Stagecoach Bus Using Mobile Response

Below is the Stagecoach response to the incident posted previously. Not sure what "dealt with appropriately" actually means but I have a feeling the CCTV from the bus came into play.

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Dear Mr Lucas,

I am writing in response to the complaint you made about a driver on route 122, a copy of which you sent to us as well. I was most concerned to see the footage you posted, a copy of which was passed to the garage manager along with your account of events.  The driver was immediately suspended and has now been dealt with under our disciplinary procedure on both his standard of driving and using the mobile phone.   Unfortunately I cannot tell you the result of any interview as this is a private matter between the driver and the company but please be assured that the matter has been dealt with appropriately in view of the nature of the offences.

Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.

Yours sincerely

Customer Services Manager
Stagecoach London

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Stagecoach Bus Using Mobile

 LX51FKA Crystal Palace Route 122 09/10/13 17:35 BUS ID 17427

On Wednesday the 9th of October I had the misfortune of bumping into probably the most irresponsible bus driver I have ever encountered in all my 7 years cycling in London. I've seen some pretty dangerous driving from bus drivers and feature some on my youtube channel. I've reported a few to their respective companies but this is the first I've felt compelled to report to the police.

The above graphic illustrates where 3 interactions with this driver confirmed my worst fears. The first was noticing him speeding up behind me and was relieved to find him pulling in instead of flattening me. The second was when he choose to overtake I and and another cyclist only to pull in immediately in front of us. The third was when I pulled up to him at some traffic lights and my suspicions were confirmed when I saw him using a mobile device.

I can't find anything about any special dispensations for London's bus drivers using their mobile phones while in control of a double decker bus. This dangerous behaviour not only puts my life in danger but that of other road users and that of the companies passengers. I'm not out to target everyone who transgresses on our roads but I do want safer roads and pavements for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists who use them responsibly.

Sherry, Lies & Videotape

 

This story begins with Essex bus driver, David Sherry, AKA "Sueperb". You'll find Dave on his bicycle over on his youtube channel chasing taxis down on his patch, busting texting bus drivers and the usual things cyclists with cameras get up to. 

David is a 'policewitness' camera cyclist.

For the uninitiated there are hundreds of cyclists in this country using cameras, myself included. They are used mainly as a defense against drivers who are far from happy sharing the road and will intimidate you to say so.

Cycling in the UK can at times be a hostile experience compared to our European neighbours and it's not surprising that more and more people are mounting cameras on their bikes and on their helmets. This use of video technology is primarily for protection; it is hoped this video evidence will show legal use of the public highway by the cyclist and prevent a 'my word versus your word' in the event of a serious incident or accident with a vehicle.

Some run cameras 'just in case', some post their videos on youtube; here in the capital some engage the Metropolitan Police's Roadsafe division and some will also post videos onto forums seeking advice and comment on the subject of urban cycling and what they can do to avoid dangerous situations.

Well that's the idea anyway.

On the 16th July 2013, Dave posted a video of himself being assaulted by a white van man, not just on youtube but on the Cyclechat forum. The incident began with a van apparently hitting him as it overtook him closely. After the cyclist's natural instinct to shout at this danger, the driver got out and thumped Dave. It was definitely shocking, though unfortunately it is a more or less a typical sequence of events for many cyclists. 

 

CCStev runs into a thumper of a driver

Recently Birmingham cycle-cammer CCSteV suffered a physical assault and other cycle-cammers have been party to incidents that have featured in a recent documentary themed around a 'War' on our roads.

There was only one problem though; from the outset Dave was claiming in his video that the van had actually hit him. He claimed that the van hit the back of his head and that his right elbow was in a bad way. Ouch!

In reality he had struck the van with his hand when the vehicle came too close. Firstly let me be very clear that nothing excuses the behaviour of this driver for assaulting Dave, not even slapping his van, I have done that myself. However to report this as fact to the police is a completely different matter. Worse still the video he had posted himself clearly showed his arm reaching out to make contact with the passing vehicle.

As more people on Cyclechat watched his video Dave's story essentially unravelled and he disappeared forever from the forum.

He had claimed he would be going after damages and making a formal complaint to the police for a delay in taking his statement! More seriously he claimed that the severity of his injuries were such that he 'couldn't drive for weeks' Now that must hurt!

Cyclechat user Mugshot was the first to smell something fishy;

* Also why did you say "If I can touch your van mate you're far too close." why didn't you say "If your van can touch me you're far too close." I'm not trying to be an internet warrior and I'm certainly not a roadside warrior but I know I would have shouted, screamed or more likely squeaked, "YOUR VAN HIT ME!!!!!" *

But why lie? To gain a stronger case with the police? For a dubious compensation claim?

Video evidence can be pretty hard to argue with, which is why camera cyclists choose to collect it.

I and others would like an explanation from Mr Sherry as to his motives but he has refused to answer any questions in relation to this and has since made his video private.

But as we all know, nothing dies on the internet.

Watch the video and make your own mind up.