Very poor bus driving

[goo_mason]

Yes, well done that man.

I've been on plenty of Lothian Buses in Edinburgh when the roads are down to one lane (and fenced in) with the tramworks, and the bus drivers sit behind the cyclists for a loooong time without any bother or honking.

Leith Walk's all uphill, so it can be hard going. And yet I've never ONCE seen a bus driver feel the need to 'let the cyclist know they're there' with a horn blast or try and squeeze by when the road widens a little. You'd have to be completely corned-beef to not know there was a bloody great, many-ton public transport vehicle right behind you anyway !!

I'd love to hear what Arriva say - I'm sure you'll remind them of your First Bus "Give Cyclists Room" fame / campaign

 

[Cab]

That would be an expression of surprise waffle not fear.

If you're 2-3m behind a cyclist and sound your horn, its most likely fear or, at least, concern. It isn't surprise because even with earphones in, he knows you are there. Don't do it.

 

[4F]

I don't know if this is actually directed at me or the driver in the mentioned in the OP.

Either way, I'm not 2-3m behind a cyclist more like 6-7m.

You sure about them hearing me? I doubt it as they would have to up the volume quite a bit in order to hear over all the background noise.

If some arsewipe sounds his horn irrespective of what he is driving in an attempt to make me move out of their way I have a tendancy to slow right down ignoring them.

 

[4F]

Not an attempt to make you move out the way, rather letting you know that I am there. You can tell the cyclist who is oblivious easily by the manner in which they ride.

I think we both know why the bus driver sounded his horn and it is not for the reason you state

 

[hackbike 6]

I would actually say that the cyclist was riding poorly, i.e. in the door zone, however, part of that might have had something to do with the 3 tonne bus behind him.

I find this quite offensive actually.

 

[hackbike 6]

Yes but I tend to come out of the door zone when I think it is dangerous.Generally if there is nobody in the car the doors don't generally open.

I think it would scare the hell out of me to do it while people are in a car.

I was taught to look out for people in idle parked cars on my cycling proficiency test in 1977.(I passed)

I would have thought other habits out there would be classed as poor cycling.I won't go into this because I really can't be bothered.

 

[Origamist]

Yes but I tend to come out of the door zone when I think it is dangerous.Generally if there is nobody in the car the doors don't generally open.

I think it would scare the hell out of me to do it while people are in a car.

I was taught to look out for people in idle parked cars on my cycling proficiency test in 1977.(I passed)

I would have thought other habits out there would be classed as poor cycling.I won't go into this because I really can't be bothered.

I was taught the same too. The difference is now that rear windows are often heavily tinted and it makes it harder to see the occupants of cars - particularly kids.

 

[hackbike 6]

I look in their wing mirrors as well.

 

[cheadle hulme]

I appreciate a beep now and again, but mainly in country lanes. You can usually tell which is informative and which is aggresive.

I once politely beeped a CTC group (well they looked CTC anyway) from about 200m back as I knew they wouldn't be expecting a car - waves and good karma all round as I passed.

Doesn't sound like this bus driver was being as helpful, but you never know.

 

[Origamist]

I look in their wing mirrors as well.

I used to do that too, but lots of drivers fold their wing mirrors in to avoid having them knocked off.

 

[BentMikey]

I think you are being a bit melodramatic?

The use of the horn was to let the cyclist know that the bus is there, 2-3m behind the cyclist is more then enough.

I don't understand your post you say that the cyclist was in the door zone, yet it is implied from the driver and your response that the cyclist ''was half way across the lane''

And you were wondering why I didn't want you driving your HGV anywhere near me? I think the above is shocking! Even 6-7m as stated in a later post as you're backing away from your foot in mouth moment is too close at anything more than 10mph.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

Ha..you'd be surprised waffle, many a time I've come across a cyclist that hasn't a clue what they are doing and would appear completely oblivious to all around them (most on their ipods). A quick blast of the horn I find ''wakes'' them up. They then turn around and...low and behold what is that big truck doing behind me slapped all over their face.

Are you deliberately being an ar$e, or does it come naturally?

The cyclist doesn't really *need* to know there's a truck or any other vehicle behind him unless he/she is going to perform some change of direction/speed that may affect other vehicles (i.e. overtaking a parked car, turning right etc.).

Granted, it's always a good idea to be aware of your surroundings, but it's not a requirement for them to alter how they are cycling (assuming they are doing so safely and without specifically causing others problems) just because some to$$er in a bus/truck is there and wanting to hurry past.

It's the responsibility of the driver behind to assess if it's safe to overtake, not the responsibility of the cyclist to allow the vehicle past.

 

[4F]

Are you deliberately being an ar$e, or does it come naturally?

 

[Cab]

You sure about them hearing me?

Absolutely. Even if I hadn't, being on the road in a legal and sensible primary position in front of you is no justification for sounding your horn; to do so is aggressive and, if you care to check, illegal.

 

[Cab]

It's the responsibility of the driver behind to assess if it's safe to overtake, not the responsibility of the cyclist to allow the vehicle past.

And to be honest, the sounding his horn close behind has just declared to the world that he doesn't have a clue, meaning that I for one will be maintaining an even more assertive primary position to ensure that he doesn't overtake as impatiently as I think he might.