CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Dear First Bus...

CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Dear First Bus... http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Dear First Bus... en Sun, 05 Apr 2026 12:15:40 +0000 Coxy on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966&page=2#post-140520 Wed, 22 Jan 2014 12:14:16 +0000 Coxy 140520@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <Clarkson> Drive it like it's nicked! </Clarkson> allebong on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966&page=2#post-140488 Tue, 21 Jan 2014 23:58:51 +0000 allebong 140488@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ To run slightly contrary to the thread, when I was living and commuting in Glasgow I found First buses there were generally fine. They weren't angels but I can't recall any truly idiotic and/or murderous shenanigans either. As noted it was the coaches you really had to watch out for. To run not all all contrary to the thread, I'm just back in from a walk round Chesser/Stenhouse, and I witnessed some ridiculous driving from a First double decker. Along Stenhouse road at the Shell petrol station, the limit is 30mph, though at this time of night you'd hardly think so. The bus was tearing it along towards Calder, engine screaming, the whole thing rocking and bouncing over all the potholes along the bus lane. Had to be at least 40, maybe even 45 or edging towards 50. Bus got flashed by the speed camera along there so it's not just my word for this (if the camera was working....). It's a bad stretch for speeding that, I walk along there most evenings and it's not unusual to see cars getting flashed by the camera, but this is the first time I've ever seen a bus be that determined. Minutes later a Lothian bus came along at a far more sedate and legal pace, as would be expected, and as I always see. steveo on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966&page=2#post-140487 Tue, 21 Jan 2014 23:57:47 +0000 steveo 140487@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Do you think first use the same video they just change the text to indicate that is how they expect their drivers to drive round bikes ? condor2378 on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966&page=2#post-140485 Tue, 21 Jan 2014 23:35:23 +0000 condor2378 140485@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ @Marshant Lothian Buses carry out all their training in house by a dedicated team of ex-bus driving instructors. They also target specific subjects, such as potholes, cyclists etc, for a more detailed training refreshers which gives rise to materials like the Shadow Cyclist video, below. I understand there will be another "push" on cycling awareness in the near future as it's been about 18 months since the last one and there are a number of new drivers who may not be fully aware of their responsibilities. Hopefully this initiative goes ahead and we see a positive influence. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW7U16OG0Kc" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW7U16OG0Kc</a> minus six on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966#post-140460 Tue, 21 Jan 2014 17:31:46 +0000 minus six 140460@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I had a run-in with First Bus service 43 this morning -- and certainly not for the first time, the driver had no interest in keeping a reasonable width on his overtake. Today I tried a new strategy. When I caught up with the bus, as does invariably happen, I offered the guy a straight choice. He could put his hand up to me man to man and admit his driving was at that moment substandard. or, I could report the incident to his supervisors. So the guy quickly made the calculation (as Sean Kelly would say) and put his hand up to it and apologised. Of course if the reply had been non-commital or belligerent, I'd have reported him, for all the good it would have done. But I like to think that next time, the driver might be more wary of close passing a slow moving "obstacle", as it might well reappear later demanding remedy. kaputnik on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966#post-140442 Tue, 21 Jan 2014 12:51:14 +0000 kaputnik 140442@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Who *is* the best office to contact, to mandate FirstBus drivers to undergo, at a minimum, the same training as LothianBuses drivers? Apparently not to Transport Scotland or one of the other official regulatory bodies, unless you were a passenger on said bus. <a href="http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/public-transport/PVS/bus-complaints" rel="nofollow">http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/public-transport/PVS/bus-complaints</a> Marshant on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966#post-140437 Tue, 21 Jan 2014 12:42:00 +0000 Marshant 140437@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I had two similar experiences with FirstBus over the last two days in Polmont -- both times where they refused to yield to me when I had right of way whilst navigating around an obstruction (traffic calming island). I wrote to First but didn't receive a reply. So it's not even an Edinburgh thing, they don't even get training out in the suburbs where there's tons of space/opportunity to pass safely, they just choose not to. Who *is* the best office to contact, to mandate FirstBus drivers to undergo, at a minimum, the same training as LothianBuses drivers? I have had only one bad experience with a Lothian bus in the years I've been cycling in Edinburgh. Darkerside on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966#post-140429 Tue, 21 Jan 2014 11:25:30 +0000 Darkerside 140429@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Ditto with the go straight to Police on that one. If it all gets too much, come over to Glasgow to experience the City Sprinters. Make First bus drivers seem like angels. Although come quickly, as they're in the process of losing their license... kaputnik on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966#post-140422 Tue, 21 Jan 2014 10:36:06 +0000 kaputnik 140422@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I feel fortunate that my usual commute routes don't seem to coincide with Worstbus routes for more than a few hundred metres on Gorgie Road. cc on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966#post-140419 Tue, 21 Jan 2014 10:26:28 +0000 cc 140419@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ And the police. That driver isn't fit to drive. steveo on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966#post-140414 Tue, 21 Jan 2014 10:15:37 +0000 steveo 140414@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I'd be inclined to go over their head straight to the transport commissioner, they clearly have a culture of bad driving which they are unwilling to address. Probably an inferiority complex having been rejected by LB. pjmatthews on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966#post-140412 Tue, 21 Jan 2014 10:09:07 +0000 pjmatthews 140412@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Picking up on this now. I've repeated run-ins with First Bus. Can we do something about them? I've just sent this: Hi, I am a very confident experienced cyclist. This morning on the westbound Calder Road in Edinburgh I have never been so terrified in my entire time cycling in Edinburgh. The driver of your number 28 service at around 8:20 am, along the length of Calder Road was, I can only presume, actually trying to kill me. At Stenhouse I was in the primary position on the road. The driver overtook me, leaving barely a metre gap and started pulling the bus in as it was passing me, forcing me into the curb. On the next section of road he repeated this manoeuvre. As my journey progressed I was forced to cycle defensively (i.e. in the middle of the bus lane) just to prevent the driver overtaking me. On the final section or road up to the bypass he overtook me, while I was weaving around potholes, again leaving barely a metre gap and again, pulled in as the bus was passing me, forcing me into the side of the road. At no point was he willing to give way to me, give me the recommended 1.5 metre gap when overtaking or pull into the outside lane to overtake. This is not the first time I have reported one of your drivers, and indeed the same thing happened with the same service last Wednesday. In Edinburgh, when I am cycling around a Lothian Bus I feel very safe and confident. When I see a First Bus I am terrified as I know the driver will treat me in this way. If this continues I will report First Bus to the City of Edinburgh Council, Police Scotland and the Scottish Transport Commissioner. Yours.... Tulyar on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966#post-36022 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:18:42 +0000 Tulyar 36022@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Small post-thought If you have a portfolio investment in shares - check it out. You might find that you are as a consequence, a shareholder of First Group, and thus entitled to write, not as a customer or member of the public, but a shareholder. Tulyar on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966#post-36021 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:15:45 +0000 Tulyar 36021@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Midland Bluebird - Has the N&P registration never changed in 30 years? Services are operated by First East of Scotland (or Lothian and Borders) - MD Paul Thomas Registered Offices in Camelon (half way to Larbert) full address (by law) has to be readable from kerb on n/s of bus. (some less good operators rather stretch this with small lettering and paper labels stuck on bus windows) X95 operated by buses from Galashiels on A7 route Carlisle-Edinburgh. New buses likely to appear on 62 and 95 with Borders Council initiative. Current fleet increasingly have CCTV but you have to act fast as systems overwrite every 7-14 days. The Wrights single deck buses have a fisheye camera visible inside front screen at bottom and others looking at front platform/driver etc. If you are hit OR FORCED TO CRASH by the PRESENCE of a vehicle you can require details (Section 170 RTA/RSA) and many bus operators provide drivers with a Section 170 card, which avoids the risk of a big stushie and a bus fu o folk. Discussing the restoration of cycle carriage to routes like 62 (used to carry up to 4 bikes on 49 seater bus) but this is developing quietly - perhaps with new buses it will be easier to deliver, especially as Cumbria has a successful LSTF bid that includes cycle carriage on bus services - might get us to Longtown? By way of a taster - if you could use the bus from Penicuik/Gorebridge (where it gets less busy) would that make it a practical option to reach the Tweed Valley? Wilmington's Cow on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966#post-35051 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:41:21 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 35051@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ We'll see if my video gets anything back. SRD on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966#post-35050 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:35:57 +0000 SRD 35050@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ First bus claims they did send me a reply about a week later - I didn't receive it, but VOSA has forwarded me a copy. Quite reasonable. Says all the right things about road safety. and that although they don't have cctv, they identified and interviewed the driver and that they carry out covert checks after such incidents. kaputnik on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966#post-34227 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 02:24:41 +0000 kaputnik 34227@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Maybe we should sue for wrongful use of the word "first"? Min on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966#post-34220 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 18:31:15 +0000 Min 34220@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Maybe Firstbus just get so many complaints they have stopped replying?? SRD on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966#post-34215 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:33:34 +0000 SRD 34215@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ well, this is a good reply: "Many thanks for your recent E-Mail addressed to the Traffic Commissioner who has asked me to reply on her behalf. The Commissioner is concerned at the incident that you have described and will be contacting the company direct. The X95 Service is operated by Midland Bluebird Ltd, part of First Group. The Traffic Commissioner will be asking that the Managing Director makes contact with you in the near future. The Traffic Commissioner has asked me to thank you for bringing this matter to her attention." Baldcyclist on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966#post-34214 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:10:59 +0000 Baldcyclist 34214@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ This chap (@magnatom on twitter) has a meeting with First Bus sometime soon regarding a cycling/bus incident and possible driver awareness training: <a href="http://www.magnatom.net/2011/05/letter-to-first-glasgow.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.magnatom.net/2011/05/letter-to-first-glasgow.html</a> SRD on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966#post-34213 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:30:11 +0000 SRD 34213@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Still no reply! Have now taken morningsider's advice and written the traffic commissioner as well. SRD on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966#post-31738 Fri, 20 May 2011 09:37:45 +0000 SRD 31738@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ if only it was the same driver! hope all okay. holisticglint on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966#post-31713 Thu, 19 May 2011 21:57:19 +0000 holisticglint 31713@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ In an unusual case of karmic balance the X95 First bus I was on today had a car crash into it in exactly the same scenario as you describe - car driver failing entirely to notice a wacking great bus when pulling away from the curb. Scary thing is that the route is exactly the one I usually cycle on past the same row of parked cars and if the drivers can't see a bus coming I don't think my day glow jacket is going to help much either... Arellcat on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966#post-31576 Wed, 18 May 2011 14:40:38 +0000 Arellcat 31576@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ "However there is a backlog in the [customer contact] system..." This is First Bus, after all. Perhaps the system has become inundated with correspondence from people saying how pleased they are with the service. kaputnik on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966#post-31571 Wed, 18 May 2011 13:19:52 +0000 kaputnik 31571@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ customer contact system Point out to them you're not a customer. You have a bike and don't need to use their shoddy service! Morningsider on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966#post-31563 Wed, 18 May 2011 11:40:17 +0000 Morningsider 31563@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Hi SRD - I would suggest you direct your complaint to: Joan Aitken Scottish Traffic Commissioner Level 6 The Stamp Office 10 Waterloo Place Edinburgh EH1 3EG email: Joan.AitkenATotc.gsi.gov.uk - replace AT with @ Traffic Commissioners regulate bus operators and individual drivers. Make sure you mention that you are complaining about the driver's poor driving and that you are not satisfied that First Bus takes this issue seriously. I am almost certain the Commissioner will not be able to do anything much about this - but First will hate the fact that a complaint has been sent to the regulator, also it may help build a cumulative picture of poor performance by First that could result in them being called-in to explain themselves. kaputnik on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966#post-31560 Wed, 18 May 2011 11:08:59 +0000 kaputnik 31560@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ When I wrote to complain, Lothian Buses phoned me to apologise within 2 days of recieving my letter. I had a letter of apology within the week. The difference between the 2 companies is dramatic. I wonder which recieves more public subsidy. I know where my bet would lie... chdot on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966#post-31550 Wed, 18 May 2011 10:25:14 +0000 chdot 31550@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ "escalated" sounds good... SRD on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966#post-31549 Wed, 18 May 2011 10:24:03 +0000 SRD 31549@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ "Your contact has been entered into the customer contact system and escalated to the local operating depot for investigation. We do try and update or provide full responses within 14 days from the date we receive the contacts. However there is a backlog in the system and we anticipate an additional two week delay." one month to reply to a customer service complaint? kaputnik on "Dear First Bus..." http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2966#post-31548 Wed, 18 May 2011 10:22:55 +0000 kaputnik 31548@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Potential hear for the next "urban driver". I hope anth's not huffing at me for putting a mini in my latest one :S