Dangerous Driving by MegaCoach (license plate: FP58VW-GP)

[Nutty Cyclist]

Anyone know where I can log this complaint to or has connections in the appropriate industry? 

 

03 April 2023

Dangerous Driving by MegaCoach FP58VW-GP

On 2 April I was cycling on Beach Road in Sea Point in the direction of Camps Bay, the road has 2 lanes at this point. I was overtaken by a Megacoach bus which came within centimeters of my body, I was already as close to the pavement as was possible so had no room to move further left. I caught the bus at the lights and shouted my anxiety at the driver to make it clear he was too close. I was extremely angry having had a serious cycling accident 3 years ago and I know what it feels like to be badly injured.

 I could see a man behind the driver speaking to the passengers on the mike. The driver mouthed me a few choice swearwords and then ignored me. The lights changed and I rode on. The same bus overtook me again, even closer than before, as well as another cyclist I had just caught. I followed the bus from Sea Point for about 5km to the tourist viewpoint just before Camps Bay. He made a number of very close overtakes on cyclists, suddenly these dangerous overtakes stopped after about 4 of them and he started passing wider so I can only imagine someone on the bus complained to him.

Please can this driver be identified and disciplined. If there is camera footage please can it be reviewed as it was very dangerous and could easily have been avoided. I could not see into the bus from the back as the windows are tinted, but I cannot imagine the impression this made on the tourists in the bus, its disgusting behaviour from a tourist operator and should not tolerated without questions being asked. I have been cycling for over 40 years and this is one of the worst incidents I have had to date.

Edited April 3, 2023 by Nutty Cyclist

[PhilipV]

[PhilipV]

Just phone them and ask to speak to the ops room or to the manager on duty. 

[Nutty Cyclist]

I called, no contact numbers listed work, they are all no longer in service

[Jbr]

put them a 1-star review see if it triggers something  Sometimes it's different channels, and from what you're saying they deserve that 1 star anyways

I once had a bad experience with a store they wouldn't take back/refund a product I didn't even open, the same day of purchase (ok a bit different story), ended up 1 star-ing them... 1 hour later the store contacted me and agreed to refund me.

[Duane_Bosch]

Sorry for your experience OP. I've had a similar experience with a bus on Chappies and it's not pleasant.

Just as a general rule to avoid the tour busses you MUST clear the top of Chappies by 9. Work that timing backwards towards CT. The busses aren't allowed to head north on Chappies but you want to avoid the north bound side after 11 to miss the boy racers.

[Nutty Cyclist]

Agreed Duane, I was a little later then usual.

[Danger Dassie]

Open a case at the area SAPS/Metro or Traffic dept?  
Negligent driving with attempted GBH. 

[DieselnDust]

In my experience you will get blow off and it will be swept under the carpet . I’ve reported several operators via their help desk , to entaleni or whatsoever that org is that manages chappies. Golden arrow are the worst thugs, followed closely by my citi. And those horrid red buses that carts tourists around. Appaotiurist revenue is more important than health and safety of other road users.

best thing is too make as much noise on Alan windes Facebook page and ask how the minister of mobility is going to address road safety. I had a fruitful chat with Alan at the speed company event at cycle lab a few weeks ago. He recognises the issue because he has now experienced it first hand. 
forget PPA, they’re useless to the level of beyond useless. Nothing ever comes of their campaigns , oh wait they will give you the cyclist a flyer on how to improve road safety and a bottle of energised while motorists drive past bunting cyclists off the road 

 

rant over 

[ChrisF]

4 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

In my experience you will get blow off and it will be swept under the carpet . I’ve reported several operators via their help desk , to entaleni or whatsoever that org is that manages chappies. Golden arrow are the worst thugs, followed closely by my citi. And those horrid red buses that carts tourists around. Appaotiurist revenue is more important than health and safety of other road users.

best thing is too make as much noise on Alan windes Facebook page and ask how the minister of mobility is going to address road safety. I had a fruitful chat with Alan at the speed company event at cycle lab a few weeks ago. He recognises the issue because he has now experienced it first hand. 
forget PPA, they’re useless to the level of beyond useless. Nothing ever comes of their campaigns , oh wait they will give you the cyclist a flyer on how to improve road safety and a bottle of energised while motorists drive past bunting cyclists off the road 

 

rant over 

 

Have to agree on Golden Arrow.  When I encounter them along my route to or from the trails ... get off the road if possible, or just stop for 1 minute .....  They are far worse than any taxi.

[Eddy Gordo]

Post the incident on their twitter feed and facebook, hopefully you will get a response. Also post it on google reviews

https://web.facebook.com/MegaCoachRSA/?_rdc=1&_rdr

https://twitter.com/MegaCoachRSA?s=20

 

[Jbr]

4 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

 

Have to agree on Golden Arrow.  When I encounter them along my route to or from the trails ... get off the road if possible, or just stop for 1 minute .....  They are far worse than any taxi.

They favourite move being blasting past you to slam on the brakes half way in front of you while taking the nearest left turn

[Eddy Gordo]

I may have mentioned, I had an accident with a truck a few years ago. At the police station I was astounded by the truck drivers retort when asked "any damage to the truck?" "its a truck, never any damage"

I was like that is a bad attitude to have, you can kill people!

However, you will notice on the driving behaviour of most heavy vehicles, this is there perception and attitude. Could be the reason why there is so many heavy vehicle accidents.

[RomP]

Hers an email address. If all of us email this guy, maybe it may trigger some action.

 

koos.nel@megacoach.co.za