CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh

Lothian Buses takes cycle safety seriously - again

(8 posts)
  • Started 12 years ago by chdot
  • Latest reply from Wilmington's Cow

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  1. chdot
    Admin

    We have often commented on here about how we appreciate the fact that LB trains its drivers to be 'cycle aware'.

    There have also been a small number of people who have had 'problems'.

    I think they have all be dealt with satisfactorily.

    I recently had reason to complain.

    I was cycling up Lothian Road and I felt that a bus was a bit close to me coming into the last stop before Earl Grey Street.

    OK it happens, it shouldn't, but no big deal - driver slowing down to pick up passengers.

    BUT

    He then caught up with me in the bus/bike lane at Tollcross (lights red).

    I set off, at a decent pace, when they when yellow (illegal of course) just to get some distance.

    I was half way across the junction when I realised that the bus was closer than I was comfortably with.

    I'm not new to urban cycling...

    So I turned round and made a 'back off' gesture (polite).

    He then took both his hands of the wheel in a 'what am I doing wrong' gesture.

    I was definitely unsettled and cycled on to the Kings and stopped and 'phoned LB.

    I got a letter today which was sent a week after the incident.

    "

    Thank you for your comments regarding

    (incident as above)

    I was concerned with the event as described by you and have since viewed the audio/visual CCTV footage from the bus involved fleet number (my delete). The footage provided an accurate account as to what took place and clearly displayed the lack of forward planning by our driver. The driver will be interviewed with regards to his driving standard which fell below that expected by this Company. Lothian Buses place great importance on their driving staff displaying professional knowledge, awareness and skills when behind the wheel of our vehicles, which includes the rights of other road users. Lothian Buses has highlighted the problems that cyclists encounter on the roads and placed information notices in their depots instructing drivers to allow for extra space and time when carrying out a manoeuvre involving a cyclist. Our drivers cannot use the size of their vehicle to intimidate other road users. My bold - if only other companies with drivers (or indeed individuals) took that attitude.

    On behalf of Lothian Buses may I apologise for the poor level of driving displayed by a member of staff and for the upset caused, and thank you for taking the time to inform the Company of this serious matter.

    Yours sincerely

    Assistant Depot Manager.

    "

    Needless to say I wish it hadn't happened. If it had been just one of the two incidents I would probably have let it go, but this driver did seem to think he was doing nothing wrong.

    Of course I am very happy to accept the apology and am confident that they will continue to train and strive for high driver standards (to match their fleet).

    Perhaps they will send out an extra memo about 'bus stop stalking'. It's impolite, and really not safe. I experience it periodically - noticeably on Lothian Road after the Western Approach Road.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  2. 1lesscar
    Member

    I have contacted LB 4 times this year regarding bad driving. 2 occasions almost had me off the bike. On each occasion, I received a very nice reply, saying how very sorry they were, how they take cycle safety very seriously, their driver had been interviewed following The CCTV having been viewed. They even intimated disciplinary action had been taken with one driver (following a bus coming very close to me at speed from rear and the driver sounding his horn as he dis so, rather than waiting).

    A very positive reaction from management, however I feel very little chnges in the minds of the drivers. I get the feeling management do a very good job in case of any legal action that may come. The drivers would then be liable, not the company (not an expert so may be wrong)

    At the end of my last letter I stated I would no longer contact LB, but rather report incidents to L&B (police). I wonder how many incidents go un-reported to LB and/or police????

    Posted 12 years ago #

  3. chdot
    Admin

    "I stated I would no longer contact LB, but rather report incidents to L&B (police)"

    If you feel that any driver's action is dangerous (in a criminal sense) - not just LB - then reporting to the police is probably the thing to do.

    'My incidents' were definitely an LB matter.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  4. Mabs
    Member

    Its good to see they take action against such activities. There have been few too many times I've had buses come too close while approaching bus stops.
    Accelerating quickly then slowing down as they get too close. Looks like I should keep details of future incidences.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  5. Dave
    Member

    It's not in the interests of LB to protect bad drivers.

    Quite apart from safety - think about it from a business point of view: a driver is involved in a serious incident and it emerges that they had half a dozen safety complaints made about them in the past, but this was not followed through.

    The sort of letters described above really /would/ put them in jeopardy in this case, because they've written half a dozen letters confirming the conduct of the driver fell below standards, but continued to create an environment ripe for tragedy.

    I've complained twice about LB drivers in the last ten years, once was basically over a principle (they denied there was a problem) and more recently over a red light incident, which got the driver referred. <-- again, in this case if the driver had held their hand up and apologised, I would have left it at that despite the danger to all and sundry.

    I can't praise them enough, without giving the false impression that all their staff are perfect all the time. When I used to work in Fife, I'd expect one close run with a Stagecoach bus every week, and one with a Lothian bus every year, despite interacting with a hundred times as many LB vehicles!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  6. Uberuce
    Member

    They're so consistently good they lull you into a false sense of security; today I was passing a tight spot in the road, heard a large diesel vehicle approaching from the back, glanced round, mistook it for a Lothian, assumed from experience that the driver wouldn't be crazy enough to overtake me so didn't take primary(into a rougher section of road) or bust a gut trying to clear the narrowness at his speed, only to be passed browntrouseringly close by what I then saw was a First bearing an advert down the side with a flash of maroon.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  7. 1lesscar
    Member

    I have reported incidents to L&B before, however lack of evidence is always their reply. Unfortuately / fortunately, Lothian Buses have very good cameras on their buses which is always commented on in their letters. That would mean if I was to make a report to police, my evidence would be corroborated.

    I would therefor hold off on reporting incidents to police for this reason, as I would hate to have someone lose their job. But where do you draw the line? When does a minor incident become a major incident? How many close ones does a driver have before he takes someone off?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  8. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    I've mentioned things to the buses before and had similar responses. The one time I felt guilty I really shouldn't have. Tour bus, the driver really was a total liability, clearly hated bikes going virtually as quickly as him, and being able to go in front at lights.

    It's hard to explain, but at three sets of lights in a row it was very obvious he was slowing for a red, then a yard from the light suddenly moving left to block off the space (I was on the left but hung back far enough that I could then go round on the right) and pulling fully into the ASL. I complained, LB reviewed the video, told me they agreed, and that most tour bus drivers were seasonal staff generally and evidence such as this would be retained by them when it came to renewing contracts for the following tourist season.

    Not sure if he actually then didn't get taken back on the following year, or was just given a talking to, or if anything happened at all. But it was nice to see that reviewing the video actually corroborated my view of things (I presume they could see him looking in mirrors before swerving left and so on).

    I wonder if the presence of cameras encourages better driving generally though?

    Posted 12 years ago #

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