Dangerous overtaking by bus

[email hidden] wrote:
....snip....

Quoted message said:

I've got the reg of the bus, any point reporting him to the Police for
dangerous driving?

Try the bus company first.

<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Melbourne, Blackburn road I was overtaken by a bus who left me about 3
inches. To add insult to injury he pulled in to a bus stop about fifty
meters after overtaking me :-/

A little steamed, I informed him that he was required by law to give me
at least a meter's clearance. His response was that I should ride
closer to the kerb, go figure.

I've got the reg of the bus, any point reporting him to the Police for
dangerous driving?

On Tuesday night I had one of my closest calls with a truck.
On Princes Hwy, heading towards Hallam, the cabin of the
truck was about 2ft away when it was level with me. As he
passed me, the rest of the trailer just got closer and closer...
To make this more fun, there was a railing to my left, so
even though I was in the gutter, if he came any closer, there
was nowhere to bail and nothing I could do to stop myself
getting squished.
All I could do was flip him off. Trucks are usually really
cool to cyclists too...?? :-S

hippy

If it was on the Blackburn end of Blackburn road (ie. past Canterbury road), I am not at all surprised that happened to you. Whilst it is undoubtedly the bus drivers fault (and I am not for an instant blaming you here) I would definitely suggest you avoid that road. It is very narrow and on the times when I ride along there, I occasionally have close encounters. I would recommend riding on Springvale road where possible; it is wider, and whilst being busier, I find it much less scary to ride along. 🙂

As for legal action? I'm no solicitor, but I don't think that you have
any legal reason to go to the police. If he didn't actually make contact
with you, then I feel that there is little the police can do in a matter
such as this. If they were expected to chase up every bad piece of
driving, they'd be rushed off their feet.

--

<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've got the reg of the bus, any point reporting him to the Police for
dangerous driving?

I would.... not saying it'll get you anywhere - but I can guarentee you that
not doing anything wont get you anywhere....

not sure what your options are in civil law here - perhaps you could bring a
civil case against the bus driver... I'm told there are law firms that do
this sort of "justice motivated" work.

I'd be interested to hear what the police have to say... I'm guessing (as I
bet you are) that they wont be terribly helpful.

fwiw I dont let busses pass me when I'm going down hoddle/punt - pretty easy
to cruise most of it at >40.

good luck.
dim

Hippy said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Melbourne, Blackburn road I was overtaken by a bus who left me about 3
inches. To add insult to injury he pulled in to a bus stop about fifty
meters after overtaking me :-/

A little steamed, I informed him that he was required by law to give
me at least a meter's clearance. His response was that I should ride
closer to the kerb, go figure.

I've got the reg of the bus, any point reporting him to the Police for
dangerous driving?

On Tuesday night I had one of my closest calls with a truck. On Princes
Hwy, heading towards Hallam, the cabin of the truck was about 2ft away
when it was level with me. As he passed me, the rest of the trailer just
got closer and closer... To make this more fun, there was a railing to
my left, so even though I was in the gutter, if he came any closer,
there was nowhere to bail and nothing I could do to stop myself getting
squished. All I could do was flip him off. Trucks are usually really
cool to cyclists too...?? :-S
hippy

My experience with trucks in ACT has been good (touch the wood).
Although they seem to people as road bullies, frankly they have always
given me plenty of room.

One thing on the psychology note: I generally try not to push people's
wrong buttons!! 😉 I know for the fact that trucks loose their momentum
fast in uphills, and their drivers hate that. If it comes down for a
truckie to choose between being a gentleman (slowing down in an uphill
road to give space to a bikie) and keeping the speed, I don't want to be
in that bikie's shoes there and then. 🙂

--

Euan B Uk said:

Melbourne, Blackburn road I was overtaken by a bus who left me about 3
inches. To add insult to injury he pulled in to a bus stop about fifty
meters after overtaking me :-/
A little steamed, I informed him that he was required by law to give me
at least a meter's clearance. His response was that I should ride closer
to the kerb, go figure.
I've got the reg of the bus, any point reporting him to the Police for
dangerous driving?
--
Regards Euan

Euan:

People have varied levels of knowledge about motoring, and on top of
that they have varied interpretations of the rules. In addition, we have
people at wheels, on bikes or on feet who carry and express their
personalities in public. If you are going to be bothered by other's wrong-
doings, then you have to spend a valuable part of your useful life
getting over other's wrong-doings.

Yeah, surely you can report the driver to the bus company. If there's
decency in that company, they should have a system to deal with their
neglegant drivers. But, say if you succeed, won't you come accross
others that one way or other will ignore or violate your rights as a
rider? My suggestion is to practice your riding where the risk of harm
to you due to other's neglegance is minimal. That's my humble advice.

Cheers, Amir.

--

"amirm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

One thing on the psychology note: I generally try not to push people's
wrong buttons!! 😉 I know for the fact that trucks loose their

momentum

Quoted message said:

fast in uphills, and their drivers hate that. If it comes down for a
truckie to choose between being a gentleman (slowing down in an uphill
road to give space to a bikie) and keeping the speed, I don't want to

be

Quoted message said:

in that bikie's shoes there and then. 🙂

I'm always* considerate of drivers and other road users. I
don't like the thought of them wasting MORE fuel waiting
for me because I didn't move over a bit or something.

In this case though, there was no reason for the truckie
to get so close. It was a 3 lane road and I was already
as far left as possible (until I moved into the gutter!). I
was moving at 25-35kph at the time. It was straight
road - so he would've seen me many k's before actually
getting near me (unless he drove out from around a
corner?). This incident just [censored] me off because unlike
99% of other truckies, this guy seemed to be aiming to
scare me.

hippy
* Sometimes I'm caught unaware and sometimes if they
are [censored] I will NOT show any consideration... karma 🙂

"amirm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Euan B Uk wrote:

<snip>

Quoted message said:

rider? My suggestion is to practice your riding where the risk of harm
to you due to other's neglegance is minimal. That's my humble advice.

In your backyard perhaps? That is where its most minimal due to others
negligence.

Hippy said:

"amirm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:ttYPb.28-
[email hidden]:[email hidden]-
rver.com...

Quoted message said:

One thing on the psychology note: I generally try not to push people's
wrong buttons!! 😉 I know for the fact that trucks loose their

momentum

Quoted message said:

fast in uphills, and their drivers hate that. If it comes down for a
truckie to choose between being a gentleman (slowing down in an uphill
road to give space to a bikie) and keeping the speed, I don't want to

be

Quoted message said:

in that bikie's shoes there and then. 🙂

I'm always* considerate of drivers and other road users. I don't like
the thought of them wasting MORE fuel waiting for me because I didn't
move over a bit or something.
In this case though, there was no reason for the truckie to get so
close. It was a 3 lane road and I was already as far left as possible
(until I moved into the gutter!). I was moving at 25-35kph at the time.
It was straight road - so he would've seen me many k's before actually
getting near me (unless he drove out from around a corner?). This
incident just [censored] me off because unlike 99% of other truckies, this
guy seemed to be aiming to scare me.
hippy
* Sometimes I'm caught unaware and sometimes if they are [censored] I will
NOT show any consideration... karma 🙂

I'm with you bro. That small minority is what that spoils

I was just trying to say that assertiveness, when it comes to sharin
roads and bike paths, drains a lot of energy. Interestingly, on
morning I was riding to work using a road, and out of the blue a smal
hatch passed so close honking and pointing to me that I'm not suppose
to use the road while a path exists (well I gave him a gesture worth
of his, because specimens like him are the ones smashing beer bottle
all over the paths). In the same afternoon, I was riding back on th
path, and as I passed a pedestrian, I heard him yelling. Heading back
he was saying that I was not supposed to go fast on the track, and if
wanted to go fast, I would have to use the road!!! I come across quit
a few people every week that are either bullies, neglegant, rude
wierd, etc. etc.. If I want to stop to settle with them, educate the
or enlighten them, then I will need a temper of steel strength and day
that have more than 24 hours

Having said that, some [censored] cry out to be whooped in the a$$. So I'l
grant their wish if I can. 😉 Maybe in the case Euan, he should take i
further and teach that driver a lesson

Cheers, Amir

-

John Doe said:

"amirm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:wtYPb.28-
[email hidden]:[email hidden]-
rver.com...

Quoted message said:

Euan B Uk wrote:

<snip>

Quoted message said:

rider? My suggestion is to practice your riding where the risk of harm
to you due to other's neglegance is minimal. That's my humble advice.

In your backyard perhaps? That is where its most minimal due to others
negligence.

Talk to me when you're done then

-

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> "amirm" == amirm <[email hidden]> writes:

amirm> Euan:

amirm> People have varied levels of knowledge about motoring, and on
amirm> top of that they have varied interpretations of the rules. In
amirm> addition, we have people at wheels, on bikes or on feet who
amirm> carry and express their personalities in public. If you are
amirm> going to be bothered by other's wrong- doings, then you have
amirm> to spend a valuable part of your useful life getting over
amirm> other's wrong-doings.

Before we get off on the wrong idea, this is the first problem I've had
with a bus driver in the five odd months I've been cycling. Indeed I've
found that five nines of motorists are very considerate towards me as a
bicycle rider.

amirm> Yeah, surely you can report the driver to the bus company. If
amirm> there's decency in that company, they should have a system to
amirm> deal with their neglegant drivers. But, say if you succeed,
amirm> won't you come accross others that one way or other will
amirm> ignore or violate your rights as a rider? My suggestion is to
amirm> practice your riding where the risk of harm to you due to
amirm> other's neglegance is minimal. That's my humble advice.

So we're to let the attitudes of others dictate where we can ride?

--
Regards
Euan

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> "amirm" == amirm <[email hidden]> writes:

amirm> I was just trying to say that assertiveness, when it comes to
amirm> sharing roads and bike paths, drains a lot of
amirm> energy. Interestingly, one morning I was riding to work using
amirm> a road, and out of the blue a small hatch passed so close
amirm> honking and pointing to me that I'm not supposed to use the
amirm> road while a path exists (well I gave him a gesture worthy of
amirm> his, because specimens like him are the ones smashing beer
amirm> bottles all over the paths).

I find that a generous smile an a cheery wave works wonders with this
particular subset of motorists. They just don't know how to react to
that :-)

--
Cheers
Euan

amirm> Yeah, surely you can report the driver to the bus company. If

Quoted message said:

amirm> there's decency in that company, they should have a system to
amirm> deal with their neglegant drivers. But, say if you succeed,
amirm> won't you come accross others that one way or other will
amirm> ignore or violate your rights as a rider? My suggestion is to
amirm> practice your riding where the risk of harm to you due to
amirm> other's neglegance is minimal. That's my humble advice.

So we're to let the attitudes of others dictate where we can ride?

--
Regards
Euan

A joke I am sure. I have been riding on public roads for 20 years. I have
had occasionaly near misses. I have been hit by cars. I am not going to
let others dictate how I can ride. Typically I find bus drivers and truck
drivers to be usually very courteous.

Peter

euan_b_uk said:

[...] I was overtaken by a bus who left me about 3 inches.

I had this problem when I first started commuting in the Sydney CBD.
I was trying to keep left, and I swear a bus passed me so close that
the mirror passed over the top of my head - scared the [censored] out of me.

Now I ride right smack in the middle of the lane. If you even give them
a hint that they may have room to pass, they will force their way through.
So don't do it, hold the lane, and practise catching bike couriers.
The Sydney bicycle plan says the bus/taxi lanes *are* the bike paths,
so I figure there can be no arguments there.

No-one has ever complained, a lady bus driver even complimented me on
my safety-vest, and how visible I was. I wear it over my bag, so I look
like I have a hump... Maybe that invites sympathy 🙂

-kt

Greetings,
I would tend to say report the [censored], but probably
your best bet would be to get on to the Victoria Police bicycle squad in
West Melbourne to give their drivers a lecture on responsible road use.
It could be a lot worse. I have had a bus deliberately open the
hydraulic side door on me, and I have also been shot at (!) The fact is
the attitude of a small minority of drivers, both car, bus and truck,
basically sucks.
Regards,
Ray.

Quoted message said:

Melbourne, Blackburn road I was overtaken by a bus who left me about 3
inches. To add insult to injury he pulled in to a bus stop about fifty
meters after overtaking me :-/

A little steamed, I informed him that he was required by law to give me
at least a meter's clearance. His response was that I should ride
closer to the kerb, go figure.

I've got the reg of the bus, any point reporting him to the Police for
dangerous driving?

John Doe said:

amirm> Yeah, surely you can report the driver to the bus company. If

Quoted message said:

amirm> there's decency in that company, they should have a system
amirm> to deal with their neglegant drivers. But, say if you
amirm> succeed, won't you come accross others that one way or
amirm> other will ignore or violate your rights as a rider? My
amirm> suggestion is to practice your riding where the risk of
amirm> harm to you due to other's neglegance is minimal. That's my
amirm> humble advice.

So we're to let the attitudes of others dictate where we can ride?

--
Regards Euan

A joke I am sure. I have been riding on public roads for 20 years. I
have had occasionaly near misses. I have been hit by cars. I am not
going to let others dictate how I can ride. Typically I find bus drivers
and truck drivers to be usually very courteous.
Peter

I exactly agree with all the comments in this thread. When we put them
together, we see that a very small minority of motorist are problematic.
This is a scale of our society. Only a small proportion bother others by
their, generally speaking, unpleasant conducts. No matter at wheel or at
desk or wherever. The point I was trying to say was that it's easier to
take it easy with the wrong-doings as far as they are forgiveable
because only a minority of people are involved. However, there's another
aspect to this. Imagine only 5% of motorist, riders and pedestrians are
neglegant. How many people do we come across in our commute? All up, I
come across ~100 people every day. So inevitably I have to deal with 5
unpleasant behaviours (averagely) every day. If I want to spend time and
energy to correct them (which I think is necessary), then my
professional life will be ruined. That's more or less due to my
personality that likes to see the result or else a bitter feeling will
be carried over thoughout my day. In many cases that I have tried to
remind them of what they are supposed to be doing, I realised that they
already knew, and they just had an aggressive/rude answer ready up their
sleaves! So pardon my resigned approach. Life is too short to be ruined
by a$$holes this way. I do ride for a different objective. But that's my
personal opinion and not a fact. 😉

--

Euan B Uk said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>>> "amirm" == amirm <[email hidden]> writes:

amirm> Euan:
amirm> People have varied levels of knowledge about motoring, and on
amirm> top of that they have varied interpretations of the rules. In
amirm> addition, we have people at wheels, on bikes or on feet who
amirm> carry and express their personalities in public. If you are
amirm> going to be bothered by other's wrong- doings, then you have
amirm> to spend a valuable part of your useful life getting over
amirm> other's wrong-doings.
Before we get off on the wrong idea, this is the first problem I've had
with a bus driver in the five odd months I've been cycling. Indeed I've
found that five nines of motorists are very considerate towards me as a
bicycle rider.
amirm> Yeah, surely you can report the driver to the bus company. If
amirm> there's decency in that company, they should have a system to
amirm> deal with their neglegant drivers. But, say if you succeed,
amirm> won't you come accross others that one way or other will
amirm> ignore or violate your rights as a rider? My suggestion is to
amirm> practice your riding where the risk of harm to you due to
amirm> other's neglegance is minimal. That's my humble advice.
So we're to let the attitudes of others dictate where we can ride?
--
Regards Euan

Not exactly. My approach was from a cost:benefit point of view. I'd rather spend time and passion with lobbying bodies to solve problems at the large scale (if possible) rather than getting involved with individulas.

-

"Ray Peace" writed:

Quoted message said:

I have had a bus deliberately open the hydraulic side
door on me, and I have also been shot at (!)

Oh, the irony! ;-)

hippy