Earlier correspondence:
Dear Lothian Buses,re: service 23, 8am, SN11 EJC
First let me congratulate you on your involvement in the safety event on Lothian Road last month, where like many others I found the experience of sitting in a bus as well as discussing safety with your representative most interesting.
I can't remember the name of the gentleman attending the bus, but during our conversation we touched on many of the difficulties of cycling and driving around Edinburgh, one of which was the tendency for some drivers to throw safety to the wind and cut across cycle lanes - especially sensitive now we've had a few tragic deaths resulting from drivers not properly checking their nearside.
So, it was with interest that I found myself waiting in front of the Missoni this morning (almost precisely at 8am) when the driver of the number 23 (SN11 EJC) pulled into the cycle lane behind me. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he was meticulous about checking his mirrors before cutting into an area reserved for bike safety at peak time.
Interested to see what would happen, I did not pull away when the lights changed. Sure enough, the bus driver got a bit upset, even though I was completely in the cycle safety lane. He went back into the driving lane where he should have been in the first place (since the council took away the right filter lane there's plenty of room, even for a bus) and was on his way.
I'm not sure whether the driver was just new to the job, new to the route, maybe having an off morning? But at such a busy junction for cycling, when there's plenty of room not to cut across the safety lane... why did he do it? What if there had been an old lady or a mum with her kids in a trailer on his nearside when he cut in? (Again, there wasn't, and I'm not accusing him of not checking!)
Anyway, something to consider for further training perhaps?
I remain, etc etc, your most humble and obedient servant...
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