I need some bullets for my pen.

Rev\'d Gatlin

I'm writing a letter of complaint and I wouldn't mind a little help with the killer phrases that leave no gaps for slime to slip through.

What happened was;

I was riding down Fleet Street last night just after 6. Sun was out, the traffic was not to heavy. I was in the outside lane doing a steady 25mph, it's a downhill drag, no big effort. I became aware of a bus behind me wanting to come past. The inside lane is a bus lane, it's been dug up so many times and is littered with pot holes, it's a bit of a bumpy ride. The lights at the Fleet Street-Farringdon Road junction were on red and I was only a couple of hundred yards from the junction. So I decided to hold my line and enjoy the smooth tarmac. This sent the bus driver into a rage. He overtook me on the inside, shouting abuse out of the window, then swerved infront of me. Then he tried to block the cycle box at the junction. When the lights turned to green and I pulled away ahead of him he sat inches from my back wheel revving his engine. There was no point in him coming past as we were in a line of traffic and he had nowhere to go but he was still trying to get past. The red mist had descended. He shouldn't have been in charge of a bus. Anyone who uses a vehicle as a weapon shouldn't be on the road.

I would like to make him aware of the unacceptable nature of his actions. I would like the bus company to send aggressive drivers for retraining. Phrases like, 'without due care and attention', ' acting in a manner likely to cause injury', spring to mind. But any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I did send him an on the spot tirade. Even a black cab driver chipped in on my side. But I want every driver to think twice before they use their vehicle to intimidate a cyclist.

Thanks for your help.

ride_whenever

We need more cyclists for angry mob justice.

Some of the bmxers i know have, on occasion chased busses, got on them and confronted the bus driver...

blu3cat

Hi, this sounds all too familiar unfortunately, although I have also been treated extremely courteously by some bus drivers, there are just some bad apples.

Make sure you know what you want the outcome to be from the company recieving your letter. This will give you something to aim for in terms of the letter.

You could try saying:

Not only did the bus driver endanger your life, he also risked the welfare and safety of the passengers.

The driver was obviously keen to ensure he kept to his timetable, but a collision with a cyclist would have unnecessarily delayed all passengers on both the drivers bus and that of all road users.

I think you have a nice phrase with using a vehicle as a weapon.

Good luck with the letter.

LittleB0b

It's worth pursuing - i recently heard about how in edinburgh LRT drivers have been given training on respecting cyclists (IIRC it included going out on bikes) - but also how since the depot got bike racks and changing facilities more drivers are riding to work - which can only be a good thing.

I presume this has come about through a mixture of complaints and dialogue with local cycle campaign.

edhornby

have a look on the bus companies website and if they have customer standards or service promises, or even jsut a mission statemen quote these back at them to show them how they've failed

if you can, find out the name of the MD and write directly to them. any customer complaint that potentially can fall into the hands of the boss gets better treatment

start the letter with the words 'I am writing to complain about the ....' so there's no confusion about why you're writing

finish off with your expected outcome - driver training, new bike, flowers for the wife

don't make it too long - one side of A4 max

Rev\'d Gatlin

Thanks for your help. I'll check out the Edinburgh bus scheme and see if I can suggest that. Thanks for the structure advice and the MD tip. I'm in the mood to write.

sicknote

Did you get the buses number as they have cameras now that will show what happened.

Homer J

If you mention in your letter that you will be seeking legal advice.... even if that means talking to citizens advice

Rev\'d Gatlin

Hello,

thanks for all the responses, they were very helpful. I've just got an email back from the bus company, they've managed to identify the driver and they have 'instigated disciplinary action'. The bus company were straight on it and acted quickly. Hopefully the word will get around and the odd bad driver will think twice before using his bus to intimidate.

Thanks again.

sicknote

I would guess that someone had a look at the video on the bus 8)
What a shame, not and glad its getting sorted.

Headhuunter

I know exactly where you mean. I usually find buses the least of my worries on the roads, they're usually driven by professionals who know how to handle a massive vehicle and in any case they're so large and slow moving and stop so frequently that once you've passed them you don't see them again.

I've seen fracas between buses and cyclists on Fleet St before though, it's a narrow road in parts and some drivers seem to think they are on a mission to pass any cyclist. I once saw a young guy on a fixie who had some gripe against a bus driver along Fleet St heading towards Waterloo Bridge, as the bus driver got to the next stop, he accelerated and as the door opened jammed himself and bike in the door so that the driver couldn't close it and drive away. The 2 then proceeded to have a slanging match with each other whilst the bus blocked all the traffic.

Rev\'d Gatlin

Headhuunter wrote:

I know exactly where you mean. I usually find buses the least of my worries on the roads, they're usually driven by professionals who know how to handle a massive vehicle and in any case they're so large and slow moving and stop so frequently that once you've passed them you don't see them again.

I agree, buses are normally not a problem. Black cabs are not a problem. The new comedy cabs with the Blue London transport logo's in the back window are obviously exempt from the Highway code. Skip lorries and dumper trucks are just scary, too big, too fast, the drivers are too young. One of the main pains is the actual cycle lanes. They've normally been dug up so many times, by any utility with a bucket and spade and are full of potholes. If they've got pubs or restaurants by them there's a fair chance of glass. By the very nature of their design they encourage cyclists to pass a line of vehicles up their blind sides. I had more problem at junctions with drivers turning left infront of me when I was using the cycle lane, now I'll sit in the middle of the lane or outside the right tailight of the car infront so I can fill his mirrors and if he turns left without indicating I'm out of the way. I think Boris needs to start delivering. After his near death experience I was expecting to see a bit of action. He's obviously perma-thick skinned and is happy to see the wiff waff dice with death daily.

Headhuunter

Black cabs are not usually a problem but they can be scary, they sometimes make sudden sharp movements - U turns without warning, sudden braking and pull over to pick up a fare etc. As you say the TFL badged mini cabs are awful, if had so many near run ins with them.

I too avoid cycle lanes, if they're not potholed, they're littered with manhole and glass or litter as you say. Generally in central London it's fairly safe to take the primary road position anyway as traffic is moving more slowly than my cycling speed.