Bus and Cyclist trying to share Cycle Lane

pedalpursuit · January 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5JBlas ... e=youtu.be

Bus driver squeezes through traffic by going on cycle lane, and nearly taking me out. Then he salutes me with the middle finger.
I normally don't complain but a lot of drivers apologies this guy was just plain rude. Sadly camera was to low to see his face.

TFL sent me what I guess is a standard apologetic letter...

'I want you to know that we work with organisations that represent cyclists, to develop specialist training. This makes bus drivers more aware of what it’s like to be a cyclist in London. We’ve also introduced ‘Bikeability’ training for bus driver instructors, and events where bus drivers and cyclists swap roles.'
Hope the above is true.

markhewitt1978 · January 2015

He was miles away from you.

What's with the silence and then loud music?

arthur_scrimshaw · January 2015

pedalpursuit wrote:

Bus driver squeezes through traffic by going on cycle lane, and nearly taking me out. Then he salutes me with the middle finger.
I normally don't complain but a lot of drivers apologies this guy was just plain rude. Sadly camera was to low to see his face.

TFL sent me what I guess is a standard apologetic letter...

'I want you to know that we work with organisations that represent cyclists, to develop specialist training. This makes bus drivers more aware of what it’s like to be a cyclist in London. We’ve also introduced ‘Bikeability’ training for bus driver instructors, and events where bus drivers and cyclists swap roles.'
Hope the above is true.

There you go, what more could you ask for? Ask them to get that driver to swap with you for a day and give him the middle finger as you try to wipe him along the pavement using his bus.

That's what they mean don't they?

pedalpursuit · January 2015

markhewitt1978 wrote:

He was miles away from you.

What's with the silence and then loud music?

Sorry will try and get rid of the music.
I guess the bus driver was within his rights to turn into the cycle lane without indicating squeeze through the cars drop passengers of in the middle of the road instead of pulling into the bus stop too.

The Rookie · January 2015

The cycle lane appeared to be bordered by a solid white line, in which case he committed a criminal offence by using it, that said no real direct safety issue as you were a way back when he did it.

pedalpursuit · January 2015

The Rookie wrote:

The cycle lane appeared to be bordered by a solid white line, in which case he committed a criminal offence by using it, that said no real direct safety issue as you were a way back when he did it.

Fair enough. I did manage to stop safely and this kind of stuff happens all the time, but what annoyed me I went to speak to the driver to warn him that he did not even indicate that he was turning, his immediate response was to stick up the middle finger with out uttering one word...
Not the kind of response you want from a professional Driver.

The Rookie · January 2015

If its a solid white line you need to impress upon TfL that the driver committed a criminal offence, not just a poor manoeuvre!

cookeeemonster · January 2015

Happens all the time on upper Thames street. I reported a particularly bad example to tfl...who basically told me not to worry...they'll take that bit of the cycle lane away so it's not illegal for them to do it.

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awavey · January 2015

but unless I mistaken (been too long staring at computer screens today), thats not a solid white line, thats still a broken line cycle lane, not that it excuses pulling over like that at all, I think we can safely conclude the bus driver is a bit of a t**t. but just need to be mindful sometimes of how we react to these things

youve reported it, theyve responded in their usual manner, I know not whether it makes a real difference and the driver is given a talking to, or just generally reminded, but thats probably as good as its going to get.

slowbike · January 2015

pedalpursuit wrote:

Bus driver squeezes through traffic by going on cycle lane, and nearly taking me out.

This is part of the reason why I don't like cycle lanes - other riders are filtering on the outside of the traffic and you (and I assume some others?) are riding in a dubiously narrow, dashed line cycle lane on the nearside - where drivers are not always expecting you to be.

Yes, the bus driver was a censored - but that's not the way to implement a cycle lane. It's just not clear enough and (afaik) holds no legal status as vehicles can cross into it if they wish.

pedalpursuit · January 2015

awavey wrote:

but unless I mistaken (been too long staring at computer screens today), thats not a solid white line, thats still a broken line cycle lane, not that it excuses pulling over like that at all, I think we can safely conclude the bus driver is a bit of a t**t. but just need to be mindful sometimes of how we react to these things

youve reported it, theyve responded in their usual manner, I know not whether it makes a real difference and the driver is given a talking to, or just generally reminded, but thats probably as good as its going to get.

Thanks.
And you are right it's not a white solid line. I wrongly assumed that the all type of cycle lanes were exclusive for cyclists.

pedalpursuit · January 2015

slowbike wrote:

pedalpursuit wrote:

Bus driver squeezes through traffic by going on cycle lane, and nearly taking me out.

This is part of the reason why I don't like cycle lanes - other riders are filtering on the outside of the traffic and you (and I assume some others?) are riding in a dubiously narrow, dashed line cycle lane on the nearside - where drivers are not always expecting you to be.

Yes, the bus driver was a censored - but that's not the way to implement a cycle lane. It's just not clear enough and (afaik) holds no legal status as vehicles can cross into it if they wish.

I agree the cycle lane are very confusing. I would have been better off riding on the outside of the traffic, but it is bit nerve racking when traffic starts moving and some motorists don't let you back into the lane.

tangled_metal · January 2015

That is what annoys me is that these in lane cycle lanes have no legal standing. We have a few here and if they were enforcable then they would prevent that lane being used by anything other than motorbikes and cyclists. One I'm thinking of is just a cycle lane marked in one of the two lanes in the one way road. Takes about 1/3rd of the lane up but dashed line so not enforcable despite being coloured red.

This was so the council can claim it made X miles of cycleway to conform to government targets way back I believe. It all adds up including those 5m ones that directs cyclists directly into dangerous traffic, meets targets not requirements.

Personally, I have a tendancy to ride on the outside line of cycle lanes that re within traffic flow. Not sure if a good idea but I think it gets me noticed and therefore makes me a bit safer. Plus keeps me out of the debris that is often within them.

roger_merriman · January 2015

Thats the section between priory lane and queens ride yes?

The cycle lane there is dashed and is only advisery ie no legal standing, the bus needs to use the cycle lane to fit into two lanes of traffic, the way it was done was aggressive.

Personally I follow the cycle lane if traffic is flowing freely, and as soon as it starts to slow pull out to prevent foolish manovers I rarely filter much there as normally isn't worth the effort.

The Rookie · February 2015

pedalpursuit wrote:

I wrongly assumed that the all type of cycle lanes were exclusive for cyclists.

All in the highway code, as a highway user..........

pedalpursuit · February 2015

roger merriman wrote:

Thats the section between priory lane and queens ride yes?

The cycle lane there is dashed and is only advisery ie no legal standing, the bus needs to use the cycle lane to fit into two lanes of traffic, the way it was done was aggressive.

Personally I follow the cycle lane if traffic is flowing freely, and as soon as it starts to slow pull out to prevent foolish manovers I rarely filter much there as normally isn't worth the effort.

That's correct but it's actually only one lane it becomes 2 lanes just before the bus stop. You can see how close he is to the other cars, I honestly don't know how he didn't take any mirrors with him.

The Rookie · February 2015

pedalpursuit wrote:

I honestly don't know how he didn't take any mirrors with him.

Good driving?

roger_merriman · February 2015

pedalpursuit wrote:

roger merriman wrote:

Thats the section between priory lane and queens ride yes?

The cycle lane there is dashed and is only advisery ie no legal standing, the bus needs to use the cycle lane to fit into two lanes of traffic, the way it was done was aggressive.

Personally I follow the cycle lane if traffic is flowing freely, and as soon as it starts to slow pull out to prevent foolish manovers I rarely filter much there as normally isn't worth the effort.

That's correct but it's actually only one lane it becomes 2 lanes just before the bus stop. You can see how close he is to the other cars, I honestly don't know how he didn't take any mirrors with him.

Um I was talking about the cycle lane, its self. How ever selfish and aggressive they may be taxi/buses do seem to have good awareness of the size of the vehicle.

Initialised · February 2015

You see that flap on the back of the bus?

Under there is a lever that will temporarily disable the bus.

Bus and Cyclist trying to share Cycle Lane

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