Spot the red herring...

[briantrumpet]

An email exchange from today ... rarely do I write after a close pass, but this one deserved it:

Hi,

Thank you for your mail; we do take seriously any negative feedback regarding our drivers and I have spoken to the driver concerned about this. As a cyclist myself I know that although there are now very many designated cycle paths they cannot be available everywhere, which does mean other road users need to take extra care.

Kind regards

-----Original Message-----
Sent: 09 December 2014 11:54
To: enquiries
Subject: PO53 LRY

Hi,

I've just had a very close pass by one of your drivers while I was on my bike in Topsham Road in Exeter - the driver had to brake sharply and pull in behind me at the traffic lights at the junction with Barrack Road, then squeezed past with no more than 2ft clearance straight after the traffic lights, pulling back left immediately to avoid oncoming traffic.

You will no doubt be aware that lorries figure in a disproportionally high number of cyclist collisions and fatalities, so I'd be grateful if you could remind your drivers to take extra care round cyclists, and to allow plenty of space.

Many thanks.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Only when there are no cycle paths the lorry driver needs to watch?
Oh well, that's him told then!

 

[Cycleops]

At least you got a reply!

 

[Moodyman]

I thought both the complaint and the response were very civilised.

we all make mistakes and they've acknowledged the need for extra caution.

 

[briantrumpet]

Yes, at least I got a response, but I'm guessing that the driver said to the manager that I should have been riding on the 'bike path' (actually a pavement with a bike painted on, which is crossed by dozens of junctions, drives and other hazards in just a short section), and that the manager said she'd write a generalised "We take road safety seriously..." reply, without really castigating the driver. I'm unconvinced that the driver will have had his view changed that his driving was acceptable. There's no admission that the driver might have driven badly, or apology.

 

[Cycleops]

 

[hoski]

Yes, at least I got a response, but I'm guessing that the driver said to the manager that I should have been riding on the 'bike path' (actually a pavement with a bike painted on, which is crossed by dozens of junctions, drives and other hazards in just a short section)...

We have several such paths in Oxford. One tells you to give way to a tree.

 

[confusedcyclist]

He may have missed the point, but at least he bothered to have a word.

 

[glenn forger]

It could be read that he takes less care where there's a cycle lane.

 

[confusedcyclist]

Along with 99% of all other drivers then Glenn