Manchester Commuters: Watch Out for Magic Bus

[John the Monkey]

Saw a nasty, petty little incident yesterday.

Cyclist in the traffic just before the MRI (prior to the turn for the Whitworth Park cyclepath, heading out of town centre). His positioning wasn't great (too far too left) but a "Magic Bus" bus hooted him, then pulled alongside, gesturing that he should be in the bike path. As traffic moved off, the driver then carried out a dangerously close overtake, evidently with the intention of "teaching the cyclist a lesson".

I've seen this a couple of times now in this location - if you're taking the option to ride in the traffic, do watch your road postion - move out to a) try and prevent a dangerous overtake and give you some escape room if you encounter a driver as unprofessional as the one I saw yesterday.

On the upside, Magic Bus aren't consistently homicidal, I saw the the driver of the 47 service performing an exemplary overtake of a cyclist heading into town along the same route at 7:40 this morning.

 

[thomas]

On the upside, Magic Bus aren't consistently homicidal, I saw the the driver of the 47 service performing an exemplary overtake of a cyclist heading into town along the same route at 7:40 this morning.

I think bus drivers as a group have some right idiots, who use their size to bully people around the road too their liking. However, you also get some with brains who are sensible and nice.

2 idiot drivers have caused me to pound their bus because they were being so stupid.

 

[John the Monkey]

2 idiot drivers have caused me to pound their bus because they were being so stupid.

I can't help thinking that that's a bit like Quint hitting the shark's nose in Jaws, tbh.

 

[magnatom]

You could report it if you know the time, place and route number. These buses often have CCTV on board that can back up your evidence.

 

[John the Monkey]

You could report it if you know the time, place and route number. These buses often have CCTV on board that can back up your evidence.

Didn't get the number of the one last night, unfortunately.

Thought I might send a letter anyway, asking them to remind their staff to look at a Highway Code.

 

[thomas]

I can't help thinking that that's a bit like Quint hitting the shark's nose in Jaws, tbh.

I've never seen Jaws....care to explain

 

[John the Monkey]

I've never seen Jaws....care to explain

It still eats him, Thomas, it still eats him.

 

[thomas]

It still eats him, Thomas, it still eats him.

Ah, Well, I didn't end up with a bus driver nibbling me ...

In seriousness though, it did stop them from doing what they were doing so it saved me being knocked off. Those two incidents were the deciding factors for me getting my helmet camera as when I complained to the bus companies (and the UNI's PCSO) nothing was done. The first one took about a month to get a response, the other took over 3 months. Since the camera, the odd complaint I have made has always been responded to within 24 hours (though, admittedly with different companies).

I wouldn't make a habit of hitting a bus/car/etc as there is obviously the risk they'll just stop and thump you. In these two cases I'd react the same way.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

I've never seen Jaws....care to explain

Never seen Jaws???

The shame of it, you must struggle to look people in the eye.

 

[thomas]

Never seen Jaws???

The shame of it, you must struggle to look people in the eye.

I got that response from...someone...when I said I hadn't seen the bond film with the chap in my avatar!

Just because I'm young enough to not remember them being at the cinema

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

.. well technically I was around when it was at the cinema... but I was only 3 and so probably wouldn't be allowed entry (although it was only a PG!!)

 

[fossyant]

TBH I avoid that area on the bike - I use the A34 behind the back of the hospitals - it's far too busy, too many busses really. TBH most are OK, having been on the bus as a passenger, and on foot in the area, how they deal with all the wobbly students, fixie RLJ'ers etc..I don't know.

 

[therams]

Yes, generally the buses on that route are OK, considering the number of crazy cyclists.

Its the condition of the Magic buses that bothers me though, get behind one and you are drowned in black soot. The only thing magic about them is the fact that so many of them are still on the road!

 

[fossyant]

I realised today why I don't bother riding past the Uni's on Oxford Rd.

Heading into town, I have some fella crawling along with his missus waving bits of paper at him - he was all over the place. Next, opposite the Eye Hospital, there is a taxi crawling along the curb at 2 mph, the 'paper waving' wife and husband in front...argh. Anyway get's past these lot, overtake a bus and pull in behind a magic bus, it pulls away from the SU, me matching pace on off side of bus, 10m back, argh,,,flippin pot holes (in the bus track) - I'm whizzing doing 130-140 rpm, bike bounces all over..... eeek......

Remind me to stay out of the bus tracks on the road outside Whitworth Hall...

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

...Anyway get's past these lot, overtake a bus and pull in behind a magic bus, it pulls away from the SU, me matching pace on off side of bus, 10m back, argh,,,flippin pot holes (in the bus track) - I'm whizzing doing 130-140 rpm, bike bounces all over..... eeek......

Remind me to stay out of the bus tracks on the road outside Whitworth Hall...

Yeah, the road outside the shops just after the Whitworth Gallery has a huge pothole which Tharg and myself both narrowly managed to avoid on Monday. I swear there were people climbing out with helmets on which had lights on the front.

Then further down Oxford Road (outside the Manchester Museum) it gets pretty bad again in the bus lane.. best to keep to the outside edge to avoid the worst of it.

Manchester roads are pretty bad in places, but I'm sure that's probably the same across the Country!