The Arriva bus company has defended one of its drivers after a cyclist published footage to YouTube of a close pass. The author of the Mr Happy Cyclist blog said he was also tailgated by the driver who gesticulated at him as he overtook.
The incident took place on October 31 on Blackburn Road, Bolton near the junction with Halliwell Road. Mr Happy Cyclist opted to go through the junction in primary position, having had a bad experience with the cycle lane there previously – also involving an Arriva bus. However, it seems the bus driver took objection to this course of action.
In late November, Mr Happy Cyclist wrote to Arriva about the incident, saying:
“I was riding my bicycle home from the shops last Saturday afternoon. After I correctly cycled through the junction in primary position, I was tailgated by your driver who then overtook me too closely whilst gesticulating angrily at me and then moved in towards the kerb as I was still alongside. He then set his hazard warning lights flashing as he completed the manoeuvre and proceeded along the road.”
Arriva responded to say that the CCTV footage from the fixed camera on the bus had been viewed by the Bolton depot manager. In his opinion, there was a safe passing distance between the bus and the bike.
Video: Chris Boardman demonstrating safe overtaking of cyclists
The company added that it was ‘unclear’ why the cyclist had not used the cycle lane until the bus was overtaking. “The cyclist can be seen in the middle of the road, some cyclists are advised to take prime position, however his road position does appear extreme and a good part of the cycle lane has been ignored.”
As Mr Happy Cyclist points out, he is not obliged to use the cycle lane and in this instance felt that it was actually safer to avoid it. “A cyclist using it risks being caught between a large commercial vehicle and a steel fence over the apex of a sharp bend in the road where nine out of ten vehicles cut the bend.”
My Happy Cyclist believes it was an instance of road rage on the part of a driver affronted that he wasn’t using the cycle lane. He believes that switching on the hazard warning lights of the bus was an indication that moving in towards the kerb was a deliberate punishment pass.
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43 comments
I haven't seen the video as it's not loaded, but I do know the junction, and it's a horrendous piece of road, add to that the appalling standard of driving that you can find here, in Bolton, and the general shitty standard of bus coach driving ( I can understand the drivers' frustration but cannot excuse it). I wouldn't have ridden primary position at this point because I know, that even in safety of my car, there is little to no regard for other road users.
I've all but stopped riding the road bike due to so many close calls, I'd much rather ride in Madrid than around here.
EDIT: Since when has it been the right of the larger, more dangerous partner in the deal to choose what's a safe distance?
So, Arriva is standing behind the assessment of their Bolton depot manager? He is qualified in some way to make this determination?
That looked to me like a deliberately unsafe pass solely on the basis of the width (nicely demonstrated in the video). When you add to that that the driver was waving his arms about, craning forward and gesticulating at the cyclist without keeping his eyes on the road I start to wonder why the police are not involved. Silly me.
From experience I can say with confidence that Greater Manchester police would probably do nothing. I have reported far worse cases that were not pursued.
Nothing to see here, move along, move along.
this was totally fine, the speed was low and somewhat equal. I see more narrow situations every day that are really save. Some article`s on road.cc are a little bit anal lately, it should focus on the real stuff or the agenda ofs afety, not these self obsessed vigelanty`s that are partly out for attention and willfully seek agressive reactions.
The bus passed approx 20 inches from his shoulder. This might be routine for some experienced cyclists, but its the kind of driving that stops the uptake of cycling in roads and makes people put the bike back in the shed.
I don't agree with the ad-hominem argument here. Also the poster has a video with what happens if he rides that stretch of road in the cycle lane.
Agreed. I think the cyclist is making a mountain out of a mole hill
It's a natural reaction to become angry if you feel aggrieved on the road but the bus driver here needs to stay concentrated on what he is doing and not become preoccupied with the person on a bike who has annoyed him. Just count to ten, remember you're supposed to be a professional driver, remember you have passengers on your bus who will not appreciate you getting involved in a petty squabble, remember you're not going to save any time anyway by cutting up the cyclist and waving your finger at him, and remember that using your bus to threaten and intimidate someone could go wrong, and it would be awful if you ended up injuring or killing them.
It's a natural reaction to become angry if you feel aggrieved on the road but the cyclist here needs to stay concentrated on what he is doing and not become preoccupied with the vehicle who has annoyed him. Just count to 10 and get home safely.
Shame on you! Driving any vehicle like that bus in the video should not be tolerated, the driver should be banned from driving and forced to take an extended test. It isn't good enough and it isn't acceptable, if you do nothing about it it will just keep happening again and again.
There should be a campaign of public information films about how we should all share the road and give each other space and time. Every time I get close-passed I shout and wave; it doesn't stop it happening but every vehicle behind the one I shout at ALWAYS gives me more room. It isn't much to ask is it?
yes, great advice. Keep ignoring the "professional" discourteous drivers and don't hold them to account, so that one day one of them that imagines that he never made a single mistake in his entire driving career can kill you and spew his self-righteousness to your widow. Nothing to see here, move along...
That was nothing on this! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6g4Qw2y1ds
I'm really interested in Arriva's defence of the ten to two position of the drivers hands on the wheel - oh no, that's a "f*ck you" position. And he isn't looking at the road!
Great service...
Arriva are an awful organisation. The Arriva drivers around the Southend Area in Essex are often an absolute disgrace ; speeding, cutting up cyclists, pulling out on motorists they really don't care. 30mph limits are for whimps if they're running late.
On the other hand there is a local company called Stephensons who are great; very considerate to vulnerable road users.
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