Nearly taken out by a coach

[Matthew_T]

http://www.dft.gov.uk/topics/tpm/traffic-commissioners
Nick Jones38 George Road
Edgbaston
Birmingham B15 1PL
Phone: 0300 123 9000

Either phone the number given or write to him at the address given.

Give me a week & I should have the names, addresses & possibly the numbers of the people who either own it or are directors of it. "It", being the coach company.

Are you certain on the number given as it doesn't appear/'s not showing as being in their fleet. Despite the name on the side. Possible front end near side damage above the door, from where the tree was struck.

I have the details of the Managing Director of the company. Chris Owens.

The bus number isnt T1B as I read in the video, but TIB. A quick google of that number and it does come up in their fleet.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/je1791/5765538113/

 

[Cycling Dan]

The biggest mistake you made was to put yourself in front of the bus following the 1st pass that made you uncomfortable. I wouldn't have filtered, I would have hung back and let him proceed. But that is with the benefit of hindsight.

In fairness the bus had not completed the overtake but some distance. So there could be a car behind this bus, there may have no been space.... so in result mat was put in a worse off position as he would be hugging the kerb sandwiched between a possible car and the rear of the bus. Logic goes both ways. its easy to say do that and this with hindsight! The fact is we have no idea what is going on in the background.

 

[Matthew_T]

In fairness the bus had not completed the overtake but some distance. So there could be a car behind this bus, there may have no been space.... so in result mat was put in a worse off position as he would be hugging the kerb sandwiched between a possible car and the rear of the bus. Logic goes both ways. its easy to say do that and this with hindsight! The fact is we have no idea what is going on in the background.

Well you can see vehicles behind the bus when I pull out in front of it.

The only reason why I pulled out was that I could see a gap big enough to move into and I didnt want to get knocked down by vehicles that were to my right (white volvo driver let me out).

 

[Rob3rt]

In fairness the bus had not completed the overtake but some distance. So there could be a car behind this bus, there may have no been space.... so in result mat was put in a worse off position as he would be hugging the kerb sandwiched between a possible car and the rear of the bus. Logic goes both ways. its easy to say do that and this with hindsight! The fact is we have no idea what is going on in the background.

I said as much in my original comment!

 

[400bhp]

Bit of advice - don't let them see your anger.

You have a camera and that's all you need.

He shouldn't have overtook you there, but sometimes people do make mistakes you know. It does annoy me when people can't admit mistakes but that's human nature.

I've been known to tie a showlace at junctions / lights when the offending driver is behind, or look to turn right and then change my mind.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Sorry very new to cycling this time around but I must be watching a completely different video to you guys, you came out of a tee junction which you proceeded to block whilst cars came from your right, you then pulled across a bus, which may or my not have had passengers on, the driver would have certainly had to brake for you. He then comes along side leaving you enough room, but you decide to outrun him from the junction & position yourself in the middle/inner of the roundabout causing an obstruction so he can't get past you. The only thing that is untoward is his final overtake where he is too close to you, but by which time he was probably more angry with you then you were with him. If you are going to ride aggressively against drivers please expect some to come back at you.

Alan...

 

[Risex4]

Bit of advice - don't let them see your anger.

This.

In your videos you do seem to (more often than not) react physically animated to drivers when incidents happen. Im not saying anyone was right or wrong here or in any other instance, but if you've had a minor positioning altercation with a car driver, turning around and gesturing at them will almost always escalate the situation; its basic roadrage regardless of the vehicles being driven. Its just inviting further confrontation, especially as in the heat of the moment their assessment as to right and wrong will probably be different to yours.

You don't have to 'educate' every single person on the road for each percieved mistake. You can't.

I usually find that a small shake of the head suffices to convey my disapproval at someone's indescretions.

 

[Matthew_T]

Sorry very new to cycling this time around but I must be watching a completely different video to you guys, you came out of a tee junction which you proceeded to block whilst cars came from your right,
The white car on my right was letting me out, and you can here the motorbike behind it pass behind me.
you then pulled across a bus, which may or my not have had passengers on,
It was a bus full of school children. I dont know what this has to do with how he was driving.
the driver would have certainly had to brake for you. He then comes along side leaving you enough room,
He did not leave enough room.
but you decide to outrun him from the junction
This is a silly comment and untrue.
& position yourself in the middle/inner of the roundabout causing an obstruction so he can't get past you.
The whole point of being in primary is to stop him passing me. Do you really expect hime to overtake me on a roundabout as tight and narrow as this one?
The only thing that is untoward is his final overtake where he is too close to you, but by which time he was probably more angry with you then you were with him.
I seriously doubt he was angry. All of his actions were on purpose and he knew exactly what he was doing.
If you are going to ride aggressively against drivers please expect some to come back at you.
I did not ride aggressively. In this video I didnt even ride defensively. I should have taken primary earlier before the roundabout and I would have if I knew he was going to overtake.

I cannot help think that you are not a cyclist, or are very new to the sport. The bus drivers driving was dangerous and shouldnt be permitted, especially from a "professional" driver.

 

[Matthew_T]

In your videos you do seem to (more often than not) react physically animated to drivers when incidents happen. Im not saying anyone was right or wrong here or in any other instance, but if you've had a minor positioning altercation with a car driver, turning around and gesturing at them will almost always escalate the situation; its basic roadrage regardless of the vehicles being driven. Its just inviting further confrontation, especially as in the heat of the moment their assessment as to right and wrong will probably be different to yours.

You don't have to 'educate' every single person on the road for each percieved mistake. You can't.

I usually find that a small shake of the head suffices to convey my disapproval at someone's indescretions.

I wasnt 'physically animated' at all. I might have been verbally animated but I didnt swear at him (I did say a few words but he didnt hear) and I didnt give him a rude gesture (even though I wanted to).

I do understand your point and it is an aspect of my personallity that I have to try and control (speaking to motorists). I have changed a lot from how I used to be (swearing at every close pass). I do feel as though I am controlling myself well with what I am saying.

 

[classic33]

I have the details of the Managing Director of the company. Chris Owens.

The bus number isnt T1B as I read in the video, but TIB. A quick google of that number and it does come up in their fleet.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/je1791/5765538113/

Fair enough, if you have the contact details. Offer of help still there, if required.
Get in touch with the traffic commissioners, on the number given!

 

[Hawk]

When the bus was alongside and slowing, Matt had to either brake hard or accelerate. If he continued at the same speed, he'd be level with the bus's front wheels as it entered the roundabout, never fun.

The white car was blatantly letting Matthew out as they could see the only place they were going was in to the back of a queue. Unfortunately the bus was in a rush to get to the give way where they clearly would need to stop and wait.

position yourself in the middle/inner of the roundabout causing an obstruction so he can't get past you.

It wasn't safe for the bus to overtake on a single lane/unmarked roundabout to then cut across Matthew, so "causing an obstruction" is actually what is recommended in this situation; a competent bus driver wouldn't attempt to overtake there anyway so of course he's not holding anyone up (other than by preventing incompetent driving).

 

[growingvegetables]

Sorry very new to cycling this time around but I must be watching a completely different video to you guys, you came out of a tee junction which you proceeded to block whilst cars came from your right, you then pulled across a bus, which may or my not have had passengers on, the driver would have certainly had to brake for you. He then comes along side leaving you enough room, but you decide to outrun him from the junction & position yourself in the middle/inner of the roundabout causing an obstruction so he can't get past you. The only thing that is untoward is his final overtake where he is too close to you, but by which time he was probably more angry with you then you were with him. If you are going to ride aggressively against drivers please expect some to come back at you.

Alan...

Hey - welcome to CC; it is such a relief to have a new member bring such incisive and forensic observational and analytical skills. Well done. Well impressed.

A timely reminder to all the whingers on two wheels.

Reminds me of this guy I read recently - middle-aged, just back on the bike, doesn't know which handlebar fits which foot, wandering incredibly ineptly around roundabouts, all over the bl**dy lanes, nearly 3 metres away from the kerb, and hasn't a clue why drivers are getting angry at his incompetence. He gives all this detail about their swearing, gestures, and swerving at him.

And then asks whether he should report them to the police! I ask you .... don't police have more important things to do than deal with middle-aged crises on two wheels?








ooooooooooooooh shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...................................





[/sarcasm mode]

Something tells me, Phaeton, you will be less than happy about my interpretation of your first post - and you'd be right (although I haven't actually changed or added anything!). So my apologies for "embroidering", or "interpreting" your (one-sided) account.

But also a wee plea - a tiny bit of respect for accuracy and a spirit of generosity never goes amiss when you're commenting on a guy's video?

 

[Mugshot]

nearly 3 metres away from the kerb, and hasn't a clue why drivers are getting angry at his incompetence.

(although I haven't actually changed or added anything!).

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Hey - welcome to CC; it is such a relief to have a new member bring such incisive and forensic observational and analytical skills. Well done. Well impressed.

A timely reminder to all the whingers on two wheels.

Reminds me of this guy I read recently - middle-aged, just back on the bike, doesn't know which handlebar fits which foot, wandering incredibly ineptly around roundabouts, all over the bl**dy lanes, nearly 3 metres away from the kerb, and hasn't a clue why drivers are getting angry at his incompetence. He gives all this detail about their swearing, gestures, and swerving at him.

And then asks whether he should report them to the police! I ask you .... don't police have more important things to do than deal with middle-aged crises on two wheels?
ooooooooooooooh shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...................................
[/sarcasm mode]

Something tells me, Phaeton, you will be less than happy about my interpretation of your first post - and you'd be right (although I haven't actually changed or added anything!). So my apologies for "embroidering", or "interpreting" your (one-sided) account.

But also a wee plea - a tiny bit of respect for accuracy and a spirit of generosity never goes amiss when you're commenting on a guy's video?

Why would I be less than happy with your interpretation, that is exactly what it is, as is mine of Matthew's but the difference I feel is I didn't intentionally or knowingly putting myself in the situation that Matthew did, he had a choice. When the coach was along side at about 20 seconds into the video, he had the option to slow, but he didn't, he choose to push on ensuring at 29 seconds that he was in front of the bus, he then ensured for the next 10 seconds the bus could go nowhere. Although I do not agree with anything the coach driver did, Matthew certainly didn't help the situation & if anything made a bad situation worse.

But a wee bit of advice back, if people don't want people to make comments on their posts either positively or negatively then maybe they shouldn't post them in the first place.

Alan...

 

[Hip Priest]

Sorry very new to cycling this time around....

And you clearly have a lot to learn.