No camera, can I still report?

[Mad at urage]

Driving a bus with one foot of a cyclist can never be justified. I would not want somebody with that mindset driving around our loved ones like that and that is why I report drivers like this, especially when it is part of their job.

I would definitely report to the police. They will probably do nothing, but if you do not report incidents like this they will keep saying that there is not a problem and not fix the problem.

If there are no witnesses the police typically say they cannot do anything but there could be cctv on board, cctv in the local area etc.

Once you have an incident number, you can then go to their employer and get resolution there. Make sure you give them the incident number. At the very least word will get to the driver that you reported them to the police and they will think twice next time.

In all honesty, your lane choice caused this issue, but the response was disproportionate. Safe riding is not always about road positioning, you also have to balance current attitudes towards you as a cyclist and the potential for conflict.

First highlight - indeed nothing can justify using a vehicle as a weapon to endanger the life of a road user. That is precisely what happened here, as the dangerously close pass was (from the driver's comments) deliberate.

Second highlight - entirely incorrect. The OP was using the lane to overtake parked cars, which is the safe and correct way of passing them:

Anyhow, in the drizzle I am about 2 foot inside the right hand lane as I pass parked cars. I get a honk from a vehicle as I approach a 5 car gap on the left, so once clear of the cars on my left I pull over about 3 foot into the left lane... it is then that the vehicle behind me, a double decker park and ride bus, passes me ... nowt too bad about that you say, but he was at least 2 foot straddled across the white line of the two lanes, and passed about 6 to 10 inches off my shoulder... once past he pulled back into the right hand lane and carried on up the hill!

Personally I'd have occupied primary in the outer lane, making it clear there is no room to overtake. OP is simply avoiding the door zone, which is the minimum distance he should be riding from the parked cars. He then moves into a (quite small) gap between the parked cars, out of politeness; excellent and I try to be as well-mannered on my rides! Then he got a 'punishment pass' out of it!

Nothing to do with his lane choice, simply an ignorant and dangerous (bus) driver.

 

[Digital_Cowboy]

OK, so first up I dont use a helmet cam and have never really need until my ride home tonight.

Heading up the Wellsway out of Bath, travelling approx 12-14 mph. This is two lanes, but the inside lane has pull ins and parked cars, so all traffic goes in the right hand lane.

http://www.google.co.uk/maps?q=wellsway+bath&hl=en&ll=51.3676,-2.366166&spn=0. 000714,0.002064&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=22.244994,67.631836&t=h&layer=c& cbll=51.367499,-2.366195&panoid=LcphIFqVLsWsx_Xsn5n9yg&cbp=12,19.29,,0,35.44&z=20

that link probably explains it better.....

Anyhow, in the drizzle I am about 2 foot inside the right hand lane as I pass parked cars. I get a honk from a vehicle as I approach a 5 car gap on the left, so once clear of the cars on my left I pull over about 3 foot into the left lane... it is then that the vehicle behind me, a double decker park and ride bus, passes me ... nowt too bad about that you say, but he was at least 2 foot straddled across the white line of the two lanes, and passed about 6 to 10 inches off my shoulder... once past he pulled back into the right hand lane and carried on up the hill!

I rode on up to the park and ride car park, and there was the bus, outside of it the driver.
I asked him if he thought the manoeuvre was at all safe, and pointed out he needs to give room to cyclists, and not bully them over.

His response "you were holding me up, you are a right pain"

I was gob smacked!

He wouldnt give his name, but I took his pic on my phone, and one of the bus number plate and VED disc.

I told him he I thought he was shocking, and that I would report the incident... as I cycled off he shouted out a driver number, but to be honest I couldnt give a fart about that.

So can I report this lunatic? And if so, what is the best method?

Cheers peeps, hope for better tomorrow

Over here we had a doctor out in LA who is now cooling his heels in prison because of the paper trail that cyclists had started by reporting him to the police. As he had the habit of pulling in front of cyclists and "break checking" them. The last cyclists that he did this to. One almost lost his nose, and did loose several teeth.

He (the doctor) made the "mistake" of saying to the 911 operator and than the first cop on the scene "I wanted to teach them a lesson."

So report him, and start that paper trail.

 

[pshore]

First highlight - indeed nothing can justify using a vehicle as a weapon to endanger the life of a road user. That is precisely what happened here, as the dangerously close pass was (from the driver's comments) deliberate.

Second highlight - entirely incorrect. The OP was using the lane to overtake parked cars, which is the safe and correct way of passing them:

Personally I'd have occupied primary in the outer lane, making it clear there is no room to overtake. OP is simply avoiding the door zone, which is the minimum distance he should be riding from the parked cars. He then moves into a (quite small) gap between the parked cars, out of politeness; excellent and I try to be as well-mannered on my rides! Then he got a 'punishment pass' out of it!

Nothing to do with his lane choice, simply an ignorant and dangerous (bus) driver.

Ah, it didn't link through to streetview when I looked at it the first time, only the satellite image so I was confused about the number of lanes. The way I read it the first time was that there was one lane for parking plus two additional lanes. I stand corrected, lane two was a better choice if lane one was all door zone.

As a general point, I have seen a fair number of posts on this forum about road positioning to maintain safety. A lot of the time that is indeed the best thing to do, but sometimes being very assertive can attract the wrath of a bad motorist and sometimes the best thing to do for your own safety is to avoid conflict rather than to assert your rights.

This particular location is one of those that that is pretty hostile for cyclists. Half the road space is taken up with parked cars, and then the central reservation prevents overtakes. I don't know this area but given that it is name the A367 I can tell it will be busy and drivers have an expectation that main roads are not blocked and regardless of your rights, they are going to get wound up. A parallel route might be safer.

If you want to do something constructive. Let somebody on your council know about your experience. One day, you might get a redesigned road, or safer alternative route.

 

[Amanda P]

It's the squeaky wheel that gets the oil. Let's keep squeaking.