Cycling UK Forum

Cycling to Hull train station from parents this morning and 3 mins from station get overtaken within an outstretched arm (less than 18") on one of the road bridges that straddle the river by a double decker bus. That I could just about deal with, what I couldn't and what set me off was the driver then proceeded to slant in right on top of me causing me to veer and brake sharply otherwise i'd have being struck
I'm about centre of the left hand lane here halfway across https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.74793 ... 56!6m1!1e1 so there's a full lane to overtake.

On top of that he pulls up at a red at the pedestrian crossing approx 75m away and then the bus stop a further 50m, felt like proper MGIF
I've caught him at the crossing and banged on the window hard twice with my fist as my adrenaline has gone into overdrive and to remonstrate, I explain how close was with a few expletives but he pushes his vehicle past me brushing against me and I cycle on only to realise he's stopping at the stop. I move in front to stop the vehicle and and try get the bus details . He basically sneers at me "I've got CCTV" and "call the police then", I thought right you bleep I will.
I was trying to get my phone out but my rucksack strap was stopping me from getting it out so resign to carry on as I have the bus number (not the reg) and I've a train to catch plus guard strike affecting services so didn't want to chance any last minute hiccup.

got my train South, left details on the bus company's site whilst travelling and when got home rang the police (they asked if I had footage but I left my Ion Air pro cam at home) and have reported as dangerous driving which I will be pressing for and not 'careless'. Immediately after rang EYMS to follow up my written complaint.

Will see what outcome I get and report back.

Your experience doesn't sit well with the words on their website. It'll be interesting to see what response the bus company gives. EYMS appears to be a smallish limited company.
The buses round here generally seem to give me ample room. Many are part of Govia. I wonder if the drivers have had any training.

I used them a lot as a kid and always came across as being a community service, I know they've being around a long time but that means squat.

The lady i spoke to at EYMS said from what i'd described it fell way short of what they expect, i did say that driving like that I experienced is what will eventually kill or maim someone, it's just a matter of time and that driver shouldn't be allowed in charge of a car never mind a 15ton public service vehicle.

That happened to me once in Cambridge (1981 ish). I had to dismount and drag the bike onto the pavement to avoid being hit.

At least it should be on video...

Cambridge has not got better. Same thing happened to me from Stagecoach. The guy goes for a non existent gap in front of me and so has to pull in and cut me off. We were all just accelerating off from traffic lights.

I said to him he should not pull in on me, and he said I should not speed up when a bus was behind me. When he overtook I could touch his bus with my arm out. I do not have arms the width of a car.

The arm width was when he started overtaking. This then got less as he cut in on me.

There are crap drivers with all companies so I think it's unfair to point fingers at any of them unless there are serial cases of bad driving towards cyclists. All PSV drivers are supposed to have an awareness course every year so there's no excuse for bad driving like these instances.

18 inches is a veritable mile, whilst not nice I reckon I get passed at that or closer at least once on every bike journey often on roads empty of any other traffic.

Maybe i'll dig out my semaphore arm, it's about somewhere still - they will give a wider berth if they think their precious tin box might be damaged!

foxyrider wrote:There are crap drivers with all companies so I think it's unfair to point fingers at any of them unless there are serial cases of bad driving towards cyclists. All PSV drivers are supposed to have an awareness course every year so there's no excuse for bad driving like these instances.

18 inches is a veritable mile, whilst not nice I reckon I get passed at that or closer at least once on every bike journey often on roads empty of any other traffic.

Maybe i'll dig out my semaphore arm, it's about somewhere still - they will give a wider berth if they think their precious tin box might be damaged!

The (less than) 18" was when it initially came alongside, it was when it started cutting in it was much much closer,a vertible mile you say, okay, whatever That there was an empty lane in the same direction with no vehicles in it otherwise there simply would be no space to come past in the first place without being run right over shows the deliberateness of the action.
Maybe if you have a family member have a very close call, be injured or worse killed you might think twice about your "unfair to point fingers at any of them" statement because frankly that's utter nonsense. Basically you're saying it's only fair to point the finger if they drive dangerously putting peoples lives at risk multiple times

I wasn't suggesting you don't complain or that it's not dangerous but the insinuation is that all EYMS (insert any company here) drivers are bad and dangerous is not helpful.

Contrary to popular belief most drivers are not out to kill you - that doesn't mean they drive well all the time, there are plenty on the road who should never have a licence.

If you think i've no experience. Well that's your choice, I have been forced off the road on numerous occasions, left pedal marks down the side of vehicles (that means zero inches distance hence my comment about 18 said units).

It is worth identifying the bus or bus company:

http://road.cc/content/news/219360-fami ... y%E2%80%99

This does give the company a chance to make sure their drivers are trained.

However I am cynical of companies that trot out the usual boiler plate that safety is our primary concern etc etc when actually profit is. Another consideration is that drivers may be under such pressure in overcrowded cities that they end up frazzled and can then take their frustrations out on vulnerable road users i.e. pedestrians and cyclists.

Rather than sweep these near misses under the carpet we need some system to record them so that avoiding action can be taken. For example it may be the case in London that cycling is so dangerous that it is worth building separate cycle tracks.

atlas_shrugged wrote:It is worth identifying the bus or bus company:

http://road.cc/content/news/219360-fami ... y%E2%80%99

This does give the company a chance to make sure their drivers are trained.

However I am cynical of companies that trot out the usual boiler plate that safety is our primary concern etc etc when actually profit is. Another consideration is that drivers may be under such pressure in overcrowded cities that they end up frazzled and can then take their frustrations out on vulnerable road users i.e. pedestrians and cyclists.

Rather than sweep these near misses under the carpet we need some system to record them so that avoiding action can be taken. For example it may be the case in London that cycling is so dangerous that it is worth building separate cycle tracks.

Or it may be the case that cycling in London is so dangerous that we need more police out catching the dangerous drivers.................as some other forces are doing.
You can't build a cycle track on every street. So dangerous driving is what needs to be tackled rather than spending a fortune building a patchy, and often useless, infrastructure. Also where there are paths, drives seem to think cyclists should use them even when they are more dangerous than the road. I'd rather see a wider road and more enforcement of good driving all round than cycle paths, which unless they are 'off road' completely like old railways lines, are pretty much always worse then nothing wherever I have used them.

@Flinders

Completely agree with your points:
UK cycle path building is terrible. This because it is possible to compare directly with the wondrous cycle paths in Netherlands, Germany, and Austria. UK paths have skid risk paving, force cyclists to turn through 90 degrees, they are not smooth, not cleared of wet leaves and fallen branches, have many blind junctions to cross, not continuous etc etc. However there are good paths in Holland, Germany and Austria so it can be done.

The CPS/Police could prosecute bad driving and take them off the road. On todays 16 mile ride I had 8 really good overtakes by HGV drivers and coaches - absolute text book overtaking. The booby prize for a non-cars width overtake went to a Police car.

A very effective way of forcing good overtaking exists in France with Presumed Liability on car insurance. I was really impressed with how well the French drivers in Normandy overtook. Any accident and it is the car drivers fault - unless they can prove otherwise.