How do you get people driving vehicles to pass people on bicycles safely?

Comment

Comment by hartraft on February 17, 2010 at 12:50pm

Looks like in america legislation can help.... or the $500 fine
http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/motorists-must-give-three-feet-to-bikes-in-maryland--25054

Comment by Doddsy on January 20, 2010 at 6:10am

I had the same thing happen thrice yesterday on two occasions it was bus drivers.

On another occasion it was a bmw that was determined to overtake me, so determined that they almost ran up the back of a double parked car up the road (then nearly hit a pedestrian when trying to swerve around the double parked car.)

Just ride up and do a blowfish on their windscreen.

Comment by Jen on January 18, 2010 at 10:19pm

You can also lodge your complaint online as well. I've had quite quick responses lately, with phone calls from the manager who have said that they will do some monitoring of the drivers involved to check their driving.

Comment by Ed on January 18, 2010 at 10:14pm

A wider, standard and safe clearance by all would be good. For now, even more so than before, when I hear that particular 'whine' of a bus engine coming up from behind the gloves tighten and the vision widens...

I wonder if those camera's inside some buses cover the road around them as well. I've seen some footage from cameras mounted on side mirrors.

I have the details (all above) including the original unprocessed photograph. We'll see what happens. Cheers all.

Comment by Paul on January 18, 2010 at 7:10pm

Just call STA and register a complaint. All you need is the Bus number, which is the Number Plater (and it is also written on the side of the bus as well). You will also need the time of day. From these two pieces of information they can identify the driver and then review CCTV footage from the bus if required.
This does work, at least for the STA. I know of at least one driver that was sacked after my wife complained that the driver was tearing down our street whilst talking on her mobile phone. The CCTV footage confirmed it, and she was sacked.

Comment by Dabba on January 18, 2010 at 11:00am

I had a similar night time experience a few years ago when I headed for the gravel shoulder rather than being flattened. When I ride at night I'm lit up like a Christmas tree, so I wasn't invisible. I sent a letter to Newcastle Buses and my local MP about it, as well as reporting it to the police. The incident was investigated by NB, but the driver claimed that he had given me plenty of room, however, I was advised that he was "counselled". No witnesses that I knew that I could call on, so not much else could be done. Since then, I've noticed that buses seem to give me wider clearances - don't know whether or not that is wishful thinking!

Comment by Ed on January 18, 2010 at 10:27am

Cheers Peter H. Whilst braking and judging how much to serve into the kerb, I also felt compelled to cleat-kick or elbow or head butt the side of the bus, but, as the faces of alarmed-looking passengers went by inches from my own, I decided against it.

So I sat stunned in traffic - sedated by the fumes - and took the shot. I think staring at the Virgin Mobile ad must of reminded me of the camera on my phone. I don't remember what ad was on the side wall that came at me but I think it was some celebrity's blown-up face... all coloured dots by then.

Transport line sounds right. Perhaps the report will end up as a number on some manager's computer that will eventually get forwarded until it funds a dutiful person in charge of 're-education'...

Are such incidents regarded as 'dangerous driving' and worthy of a police report?

Comment by Peter H on January 18, 2010 at 6:07am

Do what I did the other morning, ride past them, bash on the drivers window and then take their photo while making it obvious that you are taking down the bus number (not the route number). Once you have that, call the the transport line on 131500 and lodge a complaint. A single complaint may not result in anything but if that bus driver is a serial offender and many complaints are made then the will hopefully be removed from the road.


Edit: I just did a quick google and discovered that the number plate is the bus number.