"flyingdutch" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
DJ said:Dear bikelux.....................
I can send you an application to apply for Sydney Buses bikelux, come
and
have a go and get your BUS licence, I garantee that by the time you
get
through the training, your head will be spinning, it's then when
applicants
realise it's not as easy as it looks. Yes, out of 3,800 drivers in STA
alone, you get some nongs that shouldn't be there, but there are many
good
drivers as well trying to do a very demanding job.
Out of every 10 people who join us, 3 won't make the driving test,
another
2-3 will probably leave within the first 12 months. Harder than they
thought!!
Unfortunately there has been a death or two with bikeriders, especially
in
Sydney, but (and I'm not making excuses for anyone here) If you see
what
some clowns on bikes and skateboards do, I'm surprised there hasn't
been
more fatalities, it's hard enough trying to dodge rampant pedestrians
jaywalking around the city let alone a cyclist who thinks he is
invincible.
The thing is, everyone knows that buses have to pull in and out of
stops
along busy areas, so those who know they might be harder to see should
realise to take extra precautions, I know i do when i'm out on my bike,
i
just hang back to see or predict what my happen next, it's called
defensive
riding.
I seen a teenager in George St Syd the other morning from Central
station,
he was flying down the footpath on his skateboard, jumped the kurb into
the
bus lane as a bus was trying to turn from Rawson Place into George St
and
into the Bus lane, there was no-way for the driver to see what the
teenager
was doing as he was going so quick, the kid then jumped off his
skateboard
and back onto the kurb sending his skateboard flying under the bus,
then to
my amazement , the kid ran infront of the bus with his hands in the
air, and
picked up his skateboard and ran off, that could've been a fatality and
I
was holding my breath waiting for the blood to flow, lucky the driver
seen
him in time, slammed on the brakes and sent people inside on the floor
just
because of this kid's stupidity, so, It's easy to blame the BUS driver
isn't
it?
So come on bikelux, come and join the buses, if you pass, then i'll ask
you
again about your comment on bus licences with coke.............I hope
I'll
be your trainer!!
Regards
DJ
Dear DJ.....
the incident quite clearly exampled here was buses passing a bike
(usually quite close and dangerously) merely to pull in to the left, or
thru the space the cyclist was about to be in/is in.
There was/is no errant riding on the cyclists' part, just [censored] driving
when a myriad of options were available to the bus driver!
I agree with how many fools do dumb things in front of buses (changeing
lanes before a red light thus shortening stopping distances in front of
buses/trucks is a fool's favourite) however this aint it!
Congratulations on being aware that "everyone knows that buses have to
pull in and out of stops along busy areas, so those who know they might
be harder to see should realise to take extra precautions".
How could one apply this lame statement to a cyclist IN FRONT OF YOU,
MR BUS DRIVER??? Simple.
YOU CANT!!!
You can see the cyclist IN FRONT OF YOU. travelling the same direction
as you. FOR A LONG TIME.
No sudden movements, no changeing lanes, no riding a skateboard off the
curb, etc, etc, generalisations, blah, blah, blah...
The bus driver is totally armed with the facts, truth, and solely alone
in the input to what happens in this scenario, so DEAL!
Slow down for all of 3 seconds and be comforted that your viagra awaits
you where it may do some good. We all want to get home in one piece,
including your passengers. stop throwing em round the cockpit just cos
you're trying to compensate for something, little man.
--
flyingdutch
Thanks for your Imput Dutchie, I must admit I'm not aware of the incident
details in Sydney that bikelux was referring to, however to make a
generalised statement in regards to Bus licences are as common as coke cans
and being a law unto themselves or similar got my goat up a bit and is total
[censored], If we do wrong, we cop [censored] bigtime from the company and the law.I
don't know what it's like in Victoria but here in NSW penalties are
severe.In a bad or fatal accident, when the RTA, Police and the Ministry of
Transport get into it, the [censored] generally hits the fan...big time!!
Now assuming that what you stated is true about this cyclist being in front
of a bus just up from a bus stop, yes i agree totally, the bus driver should
just hang back till the cyclist is past the stop, as I do and have always
done,and I teach my trainees to do likewise.
Hey Dutchie, I'm a cylist too and I've got nothing to prove to anyone and
I'm proud at what I do for a living, I'm no Little man as you put it, and I
always compensate for others on the road which is why my accident rate is
extremely low, maybe I'm just one of a few that understands and knows what
it's like on a bike, but I also experience it from both sides.
I was in the bus behind the referred bus in my story regarding the
skateboard watching it happen from a relatively safe distance and I rarely
throw passengers around. Mate, out of 3,800 drivers, theres bound to be few
bad eggs.
Was this Bus driver one of the Government Bussies or a Private Company
employee? fill me in on the details.
Was there any wittnesses in the case of this cyclist being killed, had the
driver been charged or does nobody know? Usually if a death occurs there is
a major enquiry, followed by a court case if the driver was at fault. Seems
to me that in this case he was, I bet he's not driving now if he was found
guilty.Well not with our organisation anyway!!
Unfortunately, I can't answer for those Bus drivers/truck drivers etc who do
stupid things just as you can't answer for every stupid cyclist etc, but I
know there are many responsible ppl out there driving the public around or
commutting on bikes.
Dutchie, if I want to raise a debate, or discuss something or even question
someone's comments, at least I don't go and get real personal and berate and
name calling for anyone's opinion, name calling is for children. Why do you
feel it's neccesary???
Kindest regards
DJ