http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Great new Lothian Buses 'cycle awareness' video en Thu, 09 Apr 2026 12:03:38 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703&page=2#post-61675 Sat, 17 Mar 2012 11:41:00 +0000 Uberuce 61675@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em> there's only really room for one car between the lower end of the yellow box and the stop line at the lights</em></p> <p>Yarp, that's what I mean, although I see now that I didn't make that clear in any way. The thing I'm praising them for is not leaving their bum in the box; oodles of other long vehicle drivers do.</p> <p>There is indeed ample room for cynicism about the considerate driving of people who know there's half a dozen cameras recording them, but I get brief moments of optimism from time to time, so there must be at least some drivers that like being nice. In the end, if they hated driving considerately that much, they could have defected to Worst Bus, and they haven't. Props for that, methinkles. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703&page=2#post-61671 Sat, 17 Mar 2012 11:01:21 +0000 BikeFan 61671@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>There's a obstinate swine of a box junction at the foot of Shandon Place that is a nightmare when it's got private or taxi drivers interacting with it, but when it's one of you splendid people, and the light on the junction is red, I've only ever seen you sit at the upper edge of the box, effectively turning the entire far side into a giant ASZ. Lovely.</em></p> <p>Without wanting to sound <em>too</em> cynical, there's only really room for one car between the lower end of the yellow box and the stop line at the lights. The drivers are maybe more concerned with not getting a ticket for being stationary in the hatched area and blocking access to Shandon Crescent. </p> <p>(That's if LBP actually give out tickets for that misdemeanour.) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703&page=2#post-61669 Sat, 17 Mar 2012 08:23:10 +0000 fimm 61669@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Given that I actually work (and cycle) in Livingston, if the depot visit is on a work day it would be rude not to get involved. If it is on a weekend probably not. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703&page=2#post-61640 Fri, 16 Mar 2012 22:36:07 +0000 Uberuce 61640@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Email sent:<br /> <em></p> <p>Hello, Mr, Miss and Mrs Lothian Bus Drivers,</p> <p> You're perhaps the most considerate, cool and sexy group of drivers I'm aware of, so keep it up. </p> <p>The incident that really brought it home how good you are is when I was approaching a parked coach with a lovely smooth stretch of tarmac fairly close to it and a really fugly cracked and potholed patch further out. The road wasn't nearly wide enough for me to be overtaken safely while I was myself overtaking that coach, so I'd have to go in the cracked bit to stop that. I heard a large diesel vehicle behind me, shoulder checked(for as I'm sure you've guessed I am a cyclist), saw a bus with merry flashes of maroon on it, and concluded that I could actually go on the smooth bit since Lothian drivers are never reckless enough to try an overtake on a narrow like that. Seconds later I had a bus thunder past around twenty inches from my handlebars, and at that point realised it wasn't one of yours at all, but actually what we in the smug eco-muesli-knitting pedal peddler community call a Worst Bus - one which happened to have an advert on the side with lots of maroon. </p> <p>Particular props, as the kids say these days, go to the 38 drivers. There's a obstinate swine of a box junction at the foot of Shandon Place that is a nightmare when it's got private or taxi drivers interacting with it, but when it's one of you splendid people, and the light on the junction is red, I've only ever seen you sit at the upper edge of the box, effectively turning the entire far side into a giant ASZ. Lovely.</p> <p>Also: hello to the person that's reading this email first. I doubt you're also a driver, but if you are, well done too; can you pass this along to the rest?</p> <p>Stay epic,</p> <p>Bruce</em> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703&page=2#post-61631 Fri, 16 Mar 2012 21:22:03 +0000 gembo 61631@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I was chatting to the manager from LRT who was the cyclist in the video. Acquired a bike for his 50th birthday and sold his BMW. Drivers instructed to not get involved and to accept that buses can do a lot of damage to cyclists. Good guy. LRT doing this properly </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703&page=2#post-61409 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 21:32:46 +0000 gembo 61409@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Cycling out from Edinburgh, avoiding hill, take canal to Heriot watt, then long dalmahoy to kirknewton then east Calder and round to Livingston malls. Where is first bus from there? This route is mostly quiet road avoiding A71. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703&page=2#post-61389 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:56:10 +0000 The Boy 61389@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ooooh. I'd be interested. Getting the time off can be a bit awkward so will just see if I can make whatever date is chosen. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703#post-61385 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:29:40 +0000 Baldcyclist 61385@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"<br /> Thank you for contacting First via email.</p> <p>If you contact our Training Manager, __________, on 0870 *** *** arrangements can be put in place for your visit.<br /> "</p> <p>OK, it looks as if First Bus are willing to accommodate a group visit, let me know if you would like to attend such a visit, and we can try and work out preferred times for those wishing to attend. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703#post-61358 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:04:25 +0000 Tom 61358@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>wingpig: <em>"I'm imagining some sort of giant dodgems rink where trainee bus drivers chase pedestrians and cyclists around"</em> Ha! It's a great video and I did notice a bus this morning on the road through Joppa considerately hold back behind me not once but twice through the traffic islands. Sorry I didn't notice which company. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703#post-61335 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:37:24 +0000 fimm 61335@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Or you can get lots of bikes on the trains, or there's my long bike commute... (I don't use route 75, bits of it are unsuitable for road bikes). (I've no idea where the depot is in Livingston, even though I work here...) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703#post-61332 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:32:15 +0000 Roibeard 61332@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>For my recent training at St Johns, we simply took the Union canal - not the most direct, but suited the non-cyclist, who managed it despite covering 80 miles over 2 days...</p> <p>Robert </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703#post-61328 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:20:54 +0000 Baldcyclist 61328@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"<br /> "magnatom" went to the First training facility in Livigston a while back and blogged about it, I think.<br /> "</p> <p>Aye, they seemed to be quite +ve to hime about safety, saying they were always trying to get better etc, they don't really seem to have though in the year or so since he was there?</p> <p>"<br /> The biggest problem would actually be cycling out to Livi - on account of all those First Buses thundering along the A71<br /> "</p> <p>Cycle route 75, goes to within 200m of the Depot, so no bother with traffic. Or there is the more direct route out past Broxburn etc which is also cycle path, again within about 200m of the Depot, but a less interesting cycle (Route 75 is actually ok until you get past Bathgate) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703#post-61327 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:17:23 +0000 Baldcyclist 61327@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Can 'we' all go?"</p> <p>Why not, I'll suggest to them that a group of us would like to attend.</p> <p>I can ferry some folks through by car if required, or we could turn up en mass on our bikes?</p> <p>It may also be a good opportunity to try and get First Bus involved in, or at least show some support for the #POP28 campaign? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703#post-61326 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:16:45 +0000 fimm 61326@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"magnatom" went to the First training facility in Livigston a while back and blogged about it, I think. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703#post-61325 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:15:34 +0000 Nelly 61325@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The biggest problem would actually be cycling out to Livi - on account of all those First Buses thundering along the A71 </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703#post-61321 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:46:59 +0000 chdot 61321@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"This may be too good an opportunity to turn down"</p> <p>Can 'we' all go? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703#post-61315 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:41:58 +0000 wingpig 61315@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote><em>"...our Training Academy in Livingston."</em></blockquote></p> <p>I'm imagining some sort of giant dodgems rink where trainee bus drivers chase pedestrians and cyclists around, attempting to either knock them down and/or spray foul chemicals into their faces from a hose.</p> <p><blockquote><em>"We invest heavily in driver training at First with safety being a number one priority."</em></blockquote></p> <p>Whose? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703#post-61314 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:38:33 +0000 chdot 61314@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://twitter.com/FirstScotland" rel="nofollow">http://twitter.com/FirstScotland</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703#post-61313 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:37:58 +0000 Baldcyclist 61313@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ooh, a quick response from First Bus. This may be too good an opportunity to turn down...</p> <p>"Thank you for contacting First via email.</p> <p>We invest heavily in driver training at First with safety being a number one priority. So that you can see first hand our training programme we would like to invite you to attend our Training Academy in Livingston. If you can please advise on when you are free we will arrange this for you. </p> <p>Kind Regards<br /> Customer Service" </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703#post-61306 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:20:15 +0000 Baldcyclist 61306@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I posted the link to First Bus here:<br /> <a href="http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/contact_us/?id=13" rel="nofollow">http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/contact_us/?id=13</a></p> <p>Maybe we all could? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703#post-61300 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:11:33 +0000 Instography 61300@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oops </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703#post-61298 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:59:10 +0000 wingpig 61298@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>When the only things it can be criticised for are the typography, grammar, punctuation and editing, they've done a great job. Now, everyone forward FirstBus customer services (if such a thing exists) a link to that page. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703#post-61297 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:58:59 +0000 Dave 61297@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There were a couple of things it lacked, I thought, but that might have been hard to film - for instance, the bus always manages to pass the cyclist before cutting in, where in real life, you have to bang on the side of the bus, mount the kerb, or just cross your fingers and hope.</p> <p>Really sound stuff though. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703#post-61288 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:41:03 +0000 fimm 61288@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I saw this via Facebook last night and thought it was very good. (I wonder where my friend saw it? I wouldn't put her down as a Road Safety Campaigner. Not that it matters.) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703#post-61286 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:34:19 +0000 mgj 61286@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It just goes to show the difference corporate culture can make. Lothian take safety seriously and cyclists view them in a very positive light, such that bad comments are pretty much unheard of. Does anyone think that they and First recruit from a radically different pool of drivers? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703#post-61262 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 10:57:19 +0000 chdot 61262@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"<br /> Lothian Buses @on_lothianbuses replied to you:</p> <p>on_lothianbuses Lothian Buses</p> <p>@CyclingEdin Fantastic news.</p> <p>Mar 15, 9:54 AM via web</p> <p>In reply to…</p> <p>CyclingEdin Cycling Edinburgh</p> <p>Positive reviews for @on_lothianbuses new video citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.… #Edinburgh #walking #cycling #CycleSafe #EdTravCyc #BetterEdinburgh</p> <p>Mar 15, 8:23 AM via Twitter for iPhone</p> <p>" </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703#post-61239 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 09:02:01 +0000 Uberuce 61239@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I must send off a thank-you email to the 38 drivers in particular. I'm yet to see them breach that fugly box junction at the bottom of Ashley Terrace, even when the actual junction onto Slateford Road is clear. </p> <p>Result of the gentlemanly 38 is that the entire bottom bit of the road becomes an ASZ, which is particularly nice since I'm only just out the house at this stage of the commute and often not completely awake. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703#post-61234 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:05:09 +0000 Dave 61234@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Crikey, that's awfully good. Quite a lot of it (not 'inviting people to pass' and not doing a dangerous pass just because you can't be bothered to wait) should be compulsory viewing for the general public. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703#post-61233 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 03:18:19 +0000 Tulyar 61233@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>PS Ian's Brother runs an equally good operation called West Coast Motors in Argyll </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5703#post-61232 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 03:15:42 +0000 Tulyar 61232@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>First has had an ear bashing from Joan Aitkin the Traffic Commissioner on a few issues lately, so I expect they will be trying a bit harder.</p> <p>The Lothian standards go back many years - Charles Evans and earlier still - and it shows in the way the drivers won't pick up or set down other than at a proper bus stop, and other ways they stick to the rules. </p> <p>The only detail I think would be good is to show how looking back through the screen you can negotiate about those left turns, and bus stop moves, if necessary you can then pull over to the right so that the bus can slow down alongside rather than have to crawl along behind you. </p> <p>Eye contact is the detail they missed </p>