I might have suggested that you write to the director of London
Transport, but it might not do you much good. (See below).
Unfortunately your experiences do not sound that out of the ordinary.
In one case I have been told of a London bus driver who deliberately
cut up a cyclist then berated the cyclist, boasting that he had
actually killed two cyclists in his bus-driving career and had got away
with it both times...
Guardian
Wednesday February 1, 2006
The Emma Brockes interview: Peter Hendy
Q: Why the bendy buses? A: It's not me thinking, let's introduce these
humping great monsters. The fact is, the Routemasters got too small
Peter Hendy poses before a map of the Greater London transport system
trying, as he puts it, to assume a "new, grave expression and look very
commissioner-like". It is not his natural demeanour. "I'll look
poncey," he says, when asked to put his hat on for the photo. "He's not
poncey!" chuckles his press officer. The smile fades a moment later
when Hendy sounds off, unponcily, on the subject of cyclists who moan
about bus drivers. "Cyclists are the bloody last people to talk about
bad behaviour on the roads," he fumes. "Jumping red lights ...
unbelievable." He dives out of the room as if into a head wind.
Today, Peter Hendy, 52, takes over from Bob Kiley as the man in charge
of London transport. As well as the bus and tube networks he is
responsible for the congestion charge, a position, he says drily, that
ensures "you are never alone at a party". His last job was as head of
the London bus network, or director of surface transport as it is
officially known, where he oversaw an unprecedented 4% shift from car
to bus use and replaced the old Routemasters with 18m-long "bendy"
buses. His role in getting London moving after the July 7 bombings
earned him a CBE and he has the image of a man who rolls up his shirt
sleeves and gets things done. This is partly due to his stocky build
and lively manner, and partly to the romance of his background. Hendy's
first job was as a bus conductor on the number 11 and he can still,
just, carry off warm references to his mates down at Alperton bus
garage. He summarises his working style thus: "I like being outside."
