Genuine thank you to a bus driver

[chillyuk]

Riding along this morning and heard a bus behind me. Because of traffic and parked vehicles on the other side he couldn't make a safe overtake (plenty would have gone past though) and hung back. I saw a dropped kerb and hopped up onto the footpath and waved him through. The miserable b**gger ignored me, not as much as a nod as he went past. He turned left off the road and I forgot all about it. A short while later I was waiting at a T junction to pull out and turn right onto a main road, and had been there some time as the traffic was quite heavy when along came the same bus from my left. He actually stopped, holding up the traffic behind him, and waved me across the junction.

I guess one good turn deserves another as the saying goes.

 

[shippers]

I find most bus drivers and lorry drivers are really good.
I had a similar situation in the week- Morrisons lorry hung back for probably 3 hundred meters before overtaking.

 

[Norm]

I had a bus do that for me this afternoon. I was crossing a main road, there was a gap to my right and a bus leading a queue of traffic from the left. The bus driver flashed (presumably for me to go across) but I don't move on flashing headlights, so he stopped and waved me across. Nice guy.

 

[slowmotion]

I know this is tempting fate, but London bus drivers are pretty good, IMVVHO. One trailed us over Battersea Bridge today for two hundred yards, and from a distance of at least thirty. No engine revving or brake hissing at all. We exchanged waves and smiles when he could eventually pass.

A great encounter happened on Friday evening, in the pouring rain, at a traffic light controlled crossroads at about 8:30 pm. I was next to the front of a double-decker, waiting to turn right, and about six feet from the side the cab, inside the centre line of the road. An ambulance nee-naw came down the road I was going to turn into. My light was red, but I realised that the ambulance would need a bit more space to make the turn so I dragged the bike right up close to the bus cab to give it more room, and steadied my left hand on the side of the bus cab. The bus driver's window was fully open, and my hand went straight through into his cab. Much confusion and apologies from me. A rather wonderful, brief conversation followed.

"It must be murder to be on a bike tonight". Wink
"It's OK, actually". Smile
" I bet it keeps you fit" Smile
"Probably not, but I only got it nine months ago and just love every second" Big grins all round.

The last ten seconds of the conversation were when the lights were on green. Bloody cyclist, holding up the traffic....

Off we went, like ships in the night. Magic.

 

[gaz]

I know this is tempting fate, but London bus drivers are pretty good, IMVVHO.

I agree with you.. you get the odd one that does something silly.

 

[hackbike 666]

I remember doing that riding back from Cambridge some years back.Great big lorry behind me so I hopped onto the pavement...and he got past...He loved it....guess it saved him some hassle as well.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I remember doing that riding back from Cambridge some years back.Great big lorry behind me so I hopped onto the pavement...and he got past...He loved it....guess it saved him some hassle as well.

I always give cyclists a cheery toot (when I'm past) or a flash of the indicators if they do that for me. Not that I expect it or anything, but it's nice when it happens.

 

[BentMikey]

It's awesome when a driver does that RT, highly appreciated by me!!

I got lots of good bus karma tonight, I let loads of them out, plus got a bunch of thank you flashes for being really clear with my intentions through some pinch points. Happiness!

 

[chillyuk]

I'm retired so don't commute, so now ride only for leisure and fitness. I ride mostly around country lanes and often meet HGV's either waiting to overtake me or waiting to pull out. Wherever possible I will get out of their way and let them through, or will let them out of road junctions. I have driven a lorry, only a 7.5 ton job though, but am aware of the many hassles truckers face. Many drivers do express their gratitude with a toot or a wave. I wonder if they would be so grateful if they realised I am not being courteous. I just prefer to have them in front of me rather than behind.........