Pedestrian Down in King William Street

[J.Primus]

Just seen this quite close to my office. Due to scaffolding there is a temporary bus stop with a little stand alone sign about 20m away from where the normal stop is. A bus has stopped essentially in the middle of the road, at least 4-5 feet from the kerb (I assume it was in stationary traffic, wasn't there at the time) and opened the doors. Someone has then walked directly into someone cycling along the cycle lane.

The pedestrian had already gone in the ambulance when I was there. The cyclist seemed ok but his brakes/shifters on the right hand side looks fubared. I offered to lend him some tools but he was going off to a bike shop.

The police seemed very interested in what the bus driver was playing at and I would have thought he is in a lot of trouble. I must admit I have got miffed at bus drivers refusing to open the doors when in stationary traffic before. But I can see now why the rules about buses having to be at the curb to open the doors are in place, as this seems to be a pretty crappy outcome for everyone involved.

 

[Markymark]

Was the bus at the temporary bus stop or just in traffic?

 

[J.Primus]

It was next to the temporary bus stop. My guess is he didn't know it was there hence not pulling in and then spotted it or someone pointed it out and asked him to open the doors. The cyclist should have slowed down if he saw the sign, but I can see how you'd miss it as it's very small and one person stood infront of it would block it entirely.

 

[Gez73]

Was the cyclist on the inside or the outside of the bus? I mean on the road obviously!

 

[Markymark]

Hmm. Moving up the inside of a bus, even on a cycke lane shoukd be done slowly and with caution. Ped walking out directly in front is hard ti avoid but cyclist may not have been riding appropriately for the circumstances.

 

[Domeo]

IIRC it was made illegal for buses to open their doors anywhere but at a bus stop several years ago, to stop this sort of thing.

 

[Markymark]

IIRC it was made illegal for buses to open their doors anywhere but at a bus stop several years ago, to stop this sort of thing.

But it sounds like it was at a bus stop, although a temporary one.

 

[J.Primus]

I think they have to stop at a stop by the curb not just in line with it. I'll have a check it I have time.
Also it was up the inside but I've no idea how fast he was going as I was only there just after.

 

[Markymark]

There's a cycle lane in leytonstone that runs up the left of always slow movInv traffic. I cycle up it at a snails pace as peds/traffic enter the cycle lane constantly. Cyclist in this case may have been doing the same and the ped just stepped in front...or the cyclist may have been going a bit too fast.

 

[Gez73]

I'd be very tempted to avoid the cycle lane altogether if there were Bus Stops along the side of it. Hard to call really but common sense should prevail and if you want to travel by bike relatively quickly on a road like this probably best to join the traffic and keep to the right of buses and keep a sharp eye out for passengers stepping out in front of the buses into your path. Hope everyone is ok, the driver should use his mirrors and advise passengers alighting that they should watch out for bikes. Ideally not giving bikes any room to pass on the inside anyway by pulling right in safely using his mirrors.

 

[dodd82]

Hmm. Moving up the inside of a bus, even on a cycke lane shoukd be done slowly and with caution.

Absolutely agree.

We don't know the facts, but if the pedestrian requires an ambulance, then it raises the possibility that the cyclist was travelling too quickly.

 

[Paul99]

Absolutely agree.

We don't know the facts, but if the pedestrian requires an ambulance, then it raises the possibility that the cyclist was travelling too quickly.

If the ped has hit their head then an ambulance should/would be called as a precaution not just because of the cyclists speed.

 

[T4tomo]

Lets not presume anything. You can being going pretty slowly and still knock someone over, especially if they are relatively small and clearly not expecting to collide with a bike.

Echo point about going slowly up the inside of traffic. I las way try to look through side of bus and through windscreen to see if anyone is crossing infront if it. Wouldn't be expecting someone to leap out of the door though!

 

[Twelve Spokes]

Well it's always dodgy going on the inside of a bus,just in case the bus driver opens the doors (or pulls in),nobody wants an accident so I guess always expect the unexpected.

 

[dodd82]

If the ped has hit their head then an ambulance should/would be called as a precaution not just because of the cyclists speed.

Which is why I said 'raises the possibility', fully appreciating that this may also not be the case.