Bendy buses- just what we already knew

rothbook · June 2007

Bendy buses 'double injury rate'

Bendy buses operate on 12 of London's 700 routes
Pedestrians in London are twice as likely to be hit by a bendy bus than any other bus, figures released by the Liberal Democrats show.
The Transport for London (TfL) statistics also showed that cyclists were almost three times as likely to be injured by a bendy bus.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6729963.stm

Hackbike 6 · June 2007

Pedestrians are more likely to be hit by a bendy bus because they are stupid.
Marvelous twelve routes and I bump into them more than once on my commute.Literally.[}:)]

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mjones · June 2007

Rothbook, as per the similar discussion in Campaign, care must be taken with these figures because they don't take account of exposure. The bendy buses are used on busier routes, so are more likely to meet cyclists and pedestrians. Let's be careful to avoid making the same mistake as P. Smith and his 'cyclists are a greater risk to pedestrians than WVM' statistics.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Dismissing the claims the TfL spokeswoman said the data has been misinterpreted: "By definition they (bendy buses) encounter many more road users, not just cyclists and pedestrians, than many other bus routes in London.

"It is not comparing like with like to equate these services on the busiest routes with quieter ones.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

plusgourmande · June 2007

I love these free buses!

Hackbike 6 · June 2007

haha![:D]

Hackbike 8 Commuting Debut 09/09/2006Dawes Audax 2006 New 20/09/2006 

 Cycle Commuting since 1981 

Cycling Proficiency Test 24 May 1977 (30 years ago)

 Ride to work part 1 of 8 http://tinyurl.com/ypjapc
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jedster · June 2007

I take the point on needing to consider exposure and would also add that its probably better to think of accidents per passenger carried than per vehicle but...

Surely it's obvious that bendy buses introduce additional risks:
1. more likely to get trapped outside a bendy bus when the driver pulls out after you have committed to overtake
2. left hook crush a la tractor trailer rigs
3. more difficult for driver to observe all the other road user around his larger perimeter

It would be amazing if they were not involved in more accidents, surely?

mjones · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jedster

I take the point on needing to consider exposure and would also add that its probably better to think of accidents per passenger carried than per vehicle but...

Surely it's obvious that bendy buses introduce additional risks:
1. more likely to get trapped outside a bendy bus when the driver pulls out after you have committed to overtake
2. left hook crush a la tractor trailer rigs
3. more difficult for driver to observe all the other road user around his larger perimeter

It would be amazing if they were not involved in more accidents, surely?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I agree, there are good reasons to be concerned. But that still doesn't excuse drawing conclusions about relative risk from figures that don't take account of exposure. There may be a real problem hidden within those figures, but as presented they don't show it.

Don't forget that something that is more obviously hazardous will encourage people to take greater care, so it doesn't automatically follow that there will be corresponding increase in the number of accidents when exposure is taken into account.

rothbook · June 2007

Good points well made mjones, ta.

mjones · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by rothbook

Good points well made mjones, ta.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Cheers- anyway, we wouldn't want to infringe you-know-who's copyright on risk comparison would we! [;)]

Tynancp · June 2007

given me a few frights this week, they weren't around last time I was cycling, from the back they look like a regular bus, I find out it's not when I start of pass it, if they do do something that involves it bending it can need some adjustment, not always on if you;ve got traffic on the other side

yes, they more dangerous than regular buses for cyclists at least, right up there with those HGVs with rear steering, that might have been my nearest ever miss to a serious accident

Bendy buses- just what we already knew

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