Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Back to news
news
Transport
Video: How to teach bus drivers to give cyclists spaceSEST-SENAT close pass bus driver training (Facebook video still).JPG

Video: How to teach bus drivers to give cyclists space

Brazilian non-profit organisation includes simulated close passes as part of training
by Simon_MacMichael
Tue, Mar 15, 2016 12:53
13

Here’s an innovative approach to teaching bus drivers how to share space safely with cyclists – by getting them to pedal on static bikes while one of the vehicles they would normally be driving passes a bit too close for comfort.

The video below was posted to Facebook by Spanish-language site Avanzamos TV, which says it comes from Brazil.

The training was carried out in Cariacica in the state of Espirito Santo on the Atlantic coast by non-profit organisations SEST (the Social Transport Service) and SENAT (the National Transport Training Service).

Innovador Curso para Conductores de autobuses, le hacen sentir lo que sentimos los ciclistas. MIren sus caras lo dicen...

Posted by AvanzamosTv. Sport & Nature Experience on Saturday, 12 March 2016

Set up by the Brazilian government in 1993 with the backing of the National Transport Confederation, SEST and SENAT aim to encourage people into the country’s fast growing public transport sector and develop their skills as well as addressing the welfare and other needs of their families.

Here in the UK, a number of businesses in the haulage and public transport sectors, often with the backing of local authorities and transport bodies, encourage drivers of the vehicles they operate to experience life from the saddle with the aim of reinforcing how important it is to give cyclists room.

We’ve yet to hear of any deploying deliberate close passes so their employees can find out what that feels like at first hand – although judging by the guy who hops off his bike halfway through the Brazilian video, it’s sometimes way too close for comfort, as any cyclist knows.

close pass
Buses
Brazil
bus drivers
Simon MacMichael

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

Add new comment

13 comments

Avatar
whobiggs | 8 years ago
0 likes

Hey I've had traffic closer that that!

Avatar
Glasgow Cyclist | 8 years ago
2 likes

A useless comparison as they are fully expecting it and have faith that their fellow driver will not hit them.  (See how they laugh and wave with every pass.)   And as already pointed out, they're on static bikes where there's no need to adjust for debris, potholes or wind.

Looks more like a training exercise on how close a driver can get his bus.

Avatar
The _Kaner | 8 years ago
1 like

I am Spartabus!

 

Avatar
davel | 8 years ago
0 likes

I'll bear that in mind, Miyagi-san.

Avatar
LarryDavidJr | 8 years ago
0 likes

Is it just me that's thinking this is courting disaster?  Deliberatley driving that close sounds like a stupid idea, even if the cyclists can't actually move.

Avatar
vonhelmet | 8 years ago
9 likes

It winds me up no end that buses and lorries and the like have little stickers on the back telling me not to pass on the left of them, but they'll merrily fly past me on the right...

Avatar
forcrz6 | 8 years ago
1 like

Whilst I applaud the effort, they will never know how it feels until they have this happen whilst riding in the wind, or trying to avoid some type of hazard in the road, or trying to turn and having this happen when not expecting it with no horn and a busy street of sounds. 

Avatar
Colin Peyresourde replied to forcrz6 | 8 years ago
0 likes
forcrz6 wrote:

Whilst I applaud the effort, they will never know how it feels until they have this happen whilst riding in the wind, or trying to avoid some type of hazard in the road, or trying to turn and having this happen when not expecting it with no horn and a busy street of sounds. 

if you are turning without looking you really are in for a shock. 

Avatar
davel replied to Colin Peyresourde | 8 years ago
3 likes
Colin Peyresourde wrote:
forcrz6 wrote:

Whilst I applaud the effort, they will never know how it feels until they have this happen whilst riding in the wind, or trying to avoid some type of hazard in the road, or trying to turn and having this happen when not expecting it with no horn and a busy street of sounds. 

if you are turning without looking you really are in for a shock. 

The two camps on the Wiggo comments thread are starting to become clearer to me.

On the one hand is the perfect bunch of perfect cyclists who always follow all the rules perfectly and never encounter situations that are beyond their control because of their perfect cycling.

The rest of us ride a bike in the real world.

Avatar
fukawitribe replied to davel | 8 years ago
0 likes
davel wrote:
Colin Peyresourde wrote:
forcrz6 wrote:

Whilst I applaud the effort, they will never know how it feels until they have this happen whilst riding in the wind, or trying to avoid some type of hazard in the road, or trying to turn and having this happen when not expecting it with no horn and a busy street of sounds. 

if you are turning without looking you really are in for a shock. 

The two camps on the Wiggo comments thread are starting to become clearer to me.

On the one hand is the perfect bunch of perfect cyclists who always follow all the rules perfectly and never encounter situations that are beyond their control because of their perfect cycling.

The rest of us ride a bike in the real world.

If all you can see is two camps, then you see nothing. 

Avatar
davel replied to forcrz6 | 8 years ago
2 likes
forcrz6 wrote:

Whilst I applaud the effort, they will never know how it feels until they have this happen whilst riding in the wind, or trying to avoid some type of hazard in the road, or trying to turn and having this happen when not expecting it with no horn and a busy street of sounds. 

Yep - good effort, but being static on a stand really isn't the same thing. 

Avatar
kie7077 | 8 years ago
0 likes

The youtube link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zT74IMdBi3I

Avatar
Paul Bishop | 8 years ago
1 like

Scared the life out of me just watching the video.    

 

Latest Comments