Response from bus company

[Matthew_T]

Seeing as other members have been selfish and not followed numerous instructions referring them to behave themselves on the previous thread, I am forced to start a new one to provide the response from the company.
Here is the letter I have just recieved:

Thank you for bringing to my attention the incident which occurred on Thursday 22nd August 2013 at approximately 15.20, concerning one of our drivers performing a rude gesture to you whilst overtaking you.

Arriva prides itself on the training that each driver undertakes to ensure that he / she provides a safe journey experience to their passengers and other road users, on this occasion we fell short of this standard. The driver should not have reacted in this way and will be seen in line with the company disciplinary procedures.

However, regarding the bus overtaking too close, It is difficult to determine from either your video footage or the CCTV on the bus whether there was insufficient room when the bus overtook, so I intend to take no formal action regarding this matter but will monitor the driver using the company’s covert driving instructors sometime in the near future.

I would ask that if you have any further issues with our vehicles that you do not approach the driver concerned as this usually only makes matters worse I would ask that you contact the Arriva Customer Service by telephone or online, details as above.

Yours sincerely

Len Cater
General Manager

Fair enough, the overtake is debatable, but what about the opinions of all three drivers? Do the company support the views?
What action should I take next because I think it is very dangerous for any cyclist on the road to encounter drivers who believe cyclists MUST use cycle lanes.

 

[glenn forger]

They don't even mention the cycle lane comment, just the hesture.

 

[Spinney]

Matthew - you could write a polite letter back asking them to comment on the obvious lack of knowledge of the highway code demonstrated by all three drivers, and ask them what they are going to do about that. Give the reference times in the video so they don't have to watch the whole thing again.

You could post your letter here for comment first, maybe? Just to make sure it is polite and does not come across as too stroppy (which will only get the manager's back up).

 

[Hip Priest]

It seems like a reasonable response. The company has admitted fault for the gesture, and the driver will be monitored closely to ensure no repeat. The advice not to approach drivers is wise, and tallies with the advice given by Gaz & Mikey, who are well-respected cam cyclists.

If I were you I'd take the response onboard and move on.

 

[Gez73]

Thanks for that Matthew_T, not the worst response you could have gotten but as has been mentioned misses a few salient points. I'd let it go myself and move on. They've kinda banned you from talking to their drivers too!

 

[classic33]

Thanks for that Matthew_T, not the worst response you could have gotten but as has been mentioned misses a few salient points. I'd let it go myself and move on. They've kinda banned you from talking to their drivers too!

If he were to travel on their buses, how would he ask for the fare?
The letter is a standard letter. Template held on computer with parts enabled for editing. I'd have gone for the head, not the a.... first.
Agree with Spinney on any other letter you write.

 

[RWright]

At least they didn't tell you to not trespass on bus company property.

 

[fossyant]

Thing is most drivers think cyclists should be in cycle lanes. Personally I would leave it as it is. The driver will be aware they he will get disciplinary action now, but pushing the issue with the other drivers, well most drivers don't ever read the Highway Code ever again.

Write a letter by all means explaining that cyclists don't need to use cycle lanes, and in this case it's a shared footpath on that road, and would be dangerous at 20 mph plus.

 

[Matthew_T]

Okay, I have drafted a letter. Please can I have some feedback. (Note, the times quoted are different to the uploaded video due to me giving the raw file to the manager).
______________________________________________________________________________________

Please pass on my regards to Mr Cater, I appreciate the feedback he has given me.

However, I do still have some concerns about the opinions of the drivers and their lack of knowledge of the highway code. Could you please refer Mr Cater to my video at the times of; 10:05 where two other drivers approach me and claim that bicycles must use cycle lanes, 12:00 where one of the drivers makes a blatant threat to me which the Transport Officer noticed, 12:35 where the same driver claims that the highway code is wrong, and finally at 13:00 where the driver demands that I use cycle lanes.

It is a real concern that all three drivers seem to believe that cyclists are not allowed on the roads. People who control such life changing machines should be up to date with the current legislation and basic knowledge of the highway code. I am very worried that if these views on cycling do not change, the consequences could be very dramatic.

I hope the my concerns can be passed on to Mr Cater and the appropriate actions can be taken. As I said earlier, I am happy with the outcome in relation to the original drivers actions, but the two others have not been taken into account.


Kind regards
____________________________________________________________________________________________

 

[fossyant]

Drop the road tax issue. It's just pedantic and distracts from the point of drivers not knowing that bikes are allowed on the road.

Also, VED or Road Tax, you'd be exempt on a bike as your emissions are low (assuming you haven't eaten too many baked beans).

 

[Matthew_T]

Drop the road tax issue. It's just pedantic and distracts from the point of drivers not knowing that bikes are allowed on the road.

Also, VED or Road Tax, you'd be exempt on a bike as your emissions are low (assuming you haven't eaten too many baked beans).

Fair enough. I think the point of making the driver understand that I am allowed to be on the roads will kind of automatically counter the road tax thing.

 

[fossyant]

Fair enough. I think the point of making the driver understand that I am allowed to be on the roads will kind of automatically counter the road tax thing.

Concentrate on the issue surrounding the right to use the road. That's the main issue with the other drivers.

Road Tax is just a sore subject. I've yet to have anyone tell that to me on the bike, I'd quite like to remind them that I pay £230 for a car that sits on a drive 5 days a week, and it could be another one in front of them in the queue. Sadly, never had the chance.

 

[jarlrmai]

Don't approach the drivers is reasonable thing to request, but I generally get the feeling that it allows a boilerplate letter to be sent to you saying something about having spoken to the driver and training whereas in actual fact not much has happened behind the scenes.

 

[Matthew_T]

If people are happy with the response, please like the comment, I have cut out the bit relating to road tax.

 

[Hip Priest]

O

Concentrate on the issue surrounding the right to use the road. That's the main issue with the other drivers.

Road Tax is just a sore subject. I've yet to have anyone tell that to me on the bike, I'd quite like to remind them that I pay £230 for a car that sits on a drive 5 days a week, and it could be another one in front of them in the queue. Sadly, never had the chance.

Yep. If you start saying VED and 1937 you just baffle the motorist and end up looking like Mr Logic from Viz. My favoured response is 'I pay as much road tax as any other zero emission vehicle', but I've only had to use it once and that was on my dad!