Sweet justice - sometimes the police are there when you want them to be!

[alicat]

On Thursday evening I got my own back with a bus driver who had passed me too close twice, the second time forcing me on to the pavement. I was cycling along Cycle Superhighway 2 towards Bow when a bus driver passed me too close twice. The first time I heard a horn before he passed me and the second time he was swerving further into the blue part of the bus lane to the extent that I bailed out and hopped on the pavement. I caught up with him a couple of bus stops before Bow roundabout and asked if he had hooted at me further back and was he aware he was passing me too close. He more or less ignored me and pulled away from the bus stop.

I passed him again then spotted about four police officers at Bow roundabout stopping cyclists for not having lights. I stopped and asked how to report dangerous driving. Their ears pricked up at something interesting to do and they boarded the bus when it reached the roundabout. The bus carried on round the roundabout then pulled in. They stayed on the bus for about five minutes with the bus full of passengers then let the driver continue his journey. They said they will be checking the CCTV on the bus.

They asked me what I wanted out of the incident besides them speaking to the driver and I asked them to speak to the driver's manager.

Apart from a quasi-comical moment when they pulled the wrong bus over (same route no 25 to Ilford, two buses in front, only one letter different in the number plate!) I was pleased that sometimes the police are there when you want them to be.

 

[semislickstick]

That's good to hear alicat!

 

[semislickstick]

....oh and you should probably play the lottery this week too

 

[gaz]

Rode on CS2 the other week and noticed the bus drivers where not the best. Several cyclists where talking to one about his poor overtakes.

 

[Archie_tect]

Excellent diversionary tactic to cover for not having lights on your bike alicat!

 

[wisdom]

Anyone here ever been fined for no lights.
I always use lights and always have done but a couple of years ago one of my work colleagues was stopped as he was riding on the pavement and was asked why.He got a bit arsey with the policeman and said its because he had no lights.Immediate fixed penalty notice.
Should have bought some lights it would have been cheaper.

 

[alicat]

It's amazing how many cyclists on the CS2 don't have lights. I sometimes ask if they know they aren't lit and the standard response is that the batteries ran out that morning. One cyclist claimed both front and back had gone earlier that day. Does that make it easier for a motorist to see them in some way?!

 

[snorri]

one of my work colleagues was stopped as he was riding on the pavement and was asked why.He got a bit arsey with the policeman and said its because he had no lights

Good one! Three important lessons in one brief minute, don't cycle without lights, don't cycle on the pavement and don't get arsey with the police. .

 

[HLaB]

Nice One.

My old club's ride last week was marred a bit by ice but the recovery came when one of the riders was skimmed by a car, with the rozzer's behind

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Had similar when a VWM took exception to me banging the side of his van (he was turning into me and squeezing me between railings)

WVM chased me through 2 red lights (I was about 14, he was a big burly bloke), and up a one way street the wrong way.

I hopped on the pavement and around the oncoming police car - WVM couldn't - I didn't stop around for long, but long enough to see that he had indeed been pulled.

 

[BentMikey]

Rode on CS2 the other week and noticed the bus drivers where not the best. Several cyclists where talking to one about his poor overtakes.

There are no camera cyclists on that route? Seems we need a few regulars who're willing to spend the time "edumacating" those drivers.

 

[gaz]

There are no camera cyclists on that route? Seems we need a few regulars who're willing to spend the time "edumacating" those drivers.

kmcyc and I think carsruleok does as well.

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

Yes,had quite few goes at bus drivers over that route.I just thought this happened everywhere though,but in bus drivers defence I don't really think they like cyclists squeezing past all the time or taking liberties.

It's amazing how many cyclists on the CS2 don't have lights. I sometimes ask if they know they aren't lit and the standard response is that the batteries ran out that morning. One cyclist claimed both front and back had gone earlier that day. Does that make it easier for a motorist to see them in some way?!

Yes,have noticed this a lot.

Have a commute (last week) on camera where the bus driver cut me up to get to the bus stop,funnily enough he held back the second time (probably because I wasn't too impressed first time) so I didn't post the video.That happened on Stamford Street near Blackfriars Bridge.

 

[SW19cam]

Interesting, and glad to hear the Police went and spoke with the driver.

I've been commuting the full length of CS2 for 8 weeks and I haven't noticed a problem with TFL buses. The ones that have stood out for me are the National Express and Terravision Coaches...

 

[Tynan]

Mile End Road? My route

Can#t say the buses bother me although there's a lot of them and they have to work hard to get in and out as there's so many other vehicles stopped in the bus lane, especially at the market bit, and a lot of cyclists, lots of them acting the cock and plenty unlit