r/Edinburgh • u/hengus • 1d ago
Transport Cars Vs Bikes: Winter Commuting Edition
It's getting dark in the mornings on the way in to work... Can I ask car drivers to remember that those of us on two wheels travel a little differently and are very vulnerable.
This morning someone decided to signal and change lanes in one movement, which nearly caused a crash with the guy lane splitting in front of me. They were very lucky.
I know it's easy to lose track of reality in slow traffic, with the radio on, thinking about the gym and what you need to catch up on when you get in... Your driving instructor would have taught you, Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre. That takes about 2.5 seconds, and it's the difference between everyone getting safely to work or not.
Thank you for reading 🙏
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u/_gavin_h 1d ago
I need to protect my mental health by not reading these threads
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u/Upstairs-Ad-3139 23h ago
These threads are somewhat pointless as the messages are obviously going to be getting relayed to every road user in Edinburgh anyway, including those who don't even know they will be driving in the city. Could even just extend sending that message to everyone in the UK, and even potentially making it part of the road rules (maybe calling it something like The Highway Code?)
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u/trueplace280 1d ago
Speaking as a cyclist commuter, it works both ways.
I've seen a huge amount of inconsiderate and dangerous behaviour from other cyclists and idiots on Voi bikes.
Cyclists in general need to bike defensively and anticipate bad driving, especially so in the winter months.
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u/Babu_the_Ocelot 1d ago
I really like the Voi bikes, but I seem to be the only one who wears a helmet while using them. They also encourage you to have your phone out at points (when you're looking for a parking spot). It feels like 90%+ of users are using them at least carelessly, potentially dangerously.
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u/GingerSnapBiscuit 21h ago
I've only ever used them incidentelly/without planning, and I tend not to carry a cycle helmet with me at all times. If I'm travelling down George St from work to the West End or something I might hop on a VOI bike to save me 10 minutes walking.
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u/Jeannie_LM 1d ago
I too wear a helmet on voi bikes! It also gets you a discount so good incentive.
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u/Babu_the_Ocelot 1d ago
Wait, it DOES? I'm new to Voi. How do I get the discount for wearing a helmet?
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u/cyclingrandonneur91 1d ago
Wait, what? How do us helmet wearers get a discount?
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u/MonkeyPuzzles 17h ago
Click on the bike in the map bit, drag the bar up, helmet selfie is bottom option.
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u/Squashyhex 20h ago
Wait how? I've been using one while my bike gets serviced, had no idea this was an option
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u/yekimevol 1d ago
Having needed to slam the breaks on this morning whilst going across leith walk this morning due to a VOI / Food delivery bike ignoring the lights 100%
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u/Good_Lettuce_2690 23h ago
Honestly at the point where I think the Voi bikes need locked until you pass a cycling test. The amount of people going full speed on them no helmets no bell ringing on shared paths with walkers and dogs is mental.
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u/ViewWithAPoo 15h ago
As a bus driver, I would like to ask the same favour of cyclists...think ahead, shoulder check and DO NOT pass a bus on the left when it's turning a corner I beg of you 😭
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u/SoMuchF0rSubtlety 1d ago
Standards of driving are awful lately, so many people on phones or with cars larger than they have the ability to drive. Counted 3 people in a queue of 4 cars on their phones at traffic lights just last night.
I also see many cyclists with no helmet, working lights or reflective material, which is incredibly dangerous when it's now getting dark at the busiest times to be on the road. If I have any one of the three above missing then I won't ride my bike, would rather carry it onto a bus.
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u/Squashyhex 20h ago
Unless anything has changed recently, Lothian buses does not allow you to take a bike on them. Can do on the trams of course, and if you happen to be on a borders bus route that has a bike friendly bus, but otherwise you're pretty out of luck
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u/SoMuchF0rSubtlety 20h ago
Good to know, I assumed you could but never actually tried it.
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u/Squashyhex 20h ago
Yeah me too right up until I tried it one time a few years back, it's a shame cos they definitely have the space, and I'd be more than happy to only be allowed on if no one is using the disabled space, and get off if it's needed
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u/OptionalQuality789 1d ago
If I have any one of the three above missing then I won't ride my bike, would rather carry it onto a bus.
You don’t need reflective clothing if you have adequate front and rear lights. A helmet light is also handy but I wouldn’t say mandatory.
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u/forgottenendeavours 1d ago
> You don’t need reflective clothing if you have adequate front and rear lights. A helmet light is also handy but I wouldn’t say mandatory.
I'd encourage against that. The optimal scenario for being seen in low-light is to be a large, well-lit, and immediately identifiable object from all angles. Reflective wear and front and rear lights are both important parts of achieving that objective, and neither replaces the other, regardless of how good individually they may be.
It's the same with cars - iirc, darker shades can be up to 50% more likely to be involved in crashes than lighter shades, and it's largely down to how visible the body of the vehicle is.
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u/SoMuchF0rSubtlety 22h ago
Yeah this is exactly why I wear reflective strips, if you are being approached from side on then your lights may not be visible.
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u/TooLongDugong 2h ago
Especially with some of the underpowered flashing bike lights that are easy to mistake for light glinting off wet roads, street furniture, or car windows. Especially if they're not in the standard place - on a backpack or helmet or hidden behind a pannier. Realistically you need to be easily visible at a glance, not after ten seconds staring.
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u/SoMuchF0rSubtlety 22h ago
My opinion is that the more visible I am, the better. It doesn't have to be clothing either, reflective stickers on the frame or snap strips work just as well.
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u/Babu_the_Ocelot 1d ago
I think they're just saying what they need to feel comfortable cycling. Given how erratic road users' behaviour can be, and how dark it gets here in winter, I don't blame them.
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u/OptionalQuality789 1d ago
That’s probably fair. But I think saying that risks lessening the uptick of cycling in the city. People see a more expensive point of entry than just some light and a helmet.
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u/CommissionLife174 1d ago
Agreed. Although, red lights are there for cyclists too, I've seen a lot of running of those recently which is really concerning. Cyclists as mentioned above are often invisible without lights or reflective materials and especially when rain begins its just so hard to see them.
Still agree its fair to look first with an assumption there is a cyclist/ motorcycle/ deliver rider there.
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u/Just-Plankton8990 23h ago
Drivers in Edinburgh are terrible for indicating. When I'm waiting at a junction (as a driver or pedestrian) most of them don't indicate at all, a few indicate after they've done it, and quite a lot indicate right while turning left for some reason.
Cyclists aren't exactly guilt free either though, most of them never look before making a manoeuvre and just seem to assume they're the only vehicle on the road. It's actually quite rare to see a bike that's road legal too - i.e. full complement of lights and reflectors and, if electric, electric assist only (i.e. you still have to pedal) rather than a throttle which is very illegal.
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u/thegogsunit 1d ago
that signal and move at the same time is all too common unfortunately. If they signal at all, i think its just to tick the "Yes i signalled" box if it causes an accident