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- #10,421
Good Evening Geeks,
Just witnessed a rather unsavoury incident at Preston Circus involving a National Express coach. As usual there, two cyclists had gone beyond the advance stop box to wait a what is marked as the end of the cycle lane, about 20 feet ahead. I stopped in the advance stop box and the coach that is already there is at least halfway in to the box, so I am maybe 2/3 of a bike length ahead of the coach. As the lights turn to red and amber, Mr Coach Driver floors it pulling away before I've even started to pedal. The two cyclists in front have started to move away as the light has turned green but the coach driver does not alter his path to allow room for them, leaving a mere foot between his coach and the pedestrian railing at this intersection. Fortunately, he was accelerating so aggressively that both of these ladies heard him coming and braked and veered to the left avoiding serious injury if not death.
I've seen this sort of thing from car drivers and 'white van men' but from a guy driving a coach to and from London? Why bother? Especially, as he had to stop and pick up passengers not 50 yards down the road. When he stopped I gave him a right earful on behalf of the front (lady cyclist) as she seemed pretty shook up but thinking back I wish I had just punched the guy. I know it does not solve anything but he did not seem to care that he had nearly killed someone so why should I care if I hurt his face?
I'm really upset by this as I just cannot believe someone would have so little thought for someone else's well being. I have sent a complaint email along with the registration number to National Express, not really expecting much but will be interesting to see what they have to say. Especially as all National Express coaches have CCTV on them so should show his dangerous driving if they bother to look.
Just witnessed a rather unsavoury incident at Preston Circus involving a National Express coach. As usual there, two cyclists had gone beyond the advance stop box to wait a what is marked as the end of the cycle lane, about 20 feet ahead. I stopped in the advance stop box and the coach that is already there is at least halfway in to the box, so I am maybe 2/3 of a bike length ahead of the coach. As the lights turn to red and amber, Mr Coach Driver floors it pulling away before I've even started to pedal. The two cyclists in front have started to move away as the light has turned green but the coach driver does not alter his path to allow room for them, leaving a mere foot between his coach and the pedestrian railing at this intersection. Fortunately, he was accelerating so aggressively that both of these ladies heard him coming and braked and veered to the left avoiding serious injury if not death.
I've seen this sort of thing from car drivers and 'white van men' but from a guy driving a coach to and from London? Why bother? Especially, as he had to stop and pick up passengers not 50 yards down the road. When he stopped I gave him a right earful on behalf of the front (lady cyclist) as she seemed pretty shook up but thinking back I wish I had just punched the guy. I know it does not solve anything but he did not seem to care that he had nearly killed someone so why should I care if I hurt his face?
I'm really upset by this as I just cannot believe someone would have so little thought for someone else's well being. I have sent a complaint email along with the registration number to National Express, not really expecting much but will be interesting to see what they have to say. Especially as all National Express coaches have CCTV on them so should show his dangerous driving if they bother to look.
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