Nearly taken out by a coach

[Slaav]

Motorcycling and cycling are very different disciplines. I don't know the first thing about motorcycling. If I ever take up motorcycling, I like to think I'd have the humility to listen to the advice of experienced motorcyclists instead of shouting my mouth off.

Without joining in the argument, my motorcycling background is invaluable when riding a bike!

I would (as a cyclist) take advice from a motorcyclist. As a motrcyclist, I cannot think what advice a cyclist could give really that I wouldnt already be aware of or dismissed

Sorry if that sounds extreme and I will genuinely put my thinking cap on in case something comes to mind

 

[classic33]

Without joining in the argument, my motorcycling background is invaluable when riding a bike!

I would (as a cyclist) take advice from a motorcyclist. As a motrcyclist, I cannot think what advice a cyclist could give really that I wouldnt already be aware of or dismissed

Sorry if that sounds extreme and I will genuinely put my thinking cap on in case something comes to mind

Major difference
On a motorbike you simply have a twist of the wrist to get more speed from the vehicle, courtesy of the engine. On a bike the power has to be supplied by your own legs, to more speed.

 

[Slaav]

Major difference
On a motorbike you simply have a twist of the wrist to get more speed from the vehicle, courtesy of the engine. On a bike the power has to be supplied by your own legs, to more speed.

I agree with you on that front but to counter, as a M/cyclist, one is often in the middle of traffic, filtering up and alongside traffic. Constant blind spots. COntsant numpties and taxis who do the usual 'SMIDSY'.

Cyclists do seem to get slightly aggressive at the drop of a hat and on a m'bike, I almost inevitably just shook my head in disbelief. As a direct result of the m'biking, I often see probelms way in advance of teh problem materialising. Maybe it is the greater speed that encourages the greater depth and speed judgment? If you get it wrong; you may die!

Interesting debate/chat re this as getting me thinking about both; which is never a bad thing!

 

[BentMikey]

Makes me think of Roadsafe's advice to Gaz years ago: Ride more like a motorcycle.

 

[Robson3022]

To be honest after watching the videos and reading through all of this I have to agree with mr_hippo. In an ideal world you would report this and it could be dealt with. You never know the bus driver may get to view it and say "hey I made a mistake in the heat of the moment" (highly unlikely)

My honest opinion on the incident and lots of other videos that are posted on the net, are people need to be careful when cycling. Weather we like it or not we are never going to change some peoples opinions and feelings when driving. At the end of the day these are xxx amount of tonnes of metal we have to ride with and if they want to win an argument on the road, there's no amount of positioning that can stop someone in the most extreme cases knocking you off. I think you should of tried to avoid the incident but like you say its easy to say that now.

Report stuff like this if it makes you feel better. I have no problem people linking videos and asking opinions and don't think it right when people complain about it as at the end of the day its what forums are about.

I'm waffling a little I've been at work since 6 have 12 hours ahead of me and have already had 5 cups of coffee. I'm struggling but hope I make sense.

 

[CopperCyclist]

Ignore Mr Hippo. If you want to film, post and ask, then do so. As you can see by the length of this and your other threads, quite a lot of us enjoy reading, viewing and contributing to these types of posts. If they annoy Mr Hippo he has the right to choose not to view them!

 

[Crankarm]

If the police dont offer much help mate you can allways fire off a snotty but polite letter to VOSA they take great deleight in making Britains roads safer and they wont hesitate in whipping away or restriciting operators licences. They also love to route through drivers records inspection records etc. Think of them as Veichle Nazis who love to do a thorough job. Even dropping there name into your next correspondance with the transport manager should get his bottom twitching

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/

Don't you mean the DSA - Driving Standards Agency?

http://www.dft.gov.uk/dsa/

 

[Crankarm]

Ignore Mr Hippo. If you want to film, post and ask, then do so. As you can see by the length of this and your other threads, quite a lot of us enjoy reading, viewing and contributing to these types of posts. If they annoy Mr Hippo he has the right to choose not to view them!

Hippo has a point. He's basically saying life is too short, move on. If Mathew feels sufficiently aggrieved then he should pursue the matter properly. The fact that he posts on Youtube and on here makes me think that he is doing so as he knows the police won't do very much and a bus/lorry company will just effectively stick two fingers up to him which is what has happened with many of his videos showing allegedly bad driving. In posting here he is hoping that the forum of supposely like minded cyclists will agree and endorse that he was grieviously wronged which will make him feel vindicated that his riding was beyond criticism meaning the other party was totally at fault. His feeling of self righteousness will swell and he will continue his crusade. However the court of public opinion can be fickle. I would suggest that Matthew T makes corresponding posts on PistonHeads or a car/coach forum or even his local paper and wait for the comments to flood in ..........................

It has been mentioned several times to you Mathew T, be careful, you are riding a bicycle on which you are extremely vulnerable. You never know who you are taking on. You are relying on the misplaced belief that some else simply couldn't or wouldn't - run you down or chase you or get out of their vehicle and assault you, stab or shoot you which would irrevocably change your life, if you lived. Yes people do make mistakes, genuine mistakes whether you like it or not, the pragmatic approach might be to make allowances for this. With age, maturity and experience comes pragmatism and wisdom. If unfortunately you are learning little or nothing from your encounters then you will sooner or later discover that there are some evil malevolent feckers out there who wouldn't think twice of side swiping a cyclist and leaving them for dead at the side of the road. Life is so fragile and being dead is rather inconvenient. Ride defensively.

 

[Crankarm]

It's nothing to do with the Driving Standards Agency. The Traffic Commissioners are the people responsible monitoring coach and HGV drivers and firms. They do take complaints seriously.

Are you sure Mr User?

http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/press-releases/dsa-press-20120924/

Driving Standards for lorry and bus drivers
Publisher: Driving Standards Agency
Published date: 24 September 2012
Type: Press release
Mode/topic: Roads, Road safety

New frameworks setting out the competences expected of lorry, bus and coach drivers have been published today by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) defining the skills, knowledge and understanding required to drive these vehicles safely and responsibly.
The DSA worked with the haulage and passenger transport industries to develop these and they address specific issues such as the use of tachographs and the dangers of continuous driving.
The National Driving Standard Category C™ (lorry) and National Driving Standard Category D™ (bus and coach) outline what drivers need to know, understand and be able to do in areas such as:

• preparing a vehicle and its occupants for a journey
• guiding and controlling a vehicle
• using the road in accordance with the Highway Code
• driving safely and responsibly in the traffic system
• reviewing and adjusting driver behaviour over a lifetime

DSA chief executive, Rosemary Thew, said:

“The haulage and passenger transport industries are a vital part of Britain’s economy and have an important role to play in keeping our roads among the safest in the world.
“The publication of these Standards will help to ensure that all bus and lorry drivers acquire the right skills, knowledge and attitude to use our roads safely and responsibly, as well as contributing to cutting the human and financial cost of road accidents.
“I want to thank the haulage and passenger transport industries and the sector skills councils for their input into the development of the Standards. These will enhance the excellent training that is already available and contribute to the work the DSA is doing to set standards for everyone who uses a motorised vehicle on the public roads.”​

The Standards should form the basis of training that a lorry, bus or coach driver receives – and so the training industry is encouraged to create courses that address them. This includes both the training that drivers complete to professionally (Driver CPC) and training for those who don’t drive for a living.
The Standards build on National Driving Standard Category B™ that defines safe and responsible driving for car and light van drivers. They are based on evidence, open to challenge and regularly reviewed to ensure they are relevant and up to date.
The publication of the Standards fulfils the commitment made in the Government’s Strategic Framework for Road Safety to extend the standards framework to cover categories C and D.
The National Driving Standard Category C™ and the National Driving Standard Category D™ can be found on the DSA website:

 

[Crankarm]

Yes - and so would you be if you read the link I posted:



The DSA sets training standards (as they do for non-HGV and PSV) - the Traffic Commissioners enforce standard once someone has qualified and they also enforce the rules around employers.

We are both right combination of DSA and Traffic Commissioners. However ......... it looks like I have been told .

 

[Matthew_T]

I do try and take all of the comments on board and the only reason why I post videos is to get peoples opinions. I have already admitted that it would have been best for me to take primary at the start and that is what I did today (noone tried to pass).

I am not ignorant to all the comments which are concerned for my safety and I understand that I am not the biggest guy around so dont intend to get into a confrontation as I will most likely come off worse (I can stand up for myself when needs be).
I enjoy cycling and on my commute have to contend with a very chaotic section of road (I might post a video showing how busy). I dont want other people to ruin my enjoyment. Recently I have been doscounting close passes which in the past I would have been less than satisfied with. It is all part of my crusade to negotiate around my inner urges to shout at people.

 

[benb]

Ignore Mr Hippo. If you want to film, post and ask, then do so. As you can see by the length of this and your other threads, quite a lot of us enjoy reading, viewing and contributing to these types of posts. If they annoy Mr Hippo he has the right to choose not to view them then that's an added bonus!

FTFY

 

[Cycling Dan]

I talk a little about this video in my vlog.
I think i coverd it well and fairly.
Still got the driver my DD award

 

[Matthew_T]

I talk a little about this video in my vlog.
I think i coverd it well and fairly.
Still got the driver my DD award

Yep saw it. Fair comments and nothing I wouldnt agree with.

 

[Cycling Dan]

Yep saw it. Fair comments and nothing I wouldnt agree with.

well i know you saw it