To woman force off road by coach on Grove Vale (Aug 10th)

[taper]

I'd add Ruskin Private hire to the list of commercial carriers to watch out for.

Also I think The Mayor, to his credit, now forces really bad and dangerous drivers to put a round stickers in their back window bearing the legend "Registered Mini Cab driver"; so they're worth looking out for.

[Cora]

Yes, since these badges have been around it's amazing to see how many dangerous moves are made by mini-cab drivers (particularly those that don't stop at zebra crossings!! Errgh...)

[dubluke]

Ladymuck Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> H Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > I'm glad you use the Elephant and Castle bypass

> > now mrs f, I would never in a million years

> want

> > to cycle around that roundabout and it scares

> me

> > watching people do it when I'm on the bus going

> > around there. I would encourage more people to

> > use it, it may take a tiny bit longer but you

> are

> > more likely to arrive at your destination

> > unscathed.

>

>

> I (madly) STILL go around that double roundabout

> on my bike. I did try to use the by-pass

> once...but I ended up in the OLD KENT ROAD, which

> was even scarier (to my mind)...whether or not I

> took a wrong turn I don't know, but I've never

> risked it again.

Oi don't diss the old kent road that's where I live!!! On a serious note though I would avoid teh E n C roundabout if I were you, my sister's ex got knocked off his bike twice there and on the second occasion fractured his jaw and had a bit of bone lodge in his ear making him deaf in that ear for 6 months!

[Karrie]

[Deleted] Safety reasons

[grabot]

I have had two near death experiences in my life. One of which involved a Clarke's coach on Denmark Hill. Before crossing the road I looked both ways, started to cross and had to jump backwards as a Clarke's coach whistled about two inches past my face. I could feel the force and power, it would have smashed me to pieces. Terrifying. For that to have happened, between me looking and starting to cross the road, the bus must have been travelling at an incredible speed. 60 mph at least I would imagine. I hope that he management of Clarke's do read this. What is the law as regards corporate manslaughter? If a Clarke's driver kills someone and Clarke's management are in possesion of the information on this thread, are they culpable?

[Applespider]

Karrie Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

They did say to me

> that it is an every day occurence when cycling. If

> this is what it is like to ride a bike, then sorry

> Boris, not interested in cycling, sounds too

> stressful.

Perhaps they've been unfortunate or aren't assertive enough on the road. I've only recently started commuting by cycle (more because I had got the bike via a Cycle to Work scheme so thought I should at least give it a go than because I'm a rabid cyclist) and I'm truly enjoying it. I've been pleasantly surprised by the majority of drivers in terms of the room they've given me when passing. I've really only had one absolute tosser who just shouted abuse as he drove off rather than doing anything dangerous. He shouted at me to use hand signals more (how I was meant to indicate I was going straight on when I was already in the lane for going straight on, I'm not sure) so I did... or perhaps that was more of a finger signal ;-p

[boxboyuk]

To be fair..i get the 40 bus every day to work and have seen some dreadfull cycling cutting in as the bus pulls off, jumping red lights..i say the red light thing as i got hit by a bike last week when he come tearing through a red light and all i got was a "sorry i had my Ipod in". as for the Kwit-Fit thing why was she just stood with her bike out side a place where cars/vans etc come flying in and out all day long? surely moveing another 100yards to the left or right would do no harm. as for the coach's yup thay are 20+ Stone chane somking kabab munching nutters but thay do get me to glastonbury for 40 quid! and i dont see how trying to get somebody the sack will improve you life...if anything just send an e-mail recommending driving training/course's for whoever you have your "beef" with get me bread-bin! (hhmmm i have a feeling this may not go down that well)

[Applespider]

With regards to the Kwik Fit thing, perhaps she was stuck in traffic or waiting for a safe moment to filter over in order to turn - perhaps even into Kwik Fit to blow up tyres? Without seeing it, it's hard to know but it's unlikely she was just sitting/standing stationary on her bike in the middle of the road for absolutely no reason.

But you're right that there are some cyclists who do some really stupid things - pulling out without glancing behind and signalling, being so obsessed with getting in front of stationary/slow traffic that they take some big risks and going through red lights - and, to be honest, using iPods at all on busy roads. The worst thing is that there are so many who do push the boundaries that it encourages others to do the same and see it as normal. But just as not all cyclists deserve to be tarred with the 'red light jumper' tag, not all coach/bus/lorry/taxi drivers deserve to be classed as bad drivers. Unfortunately there is a sizeable minority of both though. It would be a good thing if both sides could spend some time in the others shoes - the cyclist in the cab of a big vehicle and the drivers a few miles in a saddle.

[mlteenie]

Unfortunately, there are absolute tossers in all areas of life.

My previous post was bashed out in a hurry, but I must say that what PinarelloFan said is right. If the driver is reported 'in-house', little may be done, but a report to the Met's Roadsafe website should mean that more serious action may be taken should the offender be flagged up repeatedly.

I should also add that as an experienced cyclist/cycling instructor, I know that the key to being safe on the roads is respect and communication. If I, as a car driver, don't understand what the cyclist in front of me intends to do, esp. when they never even look behind to see what traffic situations are developing, it is hard not to start losing respect. Who is most vulnerable? Also, riding on the road requires responsibility and assertive road positioning. I also do not run red lights and deplore that habit, although I really believe some are ignorant and don't know the law. Cycling on pavements is illegal, no matter what age.

Any adults requiring free confidence-boosting one-to-one cycling lessons should get in touch with the appropriate council's Cycling Officer. In Southwark you can also contact Cycling Instructor.com (no, I don't work for them!).

But then there is Clarkes.....