What's a Vokswagen? 
Mk1/Mk2 Golf's are
, in good condition, otherwise nah
Mk1/Mk2 Golf's are
What's a Vokswagen?
Mk1/Mk2 Golf's are, in good condition, otherwise nah
The only reason they don't still make a Punto is because the bloke in charge ran the company quite badly.![]()
Because they still make the Golf![]()
Granted, I'll give you mk1 and mk2s are ok, but only if they're left in standard spec: chav cars are always naff!What's a Vokswagen? [emoji14]
Mk1/Mk2 Golf's are, in good condition, otherwise nah
Golfs are never cool, lol!
Hopefully, they'll also let Fiat style their cars, and if Fiat is marketed as the value for money brand, they'll also let Fiat have proper buttons for things, rather than lumbering them with that crummy touchscreen!!
Maybe 25 yards from the junction I indicate left and as I start to turn I'm still checking mirrors - which are clear - as Mrs J shouts "LOOK OUT"! whilst at the same time there is a loud screeching noise (That distinct dry brake block noise bikes make). Of course I immediately mentally register "That's bike brakes - but where is he?" as I hammer on the brakes.
On reflection the incident could have been much worse than it was if it weren't for us being in such slow moving traffic which enabled me to stop before Becky had entered the bike lane. I've been wondering how I can have missed seeing him and I believe, with us toddling along at a pretty steady 8 to 10 mph that's probably exactly the speed he would have been cruising along at and he'd probably been sitting in the cycle lane level with my back wheel but invisible in my mirror because the cycle lane allowed him to be much further away from me - towards the kerb - than if the cycle lane had not been there. So, in effect, he'd been cruising along, at the same speed as us, in my blind spot for some time.
Thanks PB, that's cheered me up no end!The tiny mirrors on Pandas don't help much.
With any collision, or near miss, there are at least two parties involved. One person may have made a mistake, but in most situations, the other has done little to prevent the occurrence.
You've done your best. The cyclist meanwhile, is approaching a left junction. Any car on his right may turn left, so he should be alert for signs of this, signals are a good sign of course, but also changes of speed or direction can help anticipate changes. (You know all this of course, but sadly most do not. (I spend my working life with experienced drivers, few of which scan or anticipate.) Cyclist should also be looking into your mirror. If he cannot see your face, you cannot see him.
How's your hearing? Perhaps if you truned down that thumping music, you'd have heard his bell.
If you ever have a similar experience, your apology should include, "sorry, you must have been in my blind spot, could you see my face in my mirror, and so sorry, I didn't hear your bell."
No harm done. Some learning taken, all good. Keep smiling.
Bell? What bell?
There's a massive push on here just now building dedicated cycle lanes all over the city. There are these physically delineated ones with the blocks and poles as I've mentioned but also, more commonly, there are lanes separated from the vehicles only by a solid white line. I recently discovered that it's an offence to cross that solid line! Even if the car in front of you is, perhaps, held up trying to make a right turn so you can only proceed by going round him on his N/S which would mean putting two wheels over that solid line! Apparently you can be booked if you do this? I know it's all in the interests of emissions and the environment but I do wonder about the amount of money being spent for the relatively small usage of these cycle lanes that seems to be apparent - typically we'll see less than a dozen, often a lot less, cyclists using these lanes on one of our outings to child mind at one of my boys, mostly they are empty of users.
Whilst on the subject, we come back into town through the Royal Park (Holyrood) from the commonwealth pool down to the Palace. It's quite a long way and downhill all the way with a statutory 20mph limit. It's really common for bikes to overtake you going quite a bit faster than you going down that hill. Surely bicycles are subject to speed restrictions just like anyone else? Also, whilst walking out of the main entrance at the Newhaven Asda a wee while ago I was very narrowly missed by a woman on a cycle going ridiculously fast. There is a really wide paved pedestrian area at this door and she was using this as a shortcut instead of the road. And just to complete the moan, It's not that unusual to see cyclists riding through a junction when the "green man" is illuminated for pedestrians - I don't think they are allowed to do that are they? Although I might actually make an argument that it is quite a good idea to keep them safe as long as they don't mow down the pedestrians.
Thanks for all of that PB. Bus lanes are a very hot subject up here with many of them being monitored by cameras and they seem to catch a lot of people. Because of this, even though they - the bus lanes - are only active for morning and afternoon rush hours, many people just don't drive in them at any time. I'm not very trustful of the technology, my thinking being that if the camera's internal clock threw a wobbly and clocked up the wrong time on my photo then how could you possibly prove it was wrong? - mind you I'm old and don't trust "Tech" in general.A bell is recommended on a bicycle, but few fit them. Then they moan when we do not know they are there. No sympathy from here. We all have a responsibility to keep us all safe, but we all also have a duty to manage our own risk. Falling under a car when he could have anticipated the actions, and reduced speed or given an audible warning for me puts as much responsibility for any such collision on him as the other party involved.
Any solid white line carries the same rules, do not touch or cross, except to enter or exit premises, a side road, or to pass a stationary obstruction. Another vehicle waiting to turn does not count, as it is not 'stationary'. If it breaks down, then you can use the cycle lane to pass it.
Same applies to bus lanes. If someone is waiting to turn right, you can't cross a solid line into a bus lane to pass it.
There's a bus lane along the centre of a road in Swindon, as only buses can turn right at the next junction. If a bus going the other way stops at the bus stop, most cars will enter the bus lane to pass it. This is the same offence whether the bus lane is on the right or left.
Cyclists are bound by the road traffic act, same as other vehicles. Once the rider is astride the bicycle, it becomes a vehicle. But there is no law requiring them to fit a speedometer, so prosecuting them for speeding is difficult. It would require a witnessing police officer to attend court and give evidence. If found guilty, the fine is likely to be small, so just not worth the cost and effort. They mostly only prosecute cyclists if they cause injury.
I once got bleated at by a lycra-clad cyclist. Not wishing to have a conversation with him, I said, "I'm sorry, I'm unable to have a serious conversation, until you put some clothes on." He had no answer to that. End of discussion.
A further thought about bicycles being vehicles. Overtaking one on the zig-zags on the approach to a pedestrian crossing is the same offence as if overtaking any other vehicle. Worth £100/3 points.
One final thought. With all the infrastructure now being put in place and the very active encouragement to get on our bikes, so the prospect of greatly increased volume, is it not time to think of mandatory insurance?
A lot of the bus lane enforcement is done from the cameras in the buses. There are cameras inside teh buses to monitor all passengers, but usually also one looking forward through the windscreen. When a bus encounters a vehicle in the bus lane, the driver pushes a button to mark the point. Then later, a clerk will download teh relevant footage and pass it onto the council who will issue a ticket.Thanks for all of that PB. Bus lanes are a very hot subject up here with many of them being monitored by cameras and they seem to catch a lot of people. Because of this, even though they - the bus lanes - are only active for morning and afternoon rush hours, many people just don't drive in them at any time. I'm not very trustful of the technology, my thinking being that if the camera's internal clock threw a wobbly and clocked up the wrong time on my photo then how could you possibly prove it was wrong? - mind you I'm old and don't trust "Tech" in general.
With cyclists not needing licences, I think compulsory insurance would be a great way of not only protecting anyone they hit, but also could be a means of traffic enforcement.One final thought. With all the infrastructure now being put in place and the very active encouragement to get on our bikes, so the prospect of greatly increased volume, is it not time to think of mandatory insurance? you can do/cause to happen a lot of damage on a bike! A very small annual road tax - like a car - might be an earner for the treasury too? (especially as you can't justify the existing vehicle tax by saying it pays for road/infrastructure upkeep but is more of a "users privilege tax" these days)
Yes, I've noticed the little black dome through the windscreen of the bus as it pulls up to the bus stop, and the other ones inside the bus. I was a great user of the Edinburgh bus service before covid. We have a really excellent and pretty cheap to use service up here, but I haven't been on one for over a year now.A lot of the bus lane enforcement is done from the cameras in the buses. There are cameras inside teh buses to monitor all passengers, but usually also one looking forward through the windscreen. When a bus encounters a vehicle in the bus lane, the driver pushes a button to mark the point. Then later, a clerk will download teh relevant footage and pass it onto the council who will issue a ticket.
With cyclists not needing licences, I think compulsory insurance would be a great way of not only protecting anyone they hit, but also could be a means of traffic enforcement.
The plan:
All cyclists over the age of 14 must have insurance.
Insurers will issue a 'disc', like the old car tax disc. This will show policy number, and be in a holder, clipped to the handlebars, easily unclipped and pocketed when parked. Can be used on any bike, so only one needed per person, regardless of number of bikes.
If riding without the disc, bike gets confiscated, like cars do. Owner has to collect from the impound, pay the fees and show insurance before retrieving it.
Any traffic offences, policeman notes policy number, and issues a warning ticket to the cyclist. Offence is then added to the insurance database.
At renewal, any offences will increase the premium. All insurers access same database, so changing insurers won't escape.
Insurers make a little money, scheme pays for itself, no time wasted with police in court for small offences. Cyclist is incentivised to behave, as offences make higher premiums, and no insurance gets bike confiscated.
May also reduce bike theft, as thief would need an insurance disc.
Being myself a cyclist too Jim, I know how vulnerable you are, especially in heavier fast moving traffic. Perhaps that's why my "wee encounter" last week upset me so much? I think we just all need to give more consideration to our fellow road users, both motorists and cyclist, but the big, and pretty insurmountable, problem is the speed difference which many motorists, in this modern high pressure world of ours, are not prepared to be delayed by. So, I think these cycle lanes are excellent in that respect but both parties, myself included, need to get to grips with new procedures and possible problems - like my left turn.Up here we have the police out and about making sure that cyclists are safe from motorists who intimidate or are just plain dangerous driving regarding cyclists. There has been an upsurge of cyclists, and there’s been so much people complaining, the police have made their presence felt. Obviously they cannot be everywhere, but you may be lucky if some numpty cuts you off too soon and the boys in blue happen to be there. Some motorists have been fined.
Lovely day today, another fifteen miles under the belt....![]()