Sydney bus drivers and bike riders came together at a workshop devised as the final stage of social research on their experience of road use, as small and manoeuvrable and large less manoeuvrable forms of transportation which travel at very different speeds. Material from surveys set up strong themes around overtaking practices, communication and vehicle size, which were taken into the workshop.
The research used appreciative inquiry, and brought out examples of positive behaviour that occur on Sydney streets, and didn’t just focus on problems. Institute for Sustainable Futures project manager, Tim Brennan says that: “… framing most of the work through an appreciative inquiry lens … helped us build a group who could work together positively in a workshop setting.”
Recommendations on positive road use behaviours?
- Overtaking: the differences in size and speed make the overtaking of a bike by a bus an uncomfortable manoeuvre for both users. Bike riders are grateful when bus drivers display patience and provide them with maximum possible space when overtaking and bus drivers value bike riders minimising the need to be overtaken by not passing buses at lights.
- Communication: both groups appreciate the other group communicating their presence and intentions on the road through hand signals and eye contact.
- Vehicle size: their vulnerable road profile means that bike riders are grateful when buses give them a lot of space when following, overtaking or pulling into a lane in front of them – bus drivers appreciate bike riders who ride in a predictable manner, allowing them to meet their responsibility for the safety of passengers.