+1. Plus, the cyclist is riding in the left lane (the slow lane in the UK), and there appears to be plenty of room in the right lane for the bus to pass safely.
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Bus driver jailed for attack on cyclist
- Thread starter i_got_a_mohawk
- Start date
+1. Plus, the cyclist is riding in the left lane (the slow lane in the UK), and there appears to be plenty of room in the right lane for the bus to pass safely.
How do you see that? When the video starts the bike appears to be already in front of the bus. There's no indication at all that I can see of the bike riding in the buses path. I don't know about in the UK but where I live it is perfectly legal for bikes to use public streets. As a matter of fact I think it's illegal in some places in the US for bikes to ride on sidewalks.
The driver was apparently convicted in a court and sentenced to jail. That tells me that there was no credible self defense argument.
I get that.
My point is that riding in front of the bus is not necessarily an illegal action on the part of the cyclist. Granted, there may have been some earlier conflict between the cyclist and the driver that may have played a role in this incident, but the difference is that the bus is a potentially lethal threat to the cyclist. The cyclist is meerly an annoyance to the bus driver.
Yes, I might be wrong. Only, the more I watch the video, the more clues I see that the cyclist is behaving irresponsibly.
I don't know the traffic laws in Britain but I highly doubt that cyclists there have the right to ride their bike in the middle of the lane. I'm sure someone can clear that up for us.
Ha, I almost posted "but isn't the bike supposed to ride in the slow lane anyway? " before thinking of this very fact
You don't see the cyclist changing lanes to block the bus as it moved to the right lane? It looks like it, but I can't say that's what happened.
That bus driver has some serious bike flicking skills. I bet there's a secret society of bus drivers looking at this video and nodding in approval.
I kid, I kid.
I kid, I kid.
I don't see why not...they can do it here. Though they typically ride off to the right side of the right lane here...but it looks like the bike rider here has just made a left turn, and was preparing to make a right turn. It looks from the video like the bus may have gotten frustrated and decided to pass the cyclist at the same time as the cyclist was preparing to make a right turn...driver says "I hate these stupid bikes in the middle of the road!" and hits him...
I'm not saying it looks that way, because to me it looks like he moved out of the way...but...
What if the cyclist did try to block the bus? That gives the bus driver the right to run him over?
Well something has gone down before the vid, but that may equally be the drivers fault. I commuted by bike in London for years, you would keep a line over to the left closer to the kerb to allow traffic to pass usually, if possible.
Regardless, attempting to injure or kill someone with a bus because you are annoyed, is quite something else.
Regardless, attempting to injure or kill someone with a bus because you are annoyed, is quite something else.
^That's what I see too.
In the countries I am familiar with (continental Europe) riding your bike in the middle of a lane, purposely blocking the flow of traffic would get you picked up by the police very quickly. Bicycles are required to stick to the side of the lane, letting other vehicles pass.
Bottom line for me - absolutely inexcusable behaviour by a professional (!) driver, but I do see TWO irresponsible people on that street.
(Based on CA laws) A cyclist has the right to a lane just as much as any other vehicle, and may ride anywhere in the lane as long as he is not impeding the flow of traffic (just as with any slow-moving vehicle). In the case of impeding the flow of traffic, he must ride as far to the right as is practical for the conditions.
In this case, the cyclist never left his lane, and there is an open lane to the right of the cyclist that is available.
As I indicated before, there may have been a prior issue between the cyclist and bus driver in this incident, but none of us know that for sure based on what has been presented. From what I can see in the video, nothing indicates to me any illegal actions on the part of the cyclist (based on CA laws).
Even if the cyclist was intentionally getting in the way of the bus (due to an earlier incident), NOTHING excuses the bus driver from taking potentially lethal action.
Not at all. The reason the bus driver snapped and their justification in hitting the cyclist are separate points that are being argued in this thread. I'm just sayin' that it looked like the cyclist did provoke the bus driver to some extent.
I am a cyclist and motorcyclist (the only reason I mention this is because I understand the many of the issues encountered on 2 wheels). I hope the bus driver gets what they deserve. There's no excuse for potentially killing someone over something other than self-defense.
One last observation: the quick glance over the shoulder suggests to me that the cyclist was trying to change lanes. I would've definitely signaled my intent to do so but I don't know what the laws are where it happened.
Me too, I'm with you. I can't count on my fingers and toes how many times I have almost been hit while riding my motorcycle. Oddly enough, many more times than when riding my bicycle.
Just a hypothetical question really.
I bet he thinks twice before starting crap with someone driving a bigger vehicle than his.
He should consider himself luck he didn't get run over by that big ol' bus.
Remember, it takes two to tango.
He should consider himself luck he didn't get run over by that big ol' bus.
Remember, it takes two to tango.
Something has happened there, the cyclists line is pretty sketchy for a reason tbh and the bus is pretty much on his tail, you would indicate there for sure. I've experienced bad drivers, witnessed bad cyclists, I haven't witnessed anyone with that level of intent before though, just because.
Nice to see folks on TB trying to blame the cyclist! Some of you folk do not disappoint! The video only would have been better if a pedestrian had been mowed down as well, right? /s
I frequently have to dance with MARTA buses on the road. They are stopping every block, and I am not. Some drivers will make a big effort to just get passed of me so they can swerve right in front of me to make another stop, blocking me. It is dangerous for them to do this and just asinine. I now take the lane when a bus starts doing this, and block them. I have had words with a few drivers.
So what happened to this genius in his fit of self-righteous rage? He lost his job. He lost his freedom for 7 months. I am sure there will be some issue with driver's licenses from now on. I assume it will be almost impossible for him to get auto insurance for some time. Yeah, this worked out well for him! He showed that cyclist!
I frequently have to dance with MARTA buses on the road. They are stopping every block, and I am not. Some drivers will make a big effort to just get passed of me so they can swerve right in front of me to make another stop, blocking me. It is dangerous for them to do this and just asinine. I now take the lane when a bus starts doing this, and block them. I have had words with a few drivers.
So what happened to this genius in his fit of self-righteous rage? He lost his job. He lost his freedom for 7 months. I am sure there will be some issue with driver's licenses from now on. I assume it will be almost impossible for him to get auto insurance for some time. Yeah, this worked out well for him! He showed that cyclist!
