Dear the Managing Director,
I was recently involved in a near collision with one of your buses, then
suffered verbal abuse from your driver and another near collision later
on down the road witnessed by a member of the general public. You should
be well aware of this, as I have already filed a police report
(xxxxxxxxxx-xxxx) and a PC Wright has already contacted you. I feel that it
is my duty to also contact your company in person, as I would like to
know the full outcome from your company as well as via PC Wright.
This is by no means the first time that I have suffered either abuse by
a driver, or the first time that I have had to take means to actively
avoid a potential road accident caused by a third party. However your
driver's total disregard of highway code rule 163 and further lack of
professionalism regarding the incident I consider to be a direct
representation on your company. After the incidents happened I went to
the bus station in the town centre to make a complaint and at this point
I was in a state of mild shock, close to tears and stuttering. As your
buses don't stop there I was given the relevant contact information for
your company.
I am aware that there was CCTV footage on the bus but I do not know if
this will cover the exterior and show just how close the bus came to me,
or just the later argument. Had your driver not intentionally pulled
along side me I would have let the incident go – there was a police car
in traffic just after the incident which I ignored. I would like to
apologise that my language or hand gestures might not be the most polite
for the situation, but my shock should not take away from the incident.
I use a bike to save money while at uni as well as to keep fit, however
my confidence of going through the very congested town centre has
diminished after this incident and if I was to choose to take public
transport instead because of the incident, it would have a direct
financial implication to me which I would hold you liable for.
I therefore am going to suggest a mutually benefiting agreement. There
are small, specialist, 'bullet' cameras which fit to cyclist's helmets
or handle bars which can be used evidence in events such as this, or
more serious ones. Prices for these start at around £100 and I am highly
considering purchasing one of these so that there will be video evidence
of any future incidents with either your company, a competitors or
another road user. As I am a university student something of this value
isn't the most affordable thing so I therefore I believe your company
should help subsidise the purchase of one as a form of compensation and
apology for this incident. I am willing to send footage of both normal
cycling and any footage of poor driving to your company, of which you
could use to help develop more comprehensive cycling awareness training
footage.
I have as of yet not contacted my CTC legal advice line on this and do
not intend on.
I would like to point out that I have travelled down Earlham Road with
the Connect bus company and the two drivers were very patient when it
came to cyclists. There were times that some cyclist's total lack of
observation really scared me and had it not been for the driver's
patience and attention to the road the cyclist's may have put themselves
in harm.
I am happy to be contacted either via email or my mobile phone. Due to
the expense of phoning from my end I will not be able to ring you, but
am happy to have discussions via the phone. I am also interested in
seeing a copy of the CCTV footage to further improve my cycling and
safety on the road.
Yours Faithfully,
.
