Feeling intimidated as cyclist by local company vehicle

Today cycling home from work on the usual route, see van/minibus coming toward me, doesn’t slow down, appears to be driving at me, as it gets nearer I wave my right arm at them and they pass too close for comfort, without slowing down.

It’s not the widest of roads, but the majority of vehicles if they don’t slow down at least drive to the side.

It felt like intimidation. It’s not the first time this company’s mini bus has driven in a way that feels a bit more than just inconsiderate. More like a warning, get out of my way.

How would you deal with it?

For now I’m going to just log when it happens, as I’m sure it won’t be the last time. Thinking about joining a roadie facebook group and asking if anyone has similar experiences. Maybe stopping at their premises (along the same road) and asking what their problem is. Messaging them on facebook saying I’m going to report them to police for threatening driving?

Presumably said trade vehicle will have a phone number on its side?

No brainer – report to the company.

I’m assuming that the driver is not also the company owner in which case the driver is likely to get an earful from the owner.

If you’ve got access to a camera and can record it happening then even better.

For now I’m going to just log when it happens, as I’m sure it won’t be the last time.

The next time might be the last time if he hits you or some other poor sod.  Phone the company, report what’s happened and tell them next time you’ll be passing the company details to the police.  Hopefully that will result in the driver being told to buck up.

As blokeuptheroad said..and get a camera a cheap chillitech one will do the job.

Presumably said trade vehicle will have a phone number on its side?

Their company name is, so no problem with finding how to contact them.

No brainer – report to the company.

I’m assuming that the driver is not also the company owner in which case the driver is likely to get an earful from the owner.

If you’ve got access to a camera and can record it happening then even better.

I looked at their FB page and they’re seeking drivers, so reporting to company may see results. What would you say? State what happened and if it continues I’ll report to police?

Have a gopro clone but it’s not ideal for attaching to me/bike everyday just on the off chance.

The last thing a company wants is a serious accident with one of their vehicles, especially if there is some suggestion it was deliberate.  They will probably give the drive a stern talking to, but it worth getting a camera just in case the driver is stupid enough to escalate it.

5 mins on Amazon, and I’m sure you will be able to find a cheap quick release cam mount for your bike, and have it delivered tomorrow, and secondly, report the driver to the company now. As others have said, tomorrow maybe too late.

Report it.  I have done so a few times with varying results

Report with a warning that the next report will include the local police in the circulation

Report to the company,  report to the Police.  Reg plate is handy if you have it.

Name and Shame googlereviews local fbook pages works where I live

Different companies respond in different ways. Some will ignore you or fob you off, they might even try blaming you.

Let them know that you’ll be sending a recorded delivery letter to them detailing your experience and observations as well as the response, or lack of from the company.

Should their driver be involved in a more serious incident, you’ll be happy to provide the police with a copy of your letter at which point, I’m sure they would like to see the details of how the company decided to deal with a near miss.

Reality is, they probably won’t but the thought of culpability being extended to the company if a crap driver injured someone might put the wind up them.

As you commute on a bike, you pretty much need to have a camera imo.

As for this specific scenario, as said, call them and also mention it’s got so bad you are purchasing a camera in order to formally submit their driver’s dangerous driving to the police.👍

Could you find out who the mini bus is working for? If it’s the same time of day maybe it’s a school run. If so complain to the school and the Ed authority.

If you’ve got camera evidence I’d just report it to the law.

Another vote for getting a camera. I was verbally abused by a van driver recently on my commute. I took stills of the van’s reg and company branding from the video footage from my Tooo camera and emailed them to the company. I pointed out that the employee is an ambassador for their brand and he wasn’t representing their name in a good light. I got a reply in 15 minutes agreeing, apologising and promising to speak to the driver. It makes you wonder how dim some people are when they are easily traceable.

I’ve long said that anyone who drives like a dick in a liveried vehicle fully deserves the karmic kicking that they ultimately get.

Just read @onzadog’s post – that looks like an excellent suggestion.

If you have no evidence can’t really expect any prosecution, but police will save report if any further incidents.

Would also report to the company too.

Would defo be getting a camera.

Had a really scary close pass in Northumberland and submitted the footage.

Turns out the driver had failed to stop for the police 10 minutes before, with my footage they went and seized his van and are looking at prosecuting for dangerous driving.

As a company owner I would very much like to know if any of our drivers or staff are not behaving in an acceptable way outside the office.

A friendly and honest approach to the right person will likely be well received and will be appreciated.

This has always been the response when I have contacted other companies to tell them of peoples poor behaviour.

It is valuable information to any business.

I once reported a driver to his employer on the way to work. I got put straight through to HR director who was waiting for said individual to show up for a disciplinary hearing. They took a statement and were very grateful. I suspect it was a short hearing..

Name and shame them on faceache, twatter, tiktoss, and any other meejah where they may be present and/or advertise.

Works far better when they can’t just ignore it completely.

Report to the company. I did the same for a skip lorry once who was hassling me. A post on their Facebook page made a rapid difference.

Contact them directly first, then go to social media if no/not acceptable response.  Don’t name and shame a company based on the actions of a single employee whose actions the company might be totally unaware of.  Going straight to social media is a dick move IMO.

People/companies should be judged by their response to problems, not necessarily the problem itself.

Report  – police first, then the company.

I’ve called two companies about this type of thing and start by asking them how they would feel if they had to call an employee’s family to say they had been killed in an accident today. They give you total attention after that.

I would make contact with the company. Might not be the first time someone has complained about the driver.

Also if this isn’t the first time, use a camera.

isn’t it normal to have vehicles on the wrong side of the road driving straight towards you? Seems to happen to me quite a lot tbh.

I slapped a wing mirror once and watched it sail 20ft into the air and smash to smitherines on the road. Driver didn’t appear too be very happy about that, but, oh well, maybe move over next time?

It makes you wonder how dim some people are when they are easily traceable.

I know someone who got sent to prison and put on the sex offenders register for harassing two young women and exposing himself to them as he drove past in a van with the company name and telephone number on it’s side.

I slapped a wing mirror once and watched it sail 20ft into the air and smash to smitherines on the road.

How long did it take for your hand and arm to heal? Walking a Compostelle route in Portugal a driver hit one of my fellow pilgrims with his wing mirror – her arm was black and blue and out of use for a while. No bits of wing mirror on the road.

Mentioning the police in your first interaction is a bit nobby IMHO. As is going straight to social media. 

Mister-P s response above is pretty much how I’d go about it.

I had a close pass the other day, car passed at around 50mph whilst overtaking a motorhome, I reckon he was about 6 inches from my handlebars.

It was a police car.

I’m a bus driver.
please report the guy to his employer, he shouldn’t be driving like this.
If they don’t seem to GAS then it can be escalated.

How long did it take for your hand and arm to heal?

It didn’t need to heal but it did sting a bit, even though it was the middle of November/December and I was wearing thick Sealskinz gloves at the time. Car must’ve accelerated to about 30-40mph, it was a Jaguar. I was surprised when I saw the wing mirror sailing up into the air, didn’t expect that. Fat hat wearing pipe smoking old bloke driving it. I could tell he wasn’t very happy as you know that sound a car makes when it’s going really fast in reverse, well that.

how they would feel if they had to call an employee’s family to say they had been killed in an accident today.

But murdering the offending driver is not really an “accident” 😉

It was a police car.

Pffft

The police van in Sheffield did collide with me and then didn’t stop as they thought it was a pothole..
It took a car driver to follow them and pull in front to stop them so I could come and show my muddy and bloodied knees….