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Bus driver who swerved in front of ‘annoying’ cyclist appeals against being sacked

The bus driver who was enraged by a cyclist in the middle of the road was sacked - Ian Pilbeam / Alamy Stock Photo
The bus driver who was enraged by a cyclist in the middle of the road was sacked - Ian Pilbeam / Alamy Stock Photo

A bus driver enraged by a cyclist in the middle of the road was sacked after swerving in front of the bike, an employment tribunal heard.

Samir William allegedly became incensed because he felt the male cyclist had delayed the bus's journey by pedalling in front of it.

To bypass the cyclist, Mr William swerved his bus on to the other side of the road, causing oncoming traffic to brake or steer out of the way, and then "retaliated" by pulling in front of the cyclist and stopping.

As a result, the shocked cyclist had to leap out of the way and on to the kerb, the tribunal heard.

Shortly afterwards the man caught up with the bus and kicked the doors before "remonstrating with [Mr William] through the driver's window".

Witnesses came forward

Witnesses, including the landlord of a nearby pub, came forward and Mr William then reported the incident in London to bosses at London General Transport Services.

After they analysed video footage from the bus's 13 onboard cameras they suspended Mr William, who worked at the firm's garage in Putney, south-west London.

The tribunal heard: "The footage showed that [Mr William] overtook a cyclist by going into the opposite lane, which caused vehicles travelling the other way to break or change direction to avoid the on-coming bus.

"[Mr William] then deliberately stopped the bus at the kerb blocking the cyclist, who was forced to jump on to the kerb to avoid it. [Mr William] then drove away.

"The cyclist then caught up with the bus. On the second occasion the cyclist caught up, he kicked the bus including the doors which bowed alarmingly.

"The cyclist also hit the window next to the driver and appeared to be remonstrating aggressively with the [Mr William]. He then cycled off."

The tribunal also heard that footage on that day, June 23 2021, showed he had driven at 28mph in a 20mph zone.

'Atrocious and dreadful' driving

The company was contacted by Transport for London after a member of the public complained that Mr William's driving during the incident was "atrocious and dreadful".

Mr William was summoned to a disciplinary hearing with the garage general manager, named in court documents as Mr S Patel.

The hearing was told: "Mr Patel concluded that [Mr William] had been reckless. He had used his bus as a weapon to retaliate against the cyclist, who he felt was delaying him.

"Mr Patel concluded that [Mr William] did not understand that his actions were dangerous and accordingly, training would have no effect and there was no alternative to dismissal."

Mr William appealed the sacking and when this failed he began a legal case against London General Transport Services.

He claimed unfair and wrongful dismissal, saying he should have been given notice pay.

The London South tribunal rejected all Mr William's claims.