, here I am the boss of the road".

I stopped in front of the bus and politely asked him to wait, I took pictures of his proud face and of the plate.
Then I spent the whole training thinking that whatever I'd do, this guy is gonna go home tonight not giving a single s... about me and the risking my life today.

Safe cycling guys

PS at least it feels good to write in this forum here, kinda terapeutic...

Kaisr Sose · 29-09-2017 10:23pm

^^^hope you are ok. You were 100% correct to follow up with the driver. Make his day by reporting him – that way he can have even more attention. Some 'professional' drivers are very unprofessional and inhuman in their attitude to other road users. Scum and low life comes to mind.

I got a "do you pay tax" comment yesterday for the first time in ages after a car that passed me then pulled in tight to the kerb at traffic lights because I was not in the cycle lane. It was downhill and I had to slam on. I gave a WTF gesture after squeezing by. On passing again, she beeped and passed close, rolled the window down and gave the tax advice while on the move.
So after that she illegally used the bus lane and parked up at the next lights, half in and half out of he cycle lane. So I stopped and has a chat. Telling her that as a tax payer too, I should not have dodge smug ignorant motorists like you that believe they own the roads because they pay a fictitious 'road' tax and this somehow gives them the right to endanger other road users that don't have to pay it. I concluded by saying the rate of respect she was showing me was the same % as the tax I have to pay to use the road – that being 0%!!

queldy · 30-09-2017 11:10am

By the way, it was an aircoach; I 've read already people having problems with aircoach, and me too had many closer encounter with them in Dublin center...

Anyway, I'd like to report to the company, and maybe put someone in copy (traffic watch or who else? Could you please suggest) - could anyone please write in private to me with a "prepared" message, I am foreigner and it would take a while for me to write a formal mail (and I'd miss a bit of vocabulary).
What information should I provide?

Not that I believe it would work in any way...

Thanks a lot everyone, cheers.

ED E · 30-09-2017 6:15pm

Check that your colleagues are ok with providing a statement to the Gardai then call Traffic Watch, when Castlebar ask it'll be Dun Laoghaire district (obviously).

Multiple statements as to a close pass and a picture should be enough to get some points endorsed on his licence.

AndrewJRenko · 30-09-2017 6:24pm

Two near misses yesterday on a Dublin Bike.

I was heading down Camden St and was left hooked by an elderly lady turning into Grantham St. I had to stop and tapped her window. She stopped, and then drove off pretty quick.

Then I turned left onto Dame St from Georges St, and was met by a young lady maybe 16 or 18 darting across the road on foot against the lights. She dropped her phone, and I just barely missed riding over it with my lightening fast reflexes and extreme skill levels.

Danjamin1 · 30-09-2017 6:32pm

check_six wrote: »

Had a weird incident recently where a fellow hit my car and then took off. There was only a scrape, but I was upset that the guy just drove off as I was standing there talking to him. The Guard I spoke to was very enthusiastic about tracking this man down, but even with the full plate and a photo of the car with the guy in it, their system only had a partial address for him and they couldn't locate it!

Sometimes all the clues still won't lead you to the door of the perpetrator. Time to start agitating for giant inflatable dayglo registration plates for all humans at all times!

But surely registration & tax is the infallible standard? Jesus lads, if that wasnt enough to bring the full wrath of Hades down on this person then the system must well & truly be f**ked!!

AndrewJRenko · 30-09-2017 6:51pm

Danjamin1 wrote: »

But surely registration & tax is the infallible standard? Jesus lads, if that wasnt enough to bring the full wrath of Hades down on this person then the system must well & truly be f**ked!!

I was assaulted by a car passenger a few years back, who leaned out the window and slapped my arse. Now it is a pretty irresistible arse, to be fair, but still - assault is assault. I reported it to the Gardai, who told me that the car was an insurance write off that had no registered owner.

But the cyclists....

Kaisr Sose · 30-09-2017 7:08pm

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

But the cyclists....

A lot of Garda don't care about cycling related incidents /complaints if nobody is hurt.it is essential to have video or an independent witness (rare) for them to take it seriously.

sy_flembeck · 30-09-2017 10:56pm

Kaisr Sose wrote: »

A lot of Garda don't care about cycling related incidents /complaints if nobody is hurt.it is essential to have video or an independent witness (rare) for them to take it seriously.

A) If an accident is material damage only (any type of vehicle) it is not a case of Gardai not caring, they have no role unless an allegation is made. Otherwise they are doing the insurance company's job. In this case an allegation was made but....

If a car is an insurance write off they genuinely don't have a way of locating an owner. That's a whole separate quagmire that for once is not of their making. They can only rely on the information to hand.

Kaisr Sose · 01-10-2017 1:57pm

sy_flembeck wrote: »

A) If an accident is material damage only (any type of vehicle) it is not a case of Gardai not caring, they have no role unless an allegation is made. Otherwise they are doing the insurance company's job. In this case an allegation was made but....

If a car is an insurance write off they genuinely don't have a way of locating an owner. That's a whole separate quagmire that for once is not of their making. They can only rely on the information to hand.

A) That's my point. Insurance companies are not relevant and I did not mention them. There does not have to be material damage for a Garda to take action. Driving without due care / dangerous driving and just plain old breaking the rules of the road are all incidents that endanger cyclists on a constant basis. I have been there, made the statements and nothing happens. I am on three strikes now and in each one the motorist lied to AGS. Motorists act with impunity because they know they can get away with it. It's as simple as that. AGS don't care once they can close the case. All those close passes mean nothing if drivers are not held to account. That is the role of AGS...

Slightly off topic: Insurance write-offs....(assume unroadworthy versus those that are economically written off in a settlement)

I was not commenting insurance write-offs either, but AGS have a role here too. I do understand that if ownership cannot be traced it's impossible to take anything further. But how are insurance write-offs, with no proof of current or previous ownership on the road and undetectable? Somebody must be the last owner of these vehicles. Where do they go after write-off? Who was supposed to handle this process? What did they do with them? Where are the destruction certs? If this car breaker/intermediary then sold the car, they should be owner of the car until they provide details on where it went. That would ensure they require buyers provide solid proof of ID rather than the anonymous cash deals that are prevalent. Black hole administration does not help law enforcement. AGS should be pushing for this sort of loophole to be closed. As long as it's open, the bill for damage caused by untraceable and uninsured motorists ends up being paid by insured motorists. I will end by saying it will be 2019 before ANPR on insurance is live and it's been fully funded by the insurance industry, not the State. It should be live now and the state should have established the system and not be relying on private industry to help it enforce the law.

Effects · 01-10-2017 3:43pm

queldy wrote: »

By the way, it was an aircoach; I 've read already people having problems with aircoach.

I've haven't had a run in with Air Coach on my bike but as a driver I find them to be extremely poor drivers.

AndrewJRenko · 01-10-2017 5:57pm

sy_flembeck wrote: »

If a car is an insurance write off they genuinely don't have a way of locating an owner. That's a whole separate quagmire that for once is not of their making. They can only rely on the information to hand.

True, but it's mad to have uninsured drivers in unsafe cars going around. They need to up their game on ANPR to get on top of this.

ED E · 01-10-2017 7:03pm

Effects wrote: »

I've haven't had a run in with Air Coach on my bike but as a driver I find them to be extremely poor drivers.

Better than Paddywagon but worse than BE/DB would be my description.

Tombo2001 · 03-10-2017 11:36am

Interesting piece of kit from Aldi for those who were interested in Cameras....

https://www.aldi.ie/camera-and-bike-light/p/079004160072600

Vel · 03-10-2017 11:39am

Ah man, had a couple of ‘what the actual f*cks’ last week.

Coming up Camden Street towards the Bleeding Horse. Traffic stopped at the lights. As I come up on the inside I gently tip off the wing mirror of the car at the top of the queue completely by accident. Absolutely no damage done, I place myself in front of them and turn and give a little wave to say sorry. Not good enough for this d*ck apparently. Lights go green and I continue on around by the Harcourt Luas stop where the guy decides to pull in on top of me to, I don’t know, teach me a lesson for accidentally tapping his wing mirror, causing no damage and saying sorry. I am under no illusions it was completely deliberate as his wife had her hands covering her eyes lest she had to witness her husband knocking me off my bike. And they had 3 young kids in the back of the car. The wife later confirmed when I caught up with them in traffic that yes, they were teaching me a lesson for having tipped the wing mirror. If he is driving around with that much anger and stress I’d imagine there could be a heart attack in his future! And he was an older gent too, in his 60s so it may be come around sooner rather than later!!

Heading through Ranelagh yesterday lunchtime in the bike lane and a car overtakes me and then pulls right back in on top of me as there was a big truck coming the other side. It was the first time in all my years of cycling where I actually shouted in fear, ‘f*cking hell’ to be precise. Caught up with him in traffic up ahead, banged on his window and he drops his phone in fright. Apparently it was ‘fine’ and he had seen me and I wasn’t in any danger.

I didn’t manage to remember reg plate of either, but not sure I want to be constantly reporting to TrafficWatch either with their ‘it will be your word against there’s’ line. I feel like if I keep making reports I’ll be labelled a nuisance and they won’t be taken seriously.

I know I need a camera but I am a total luddite and totally overwhelmed by technology and also broke!

Alanstrainor · 03-10-2017 12:05pm

Vel wrote: »

I didn’t manage to remember reg plate of either, but not sure I want to be constantly reporting to TrafficWatch either with their ‘it will be your word against there’s’ line. I feel like if I keep making reports I’ll be labelled a nuisance and they won’t be taken seriously.

I totally get this tbh. I've only reported one incident to traffic watch, and it was handled really well by all, but it ended up being a hassle for me. Calling to the station 3 times on random evenings wasn't ideal. And I definitely don't want to become 'one of those people' in the local station.

I am now keeping all close pass videos and compiling them. I found a handy app to do it, where it only takes 2 minutes to snip out the relevant 10 seconds on footage and add it to a compilation video.

homerjay2005 · 03-10-2017 12:45pm

seen a cyclist yesterday cycle in between two buses (despite there being a cycle lane to the left of the 2nd bus), then at the lights he stopped, waiting for lights to go green and then cut accross the 2nd bus and eventually joined the cycle lane about 1 second before the bus took off. paid no attention to the driver beeping furiously at him - soon became clear why, he had headphones on and seemed totally zoned out of what he was doing. very lucky he wasnt killed.

no helmet either.

schemingbohemia · 03-10-2017 1:49pm

homerjay2005 wrote: »

seen a cyclist yesterday cycle in between two buses (despite there being a cycle lane to the left of the 2nd bus), then at the lights he stopped, waiting for lights to go green and then cut accross the 2nd bus and eventually joined the cycle lane about 1 second before the bus took off. paid no attention to the driver beeping furiously at him - soon became clear why, he had headphones on and seemed totally zoned out of what he was doing. very lucky he wasnt killed.

no helmet either.

Was there a left-turn at the junction? If there was it's not advisable to cycle up there given that many drivers (including "professional" drivers) tend to indicate as they turn rather than in advance which is too late for cyclists to notice so he could have been crushed by the bus if it had decided to turn left.

Helmets aren't going to stop crush injuries.

Lambay island · 03-10-2017 1:53pm

homerjay2005 wrote: »

seen a cyclist yesterday cycle in between two buses (despite there being a cycle lane to the left of the 2nd bus), then at the lights he stopped, waiting for lights to go green and then cut accross the 2nd bus and eventually joined the cycle lane about 1 second before the bus took off. paid no attention to the driver beeping furiously at him - soon became clear why, he had headphones on and seemed totally zoned out of what he was doing. very lucky he wasnt killed.

no helmet either.

I'm not sure what no helmet and to a lesser degree headphones have to do with anything here. I don't wear headphones cycling myself but a lot of them u can hear traffic or disable one side to hear. Very similar to using the radio in you car. Helmet is not compulsory either and does very little in terms of protection if you are hit by a bus for example from your post. Doesn't sound like this particular cyclist did much wrong if anything at all. Just because a bus driver is beeping him doesn't mean they are in the right either(often points to a frustrated driver).
If he decided not to use the cycle lane prior to the lights , there is a number of reason why he may not have, all pointing towards his own safety.

CramCycle · 03-10-2017 1:59pm

homerjay2005 wrote: »

seen a cyclist yesterday cycle in between two buses (despite there being a cycle lane to the left of the 2nd bus), then at the lights he stopped, waiting for lights to go green and then cut accross the 2nd bus and eventually joined the cycle lane about 1 second before the bus took off. paid no attention to the driver beeping furiously at him - soon became clear why, he had headphones on and seemed totally zoned out of what he was doing. very lucky he wasnt killed.

no helmet either.

Do you mean a bus in front and a bus behind, or a bus on both sides. I wouldn't do the latter as they often move far more than driver realises and have seen people get pinched before. If it was the former, not sure what the problem is, I do it quite alot on the N11 to avoid dangerous junctions.

I have bus drivers beep at me on other occasions, mainly private ones that do not realise why I am where I am. I tend to ignore these as well, as other than looking to check there is nothing else going on, gettign involved with them brings nothing useful to my commute or theirs.

papu · 03-10-2017 2:01pm

Motorists really need to be reminded of when to use a horn. From the RSA

Only use a horn to warn other road users of oncoming danger or if you need to make them aware of your presence for safety reasons. Using a horn does not give you an automatic right of way. Never use the horn to provoke a reaction from or to rebuke another motorist.

Annie get your Run · 03-10-2017 2:07pm

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I am now keeping all close pass videos and compiling them. I found a handy app to do it, where it only takes 2 minutes to snip out the relevant 10 seconds on footage and add it to a compilation video.

Sorry if this is OT but can you tell me what app you're using Alanstrainor?

Alanstrainor · 03-10-2017 2:15pm

Annie get your Run wrote: »

Sorry if this is OT but can you tell me what app you're using Alanstrainor?

Sorry, I know this wont be terribly helpful to most... it's not an app for a phone, it's a application I installed on my linux machine called Shotcut. Nice, free and easy to use.

I believe that Microsoft are due to release a new version of moviemaker soon (which is what people used back in Windows XP days.

Borderfox · 03-10-2017 3:05pm

Had an unmarked Garda car come up past me on the Trim road today at max attack, frightened the gick out of me. Going to review the video later as it was close enough. Had a word with him at the car he stopped up further and asked him nicely to keep his distance when overtaking

Alanstrainor · 03-10-2017 4:16pm

Borderfox wrote: »

Had an unmarked Garda car come up past me on the Trim road today at max attack, frightened the gick out of me. Going to review the video later as it was close enough. Had a word with him at the car he stopped up further and asked him nicely to keep his distance when overtaking

How did that interaction go?

Borderfox · 03-10-2017 4:29pm

He didn't seem to pay any attention to me

Kaisr Sose · 03-10-2017 7:15pm

Borderfox wrote: »

He didn't seem to pay any attention to me

Sure why would they - they are the law and the law will win every time.

Borderfox · 03-10-2017 7:27pm

That seems to be the way

magicbastarder · 03-10-2017 8:35pm

OT, but as I'm reading this page, I'm being served ads for orderfox.com. I hate to think what sites are prompted by my username.

I love Sean nos · 04-10-2017 8:28am

homerjay2005 wrote: »

seen a cyclist yesterday cycle in between two buses (despite there being a cycle lane to the left of the 2nd bus)

Are you advising that people cycle up the left side of large vehicles? :eek:

TheChizler · 04-10-2017 8:33am

I love Sean nos wrote: »

Are you advising that people cycle up the left side of large vehicles? :eek:

No problem if there's space, they're stopped, and not at the top of a queue for a junction.

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

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