Berated by a very angry bus driver when doing nothing wrong

scrumpydave

I'm after a bit of advice.

A bus driver got very angry with me today for taking the lane. I was preparing to turn right, and comfortably keeping up with traffic so I can't tell what this guy's problem was. Anyway, I was stopped at the junction where I intended to turn when I heard a horn behind me and some shouting. It took me a few seconds to realise it was aimed at me because as far as I was concerned I had not been in conflict at all with any other road users.

I turned around and the driver looked like he was having a heart attack shouting and pointing at the cycle lane on the left. I gestured that I was turning right, but there was no reasoning with this guy. I'm on edge now. This guy has the means to do me a lot of damage and I'm right in front of him. Thankfully my workplace was not far ahead so I got away from him pretty quickly.

So should I do anything about this? I think this sort of behaviour is totally unacceptable especially from someone who drives for a living. But on the other hand it was on my regular route to work and I don't want him to recognise me if I complain about him.

So to those of you who've experienced this sort of thing - what did you do? And what do you think I should do?

Thanks

ugo.santalucia

1) you are over dramatising the consequences of road rage... 99% of the times ends up there. I insult and get insulted on a weekly basis... never had any problem with sequels

2) If the thing bothers you, then report him to his employer... there is a slim chance he has some history in that sense.

GiantDance

I had a similar experience this morning, waiting behind a bus which had stopped at the red light, bus driver behind me sounding the horn and gesturing from me to get out the way. Put it down to them not being on strike tomorrow.

Strange bunch

dhope

Wot they said, don't worry about it. Bus driver sounds like a dick, but that's a far cry from him using the bus as a murder weapon.

slowbike

If I was in the OPs position I'd be tempted to get/fit a camera - just one of those cheapy ones from china - just in case the driver does it again ...
Ranting at someone is one thing - but I'd be concerned that he'd start using the bus to intimidate too ...

secretsam

1) Don't stress about it, highly unlikely the bus driver will remember you, you're one of zillions of cyclists
2) If it was really OTT, report him/her (but don't expect too much)

TBH, I've had a similar problem - once notably involving an off-duty copper, who pulled his warrant card, the shrivelled little d1ck. At the end of the day, you were in the right, and in a couple of days you'll have forgotten all about it. The driver involved will be knob-head forever.

ugo.santalucia

Slowbike wrote:

If I was in the OPs position I'd be tempted to get/fit a camera - just one of those cheapy ones from china - just in case the driver does it again ...
Ranting at someone is one thing - but I'd be concerned that he'd start using the bus to intimidate too ...

One for the front and one for the rear... and a body armour like those worn by DH mountain bikers... but that's passive aggressive... :?

Why not carrying a metal rod and smash cars' windows instead? That's proper aggressive...

bikes`n`guns

I`d have been tempted to ride along side his cab, shouting insults at him in an attempt to give him said heart attack.

anonymousblackfg

I've complained before and got an invite to a drivers hearing, sadly I couldn't make it and they refused to tell me what happened.

In London you can only complaint to TfL who then chase the offending bus company, it generally means you get little reply or action. Far better to just laugh at him, point out he's a bus driver and live to fight another battle.

scrumpydave

Cheers everyone. That's helped to put it in perspective. I'll calmly return to my default zen position and chalk it up to experience.

And I will take the lane tomorrow too, just like I do every day!

daddy0

I have complained about bus drivers before. If you can detail the bus number and exact time of day and location the powers that be can access the bus CCTV and check it out. I have had feedback twice when bus drivers aggressively tailgated me and shouted abuse at me - I am told that both drivers got a telling off.

IMO you must always report these twunts. They are meant to be professionals and are in charge of a massive piece of dangerous machinery, if they lose their cool over something as trivial as a cyclist slowing them down by a few seconds then they really shouldn't be doing that job. Its for their good as much as the general public's ;-)

Actually I had a bus driver beep me today because I didn't give way to him, I had right of way so he had no right to get angry. Yup, must be because the strike is off tomorrow.

rower63

I fear this sort of thing is going to get more common for those cyclists who choose to stick to the real road when segregated lanes start appearing.

ugo.santalucia

rower63 wrote:

I fear this sort of thing is going to get more common for those cyclists who choose to stick to the real road when segregated lanes start appearing.

...You got to watch them - Be quick or be dead
Snake eyes in heaven - The thief's in your head...

sswiss

You can't win with buses!
Stickers all over then: Don't pass on the inside, Frequently stopping, If I can't see you in my mirrors etc...and when you do get an opportunity to pass on the outside...they then pull out without putting a frikin' indicator on...like I'm psychic...and keep coming...somehow that's my fault....Idiot!
Was going to put this in Rants but saw the thread.....Rant over

jamesco

scrumpydave wrote:

So should I do anything about this?

Nah, nothing significant happened so it's not worth your effort.

anonymousblackfg wrote:

Far better to just laugh at him, point out he's a bus driver

Definitely don't take this recommendation unless you want to be deservingly run over by a big red bus:

:roll: