Bus drivers and cyclists put wheels in motion to heal their road rage rift

Published on Monday 17 November 2008 09:17

THEY'RE not usually known for being the best of friends, but a new initiative is hoping to teach bus drivers and cyclists how to live happily side-by-side on the streets of the Capital.

Aiming for the sort of coming together that doesn't end up with grazed knees and a trip to A&E, the project has led to a series of posters being produced for bus drivers showing them how to avoid accidents with those on two wheels.

The scheme, which is a joint project between Lothian Buses and cycling group Spokes, hopes to train drivers to deal with common situations such as "leapfrogging," where buses and cyclists travelling at the same speeds constantly pass and repass one another.

Spokes' Gary Bell, who himself admitted to having had "full and frank" exchanges with bus drivers during his time as a cyclist, said the initiative hoped to encourage a less "adversarial" relationship.

He said: "We want to show that we have a lot in common with bus drivers and that we understand it can be frustrating to be stuck behind a cyclist on the way up Leith Walk.

"The stereotype is that cyclists are the people that bus drivers love to hate, but more and more motorists will have a bicycle in the garage as well. There are bus drivers who are cyclists and cyclists who are bus drivers."

Mr Bell said more and more drivers in the city are ditching their cars for the cheaper and greener two-wheel alternative.

As many as 20 per cent of commuters now use a bicycle to get to work in the Capital, according to Spokes.

The Lothian Buses posters aim to educate drivers about issues such as giving cyclists plenty of room to allow for clearing potholes and for "wobbles".

Lothian Buses' managing director Ian Craig said: "Limited road and congestion, especially in the city centre, inevitably means that buses and cyclists are in close proximity.

"Awareness and respect for each other's needs is therefore crucial to safety. Lothian Buses welcomes the opportunity to work with Spokes to promote understanding of issues faced by both bus drivers and cyclists."

Spokes also said it had been impressed by the way Lothian Buses had responded to a recent complaint by a cyclist about driver behaviour.

Film from the cameras mounted on buses involved in two incidents was examined to work out whether the driver should have been more careful, and it was agreed that both the driver and the cyclist had been at fault.

The organisation also recently produced a short film which charts what happened when a bus driver and a cyclist swapped places for the day.

Spokes said the film was an effective way of getting a range of safety messages across.