I've just been hit by a bus!

[Steve Maskery]

I've just been over to Ray's to collect some conduit which will form the honeycomb of my soakaway. They are the full length of the car, about 5m. They were all screwed to a cross-piece (bit of pallet) at each end and strapped to my roof-rack. So far so good.

As I was unloading the last one, the back end got hit by a bus. The driver stopped, opened the doors and said, "Didn't you see me coming?". No "Sorry mate, are you all right?". I did see him but he was down at the bottom of the street. It's 20mph here but everybody ignores it, except those of us who actually have to live here.

I was really shaken up. Not hurt, but shocked.

"Do you know what the speed limit is here?"
"Yes, 30mph"
"No it's not, it's 20. All the way from where you came in to where you go out. Use your eyes"

Neither of us swore at the other.

I really do think that it is only a matter of time before someone gets hurt.

I've reported it to the police and spoken to the bus company. I was heard sympathetically in both cases. I had dealings with the same bus company about a decade ago and was ignored, even after I wrote to the MD, so I'm not sure what the outcome will be. But she said they would look at the CCTV, so that should clear up exactly what happened.

Do you think something nice could happen to me now, please?

 

[Richard863]

Hi Steve
If you put a shilling in the meter to turn on the sun, would that please you. Glad only your pride was hurt.

Regards
Richard

 

[ayuce]

Again Steve ? In such unfortunate events in a row, here in Turkey we suggest to the "lucky" guy, just donate some money to the poors.

 

[NickWelford]

Something should happen -- all accidents involving buses are reportable incidents.

 

[Baldhead]

Steve you have a PM

Stew

 

[Penny]

You really are having a run of bad luck aren't you Steve?

 

[Jacob]

Cyclists get it a lot - it's called a "SMIDSY" = sorry mate I didn't see you

 

[defsdoor]

Birmingham is supposedly moving to a mandatory 20mph on all residential streets. Our road is a shortcut (just about all roads in Birmingham are shortcuts) and I've seen cars going down here at 60+. There is a mentality that if you are taking a shortcut you have to make it count. I've even been overtaken (twice) by taxis, and blocked and stopped one bloke who tried to overtake me and asked him what the feck he thought he was doing - "mumble mumble - going slow" - no mate - going the legal speed!

The council have been petitioned for the last 10 years to either make one end of the road one way (cutting out the shortcut) or to impose 20mph. They simply won't do it unless someone gets killed.

This, despite the fact that there is a primary school on this road, a busy nursery, and 2 manned road crossings.

http://goo.gl/r162tY

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

Every day above ground is a good day.....perspective is the correct recipe in situations like this. When your wife is diagnosed with cancer the same week as your son has to have major bone surgery....that's bad luck! There's always someone worse off than yourself and it always helps me to reflect on the definition of "luck" from various perspectives. Suddenly one's plight might not seem that bad after all.

 

[Jonzjob]

"As I was unloading the last one, the back end got hit by a bus. The driver stopped, opened the doors and said, "Didn't you see me coming?". No "Sorry mate, are you all right?". I did see him but he was down at the bottom of the street. It's 20mph here but everybody ignores it, except those of us who actually have to live here."

I'm not sure that I understand this bit Steve? You were stopped, unloading, he hit you and asked if you had seen him coming? If that's the case then what were you supposed to do? Pick up your vehicle and get it out of his way?

I'm not being picky honest, just a bit confused. What difference seeing him coming or not would have made?

 

[Steve Maskery]

Quite. I was in his way and he wasn't prepared to stop for another 10 seconds whilst I got me and my pipe down the drive.

 

[Jonzjob]

Therefore, it was an obstruction in the road, he saw it, hit it and he was in the wrong. What a total prat and prats like that should not be driving milk floats never mind buses!