Cyclist speaks up with bus driver complaint

Bruce Copeland wants to raise road safety awareness. Photo / Dean Purcell

Mashed between a footpath and the side of a bus, Bruce Copeland says he had seconds to unclip his cycle cleats and jump to safety.

The 54-year-old IT company director then followed the Airbus around the corner, on Karangahape Rd in central Auckland, and asked the driver why he had seemingly swerved his bus into him.

"He said I shouldn't have been in the bus lane," Mr Copeland said.

Cyclists are allowed to use bus lanes under Auckland Transport rules, as are motorcyclists and moped users.

"I was going close to the 50km/h speed limit, which I think makes the inconvenience less but also heightens the danger of his actions - it was quite dangerous and seemed completely intentional and the fact that he pulled right over to the left, I ended up trapped between the bus and the kerb.

"I was on a racing bike so I had cleats on so I had to quickly unclip them and jump on to the footpath."

He reported the incident, which happened on a Sunday afternoon in March, to Auckland Transport, supplying a photo of the driver which was in turn passed to the Airbus firm.

Airbus is a private commercial operation but has a relationship with AT. Mr Copeland said he never heard back and is concerned there are other complaints going unheard.

Airbus spokesman Steve Gilchrist said the driver had been spoken to and denied that he pulled over too close to Mr Copeland.

Records showed that the complaint had been dealt with, but the company was now reinvestigating after Mr Copeland's claims that he did not receive a response.

Mr Copeland wants to raise road safety awareness, and wrote about his concerns on the Cycle Action Auckland website.

After queries from the Herald, Mr Gilchrist contacted Mr Copeland and offered a meeting with the driver.

"I am satisfied that his actions of the day were not intentional ... However, I believe he totally underestimated the speed [Mr Copeland was] travelling at and made an error of judgment."