So PPA here's another suggestion

[Da Vinci]

In light of my mornings excitement with almost fisticuffs between my coach driver and 2 Cyclists at Camps Bay this morn. And subsequent chats with some other coach drivers. (And for the record 2 wrongs don't make a right)

Perhaps the PPA can look at approaching the big tour bus companies ( we all know who they are - or pm me if you want a list) and doing some driver awareness. Winter is quiet and many companies do training workshops over this period - get in there. Chappies, Camps Bay are all hot spots for clashes... And neither buses nor cyclists are angels in these instances the only difference is the Coaches have big names and phone numbers emblazoned on the back for all to see and note...

[Da Vinci]

Hmmm surprised not to have seen a thread on the hub from said Cyclists

[Brett]

Sunday 9am in Claremont I'm cruising along and check a bunch of riders are 5 abreast and cruise through a red light.

I dunno what the riding was like in Camps bay but think the okes in Claremont are lucky they get a way with their lives.

"Live life on the edge yo or don't live at all"

[DJR]

So, did your coach driver cut a left corner and push the cyclists into the gutter with his rear wheel? Or did he pull over in front of the oncoming cyclists to let his passengers admire the view? Or did he sit 30 cm from their rear wheels all the way on the narrow bits? Or did he fly past so fast and so close that the shockwave blasted them into the rocks or the ocean?

 

Or was it just the cyclists that gave him the finger?

 

Methinks the driver is lucky the cyclists were able to give him trouble - dead cyclists (by any of the above, all too common methods) would have been a much bigger problem for him. I rode there myself yesterday morning and for a change had no issues with the 2 big coaches that passed me.

 

My personal opinion is that that road is not meant for the huge busses and should be limited to smaller vehicles. But, I agree, driver awareness must be improved and I think the PPA has the balls and the clout to play a role. Do you do something like that from your side within your company? Do any of the companies do driver awareness for coach drivers specifically for that stretch of road?

[Da Vinci]

So, did your coach driver cut a left corner and push the cyclists into the gutter with his rear wheel? Or did he pull over in front of the oncoming cyclists to let his passengers admire the view? Or did he sit 30 cm from their rear wheels all the way on the narrow bits? Or did he fly past so fast and so close that the shockwave blasted them into the rocks or the ocean?

 

Or was it just the cyclists that gave him the finger?

 

Methinks the driver is lucky the cyclists were able to give him trouble - dead cyclists (by any of the above, all too common methods) would have been a much bigger problem for him. I rode there myself yesterday morning and for a change had no issues with the 2 big coaches that passed me.

 

My personal opinion is that that road is not meant for the huge busses and should be limited to smaller vehicles. But, I agree, driver awareness must be improved and I think the PPA has the balls and the clout to play a role. Do you do something like that from your side within your company? Do any of the companies do driver awareness for coach drivers specifically for that stretch of road?

 

DJR - the cyclist is lucky not to be dead after he cut the bus off and proceeded to weave aggressively infront of him as the coach was making a turn. The driver had pulled out to pass but a car came along so he had to back off which he did and then passed when it was clear. I think he gave the cyclists a fright but they got overly aggro. There was a threat of a charge and I am in that case a witness so I don't want to go into the whole semantics. I am of the opinion the driver was not driving deliberately recklessly and it was handled badly by the cyclists. As I said before 2 wrongs don't make a right.

I can go on about this all day but it boils down to mutual respect -it will scare the bejesus out of you to hear how some guys talk about cyclists AND I'm not sure they can be blamed entirely for their attitudes.

Education and awareness is key and PPA has contacted me for a list of coach companies so maybe this post will bear fruit