On the bus into work this morning, we're heading up a bus lane (which
will eventually merge back in with the traffic as we approach a single
carriageway bridge).
We slow, coming up behind a cyclist (this isn't a bus-only lane, cycles,
taxis and motorbikes are allowed too). She's not moving that quickly,
but she's not the dodderiest of the wobblies either. The driver gives
her a quick toot, she hops on to the (wide, empty) pavement, lets the
bus pass, comes back on to the road.
My first reaction was anger; how dare the driver be so arrogant and
threatening to the cyclist, forcing her to perform an illegal act under
threat of being squashed. But as I thought a little more about it, given
the efficiencies that his action produced (30-40 people arrived at their
destination stop 45-60 seconds earlier than they otherwise might have
done), maybe there's a little defence. (Only some, mind, I still think
it was the wrong thing for him to do.)
I must admit that had I been the cyclist, I would have stopped and had a
go at the driver for being apparently abusive and threatening, but
equally I generally cycle slightly faster so might not have given as
much cause for the driver feeling delayed.
I shudder to x-post this to uk.tosspot as I'm playing off one cager
bugbear against another ...