Video: Bus driver disciplined after hitting helmet cam cyclist (with his bus) in Reading town centre

In another case where a rider’s helmet cam has provided vital evidence against a careless motorist, a Reading bus driver has been disciplined after hitting a cyclist in the town centre.

Richard Black, 33, was riding down Reading’s St Mary’s Butts when the driver of a Thames Travel 144 bus attempted to pass him just as the road narrowed.

He told GetReading: “After turning on to St Mary’s Butts, the 144 bus attempted to pass me on the right hand side and did not complete the manoeuvre before the road gets very narrow as the restricted entry section begins.

“I braced myself assuming the bus would then carry on down the road towards the next set of traffic lights but to my surprise it actually pulled into a bus stop, trapping my bike against the kerb and the bus and eventually hitting me. You can hear this moment clearly on the video.”

Passengers on the bus can be seen looking concerned and bystanders check Richard is all right after he is hit.

“I dismounted my bicycle and walked up to the driver and opened the door to make him aware that he had hit me.

“I was greeted with a rather muted apology and the claim he ‘didn’t see me’.

“I suppose the other option is that he did see me and decide to pull over anyway.

“If this had happened at a number of other locations I could have been trapped against a wall or barrier on the roadside. I wouldn’t have escaped with only a bruised arm.”

Thames Travel apologised to Richard for distress caused by the incident.

In statement to the Reading Post, Thames Travel general manager Adrian Tullett said: “We set the highest standards of safety and driving for our colleagues and as a result of the incident involving Mr Black a full inquiry was conducted and the driver was disciplined.”

Last week a bus driver in Harlow was sacked for using a mobile device at the wheel after being caught on a cyclist's helmet cam video.