Priority Traffic Lanes And Bicycles

I cycle for commuting and fun covering thousands of miles per year. Most of my interactions with traffic are without incident and generally predictable. I have stopped routinely filming my commutes because it became all consuming, made be rather bitter and I don't think it actually achieved much. However, I really cannot stand so called professional drivers - not white van men or mini cab drivers but drivers who have to take a seperate road test to gain a HGV or PSV licence - when they feel they can bully their way on the road. This is an email I sent to First Bus Company in Manchester along with thier reply about such an incident. 

I don't know the outcome and I am going to leave it that. I do hope though that bringing this kind of poor driving to the attention of  appropriate managers will result in the few bad drivers being made to think twice before they behave in such an appalling manner.

My email to the bus company

Dear Sir/Madam

I am a frequent road cyclist and cover about 100 miles per week on numerous roads. Most of my trips are done around Manchester. I have the greatest of respect for the driving of most bus drivers I encounter but I am writing as I wish to very strongly complain about a First bus driver who very nearly caused a serious road traffic collision recently.

I was cycling north along the A56 towards Bury on Friday 16 Sep at about 12.20hrs. I had just entered the priority lane near Gigg Lane and was moving at about 20 mph, wearing a bright red top and in the "Primary" lane position. Weather conditions were dry with good visibility and traffic was moderate in volume. I became aware of a single decker bus passing me very closely - so closely in fact I could have touched the side of the vehicle with no effort. The bus driver had not completed the pass when the vehicle moved towards the kerb forcing me to brake hard and aim for the gutter to avoid a collision.

Obviously I was very shaken by this display of poor driving. The bus continued to move up the lane and stopped at the next passenger halt 150m or so ahead. I decided to challenge the driver about this incident. I cycled passed the bus while it was stationery and stopped in front. I made eye contact with driver and moved to his window. I asked him if he realised how closely he had passed me. His reply amazed and infuriated me.

Rather than apologise and tell me he hadn't seen me or even that he had misjudged the manoeuvre, he proceeded to inform me I had been in "his" lane, had no right to be there and further that I should have been in the pedestrian/cycle shared lane (this runs adjacent to the priority lane for 200 m or so on the pavement). I explained with some vigour I had every right to be in the priority lane as it is a shared bus/taxi/cycle lane and pointed out the pedestrian/cycle lane is not mandatory for cyclists and no road cyclist moving at 20 mph is going to choose to use it over the road. He continued to insist I should not have been "in his way" and that the lane was for "buses only". This is incorrect and there are clear signs at the beginning of the lane stating the lane is for buses, taxis and cyclist between 07.00 - 19.00hrs

It quickly became clear to me the driver had in fact seen me, felt I should not be there and was in his way. I am therefore forced to conclude the closeness of his pass was not an error of judgement but rather a deliberate attempt to force me to a stop or even off my bicycle. This was not just careless driving but a very deliberate and dangerous attempt at intimidation that could have resulted in serious harm or even death. If I had wobbled, hit a pothole or manhole as I was being forced to the gutter I would, without a doubt, have gone under the rear wheels of the vehicle with disastrous consequences.

I expect you to take this further with driver concerned. I have not reported this matter to the Police but may yet do so depending on the actions taken from this point onwards. The bus was a 93...

 And the reply I got today

Dear...

I write in response to you  recent email regarding the behaviour and driving standards displayed by one of our drivers on our 93 service on the 16 September 2011.

Good customer care is a principle of First and there is no excuse for the behaviour of the type you described, which certainly fall shorts of these standards.

You may be assured that in view of your comments, the driver concerned will be interviewed under the company's disciplinary procedures. If necessary, appropriate action will be taken with a view to avoiding any further instances, such as this. Due to employee confidentiality and the restrictions under the data protection act I am unable to disclose the form of action that will be taken, however it will reflect the seriouness of your complaint.

In closing therefore, I would be grateful if you could accept my sincere apologies for the incident, and my thanks for bringing this matter to my attention. It is through receipt of such information that we are able to monitor the performance of our drivers and seek improvement where necessary.

I hope this incident has not deterred you from travelling with First in the future.

Yours....

Bus Bully

Attended my first Bike Friday this AM. Joined 30 or so other cyclists who came from various parts of Manchester to present a letter to a representative of the GM Passenger Transport Executive detailing the Friends of the Earth's response to the Local Transport Plan (LTP3). It was very cold but nice to go for a coffee and warm up after the photoshoot (should be in the Evening News on Saturday). I met Coco from Cycling and Working in Manchester at long last and chatted to a nice bloke who also works in healthcare and has some experience setting up a Bicycle User Group. Hopefully a useful contact.

I had arranged to meet my wife in Manchester for brunch after the ride. On my way to our rendezvous point I cycled down Lever Street from Piccadilly. Approaching my left turn into Dale Street the lights were red and a bus was stopped in the bike box signalling left. I approached with caution down the inside cycle lane and reached the lights as they turned green. I made eye contact with the driver and swung left into the bus/cycle/taxi lane. I was quickly up to 14 mph and as the lights shortly ahead at Oldham Street were red I just coasted toward them. Next I know the bus driver was behind me, leaning on his horn and screaming at me out his window to get off the road. I was cycling in  primary within the bus lane but the lights were red for gawd's sake. These went to green before I needed to stop and after crossing the next junction with Tib Street (where Dale Street becomes Church Street) the so called 'professional' bus driver overtook me with less than 30 cm clearance. He got about 3 seconds ahead and then had to stop at the High Street junction where the lights were already at red. Needless to say some words were exchanged before I cycled ahead of the bus as the lights went green. The beautiful thing was the traffic was now at a standstill and so while the bus was well and truly blocked I happily filtered along to meet my wife at The Printworks. The annoying thing was I didn't get any details of the idiot. It's events like that which make me wish I was still using the headcam regularly. Never mind!

Start at the yellow marker and continue to the red for a breakdown of the encounter

View Bus Bully in a larger map

Traffic Beater

Started work the other day at 09.00hrs rather than 07.30hrs as per normal. The traffic heading into Manchester was standing or crawling for the whole mile and a half where I follow the main road. It was wet and miserable weather. Don't normally commute in such heavy traffic and I loved it!

I whizzed past the cars at 15-24 mph and was at work within 15 mins as per normal. The weather was no hardship either and the drizzle just helped cool me down. Part of the route takes in a bus lane and I was the only user. I stopped counting cars passed when I reached 50 - most of them with only one occupant. Madness!

To celebrate I have just commented on this local newspaper article about the Council fining drivers who use bus lanes. The article suggests drivers feel "...they are forced to use the bus lane...due to the sheer volume of traffic". That's all right then. Congestion? Never mind just drive down some road you are not allowed to use and most other motorists respect. Despite this the article is reasonably impartial, giving the Council view as well as the motorists. The replies though are definitely anti bus lane. As a cyclist, I am no great fan of cycle or bus lanes but felt honour bound to add some balance and give a cyclist POV.