Watch ‘dangerous overtakes’ past cyclist in Holyrood Park who was previously struck by Irn Bru bottle thrown by angry driver

Drivers have been accused of performing dangerous overtakes and putting cyclists’ lives at risk in Holyrood Park.
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Roy Munro captured one car passing him on a narrow stretch of road entering the park yesterday morning, close to the Sheep Heid Inn, before a van overtook him with feet to spare from a car travelling in the opposite direction on Queen’s Drive.

The 43-year-old, who cycles daily from Gullane to his work at George Heriot’s School in Edinburgh, believes driving habits have become worse in recent weeks with traffic returning to the roads.

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He told the Edinburgh Evening News that on one occasion last summer, a driver started yelling at him to get onto the pavement before throwing a full plastic bottle of Irn Bru at him as he drove past, striking his leg, after having to wait behind him until he could overtake.

Roy Munro captured the footage on his cycle to work in Edinburgh on Monday morning.Roy Munro captured the footage on his cycle to work in Edinburgh on Monday morning.
Roy Munro captured the footage on his cycle to work in Edinburgh on Monday morning.

Mr Munro said he informed police at the time and that the incident led to him using a camera on the front of his bike.

Speaking about the video, Mr Munro described the entrance to Duddingston Low Road as “the worst part” because it is narrow and can be wet and slidy with mulchy leaves at this time of year.

He said: “You are looking at three or four times a week that these types of incidents happen.

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“It’s an accident waiting to happen when people are overtaking on blind corners and summits, especially in the summer when you can’t see the car lights. It’s just stupid to do it for the sake of waiting a few more seconds.

Roy Munro and his daughter, Ellis.Roy Munro and his daughter, Ellis.
Roy Munro and his daughter, Ellis.

“Driving habits are getting worse and worse through this park and it won’t be long until someone loses their life.”

Mr Munro says he has been knocked over on his bike a couple of times in the past three or four years but these have been minor incidents, although he said on one occasion police were involved when he was hit by a car performing a u-turn in the road.

Mr Munro, who also drives, has been choosing to cycle to work in Edinburgh from his East Lothian home most days for the past six years.

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