Almost killed by a Bus this morning

[bigdog]

I just want to have a rant and let everybody know about an incident I had this morning.

At approximately 7:35 this morning in Northcote on the North Shore at the intersection of Raleigh Road and Lake Road, I was indicating to turn right to go around the round about on to Lake Road and proceeded to do so. As I was making the turn some complete and utter imbecile of a bus driver (driving a Ritchies bus) started to pull out right in front of me as I was making the turn. They were turning right to go down the other direction of Lake Road towards the Northcote shops. Not only did they pull out in front of me they didn't even break or attempt to break and as I passed the clown almost plowed right into me. It was only quick reactions on my part in which I sped up and did an emergency counter steer to dodge the bus that saved me. I swear I missed it by half a foot at most. A more inexperienced rider would have probably panicked and braked and got hit and probably run over.

I needed to go to work and to be honest was a little shocked so I just beeped and kept on going. I regret it now I should have turned around and got his details at the very least (or given him a bit of aggro), I would have definitely done so if I didn't need to be at work.

I think I will send Richies Bus company an email tomorrow. What do you guys think?

Have you had any similar experiences? Almost been murdered by a bus driver?

[johcar]

Ritchies bus drivers have long been known in both the cycling and motorcycling world to be the worst in the country. I was nearly taken out by one myself earlier this week in Fanshawe St...

[Swoop]

Absolutely, get in contact with the company by phone or email. If you have the location and tine they should be able to work out which bus/"driver" it was... IF they really want to.
Some of the "intelligence" of drivers is questionable. A cousin of mine is proof of this and she was driving for them...

[Jeeper]

On Symond Street in town, buses normally pull out of the stops first and then may indicate if the driver feels like it. Makes me want to not use bus lanes for that reason.

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[jellywrestler]

What do you guys think?

I think you spelleded brake wrong.

[Berries]

Have you had any similar experiences? Almost been murdered by a bus driver?

Murder would suggest he saw you and pulled out with the intent of running you over which I doubt. What you have here is a bus driver who failed to see you, or failed to look very hard. Nothing that unusual there.

I wouldn't bother with the email, if you don't deal with it at the time then forget it. The bus driver probably moved on about 7:36, and I don't mean on to the roundabout.

[FJRider]

A more inexperienced rider would have probably panicked and braked and got hit and probably run over.

So you didn't brake ... ???

A more experienced rider would not always expect to be given right of way ... even if he/she was entitled to it. (Known as the Cassina Syndrome) Roundabouts work on the principal of continuous flow ... so that makes it a more dangerous piece of roadway than other parts of a city road system.

Adding to that ... even many (so called) experienced riders/drivers do not know all the rules of roundabouts. Do you .. ???

[Akzle]

.

Adding to that ... even many (so called) experienced riders/drivers do not know all the rules of roundabouts. Do you .. ???

operate on the american principle: more and/or bigger tyres, or more and/or bigger occupants or more and/or bigger guns on the rack in the back window... give way

[ellipsis]

...this should be in the Friday Night Rants thread...my nieces cousin, my sisters niece was blown up in Manchester, she is full of shrapnel and burned and close to death...her 14 year old friend is dead...that's murder...

[Moi]

...this should be in the Friday Night Rants thread...my nieces cousin, my sisters niece was blown up in Manchester, she is full of shrapnel and burned and close to death...her 14 year old friend is dead...that's murder...

+1 Puts a silly incident on a roundabout into perspective...


To the OP... what will you do differently next time you approach any roundabout or intersection for that matter? You only have the "right-of-way" if the other driver "gives you the right-of-way"! Use this as a learning experience and add it to your repertoire of defensive riding/driving knowledge/skills.

[iYRe]

If there is a bus turning... or a truck or any other large vehicle which might NOT be able to make a corner in its own lane (happens all the time at the round about on the dominion rd extension), then one would either make sure one proceeds through the intersection in front of said vehicle, or wait patiently for 10 seconds and let it go ahead...

I'm no pro, but I have been riding in auckland traffic for 35 years... I rarely have problems with bus drivers... other motorcyclists and pedestrians, and people driving cars with "my other car is a motorbike" bumper stickers on the other hand..

[Jeeper]

I must add that wearing everything black on a black bike does not help with visibility, particularly on shorter days when it gets dark at commute time.

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[iYRe]

I must add that wearing everything black on a black bike does not help with visibility, particularly on shorter days when it gets dark at commute time.

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It makes almost no difference, they wont see you anyway.. in fact, studies overseas suggest that dressing like a cop or a hells angel are the best options.

[FJRider]

...this should be in the Friday Night Rants thread...my nieces cousin, my sisters niece was blown up in Manchester, she is full of shrapnel and burned and close to death...her 14 year old friend is dead...that's murder...

Considering the number of western nations (Great Briton included) are attacking Islamic State fighters ... they may see it as an act of war.

[Jeeper]

It makes almost no difference, they wont see you anyway.. in fact, studies overseas suggest that dressing like a cop or a hells angel are the best options.

Could you kindly site those overseas studies, I'm curious to read because my personal experience as a driver is completely different.

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