Positivity works!

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M

magnatom

Guest
In another thread (which I wasn't the OP so I'll start a new one, instead of taking it further off topic) I mentioned my incident with an Arriva bus. Whilst I was on the bus I wittnessed the driver pull right up behind the cyclist, sit about 3 metres behind him, hit is horn and then overtake in a dangerous manner. The following conversation took place

Me: Why did you hit your horn at the cyclist?
Driver: How much room did he want?
Me: He has the right to as much room as he needs.., you were right up his ar*e
Driver: He was half way across the lane (He was not!)
Me: That was to try and prevent you overtaking dangerously

My recording unfortunately cuts out at this point. But the conversation went along the lines of,

Driver: and what is it to you?
Me: I'm a cyclist and so I understand what the problem was..
Driver: I'm a cyclist too. I don't cycle like that.
Me: Oh right....

Driver: right get aff ma bus... (It was my stop).
Me: That's fine, I will be reporting you
Driver: Aye, do that...
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So I complained and suggested (positively) that they take part in a cycling campaign.

Here was the response I received today:

Dear xxxx,

Alpologies for the delay in responding to you, I have been on holiday
and returned only this morning.

The driver in question has been identified and is being processed
through our internal disciplinary procedure. Your comments were fair and
balanced and accurately described the situation and I thank you for the
time you took to point out the problem. You will receive a written
response from me in the post tomorrow.

In addition, I have discussed your suggestion with my Training and Risk
Manager (a Mr xxxxx) and he will be in contact with you shortly to
discuss how we can engage with you to promote cycling and awareness of
the issues surrounding this.

Personally, I long for the day when we decide as a nation to turn to
cycling for our main means of local transport. I have worked for many
years in Holland and Denmark and the levels of cycling there still leave
me in awe after many years of experiencing this. I believe we need to
start with the infrastructure and that means influencing central
government, only once we have done that will we ever see the mass uptake
of cycling and the benefits it will bring.

Yours Sincerely
Click to expand...
:sad:

So I will be popping in to see them in December.

It really does pay to provide a positive way forward to these companies when you make a complaint (not just to bus companies). So when you make a compliant in the future, suggest that they could do something positive to promote mutual respect.

Obviously, carbon copying e-mails to local newspapers helps as well....:smile::smile:
 
Sh4rkyBloke

Sh4rkyBloke

Jaffa Cake monster
Location
Manchester, UK
Excellent news, Mags.

BTW, have you changed your name? Must be a bugger having to spell xxxx all the time...

IGMC.
 
C

Crackle

..
Now where's that caped crusader smiley gone.......

Well done Mags. Admit it, you're just a photo opportunity whore :smile:
 
OP
OP
M

magnatom

Guest
:sad: Yes xxxx is my new name! Seriously though I almost didn't get rid of my name, as I just sooooo famous already! :smile:

Actually crackle, I'm not sure it will go down the publicity route. If it does great, but I'm not too bothered. Now is a good time for the companies to be reviewing their training, as I believe they have to have a set amount of new training in by next year (? does someone have more detail on this?). So just getting them to take cyclists serious in this training is a result in itself. Any publicity is just a bonus.

I don't quite agree with the chap from Arriva about infrastructure being the focus. We will never (at least not in my lifetime) have infrastructure like Holland.I like being on the road anyway. However, his heart is in the right place and in a previous e-mail he mentioned that he cycled, as you could probably work out, so well done to him for taking this on! :smile:
 
OP
OP
M

magnatom

Guest
Maz said:
You were recording whilst you were a on a bus? Do you ever stop? :biggrin::bravo:

Well done, anyway!
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:biggrin:

No. I had seen what had happened with the cyclist, and when I went up to speak to the driver I started recording on my mobile, so I would have a record of what was said. I didn't have my helmet camera on in the bus, honest...;)
 
col

col

Legendary Member
Even though i see the benefits ,secretly recording conversations just seems a bit off to me?
 
OP
OP
M

magnatom

Guest
One thing is absolutely certain. Had I walked up to the driver and said, I am recording this, and then asked him the questions, he would have probably refused to say anything, so I would have learned nothing. However, by recording it, I had a record of his true thoughts and feelings on what had occurred, i.e. I had an independent witness.

Why do you think this is wrong col? Legally there is absolutely no problem in what I did.
 
col

col

Legendary Member
magnatom said:
One thing is absolutely certain. Had I walked up to the driver and said, I am recording this, and then asked him the questions, he would have probably refused to say anything, so I would have learned nothing. However, by recording it, I had a record of his true thoughts and feelings on what had occurred, i.e. I had an independent witness.

Why do you think this is wrong col? Legally there is absolutely no problem in what I did.
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It just seems wrong,even the cctv in a drivers cab cannot be used against them,something to do with the privacy act i believe,but i dont know the details.Where does it end,secretly recording people to set traps?Goading or baiting to get a reaction?Sounds similar to when some force an incident with cameras,then claim innocence.There is just something very unpleasant about secretly recording people,then using it as evidence,even the authorities need permission to do this ,and only if there is reasonable cause dont they?Even if they dont,its still a very questionable way to go.
 
OP
OP
M

magnatom

Guest
col said:
It just seems wrong,even the cctv in a drivers cab cannot be used against them,something to do with the privacy act i believe,but i dont know the details.Where does it end,secretly recording people to set traps?Goading or baiting to get a reaction?Sounds similar to when some force an incident with cameras,then claim innocence.There is just something very unpleasant about secretly recording people,then using it as evidence,even the authorities need permission to do this ,and only if there is reasonable cause dont they?Even if they dont,its still a very questionable way to go.
Click to expand...


If you feel like that write to your MP. Just don't complain when you can no longer use a camcorder/camera/mobile phone outside your own home.


If you've nothing to hide.......:bravo:
 
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