Head on with a bus!!! Gulp!

[SquareDaff]

Had an incident with a bus last night where an impatient driver came through one of those "speed reducing chicanes" straight at me despite the fact I had right of way. I had to hop onto the curb to avoid my handlebars touching the side of the bus and knocking me off (must write a letter to Cycling Plus who did an article on how to do this safely last month and thank them!!). There's a turning point for the bus further down the road so I cycled down to have a word with the driver. Amazingly I didn't swear but just stated that I was a vehicle and thus had right of way. His response was something along the lines of "Get a life".

Anyway, I noted the registration of the bus, and the 5 digit identification number and have reported the offence to First Buses this morning. I've asked them to "have a word" and stressed that next time I will inform the police first and then them.

Fortunately no harm done. I'll modify my cycling technique to occupy dead centre of these chicanes in future. Hopefully someone at First buses will make similar modifications to their drivers attitudes in these situations.

 

[coffeejo]

Brown trousers?

Glad you and the bike are ok.

 

[gaz]

Eeek. At least you lived to tell the tale.

Note there is no such thing as right of way on the road, it's priority.
From this you can learn that although you might have priority, other road users will still push through. Be aware of this, prepare for it and hopefully you will not have to deviate your course to avoid a collision.

 

[SquareDaff]

Brown trousers?

Glad you and the bike are ok.

When the distance between my bars and the bus got down to less than a couple of inches I was more concerned with hopping out of the way - otherwise I suspect I may have ended up with extra padding in the shorts!!

But yes, the bike and I are in one piece - just a little shook up at the time! Was fortunate I had an escape route.

 

[Amanda P]

next time I will inform the police first and then them.

Why wait until next time? Write to First and copy your letter (with a covering letter) to the police.

It shows First you're deadly serious, and if the driver committed a dangerous offence then, arguably, you have a duty to tell the police. The next time this driver behaves like this, his victim may not be able to tell the police - they might be dead.

 

[SquareDaff]

Eeek. At least you lived to tell the tale.

Note there is no such thing as right of way on the road, it's priority.
From this you can learn that although you might have priority, other road users will still push through. Be aware of this, prepare for it and hopefully you will not have to deviate your course to avoid a collision.

Just checked my email to the bus company - have used the term "priority" in that.

I expect other road users to try and "sneak" through - but this was a blatent, I'm bigger than you and I'm coming through manoeuvere. At the speed he was coming he couldn't have stopped and blatently put my life at risk for the sake of a few seconds. I don't normally report these things but this was way too close for comfort.

 

[SquareDaff]

Why wait until next time? Write to First and copy your letter (with a covering letter) to the police.

1. I have no proof other than my word. I will be fitting a camera shortly so will have video evidence of future incidents although I hope there are none.
2. I'm giving First the chance to sort things "in house". Everyone deserves a chance to correct their attitiude.

 

[clarion]

I get this happening a lot with taxis. Not buses yet, I'm pleased to say. I don't think any of the restrictions I pass through regularly are on bus routes.

Edit: You may not be the only witness. The bus may have forward-facing CCTV (lots do), and the Police can use this. Unlikely that they would bother, but it's worth a try.

 

[SquareDaff]

Edit: You may not be the only witness. The bus may have forward-facing CCTV (lots do), and the Police can use this. Unlikely that they would bother, but it's worth a try.

I was just thinking this morning that that would be a good idea to install in buses. Didn't realise they had it already.

 

[downfader]

I was just thinking this morning that that would be a good idea to install in buses. Didn't realise they had it already.

First use CCTV as standard on the majority of the buses, usually
-one on driver to show his actions
-one forward facing the road
-one on passengers alighting
-one rear cam

Gets wiped in 48 hours, I have been told.

 

[SquareDaff]

Gets wiped in 48 hours, I have been told.

Reported it at start of "office hours" - so only 15 hours had past. Hopefully they can retrieve the footage!

 

[Chromatic]

Reported it at start of "office hours" - so only 15 hours had past. Hopefully they can retrieve the footage!

Anyone else thinking there will be 'a problem with the on-board cctv in that vehicle that day and footage is not available' or something similar?

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Anyone else thinking there will be 'a problem with the on-board cctv in that vehicle that day and footage is not available' or something similar?

If the driver can tamper with the camera then there is a serious design flaw. Or do you mean the bus company might do something?

 

[Tynan]

obviously this is an argument for primary, to show that you aren;t considering it ok for two vehicles to pass together

I find the driver's response as bad as the driving, that bloke wants a serious bollocking

 

[The Horse's Mouth]

There is one of the chicane thingys on Poplar High Street. But fortunately because it forms part of the Cycle Super Highway CS3 they have kindly put a cycle lane either side to enable us to get passed.

Saying that, the other day a WhiteVan man who decided he wasnt going to give way to the vehicle coming in the opposite direction despite the fact they had priority decided to jump on to said cycle lane to squeeze passed the oncoming vehicle. Cutting me up in the process.

Luckily I had been following this particular white van for a while and had realised he was a total plonker so was already on my guard and ready to take evasive action.