Just now...

Cab · June 2007

Have a bit of a dickie belly, theres a bug gone round at work, and of course the loos are being serviced so its 250 paces to the nearest bog... So I cycled home to be closer to my own loo.

Got to a red light at the end of Magdelene Street, in an ASL, cycle goes through in front of me and the white line, has a kids trailer, car behind me, then another car, then a bus. Lights changed, I was signalling to turn right and did so, the cyclist in front turned right without signalling, I went past him and off up Chesterton Lane (becomes Chesterton Road in a hundred yards or so).

Bus took a few moments getting past the other cyclist, then he closed in right behind me. So close that I couldn't dare pull over, so I didn't. Honked me, I looked over my shoulder and he was pointing to the left. Heck, I had nowhere to go, with traffic on the other side of the road there wasn't room to overtake. So I gave him the finger.

Got to the newish traffic island, definitely no room for him to overtake there, to go into the cycle lanes there would be suicide with a bus that close behind. So I stayed where I was, and after that there was room to let him pass.

Naturally, he did, but with inches to spare, I think he actually brushed my shirt sleeve. I told him about this at the stop ahead, he yelled at me that I should have been further over. I told him to get a highway code and read it.

Just phoned the company (Stagecoach in Cambridge) and surprise surprise, their 'operations manager' isn't available. I'll phone again now.

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dondare · June 2007

Are you going to tell them that you were cycling home to use the toilet? If it was me I'd leave that bit out.

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Cab · June 2007

Aha...

Got through to them, they've now got the details, will check to see what their cameras have, and they'll be back to me.

If the busses have cameras, then thats it, I'm getting one too.

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The Endorser · June 2007

Why should you move over? It's the bus drivers responsibility as the person initiating the overtaking manoeuver to ensure he does so safely. You've done precisely the right thing and recognised that you are a slow(er) moving vehicle and pulled across at the first safe opportunity to allow him to pass. Don't know what the chumps problem is.

Oh, hope your tummy gets better.

Taking the moral high ground since 1969

Cab · June 2007

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

Are you going to tell them that you were cycling home to use the toilet? If it was me I'd leave that bit out.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I left that bit out [:D]

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domtyler · June 2007

Yet again you are guilty of not following standard advice. You should have TOTALLY BLANKED the bus driver when he beeped/shouted, what did giving him the finger gain you?

Your second mistake; knowing that you had an impatient and aggressive driver on your tail you should not have given him the chance to overtake until you had left the road. YOU let him perform the dangerous manoeuvre. Next time don't.

Seriously, write this stuff down on flash cards and stick them around your house.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Porridge not Petrol
________
Oregon Marijuana Dispensary

magnatom · June 2007

Buses sitting right behind you are a nightmare. Does anyone actually have any numbers for a single deckers stopping distance.

Remember Cab that the bus should/may have some forward facing CCTV so make sure that the company investigates this and looks at the CCTV (you could demand a copy of it under freedom of information I believe.

Also make it formal and follow up with a letter. Good luck!

Alcdrewcp · June 2007

I agree, the way your story started I thought you were going to sh*t your self on the bike, and tell us all how good it was as extra padding!! (Although if the bus was that close maybe you did sh*t yourslef and just mentioned the "bug" so you can blame that)

______________________________________________________________
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The Endorser · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by magnatom(you could demand a copy of it under freedom of information I believe
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">the bus company is probably a private firm, so they can't be compelled to do this by a private individaul.

Cab, why don't you go to their offices on the pretence of seeing the manger and completely smell up their loos?

Taking the moral high ground since 1969

magnatom · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by The Endorser
the bus company is probably a private firm, so they can't be compelled to do this by a private individaul.

Cab, why don't you go to their offices on the pretence of seeing the manger and completely smell up their loos?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Fair enough, although you could still demand to see it. You can but try....

Cab · June 2007

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

Yet again you are guilty of not following standard advice. You should have TOTALLY BLANKED the bus driver when he beeped/shouted, what did giving him the finger gain you? <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Nothing. It was a mistake.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Your second mistake; knowing that you had an impatient and aggressive driver on your tail you should not have given him the chance to overtake until you had left the road. YOU let him perform the dangerous manoeuvre. Next time don't.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

In fairness, he had plenty of space to pull past whatever I did there, there was little traffic on the other side of the road and he had to pull out to get past some parked cars on our side anyway. I pulled over a little, a tiniest amount to take what is my normal line on that section of road (a tiny bit less primary but still assertive) because that IS a section where its safe to overtake.

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Cab · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by The Endorser
Cab, why don't you go to their offices on the pretence of seeing the manger and completely smell up their loos?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Excellent idea, with only one drawback. Have you ever been in a bus depot lavatory?

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Cab · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by magnatom
Also make it formal and follow up with a letter. Good luck!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yep, will certainly be doing that. Nothing to be gained from informal complaints.

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xio · June 2007

Don't think it's freedom of information act you're after - isn't it covered by data protection act, and any registered company is obliged to provide the 'information' within a reasonable time frim at a not unreasonable cost. Of course I could just be talking out of my a rse - it wouldn't be the first time.

Regulator · June 2007

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

Don't think it's freedom of information act you're after - isn't it covered by data protection act, and any registered company is obliged to provide the 'information' within a reasonable time frim at a not unreasonable cost. Of course I could just be talking out of my a rse - it wouldn't be the first time.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

It will be covered by the CCTV provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998. If you appear on video you can request a copy of the video - there can be cahrge of up to œ50 to be supplied with a permanent copy.

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Mister Paul · June 2007

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

Yet again you are guilty of not following standard advice. You should have TOTALLY BLANKED the bus driver when he beeped/shouted, what did giving him the finger gain you?

Your second mistake; knowing that you had an impatient and aggressive driver on your tail you should not have given him the chance to overtake until you had left the road. YOU let him perform the dangerous manoeuvre. Next time don't.

Seriously, write this stuff down on flash cards and stick them around your house.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That's a bit harsh. Maybe he didn't do things perfectly, but intimidation (or bullying, which is what it is) is pretty nasty, and we aren't all confident robots programmed to do exactly the right thing every time.

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What we need is a new, national White Bicycle Plan

The Endorser · June 2007

Ah, worth knowing.

I have been in bus station loos, but never for the purposes of having a dump!

Taking the moral high ground since 1969

domtyler · June 2007

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

That's a bit harsh. Maybe he didn't do things perfectly, but intimidation (or bullying, which is what it is) is pretty nasty, and we aren't all confident robots programmed to do exactly the right thing every time.

__________________________________________________________
What we need is a new, national White Bicycle Plan
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Are you a confident little robot? [:)]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Porridge not Petrol
________
SUZUKI GSX-R SERIES HISTORY

Cab · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Mister Paul
That's a bit harsh. Maybe he didn't do things perfectly, but intimidation (or bullying, which is what it is) is pretty nasty, and we aren't all confident robots programmed to do exactly the right thing every time.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

His first bit of criticism was fair though. I didn't need to make a rude gesture towards the bus driver.

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top_bhoy · June 2007

Maybe not, but sometimes when cars/buses are up your ar5e and you're left with little room for manouvering, frustrations can and do set in - all perfectly understandable and something I'd do myself, with regrets in hindsight of course.[}:)]

This is my bike:
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p66/ ... ure001.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p66/ ... ure002.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p66/ ... ure003.jpg

Regulator · June 2007

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

Ah, worth knowing.

I have been in bus station loos, but never for the purposes of having a dump!

Taking the moral high ground since 1969
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Cottaging again officer? [:)]

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The Endorser · June 2007

I was thinking more of a sneaky smoke when no one was looking!

Taking the moral high ground since 1969

Just now...

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