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Hi all,
First off; I am so happy there is a forum like this! I'm hoping you could give me some advice on the following matter.
I was cycling on the road, when a busdriver overtook me closely and cut me off. I didn't think too much of it until I caught up with the bus at the red lights and the driver was giving me faces. This makes me think the close overtake and cutting was no accidental bad driving, but a deliberate attempt at intimidating me. The driver turns left at the red lights, I go straight on.
A few minutes later as I'm about to enter a roundabout on the left lane, intending to take the 5th exit, a bus approaches fast on the right hand lane. However, the bus has to slow down and I enter the roundabout. Around the second exit of the roundabout I notice that the bus is very very close behind me. I'm scared and swerve left and pedal faster in an effort to get some distance from the bus.
I continue on the roundabout, still feeling quite scared and unsafe with such a massive vehicle so close. As I go past the third exit I get a massive whack from behind. The bus driver drove into me in an apparent attempt to take the third exit.
I miraculously manage to stay on my bicycle and come to a halt. I look back and see I was hit by a bus! People in traffic ask me if i'm fine, I'm dazed and shocked and tell them yes. As I look into the window of the bus I expect to see an equally shocked, apologetic bus driver. Instead I see the same driver who cut me off earlier giving me a cold blank stare.
Because of the drivers previous behaviour and lack of empathy, or any other emotion, I now realise that this is no accident and I call 999 to tell them I've just been assaulted by a bus driver.
After a minute or so the 999 people are still on the phone to me, and the bus driver pulls up in his bus, holding his cellphone. He very shortly asks "do you need an ambulance" to which I replied "no, just the police".
He parks his bus, and lets his passengers get off, busily talking to some of them. I assume in an attempt to sway their testimony. He then walks up to me with a notepad and says "right whats your name" Still no apologies, or asking if I'm OK,
Faced by the would be murderer I feel extremely uneasy and tell him that I will not give him my name as he intentionally hit me which in my opinion is attempted murder. He doesn't dispute this, instead says "O" and turns around, back to his bus.
When the police arrive I tell them what happened and show them the damages to my bicyle and the paint that has transferred from the bus onto my bike. They then talk to the driver and two witnesses (not sure if these were passengers or not) and come to inform me that these people don't think it was an attempt to kill me. They let the driver back on his bus, and that's that.
I've had a quote done for the damages to my bike and will send this to the buses insurer. The police told me they would review the buses cctv footage and get back to me, which they still haven't done.
I would like some advice on how to take this forward, I don't feel safe on the roads anymore but refuse to stop cycling as I will not give in to terror and also because I can't afford to commute another way. I feel like there is no place on the roads for this sort of behaviour, and fear people will end up getting killed as long as this maniac is allowed on the roads.
Help please!
First off; I am so happy there is a forum like this! I'm hoping you could give me some advice on the following matter.
I was cycling on the road, when a busdriver overtook me closely and cut me off. I didn't think too much of it until I caught up with the bus at the red lights and the driver was giving me faces. This makes me think the close overtake and cutting was no accidental bad driving, but a deliberate attempt at intimidating me. The driver turns left at the red lights, I go straight on.
A few minutes later as I'm about to enter a roundabout on the left lane, intending to take the 5th exit, a bus approaches fast on the right hand lane. However, the bus has to slow down and I enter the roundabout. Around the second exit of the roundabout I notice that the bus is very very close behind me. I'm scared and swerve left and pedal faster in an effort to get some distance from the bus.
I continue on the roundabout, still feeling quite scared and unsafe with such a massive vehicle so close. As I go past the third exit I get a massive whack from behind. The bus driver drove into me in an apparent attempt to take the third exit.
I miraculously manage to stay on my bicycle and come to a halt. I look back and see I was hit by a bus! People in traffic ask me if i'm fine, I'm dazed and shocked and tell them yes. As I look into the window of the bus I expect to see an equally shocked, apologetic bus driver. Instead I see the same driver who cut me off earlier giving me a cold blank stare.
Because of the drivers previous behaviour and lack of empathy, or any other emotion, I now realise that this is no accident and I call 999 to tell them I've just been assaulted by a bus driver.
After a minute or so the 999 people are still on the phone to me, and the bus driver pulls up in his bus, holding his cellphone. He very shortly asks "do you need an ambulance" to which I replied "no, just the police".
He parks his bus, and lets his passengers get off, busily talking to some of them. I assume in an attempt to sway their testimony. He then walks up to me with a notepad and says "right whats your name" Still no apologies, or asking if I'm OK,
Faced by the would be murderer I feel extremely uneasy and tell him that I will not give him my name as he intentionally hit me which in my opinion is attempted murder. He doesn't dispute this, instead says "O" and turns around, back to his bus.
When the police arrive I tell them what happened and show them the damages to my bicyle and the paint that has transferred from the bus onto my bike. They then talk to the driver and two witnesses (not sure if these were passengers or not) and come to inform me that these people don't think it was an attempt to kill me. They let the driver back on his bus, and that's that.
I've had a quote done for the damages to my bike and will send this to the buses insurer. The police told me they would review the buses cctv footage and get back to me, which they still haven't done.
I would like some advice on how to take this forward, I don't feel safe on the roads anymore but refuse to stop cycling as I will not give in to terror and also because I can't afford to commute another way. I feel like there is no place on the roads for this sort of behaviour, and fear people will end up getting killed as long as this maniac is allowed on the roads.
Help please!
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