Arriva Buses, the best way to almost squash a cyclist .........

[Tommy2]

What would have happened if you had been hit going through the 'NO ENTRY' to the bus depot?

 

[Frood42]

I have always wondered: should I mention the possibility of taking it up with TC to Arriva when complaining? Or could it make things worse?

FYI I have never threatened any company with taking the matter further just because I dont know what the consequences of doing so might be.

I don't think threaten is the mind set you should be using.

If you have an issue and you do not feel it was dealt with appropriately then you have every right to escalate that further, the company is there to provide a public service, and so checks will be in place to make sure they are doing so properly and safely.

However you should give the company an opportunity to rectify the problem or mistake before you take it further (just missing them out and taking the problem straight to the TC would most likely be frowned upon, and not help you in the future if you need to speak to that company again).

If you wish to advise them that you will be taking it to the traffic commissioner then I do not see an issue with doing so, just be polite about it, and if they have questions as to why you feel you need to do this, then give them a reasonable explanation as to why you were unhappy with the service they provided to you and why you feel it fell short of what you expected.

 

[Matthew_T]

I don't think threaten is the mind set you should be using.

If you have an issue and you do not feel it was dealt with appropriately then you have every right to escalate that further, the company is there to provide a public service, and so checks will be in place to make sure they are doing so properly and safely.

However you should give the company an opportunity to rectify the problem or mistake before you take it further (just missing them out and taking the problem straight to the TC would most likely be frowned upon, and not help you in the future if you need to speak to that company again).

If you wish to advise them that you will be taking it to the traffic commissioner then I do not see an issue with doing so, just be polite about it, and if they have questions as to why you feel you need to do this, then give them a reasonable explanation as to why you were unhappy with the service they provided to you and why you feel it fell short of what you expected.

Well I certainly wouldnt say something like "If you dont do a good job, then I will take it up with TC." I would probably say something like "Sorry but I do not agree with the outcome and would like to take the matter further. I will be contacting TC".
I would of course allow the company to rectify the issue on its own but was just wondering how to go about notifying them about the involvement of TC.

Hopefully it will never get to the stage where I need to involve the TC.

 

[Frood42]

Well I certainly wouldnt say something like "If you dont do a good job, then I will take it up with TC." I would probably say something like "Sorry but I do not agree with the outcome and would like to take the matter further. I will be contacting TC".
I would of course allow the company to rectify the issue on its own but was just wondering how to go about notifying them about the involvement of TC.

Hopefully it will never get to the stage where I need to involve the TC.

Yes, I hope it never comes to that as well, it would be a poor company that would lose my custom if they could not handle such complaints.

 

[Jezston]

Moving the driver onto another route doesn't solve the problem though. It, like the driver gets moved on.

I think they were implying somewhat more serious action was taken than that.

 

[neil earley]

Ridiculous overtake someone mentioned you could have been to close to the curb! you was clearly visible it was a stupid overtaking manoeuvre especially with an oncoming car { bet he had a fright too!!} Hope the driver has a severe telling off and an apology from the bus firm would be a nice gesture too.

 

[Milzy]

Matthew T is a living legend & internet sensation. I want him to lead the cyclist movement & educate people to hopefully save some lives. As for arriva they employ numbskulls, give them a few lessons then then they pass their test & it's a job for life.

 

[clockman]

In the world of driver training it's regarded as a 'meeting' situation! That should cause a test candidate to be unsuccessful for Judgement/meeting. The oncoming car makes it a 'meet' rather than an overtake, which, as can be clearly seen is what happened on the video.
It is very possible that the relevant bus driver obtained his PCV licence through a delegated examiner. These are people employed as drivers by relevant operators and selected by the company to test prospective drivers and issue licences.
These individuals, are 'trained' to assess if a driver is competent enough to drive a Bus safely enough to carry passengers. They are sent on a course, with by the Driving Standards Agency, an agency within the Department of Transport. As they are employed by an operator and not a civil servant, there is probably some pressure by managers for them to pass all but the totally incompetent.
I don't know if it still happens, but the DSA, used to send examiners out to observe standards of bus drivers. This was done in secret shopper fashion and a report of the bus number, time and standard of drive was sent to the operator.
Certain haulage operators, fire brigades and the military have the same facility.
I can empathise with your discomfort, it was an appalling piece of driving, but as long as the Government is worried about pass rates, rather than driving standards, all types of driving will continue to fall.

 

[400bhp]

Matthew T is a living legend & internet sensation. I want him to lead the cyclist movement & educate people to hopefully save some lives.

 

[ianrauk]

Methinks he is taking the pee... no one can be that serious.

 

[jazzkat]

In the world of driver training it's regarded as a 'meeting' situation! That should cause a test candidate to be unsuccessful for Judgement/meeting. The oncoming car makes it a 'meet' rather than an overtake, which, as can be clearly seen is what happened on the video.
It is very possible that the relevant bus driver obtained his PCV licence through a delegated examiner. These are people employed as drivers by relevant operators and selected by the company to test prospective drivers and issue licences.
These individuals, are 'trained' to assess if a driver is competent enough to drive a Bus safely enough to carry passengers. They are sent on a course, with by the Driving Standards Agency, an agency within the Department of Transport. As they are employed by an operator and not a civil servant, there is probably some pressure by managers for them to pass all but the totally incompetent.
I don't know if it still happens, but the DSA, used to send examiners out to observe standards of bus drivers. This was done in secret shopper fashion and a report of the bus number, time and standard of drive was sent to the operator.
Certain haulage operators, fire brigades and the military have the same facility.
I can empathise with your discomfort, it was an appalling piece of driving, but as long as the Government is worried about pass rates, rather than driving standards, all types of driving will continue to fall.

That's very interesting, in a bad way!
You've got to wonder whether this culture, that is supposed to cut costs in these 'civil services' actually ends up costing more due to lower standards and corner cutting, ultimately leading to the massive costs involved in cleaning up an RTA or other cock up!

 

[clockman]

As you say jazzkat, it's interesting. What the Government says it is doing to the Civil Service in relation to improved value for money and quality in reality is just a way for certain companies to to line their own pockets and ultimately reduce the quality of service and value for money. Look at the way the NHS is run! Too many managers, not enough Indians, most Government departments are in reality run the same way. Too top heavy and 99% are only interested in looking after number 1 and if they can helping others at the same level to remain as government employees.
But, I digress. Driver training has to be improved and the quality of driving has to improve. Hopefully, this will then filter down, but unfortunately, this will not a quick fix. All relevant parties, car, haulage, public transport and cycling representatives as well as others that use the Highways, need to work together, not against each other to help improve road safety.
I may be wrong, but I think I saw somewhere that the number of deaths on our roads went up when the last statistic where released! Are you really surprised, when you watch this video!

 

[classic33]

The laws are already there, what we need is better enforcement of those laws. Not creating new laws to counter a "new problem". When the 20-25% of vehicles being driven on Britains roads, without insurance or VED, are removed from the roads under the laws that exist now, then I'll start believing in the "system".
And its not just private cars that are being driven in this manner. I was on a coach that was pulled off the motorway, in the early hours of the morning, due to it having no VED. Thus making its insurance invalid.

 

[classic33]

Methinks he is taking the pee... no one can be that serious.

I think he may just be serious.

 

[Roadrider48]

He only had to wait for the oncoming vehicle to go by then he could of safely passed you. But you did jump a red at 9.05....