Advocacy & Safety - Put someone into a curb -> get fired

So I'm riding along today, minding my own business when a shuttle bus comes up behind me. He's obviously looking to pass, getting impatient by the sound of his back and forth on the gas... right behind me. I think, no biggie, there will be enough space for both bikes and cars in about, oh, 50 meters.

Nope.

He decides to pass, straddling the line between our lane and the number two lane. Suddenly, he veers back in front of me, putting me into the curb. Nice.

The bus is stenciled with the name of the local retirement village which owns it. One call to the supervisors of their drivers and I've been assured that driver will be fired.

Really, really stupid. I don't get too upset when I'm out and about on my bike because I want to enjoy my ride. But I've had enough. I don't feel bad for costing this guy his job because I'm sick and tired of having my life endangered by stupid motorists. And if you are stupid enough to be doing it in a marked work vehicle, I'm going to call your employer, dumbass. And in some cases, it's going to cost you your job... and rightfully so.

I think what you did was completly right. If only all dangerous cars had the drivers name on them :)

I would have done the same thing.
Maybe next time he'll think twice before cutting off a cyclist.

If only all dangerous cars had the drivers name on them
They do, sort of. Numberplates. The only problem is trying to read the damn things as a car moves past so quickly. A company car is always easier to identify and the "loser" will usually get a caution from their boss, which is better than a chat from the cops. No-one likes to lose their job.

CHEERS.

Mark

Good work. It is safer for the residents at the home now also with this impatient sob out from behind the wheel.

Thanks for getting one idiot off the road for us. Just 10 million more to go.

What are the chances that anyone was actually fired, i have made so many phone calls about things like that and they always sound serious on the phone.

I hope his family does not go hungry for a lapse in judgment.


Suddenly, he veers back in front of me, putting me into the curb.

If he is front of you, how did you end up in the curb?

At any rate, I doubt he got fired. I would guess they said that to shut you up, unless his supervisor is a cyclist. My guess, he is another van driver. :rolleyes:

Fact is, most people laugh at us cyclist and our "rights". We have a long way to go.

As a supervisor of drivers you did the right thing and do not feel guilty. I have a feeling that if they really fire this driver it is not the first time they have shown signs of road rage.

Most companies want responsible drivers to represent them on the road and if this driver did that to you say (did they have passengers on board?) whats to stop then from displaying their temper against their passengers or others on the road.

You can't do much about private citizens but you can about the professionals (well maybe except taxi drivers their independent) we don't need the liability or bad PR

Good Job if it happens again don't hesitate call!

The bus is stenciled with the name of the local retirement village which owns it. One call to the supervisors of their drivers and I've been assured that driver will be fired.

I don't feel bad for costing this guy his job...
You are wrong.

You didn't cost him his job. You reported his actions. His employers were the ones with the power and they decided to fire him.

;)

I don't feel bad for costing this guy his job because I'm sick and tired of having my life endangered by stupid motorists. And if you are stupid enough to be doing it in a marked work vehicle, I'm going to call your employer, dumbass. And in some cases, it's going to cost you your job... and rightfully so.

If the driver actually got fired it was not, as ngateguy stated, his first occurrence. Likely he was on "last warning".

Keep in mind it wasn't you who got him fired, it was he who got himself fired.

Thanks for making the call; every little bit helps.

I hope his family does not go hungry for a lapse in judgment.


I wonder which family would suffer more? Jatkins' if he was killed or seriously/permanently injured or the family of the driver who could get another job (hopefully not behind a wheel)?

I'm finding it a little difficult to muster up my sympathy.

You are wrong.

You didn't cost him his job. You reported his actions. His employers were the ones with the power and they decided to fire him.

I'll expand on that a little.

Jatkins, you didn't cost this guy his job - he did. His actions were what got him fired. Had he behaved himself there would have been nothing to report. I, for one, support your actions in reporting this 100%.

What are the chances that anyone was actually fired,...

I'd say pretty good. The person I spoke to was clearly angered and was very straightforward about the whole thing, immediately giving me his name, title, and direct phone number. Everything this guy said and how he said it conveyed that he was dead serious about giving his driver the boot.

If he is front of you, how did you end up in the curb?

Because he wasn't completely in front of me when he started to veer back towards the right. His right rear was still even with me when he put me into the curb. I had to dive to the right and brake abruptly to keep from being hit.

I'm finding it a little difficult to muster up my sympathy.

There's really nothing to be sympathetic about. With actions come consequences and he apparently found that out.

I shouldn't have said anything about 'costing him' his job. I actually never felt that way. I should have simply said that I have no emotions about him apparently losing his job.

Thanks for getting one idiot off the road for us. Just 10 million more to go.


Um...9,999,999 actually. But who's counting?

I had a similar experience with a bus here in Edinburgh just before Christmas. I called the bus co., they traced the driver called me back and said they would monitor his driving.


the next night I got what I think was the same service bus (only saw the reg no, not the route no) and lo and behold a bus co official sitting in the front watching the driver .

3 days later, a call from the co. The bus driver has been told to attend at a disciplinary hearing, also gave me the name of someone to contact if I ever have any doubts or worries as a passenger or cyclist as to how the co buses are driven.

I think they take it seriously.

You are wrong.

You didn't cost him his job. You reported his actions. His employers were the ones with the power and they decided to fire him.

;)

Very good reply, Pete.

Another thing we don't know is that this driver may already have a history of complaints and this one was the one that broke the camel's back.

I've had RVs and school buses pass me so closely that my handlebars almost scraped their paint--that in spite of an Arizona law that mandates a 5-foot clearance for motor vehicles passing bicycles.

The shuttle driver brought the consequences of his recklessness on himself. I find it hard to sympathize with someone who was willing to gamble your life.

As pointed out earlier, you gave the company some information, and they considered it and chose to fire him.
I agree with Pete and Mike -- a single report, without other witnesses, should not get a driver fired.

If you helped stop him before he killed or injured someone, you have done both him and the community a good deed.

Paul

JUst had the same thing happen 20 minutes ago. Mine was a dumptruck hauling rock. Truck was too dirty to get any info. Oh well at least i told him he was number one. :D That made me feel better.

I totally agree with what you did I have had the same thing happen where a driver will pull up behind you and turn into a parking lot because they are in such a hurry. Unfortunately for me i was hit twice like this nothing too serious but I have filed police reports and gone to their insurance company to try and teach them a lesson. I was also seriously injured last year 1 week before the tour de tucson because I was riding at night I had a front and rear light but the lady just plowed right into me and then drove off. So I honestly have absolutely no sympathy for motorist who either lose their job or get arrested or ticketed because they are in such a rush.