Video: TfL apologises to cyclist after bus driver calls him a “knob” following close pass

I'm coming round to the idea of helmet cams on bikes, and in some situations, posting on youtube if the behavior is particularly dangerous or illegal

But stuff like this ('she called me a knob after i caught her up to have a go at her when she passed me too close for my liking'!) just brings it into disrepute I feel and compromises legitimate, serious safety concerns. 'We' (cyclists) will just be seen as whinging, antagonistic & uncompromising - especially if you read some of the comments on here - as Neil753 has also observed.

The pass wasn't particularly close, it's a busy urban environment where you're likely to have to start/ stop all the time. Even cyclists have to do this! So I don't think this was anything to get exercised about. If you reckon that's close and are so outraged, I really would not recommend cycling in a town or city. Ever!

Something tells me that there are a fair few people here who'll also say that this close pass by a bus was because I failed to do an emergency stop as soon as they got 1cm in front of me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HVwib1HWpk

I can only say I think both Joeinpoole's novel idea for a new highway code rule ("once your bumper is 1cm ahead of that of the vehicle you are overtaking you are entitled to sideswipe them off the road and its their fault for not screeching to a halt fast enough") and Neil753's comments are entirely mistaken.

I do, though, feel oddly amused at the mildness of the bus-driver's choice of epiphet. Not the greatest driver ever, but doesn't sound like vulgarity comes naturally to her. White van man would have used a stronger term, I reckon.

And summing up from the "other side".

I don't think anyone should be judging this driver too harshly. Sometimes feelings run a little high. Sure, she made a mistake, but she's being confronted with an aggressive cyclist who she's apparently seen nearly killing some old guy, and we can see from the vid that the cyclist is riding without much skill (clipping the apex of a right hand bend without a safety check, a close pass of a pedestrian, failure to use brakes, etc), so it's likely that she's been watching his behaviour too. I'm not surprised she called him a knob, even though she shouldn't have done so.

The thing is, if people stumble across this forum, watch the video, and then read all these comments that condemn the bus driver whilst refusing to acknowledge any of the poor cycling, then it just makes cyclists out to be an arrogant bunch of (dare I say it) knobs.

Road.cc, if you're going to run these contentious stories, at least check the video carefully to see if the cyclist is committing just as many errors as the driver they're trying to vilify, because if they are then it doesn't place us in a very good light.

So to sum up,

There are the professional drivers who seemingly disregard the Highway Code and Traffic Laws by stating that the cyclist is at fault as he did not allow the bus to complete a possibly dangerous overtake by not slowing down.

The rest of us who are constantly being reminded by the above lot about what the Highway Code say's i.e. red lights etc, maitain the bus driver's actions were wrong in accordance with the Highway Code.

The poor sod who took the footage and seemingly was more annoyed at being called a "knob" then the overtake.

And on another thread, UKBA are getting slammed for another persons cock-up.

Don't ya just love the net!

The main reason I uploaded the video and complained to both Metrobus and TFL was not the overtake but her insult afterwards. I've been called a lot worse and just let it go, but a professional driver in a company vehicle, part funded out of my Council tax, should not act like that. After our 'chat' when I cycled off, if she'd said nothing more, the video probably would not have seen the light of day, but to lean out of the bus like that and shout as she did, I felt was not very professional.

I'm not perfect, no one is, I'm still learning at the age of 53, but if the same thing happened again I doubt that I'd do much different. I did slow down, I did apply my brakes, but was ready to pull up sharply if the need arises.

The fact that we have so many cyclists defending a bus driver's very poor overtake is astounding. Or that people are saying it's the cyclist's fault the bus had to [pick whatever excuse...] which endangered the cyclist.

You lot should know what a safe, and legal, overtaking maneouvre looks like.

After all, our lives may depend on it, or be lost due to a failure to execute one.

Those of you who thought there was no problem with the overtaking, please surrender your licenses?

Remind me, don't London buses kill or seriously injure on average 2 people a day in London ?
I think they could be driven with a lot more care and attention in my experience.

Why should he have been forced to slow...yes he should of for his safety but at no time is it his responsibility that this situation occurred.

Loving the helmet cams now, next purchase I think.

And the apologies mean nothing if it's not from the individual that caused the problem. It's just a company doing the PR thing..it's worthless. Driver should be fined and get points for endangering a member of the public. Shame we got rid of the duelling law

Quote:

I thought I was alone in being unable to see "a close pass" in that video. The bus only began pulling back in when the front of it was well past the cyclist. At that point the bus was clearly the lead vehicle and it was the cyclist's responsibility to moderate his speed to avoid a collision.

I think you've just invented a new rule of the road.

If you're overtaking in a vehicle, you do need to get the whole vehicle safely past a cyclist, not just part.

I note a long debate here about exactly what the cyclist should or should not have been doing. However. the central issue is that the bus driver has not driven in the way a professional in charge of a massive vehicle on London streets should conduct themselves - not least the verbal abuse given. That's why an official apology has been given.

What interests me is that this is highly unlikely to be the only time this happens - the vast majority of cyclists do not have helmet cameras, after all.

The first need is for better training and disciplining of bus drivers, as well as a close look at the regime governing health and safety with regard to buses in London. Do take a look at Tom Kearney's web site here - it is mainly about Oxford Street but also buses in London as a whole.

For the record, I reckon London bus drivers are far better than the average motorist - but they are in charge f a massive vehicle with massive lethal potential, so need appropriate regulation.

I ride in London pretty much every day and I've lost count of the number of time this has happened to me. I have this theory that bus drivers think you become stationary as soon as they pass you, therefore it's ok to cut in straight away.

Only time I have ever thought someone was deliberately trying to kill me was a bus in South London. Deliberately squeezed me into railings.

It is entirely good for bus drivers to think they are being filmed.

@4chordsnonet.
If you say you were ready to brake, you clearly took the decision not to brake, so exacerbating the conflict. Maybe the driver made a mistake, but once the bus driver has committed to overtake, why not just allow the bus to quickly pass and just accept the loss of a few seconds added to your journey.

I don't know you, but many of your videos reveal a lack of observation, innapropriate speed, poor anticipation, and an apparent enthusiasm to up the ante; which doesn't really help the situation we face as cyclists.

Helmet cams can be a good thing, so maybe you could do some vids that demonstrate your skill in defensive riding, which some of you guys are posting already and are both helpful and enjoyable to watch.

Why should cyclist have to scrub off speed if there was enough room to complete the overtake without causing the other road user to swerve or brake? If they have to swerve or brake, then the overtake was not a safe one.

Strange, if this was done on the motorist it would be called "cutting someone up" or some cases "crash for cash". Resulting in cameras being fitted to vehicles to prove the who was not at fault. If it's done on a cyclist it's the cyclist at fault in some peoples eyes.

Hmm, look forward to cutting a HGV up on the motorway and after the crash claiming that he should have slowed down to avoid me. NOT!

Come on cyclists join me in riding down the middle of the road so that no-one can endanger our lives. Instead of this considerate riding through the glass and gravel in the gutter whilst trying not to hold traffic up. Let us show the buses, the hgvs, the reps..... that their time is worth less than our lives and we don't care if they are late as long as we are alive. As long as you are wearing a helmet, day-glo and reflectives and have 20 million candle power lights, they can not touch you. Together we can slow the country down and stop the senseless killing.

Oh dear the drugs have worn off!

I did scrub off some speed as the bus past me, and was ready to slam on the anchors or jump ship if things got too bad. As others have said, just because the bus is much bigger than me doesn't mean it can bully its way past.

Joeinpoole- are seriously suggesting only the cab needs to pass whatevers being overtaken?

There may be circumstances when we(road users) have to take evasive action because drivers are dangerous and/or incompetent but it shouldnt be the expectation.

Usual victim blaming from the haulage association rep.

So might is right? If a big vehicle tries to pass you where there isn't enough space, drop back and slow down? f**k that

Doesnt look that bad to me...as mentioned why not take some speed off as the bus passes, I would....the initial pass distance is fine.

Share the road...