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forum
Drivers and their problems
A new catch-all Tea Shop thread for those miscellaneous new stories that don't quite fit with parking, crashing into buildings or trapped/prisoners in their homes.
If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.
Latest Forum Topics
Latest Comments
- AidanR 6 min 48 sec ago
Sorry, but I have little sympathy for Wiggins. Per the latest set of accounts (2018), by far the biggest asset was a director's loan to Wiggins. In...
- GMBasix 15 min 49 sec ago
Self control: I've got the ride home to think about.
- mark1a 35 min 32 sec ago
That will be along in a week or so in the annual reboot of the "All I want for Christmas is... not this" article along with the Park Tool pizza...
- quiff 47 min 53 sec ago
For that money, I'd go to Matthew Sowter - https://www.saffronframeworks.com/
- chrisonabike 49 min 53 sec ago
There's a lot there....
- hawkinspeter 54 min 35 sec ago
The problem with most jeans (i.e. not cycling designed ones) is that they've got the seam where it can intefere/chafe with the saddle. Also, cotton...
- hawkinspeter 59 min 9 sec ago
Why do the police have to wait for the council to install CCTV cameras? Can't they go and put one there themselves - it doesn't even have to be a...
- quiff 1 hour 9 min ago
I think momove's middle paragraph was sarcastic....
- mdavidford 1 hour 27 min ago
I'm not sure commercial success is even particularly high on his list of priorities for it - it's much more about the leverage it gives him for...
- the little onion 4 hours 44 min ago
Rather artistic photo of this (driverless) car that has ended up on its roof on a dead straight road in Bradford....
Add new comment
3956 comments
" My safety flag sticks out 70cm, which is less than half the clearance drivers are supposed to give when passing. So, driver of blue Mini MF68YFR shouting "you need to pull that thing in mate", you are the reason I have it. "
https://x.com/MrHappyCyclist/status/1819657881647456666
A carbrain writes...
Action is needed to prevent danger in Herefordshire street
https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/24490495.action-needed-prevent-danger...
I can't access this story -
https://www.advertiserandtimes.co.uk/news/residents-fume-as-developer-re...
Long Lane in Brundall called a death trap due to speeders
"I'm afraid to go out of my own front driveway to walk the dog because of how dangerous it is.
"I don't even use the front rooms in my house for fear of a speeding driver coming flying through the walls."
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/24470808.long-lane-brundall-called-death-tr...
Perhaps one to file under "why 'let's all share the road' may have limited mileage"?
Charity worker attacks neighbours with cattle prod while armed with other tools over parking row.
(It's mentioned that the defendant had previously recovered from a brain aneurysm - not sure if that was advanced in defence / mitigation?)
Nice try pleading by the defence (my emphasis):
Dissonance in the northern part of Wiltshire: in Calne, one more reopened lane will fix it -
Calne High Street to reopen to tackle traffic in town (picture)
https://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/24497670.calne-high-street-reopen-...
Call to share thoughts on Bradford on Avon traffic scheme
meanwhile, this is yet another nice little place ruined by through traffic, and maybe they will do something about it:
https://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/24494171.call-share-thoughts-bradf...
Apparently this is just a bike or e-bike
A mum has revealed how balaclava-clad yobs left her son “covered in cuts and bruises” after deliberately ramming him off his £3,500 electric bike and stealing it.
Oscar Jackson, 13, was playing with a friend on his electric bike in Watlington Road, Benfleet, when a group of “older children” crashed into him on their own e-bike before fleeing with his bike, according to his mum, Amy.
https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/24502265.benfleet-yobs-ram-boy-off-3...
Here's a story with a good ending
Clare’s Care Ltd are trying to raise money for one of their employees who’s car was burnt out during the riots in Middlesbrough on Sunday 4th August 2024
Brendan was at work doing a 12 hour shift at a care home in Middlesbrough when he returned home to see his car like this. Brendan has saved up for the past 12 months for his car.
Brendan has worked so hard for this to be taken away overnight by “peaceful protests”.
As well as our other staff that made the brave decision to walk to work last night as no taxi’s were running to make sure all of the elderly people in our care homes were still looked after.
At the time of posting 22588 of 3000 has been raised.
Note where there is a riot, car insurance might be voided depending on the policy. I'm hoping there is a government fund though.
edit "If your motor insurance does not provide sufficient cover you may also be able to get compensation under the Riot Compensation Act (RCA). "
Angry South West residents blame council workers for parking nightmare
Businesses say it is affecting trade
In that well-known part of Somerset, Plymouth, there just aren't enough parking spaces to go around for businesses who rely upon on-street parking to bring much of their trade.
https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/local-news/angry-south-west-resident...
Exeter parking charges set to rise as raft of changes considered
It could cost almost £5 to stay for two hours in the city centre
One-hour parking will be re-introduced for some car parks away from the very centre of the city, such as those at Belmont Road and Parr Street.
The idea is to encourage ‘pop and shop’ short-term visits. (ECC - please Google "induced demand")
Some real Little Britain stuff here:
At Belmont Road, where there have been complaints that students and Airb&b customers monopolise spaces, there is a proposal to make it residents-only at night.
https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/exeter-city-centre-parking-cha...
I think building a bike lane brings out the best in people, just as a 20 mph limit does - drivers, instead of being me me me selfish all the time, discover their concern for bus passengers, blond and partially sighted people, and air pollution.
Fears cyclists could hurt people using Exeter's new 'floating bus stops'
A new £1.55m cycle lane is currently under construction
Mr Hill, local resident takes up the story "This design requires a blind person to step, literally blind, into moving traffic to use a bus. Various online videos illustrate the dangers.
"In effect, unaccompanied blind persons are excluded from using the bus stops. It's fine to encourage cycling, but not at the expense of others. It's not acceptable as the council has statutory duties to keep highways accessible to disabled persons and not to discriminate.
"Ironically, as Exeter starts implementing them, experience elsewhere is turning against them."
DCC has assured the new 'floating' bus stops will be safe for all road users.
https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/fears-cyclists-could-hurt-peop...
Driver may have experienced “inattentional blindness”, which is when someone fails to notice an unexpected object in clear sight.
The incident caused damage to the wing of a Ryanair plane
No hi-viz so what did the plane expect ?
Rachel Reeves is mulling unfreezing the fuel duty escalator which could generate £3bn annually.
Here's an idea:
Charge fuel duty not just on volume of fuel but also based on engine size and/or fuel consumption in order to encourage motorists to buy less powerful and more efficient cars, and generate tax revenue to pay for government services such as child benefit.
To achieve this, at the filling station, ANPR is used for example to capture the registration plate, which is then used to look up the amount of fuel duty payable in a similar way to other road/vehicle pricing schemes such as LTNs, ULEZ and congestion charging. This technology is becoming ubiquitous.
Filling stations would then make a regular fuel duty return to HMRC.
I doubt this would see an end to 6.3 V8 twin turbo 4x4 supercars being used for the school run and harrassing other road users, but it would help.
Oh no! another invasion, quick let me see what Magna Carta says about this.
https://www.advertiserandtimes.co.uk/news/letter-cyclists-please-break-u...
(another one I can't access)
ANPR sometimes gets it wrong, who knew?
Drivers receive Dart fines despite never using crossing
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6288ey03y1o
Interesting that nobody seems "outraged" - maybe journos tired from Olympics?
Hebden Bridge - 1
Hebden Bridge - 2
Moment raging motorist drives AA worker's van and throws his keys outside McDonald's
The bizarre moment was caught on dashcam footage outside a Lincolnshire McDonald's
https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/moment-raging-motoris...
Herne Bay ice cream man banned from Seaview Holiday Park in Swalecliffe, Whitstable, in stand-off with security
Not sure about "trading unlawfulfully" (it's trespass, I think) but practically every poor little me victim card in the deck is played here.
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/whitstable/news/ice-cream-man-banned-from-h...
I suppose we're the same as Whitstable drivers - "check it out, there's a new half a mile of cycleway!"
Three parking bays in Whitstable on market for £150,000 as residents say trying to find space is ‘impossible’
“You see people watching out of their windows and spying to see when cars leave in Albert Street and Victoria Street then rushing out and calling their friends to say: ‘I have got a space.’
“It is madness and I have parked near Whitstable railway station before which takes about 15 minutes 😱 to walk back to my home.”
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/whitstable/news/parking-in-our-town-is-impo...
Great stuff, Cheshire Police, make sure you priortise anything but protecting vulnerable road users*
Biker pulls alongside car and smashes window in road rage attack
Police have released CCTV of a motorcyclist they want to speak to in connection with the incident
PCSO Dan Walley, of Crewe's Local Policing Unit, said: "No one should be made to feel unsafe whilst driving, so we are asking anyone who may have witnessed this incident or has any information that may aid our enquiries to please contact us.
https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/biker-pulls-alo...
*1% chance the driver did nothing wrong acknowledged. Which grass supplied the CCTV?
Dereham TC, you know this but just to be clear, this is a straightforward question of cash. If you really want the financial (and operational) responsibility for subsidising drivers via free parking, that can be arranged.
Breckland Council insists it is 'not at war' with Dereham
Breckland Council has defended its decision not to send a representative to discuss the proposals at a meeting of Dereham Town Council last week.
The authority was branded a "disgrace" by town councillors for failing to attend and engage in debate, and was accused of failing to take an interest in the concerns of local people.
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/24527076.breckland-council-insists-not-war-...
https://www.breckland.gov.uk/car-parks/policychange
Drivers and their problems
New charges in Herne car park see visitor numbers slump but revenue for Canterbury City Council almost double
Herne and Broomfield Parish Council chairman Carol Davis says the new fees are “ridiculous” and causing huge issues and inconvenience for villagers.
“What the city council doesn’t seem to get is that ours is a community car park and can’t be put in the same bracket as ones in Canterbury, other town centres and on the coast,” she said.
“I am really not surprised the number of people using School Lane has dropped so dramatically because people simply cannot afford it.
“It is having a huge effect on village life and causing great difficulties for so many people.
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/herne-bay/news/disaster-for-locals-as-motor...
Same story as with Norfolk, Carol, if you think this is a priority for your area, you have the powers available to you to step in and price it any way you wish:
https://wanstrowparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/18-Local...
"outside schools and hospitals is fine" for 20 mph, etc, drivers tell us:
Motorists still ignoring controversial new School Streets scheme in Medway with residents split over expansion of traffic-free zones
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/motorists-still-ignoring-restri...
Teen tractor driver 'caught on phone'
Also overloaded for the road and underage for the weight
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2n7nzm947o.amp
"I bought this for the off roading ability"
Police are issuing a warning to motorists not to photograph or film collision scenes whilst driving, following an incident in Haverhill.
Whilst in attendance at the collision, officers caught 18 drivers taking either photographs or videos of the scene. Those motorists can expect to receive a notice in the post requesting driver details, resulting in a £200 fine and six penalty points on their licence.
https://www.suffolk.police.uk/news/suffolk/news/news/2024/august/haverhi...
https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/aug/24/i-wouldnt-wish-...
Remind me again why the gig economy will save civilisation...
Drivers who fail to pay multiple parking tickets will see their car impounded the next time they are caught leaving their vehicle in an illegal spot.
https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/glasgow-cars-impounded-c...
Livid Lee slams Alton Towers as car park thief leaves van looking like this
The Alton Towers super-fan (father of nine) pays £1,832-a-year for platinum passes - now he's £600 out of pocket
"There appear to be blind spots where the cameras don’t cover - but I paid a fee to park there. I’m not having it. I’m not happy spending that kind of money - we spent around £180 inside Alton Towers that day as well as £1,832 on annual platinum passes - so I’m lining their pockets and I intend to take this the whole way.
“The vehicle is classed as a dangerous vehicle now because there’s a big hole in the front of it. I don’t want to claim on my insurance because they’ll have my trousers down and I can’t afford it.
https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/livid-lee-slams...
You can't build a cafe because cars
Traffic fears over plans for cafe next to Sandown Castle Community Garden in Deal
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/deal/news/they-can-t-build-a-cafe-here-it-s...
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