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

tnegun

On that cycle path this piece of design is outstanding, a foot path merges, the cycle lane marking disappears, a busy bus stop/chicane, a merge back where you'll immediately be cut up by traffic turning left then the slip itself is segregated from the main line at that point which pushes traffic into the on road cycle lane. A cluster fcuk of design.

VonLuck

This is the reason I can somewhat understand the frustration of drivers (but I just need to be clear that I don't agree with anger towards cyclists or dangerous manoeuvres!). The majority don't know there's anything wrong with the path. I cycle, but not along that road, but I am very well aware that many lanes with problems. Even still, I don't think you'd get a clear picture of what the issues are until you actually use it.

Unfortunately it leaves a lot of drivers with a dislike of cyclists for not using dedicated paths, even though they are perfectly entitled not to use them.

Paddigol

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120128263#Comment_120128263

All of which 95% of motorists whizzing by a few feet away will be blissfully unaware. As far as they're concerned, there's a purpose built, perfectly good cycle lane there, which the cyclist cabal are constantly clamouring for more of, and there some lad in lycra holding up the traffic in the bus lane.

CramCycle

Just to play devils advocate, but is it possible the bus driver did move out and it could be not so much that it was intentional but that like many, he underestimated your speed and pulled in far too quickly.

Long story short, still sh1tty driving but for a completely different reason, not sure if being inept is better or worse than being malicious.

It could also be more malicious in that he did know but wanted some excuse if he did manage to knock you off.

DaveyDave

They seemed to be driving fairly slow themselves considering it's an 80kph road far enough away from the slip to be up to speed so that doesn't help the situation. Hard to overtake when you're not actually speeding up!

Weepsie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120129392#Comment_120129392

There's a car in the middle lane right behind the bus, you can see it moving over in the clip. I think he's waiting for the lane to be clear to be honest.

TheHouseIRL

Not so much a near miss, as sheer ignorance. I gave them an earful and got the usual brain dead "I had my indicator on, you were going slow, etc."

Also, some bonus footage of the Washboard Launderette van parked inside the cycle lane bollards.

https://streamable.com/xwa26r

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120138081#Comment_120138081

It is pure ignorance, no one was in any danger but it is pure f*cking c***ish behaviour. Why not just pull in behind you,nothing specific to the spot (although how many cars manage to get behind those wands FFS).

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120129392#Comment_120129392

You could be right but they did slow and wait till they could pull out further. Lots of new bus drivers out there with the shortage. I'm not excusing it, it is still really bad situational awareness but 1) its possible it wasn't intentional 2) its better than some I have gotten from BE. Doesn't excuse the sh1tty driving but I would actually feel better if it wasn't intentional. Like I said before though, which is worse a talented intentional b****cks or a nice but incompetent one.

DaveyDave

Bloody hell that's pure ignorance. I'd rather get left hooked at the junction then someone full on park up to a stop right in front of me!

Wildly Boaring

There's pricks in every walk of life. Problem is when they have a vehicle.

Had similar today. But L plates so I let it go with no more than a shrug. Overtook and they stopped to take the next right, leaving almost no space for me.

tnegun

Cycling back from the school drop-off just there and a car tries and fails to pass me due to oncoming traffic. They attempt again this time blind as we're approaching a 90 degree left-hand bend in the road. Sure enough a car is coming in the opposite direction meaning they need to be in my space so dive to the curb as both of us are on the apex completely cutting me off. No acknowledgment as they floor it to get away. Less than 30 seconds later they've pulled into a parking spot on their phone. So I pull in to explain what they'd done but probably not as calmly as I should have as they'd almost knocked me down. The excuses ranged from didn't see me, to you'd plenty of room to they had right of way as they'd gotten in front. She had no idea how close she had gotten or why it might be an issue and in her mind I was over reacting!

micar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120144999#Comment_120144999

I've often thought of asking straight away.....when you passed me, how close do you think you were to me by getting them to stretch out their arms.

Them tell them the reality of it.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120145652#Comment_120145652

When safe to do so, I sometimes put my hand out when being close passed, and if the wing mirror or body of the vehicle hits my hand, that is very hard evidence that they were too close.

tnegun

She really couldn't see the issue in her mind she hadn't hit me so it didn't matter how close she had gotten crazy stuff.

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120145768#Comment_120145768

Even if they were truthful and hadn't seen you, surely that alone would be a huge cause for concern.

Wildly Boaring

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120145694#Comment_120145694

Oh if you're within arms reach of me your car is getting a wrap on the window or roof.

Quite happy if you want to stop to "Debate" the merits of same. And if you wish to warn me against damaging your car, well next time drive properly

DaveyDave

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120145888#Comment_120145888

Yeah it's a bit concerning when people can't see you directly in front of them!

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120146091#Comment_120146091

Zero f*cks given I'd say. He doesn't care if he is late, he will just report it as you pulling the door or simply that traffic was busier than expected. Unless the gardai actively get involved, and you have proof, both of which are difficult in and of themselves, nothing will happen. I had one admit he done it intentionally and nothing was done by BE or the Gardai. Disheartening, as its a real f*ck you to decent members of society.

Paddigol

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120146729#Comment_120146729

That's it exactly. Today I had a Dublin Bus wait for me to take off from the lights first as he knew there was a bus stop in a couple of hundred metres and passing me just to pull in would be more than a bit ignorant. Then I had a private coach wait to take off at a green light left turn filter (Fosters Ave.) because he saw me approaching on the left side ('segregated') cycle lane. I've taken to gesturing thanks to drivers like that for two reasons - 1) it's nice to know that when you do something decent it's appreciated, but more selfishly, 2) I find that physically acknowledging decent people has a mellowing effect on the brain, probably in the converse way that getting worked up by ignorant f**s has a detrimental and stress-inducing effect. I enjoy my commutes a lot more know. That's not to say that dangerous drivers don't get a roar, but that's another kettle of fish.

There are plenty - probably a majority - of decent people out there. It's just human nature, unfortunately, that we tend to focus on the asshats (like the BMW who sat in the bus lane from RTE through to Donnybrook because he was too important to wait in traffic like the rest of the cars).

A nice collection of nutty driving from around Galway

https://twitter.com/DaCor_ie/status/1617898274186498049?s=20&t=8B7npConkn2exaGIPoibQw

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120154856#Comment_120154856

The judge would ultimately take into account that it was understandable with traffic volumes, that they were previously never of note to the gardai, that they need the vehicle for work, they have previously never ran over a small child before, surely thats the parents fault for letting a child walk on the pavement. Probably fine the parent a few €100 for the court poorbox.

Paddigol

LOLZ... Cram not having a good day!

That said, it's probably not far off what would actually happen.

sy_flembeck

The new traffic calming measure just outside a primary school near Enniskerry yesterday morning. Went through clear and then met this moron coming against me. He couldn't or wouldn't wait the (literally) 2 seconds it would have taken to let me finish my manoeuvre. Bear in mind the road behind me was completely free.

He stopped, opened the door and shouted that I was 'a f3ckin idiot'. It was my fault it appears! So I decided I wasn't letting this go and turned to go back to where he was adjusting his wing mirror (the noise on the video is from where I walloped it). Unsurprisingly, he hotfooted it then.

Apologies for the choice words but I was a tad vexed!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOJ1dUBPwoc

Paddigol

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120156629#Comment_120156629

What's his argument? He has stop/ yeild road markings in his lane at the junction? Why does he need to cross the solid white line between lanes? You were at the junction before him? How can he possibly think he has a case to argue???

Its a classic case of ignorant asshat feeling brave because they're encased in metal. Wouldn't have a peep out of half of them if they had a similar issue in a supermarket. Which is probably what makes them so dangerous on the road, all that bottled up frustration.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120156458#Comment_120156458

It’s the child’s own fault for not wearing a helmet obvs.

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120156629#Comment_120156629

Not the C word I expected 🤡

VonLuck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120156891#Comment_120156891

The argument will always be that "I was nowhere near you". People don't care that they cross the while line or don't use their indicator or run through a light when it turned red a couple of seconds before, as long as they haven't caused an accident. They'll always break the rules of the road if it's more convenient for them.

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120159185#Comment_120159185

Its so weird though because that view of "I didn't cause an accident" rather than the truth of "thankfully everyone else reacted to my breach of the rules so no physical harm was done". I was coming to the T junction at the end of the cycle path coming up from Dun Laoghaire train station earlier this week. Bike had a red and was stopped, cars had green. As I approached, amber came, one car sped up, then red and a Land Rover flew through. The bike light was green at this stage and the cyclist had pushed off, now thankfully the cyclist glanced a second time and stopped. He let a roar and the Land Rover driver started giving out to him, as if somehow, the near miss was the cyclists fault. Some people are just ****s. The irony being the Land Rover stopped to give out for so long, his lights had went green again. So if he had followed the rules, he would have been in the same place but with one less person being nearly run over.

magicbastarder

it's just an instant adrenaline rush reaction, someone shouts at you, you shout back. well, for many people it is.

VonLuck

It is that instant gut reaction alright. I remember many years ago when I had just got my full drivers licence and I was driving in the city centre at night. I made a right turn, not seeing a cyclist coming the opposite direction. Luckily I stopped before making the full manoeuvre but I instinctively beeped the horn at him even though the cyclist did nothing wrong!

Straight away I put hands up and apologised as he looked on at me in disgust. At least I learned a good lesson, although I still cringe thinking about it to this day.

Wildly Boaring

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120159520#Comment_120159520

Yep, I walked over a zebra crossing lately and a driver flew through on the phone.

I roared "HEY", he rolled down the window and shouted something. I replied with a comment on his excellent driving.

He then stopped the car. Opened the window fully and kindly advise that he would "Break my face" if I didn't shut up.

At this point in hindsight, you should always shut up. God knows what kind of lunatic you're dealing with. Bare-knuckle boxer, knife wielding physco.... or just a wannabe hard man with a big mouth. I did not shut up and very luckily he was the later.

Adrenaline rush reaction

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120160054#Comment_120160054

There are days where I feel like the guy in falling down and part of me would welcome that reaction, there are other days where I am sensible and I just keep going. I really must get checked over by a mental health specialist as it can't be good to have such extreme differences in reaction to the same events.

As for the adrenaline reaction, I get it but nonetheless, that lasts a few seconds, and i have had people give out and then within seconds apologise. Ive done the same and then took a deep breath and said sorry, my fault, I just got a bit of a scare.

I'll happily admit I'm wrong, even if I intially didn't, if I am, and I think many people do. unfortunately the people who would admit an error in judgement are not normally the types to regularly make massive errors in judgement, so I think it is still more weighted against some people just being d*cks rather than purely adrenaline.

Who knows, maybe I'm the bad guy.

magicbastarder

the issue with the sort of interactions described above, is that generally, the motorist in the sort of scenario WB outlined, is blissfully unaware that they've done something wrong, and they react before they've time to assess what just happened. so their default reaction is one of surprise and anger.

Thargor

Conor McGregor got taken out on his bike today:

https://v.redd.it/332mdpsbinea1

Wildly Boaring

Christ he took it well

John_Rambo

Heavily muscled athlete used to a few knocks.

https://twitter.com/SafeCyclingEire/status/1619034546720346112?s=20&t=4ck7iorZnBbf_8sx5RDU1w

...

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120167448#Comment_120167448

Surprised that he doesn’t have some level of security with him. If you’re worth €100 million or more, you could well be a target of others for all kinds of reasons.

Squidgy Black

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120168109#Comment_120168109

Christ that has to be one of the worst I’ve seen. Solid white line as well

Tenzor07

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120168686#Comment_120168686

Surprised he's going around on what looks like a fairly cheap/basic Orbea bicycle in a pair of cheap looking MTB trousers too...

DaveyDave

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120170253#Comment_120170253

To be fair people don't know bikes. If he had a carbon XC bike with the blingy kashima coated seat post nobody would know it's €8,000. At least with the rest of his stuff like watches you know it's expensive because they're tacky as hell.

harmless

If you are looking at it from the point of someone who participates in road bike events then you can see why someone with a practically unlimited budget would get all the go fast stuff. But if all you want out of it is the cardio exercise does it matter what speed you are going?

Wildly Boaring

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120151274#Comment_120151274

Famous(ish)

bmc58

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120151274#Comment_120151274

Lord almighty.And i thought the N40 in Cork was bad.This is unbelivable.Where are the Garda if this is a regular occurance?

bmc58

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120113366#Comment_120113366

Taxi drivers make their own rules.They are very busy people.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120172407#Comment_120172407

Where's that?

Wildly Boaring

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120174272#Comment_120174272

https://road.cc/content/news/cycling-live-blog-26-january-2023-298879

https://road.cc/content/news/cycling-live-blog-26-january-2023-298879

TheChizler

Not the scariest I've had since we weren't going particularly fast coming to the junction but possibly the closest and most pointless.

https://streamable.com/u6eo8o

magicbastarder

not a near miss!

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120189241#Comment_120189241

It's pretty bad, driving on the wrong side of the road, not seeing a lit cyclist! Were they cutting the corner or trying to park? Hope they apologised.