Bus driver 'tried to kill cyclist'

Photo / Janna Dixon

Bus company Metrolink has counselled one of its drivers after allegations he tried to run a cyclist off the road.

Auckland resident Damien Buckley said he was on a 274 service from Britomart that drove on the wrong side of the road before it deliberately swerved towards a cyclist on Mt Eden Rd.

"I yelled, 'what are you doing?' really loud but [the driver] didn't look back at me; he was too busy trying to kill the guy."

Buckley, who complained to the company, said a female passenger shouted: "Don't do it."

Buckley said he had seen bus drivers tailgating cyclists before but the incident, on February 17, was a "whole new level".

Metrolink general manager John Calder said an internal investigation had been completed and the driver had been counselled in line with company policy.

He said NZ Bus had a strong relationship with Cycling Action Auckland and ran joint training sessions to highlight driver awareness of the challenges that cyclists face.