Videos: Bus driver's perspective

[downfader]

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JfvDtOBNvA


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9peNPneCDFE
(excuse the porn music on this )

I agree with the guy, poor choice of time to undertake and the lack of lights. Girl with the shopping bags is in dire need of pannier bags.

 

[Cab]

To be honest, I just don't particularly care if there is a cyclist without lights but I can see him (or her). Doesn't matter. Technical infringement of the law, and if they get caught, great. But I'm bored witless by how many times I hear people complain about the visible cylist without lights. They don't complain about, say, the cars visibly speeding on the motorway, or the cars visibly parking on the pavement.

Regarding the undertakes, yeah, that kind of sucks. Its often the problem with cycle lanes on the left of the traffic, if the traffic in the lane to the right just happens to slow right down, you're undertaking it. Oughtn't go past that van that wants to turn left there.

 

[thomas]

To be honest, I just don't particularly care if there is a cyclist without lights but I can see him (or her). Doesn't matter.

I've kind of stopped caring too. There are times though, that even when visible, I think you'd be silly not to have one...and even if you are visible, some drivers don't pay any attention.

I don't have any statistics, but I don't think many cyclists get hurt/killed due to not having lights? Certainly I've never heard of a case.

 

[ufkacbln]

Are they undertaking?

Arguably they are in a cycle lane that has a solid white line..... which should not be crossed or entered by another vehicle unless it is safe to do so Te cyclist technoically has priority

Now any experienced cyclist will know this is not the case, but ..

 

[yashicamat]

if the traffic in the lane to the right just happens to slow right down, you're undertaking it

I'm not convinced that's correct actually, Section 163 of the Highway Code states "If the queue on your right is moving more slowly than you are, you may pass on the left" . . . . I would be inclined to say that this applies to cycle lanes too, although obviously with caution.

 

[Dan B]

Undertaking is not an offence per se anyway, but may be cited as evidence for DWDC&A or careless driving or whatever. Obviously if you're doing it in accordance with HC recommendations that's unlikely.

Undertaking in the path of traffic that wants to turn left across you remains a dopey thing to do, though. Insofar as they encourage this behaviour, suicide lanes (which must include pretty much every single ASL feeder lane ever painted on a junction with a left turn) don't help

 

[Crankarm]

To be honest, I just don't particularly care if there is a cyclist without lights but I can see him (or her). Doesn't matter. Technical infringement of the law, and if they get caught, great. But I'm bored witless by how many times I hear people complain about the visible cylist without lights. They don't complain about, say, the cars visibly speeding on the motorway, or the cars visibly parking on the pavement.

Regarding the undertakes, yeah, that kind of sucks. Its often the problem with cycle lanes on the left of the traffic, if the traffic in the lane to the right just happens to slow right down, you're undertaking it. Oughtn't go past that van that wants to turn left there.

And so you have said many times before .

 

[Cab]

I've kind of stopped caring too. There are times though, that even when visible, I think you'd be silly not to have one...and even if you are visible, some drivers don't pay any attention.

I don't have any statistics, but I don't think many cyclists get hurt/killed due to not having lights? Certainly I've never heard of a case.

I guess we'd all agree here that you're better having a good set of lights! But I agree, and on every occasion I've had any motorist pull out too close in front of me at night, or pass too close, or in any way act like an ass, I've had lights on.

 

[Cab]

And so you have said many times before .

If you've a problem with it, don't read it. Turns out thats remarkably easy.

 

[gaz]

suicide lanes (which must include pretty much every single ASL feeder lane ever painted on a junction with a left turn) don't help

True that, i never use an ASL unless i know the road and know that it isn't one of those!

 

[Cab]

I find it irritating that at a junction where to get to the ASL the rational thing to do is go around the outside (where there is plenty of space), you're instead expected to go down a narrow undertaking lane through the extensive, overlapping blind spots of other vehicles. As a result, if you pop up 'out of nowhere' from around the outside, the driver in front is all too often quite aggressive as a result.

 

[Wheeledweenie]

I often queue in traffic rather than creep up the left to get to the ASL. I don't like creeping up the left anyway as, in my experience, a lot of people forget to indicate, if the traffic starts moving as you're doing it you can be trapped in someone's blind spot and cars are often so far over that you have to ride up the gutter and I hate that.

I particularly observe this when there are buses around, there are bendy one on my route and it's just too easy to get caught in a blind spot and squooshed.

 

[hackbike 666]

Ruined it at the end.

"Traffic jam coming up that's why I didn't rush."

So if there wasn't a traffic jam coming up would bus driver have rushed?

The visibility of the cyclists,peds was interesting.

 

[Davywalnuts]

I've recently changed my drawstring nylon bag from a dark blue one to a high vis one with reflectives as became increasily concerned this area was a downfall.. since the change over, the result has been massive and alot more room given by car lorries etc. Best £2.99 i've ever spent!

I've also spent the past months or so staying in lane rather than creeping up to an ASL and the respect I am getting from the majority or drivers has been impressive. As a friend said to me, your don't know what where these cyclist are going when your stationary in a car or moving slowly.. And neither do I when am sitting patently behind a vehicle!

 

[hackbike 666]

Best the earlier they see you IMHO.

I tend to have slightly different tactics for traffic lights now,not making it absolutely neccesary to draw up to the front.