Bus complaint reply

magnatom · June 2007

Here is the reply I got about the following incident http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhyhsbphdoM

Seems reasonable to me apart from the typos etc. Hopefully next time this driver will keep his distance and not attempt to bully me off the road.

Dear xx xxxxxxx

Re: Service 118 - Incident, Anniesland Cross - 31 May 2007

Thank you for your E mail of 01 June 2007, regarding the above.

I would like to express my genuine regret that you have found it necessary to contact us again about the poor driving standards of one of our staff. At the outset, I would like to offer my apologises to you that the incident occurred.

Please let me assure you that the Company views your experience as being of a serious nature. I acknowledge your concerns and can tell you that an investigation was carried out by the Depot Operations Manager at Scotstoun.

The driver concerned was identified and appropriate taken, including his being reassessed for his professional capability, particularly in respect to the awareness of other road users and specifically cyclists.

There are ongoing efforts by the Company to provide training and periodic refresher training to all staff, including instruction and training on matters relating to safe driving.

I know this letter cannot make up for the experience which you encountered, but I do hope it will go some way to reassure you that the Company takes the issues outlined in your E mails very seriously and will continue to make every effort to provide a safe and courteous bus service to all our customers and indeed other road users.

Yours sincerely,

XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Executive Director


Complaining can make a difference.

Hairy Jock · June 2007

Good work Magnatom

A hirsute Scotsman.

**************

Best advice I ever got was "better get a bike then"
Cycle commuting since 1994. Blog with cycle bits.

Cab · June 2007

Good stuff. But its hard work if we're having to teach the bus drivers, one at a time, how to do their smegging jobs safely.

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domtyler · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Cab
Good stuff. But its hard work if we're having to teach the bus drivers, one at a time, how to do their smegging jobs safely.

Free baby elephants for every citizen
Vote Arch for Prime Minister
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

We don't, we use the tools that we have at our disposal, road position etc. to control how others act around us and/or put enough distance between us that it doesn't matter when they fu** up/turn pyscho.

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Cab · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by domtyler
We don't, we use the tools that we have at our disposal, road position etc. to control how others act around us and/or put enough distance between us that it doesn't matter when they fu** up/turn pyscho.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

And that works about 99% of the time.

Theres a narrow section of road I use every day; if you're going in to Cambridge city centre rather than out of it, you have priority over oncoming traffic. The other guy is meant to wait and give way to oncoming vehicles.

Once a week or so I'll have someone coming along there, not giving way, as I approach. I can slow down and let him come, even though he should have been more aware and seen me coming. Maybe one of those times in three the other guy only enters the narrow section after I've already got into it, even though I'm right in the middle. There isn't safe room to pass while moving, so I have to stop in the middle, halt traffic entirely, and then go.

Road positioning gets you a long way but not all of the way. The other guy has to obey some of the rules too. Magdelene Street in Cambridge (my above example) shows that quite well I think.

Oh, and it took dozens of complaints before the local bus company cottoned on to this and started telling their drivers to obey the law there.

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Oddballcp · June 2007

That's a lot of kisses (s)he put at the bottom of the letter.

http://victoryatseaonline.com/war/kellys.html

magnatom · June 2007

Cab,

Yes, but this is the second time I have complained to this company and the first time I complained I suggested that they should take part in the Give Cyclists Room campaign which they are about to, over the next couple of weeks (it keeps getting delayed!). Suggest that to the bus company when you write to them. (You can quote that First Glasgow are about to take part - displaying stickers on buses - if that helps).

Let them know that this would be taking a positive step in saving peoples lives etc... Just make sure it sounds like it is their idea. [;)]

Or you could point them in the direction of Dave Holladay at the CTC (see here http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=4579).

Surely it's worth a punt?

magnatom · June 2007

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

That's a lot of kisses (s)he put at the bottom of the letter.
http://victoryatseaonline.com/war/kellys.html
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Old joke. Someone used that one the last time I posted a letter...[:D]

Cab · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by magnatom
Surely it's worth a punt?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Absolutely, especially the give cyclists room campaign.

Free baby elephants for every citizen
Vote Arch for Prime Minister

mazcp · June 2007

Agree with dom...road positioning is key.
And wear a hi-viz POLITE vest for the other 1% of occasions.

top_bhoy · June 2007

My way of thinking is that these types of campaigns are only paying lip service to the problem. The problem remains after the campaign is finished. It is my assertion, bus companies, bus drivers, car drivers, etc will only get the message driven home to them when more draconian penalties are meeted out. At the moment, we hear everyday of instances of near death experiences and its only by good luck that there are not more cyclists killed due to the negligence of others. More personal liability should also be aimed at transport directors where their drivers have been shown to be incompetent - obviously not necessarily on a singular incident.

If its any consolation - I don't think the situation is any better here in Oz than in Glasgow!

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

Norvcp · June 2007

Nice one Magnatom! That's appreciated by most cyclists no doubt.

On the other hand, most of your cycling seems to be based around conflict! Do you ever escape to the countryside on your bike to relax and have fun?!

That's curiosity by the way, not criticism.[:)]

......................

"Prejudice burns brighter when it's all we have to burn"

magnatom · June 2007

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

Nice one Magnatom! That's appreciated by most cyclists no doubt.

On the other hand, most of your cycling seems to be based around conflict! Do you ever escape to the countryside on your bike to relax and have fun?!

That's curiosity by the way, not criticism.[:)]

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

Glasgow definitely isn't the best designed city for cycling......

Unfortunately I don't get to cycle much for pleasure with my family and work commitments time is tight. Although now I have a child seat I might go out with the wee one for a ride or two over the summer.

I do actually enjoy commuting and most days nothing of note happens (honestly!). In fact this morning was a joy as I sailed passed a large queue of traffic!

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