Have buses more legal rights on the road

[handsome joe]

Nearly collided with a Double Decker Bus this morning. I was cycling onto my first roundabout of my usual commute. The coast was clear but out of the side of my eye i spotted this Bus coming onto the roundabout two turnings back. He was going pretty fast and picking up speed. By the time he was next to me i was just exiting, which unfortunately was his turning. I made eye contact with the driver hoping he would slow down or give me space but he just increased his speed. With his speed and manoeuvring i had to brake sharply becuase he cut directly across my path. I was close to hitting the side of the Bus.

Question: Do Bus drivers have certain freedoms on the road?

 

[John the Monkey]

Not as far as I'm aware. They just don't give a sh*t[1]

[1] In some cases.

 

[4F]

Nope, he was just using the "I am bigger than you so I have priority" method of driving

 

[BentMikey]

Get his details and report him, please. Not that it'll help you, but it'll help all the other cyclists who come across this driver in future.

 

[domtyler]

I find that the vast majority of bus drivers are excellent and considerate toward cyclists. Unfortunately there are still quite a few bad apples out there who will use their enormous vehicles to bully people on bikes, quite unacceptable behaviour.

 

[biking_fox]

Nobody has any more right to the road than anybody else.

In general practise the person who's in front or continuing straight on has right of way ... but be make sure you are clearly seen when exercising this right on a bike.

 

[ComedyPilot]

The past two mornings I have been overtaken (too close) by a minibus run by my local council. Both times I thought it was too close, but never got details. Each time it was a case of sqeezing past so as not to be 'held up' by the cyclist. If it happens again on Monday the council will be getting a snotty email.

 

[domtyler]

The past two mornings I have been overtaken (too close) by a minibus run by my local council. Both times I thought it was too close, but never got details. Each time it was a case of sqeezing past so as not to be 'held up' by the cyclist. If it happens again on Monday the council will be getting a snotty email.

Practice your speed wobble for when you hear engines revving behind you. If you make it clear that you can not be relied upon to be travelling in a straight and predictable line you will be given far more room.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Practice your speed wobble for when you hear engines revving behind you. If you make it clear that you can not be relied upon to be travelling in a straight and predictable line you will be given far more room.

My fat a*se provides enough of an obstacle, he he.

 

[BentMikey]

Practice your speed wobble for when you hear engines revving behind you. If you make it clear that you can not be relied upon to be travelling in a straight and predictable line you will be given far more room.

+1

 

[hackbike 6]

+2

 

[John the Monkey]

I find that the vast majority of bus drivers are excellent and considerate toward cyclists. Unfortunately there are still quite a few bad apples out there who will use their enormous vehicles to bully people on bikes, quite unacceptable behaviour.

I'd agree, to a point - particular companies seem to be good or bad too. Both Finglands and Bullocks in Manchester are homicidally impatient, and can't see red lights 20 metres in front of them to save their (or more likely) your lives.

If you're ever in the city, assume that Finglands and Bullocks buses are driven by Stevie Wonder, and that he REALLY needs to get home to go to the toilet.

 

[Mr Pig]

I was in a coach once that failed to give way at 'any' of the roundabouts we went through! He just drove straight onto them and everyone else had to stop, made it look so easy ;0)

 

[domd1979]

Friend of mine had to go on one of these driver improvement courses a couple of years back (careless driving, after falling asleep at the wheel). One of the people on the course was a bus driver...
Instructor: "Who has right of way at the roundabout?"
Bus driver: "I do"
Instructor: "Why?"
Bus driver: "I have right of way, I am in bus"...!!!

Probably not the best answer to give when you're on a driver improvement course!!

Have to say though on the whole I don't get any grief from bus drivers and find them generally pretty considerate.

I was in a coach once that failed to give way at 'any' of the roundabouts we went through! He just drove straight onto them and everyone else had to stop, made it look so easy ;0)

 

[Mr Pig]

I don't get any grief from bus drivers and find them generally pretty considerate.

Yip, when they see you!