Apalling actions from an Arriva bus driver

[glenn forger]

You said you have no problem with drivers on mobiles. I asked if that would change if your daughter was killed by one.

Explain to me how this is the same as someone saying the word "piffle" makes them more likely to die.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Thank you for asking.

Thanks for your reply, although I'm none the wiser as to why a smiley face would have been necessary.

GC

 

[StuartG]

Thanks for your reply, although I'm none the wiser as to why a smiley face would have been necessary.

I couldn't tell whether it was a throwaway remark or a serious claim. It was a clumsy way of checking in case it was the latter. But as Mr Paul requests - let's not get diverted.

 

[Black Country Ste]

I'm not going to bother reading half a dozen pages of people slagging off Matthew.

I wouldn't have passed the bus at the lights because I can't see if anything is passing in front of it. That's his only error. The driver's behaviour, in the punishment passes and assault and that of his colleagues are entirely their own doing. Matthew hasn't made anybody do anything: his own behaviour was exemplary.

Well handled, mate.

 

[Cycling Dan]

I think for the filtering section of the video, the light has changed green so on a technicality no one should be starting to cross although that's not always the case. The second bit I picked up on this that once Matthew reaches the back of the bus its starts to move so at that point I would argue its safe to conclude no one is passing unless the driver is intentionally trying to run a old slow granny over. I would in this case see no real issue in filtering here.
Secondly, once he passed the bus with the use of the rear view camera Matthew vastly out accelerated the bus so there was no longer a conflict. Also as a competent cyclist he shoulder checked to make sure. Had this been a car I personally wouldn't have filtered as a car would move off a lot quicker but that's not the case here.

 

[jarlrmai]

I would have judged the speed / acceleration of the vehicle, once I was alongside it and it started moving if I was vastly faster with momentum and able to do close to the speed limit I would keep going in my lane and move back in after a check, if it was clear the vehicle was going to out accelerate me I would maintained lane position and then dropped back behind it and then moved left after shoulder check signalling etc.

The bus driver seems to be objecting to a cyclist getting in-front of him, if Matt had been a car moving at the same speed and performing the same maneuver he would not haven even noticed most likely.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

I think for the filtering section of the video. The light has changed green so on a technicality no one should be starting to cross although that's not always the case. The second bit I picked up on this that once Matthew reaches the back of the bus its starts to move so at that point I would argue its safe to conclude no one is passing unless the driver is intentionally trying to run and old slow granny over. I would in this case see no real issue in filtering here.

It's poor riding, in my view, for the following reasons:

• He does not know that there isn't someone about to emerge from ahead of the bus. Some drivers go on green even if it means shaving the arse of someone still on his way across. Note also that the lead car in the opposing lane does not move off when the light changes. That could have indicated someone was indeed still crossing from Matthew's left.
• He puts himself in a meat-in-the-sandwich situation where he is at great risk. The bus may move further out to the right to avoid something outwith Matthew's view, say, another cyclist. Opposing traffic is about to head his way and he'll have nowhere to go.

It's something he should review on his video and learn from.

GC

 

[Cycling Dan]

[QUOTE 2613649, member: 30090"]I've just seen the video, not looked at the other replies and will add the following:-

Apart from threatening the driver that he was going to lose his job I thought you was superb.

The overtake whilst not brilliant, I could see nothing majorly wrong with it and as you've shown from your rear view camera the driver did not have to brake or nothing like that and you clearly did not cut him up.

Him giving you the finger, threatening to slap you and telling you to **** poor is inexcusable.

The depot manager - ******** is all I've got to say about him, very ignorant by the sounds of things and someone who clearly needs to go do his driver cpc and get some training about cyclists and where they are allowed to cycle.

I thought you was polite, knew what you was talking about and was to the point.

As for the whole 'but you started it with the overtake' and 'put the camera away' this is a professional driver who should know better ffs. Not to mention that they are in charge of a large vehicle.

Bravo young Sir.

p.s your legs going that fast were hypnotic.[/quote]

It was not the depot manager but another driver.

 

[Matthew_T]

[QUOTE 2613649, member: 30090"]

p.s your legs going that fast were hypnotic.[/quote]
I have tried to angle the camera down from my crotch as people were complaining. But still have it at an angle that can see people behind me.

 

[Matthew_T]

It was not the depot manager but another driver.

The depot manager seemed concerned. With him not being in the office today, I will just have to wait for a reply. He has my unedited footage now and has said that he can get the footage from the bus which will VERY CLEARLY show the driver giving me the finger.
And if the driver turned the cameras off for some reason, that is a sackable offense.

 

[MontyVeda]

I have tried to angle the camera down from my crotch as people were complaining. But still have it at an angle that can see people behind me.

surely the seat post is a more logical place to mount it?

 

[Gez73]

I can't believe we have 9 pages on this. I can only assume the OP would ride far better and react far more maturely to situations (like most of the rest of us), without the camera. Try it.

 

[Davidsw8]

The depot manager seemed concerned. With him not being in the office today, I will just have to wait for a reply. He has my unedited footage now and has said that he can get the footage from the bus which will VERY CLEARLY show the driver giving me the finger.
And if the driver turned the cameras off for some reason, that is a sackable offense.

Matthew

Having got home and watched the footage with sound on, I think you're cycling looked ok to me to be honest. Although I think the confrontation was unnecessary, I can kind of understand why you did it and I think you remained calm, clear and overall handled it very well.

It takes a person of good character to make that kind of stand and not be intimidated by all those people so I think you should be proud of yourself. I wish there were more like you around.

Besides that idiot of a bus driver, what really disgusted me was that other chap 'If I see you, I'm not giving you a car width', a) how damn stupid! he said that in response to being told he's being filmed and b) how dare he threaten you, I think that's worth reporting to the police in itself.

Anyway, well done mate and keep us posted with regards to any updates on this.

 

[lukesdad]

I can't believe we have 9 pages on this. I can only assume the OP would ride far better and react far more maturely to situations (like most of the rest of us), without the camera. Try it.

Oh I dont know, its kept me entertained.

 

[akb]

Watches the video with sound. Attitude of the two drivers you encountered was poor. No denying it. Dues to you for the education. Especially likely the bit when you pulled out the HC.

However, I still stick to my previous point of MGIF attitude. Bit of a nothing incident escalated far more than it needed to. By all means, report it; to chase the driver down for a showdown is absurd if you ask me.