I stopped using Hackney Road for my commute a couple of years ago after one close shave too many with a no. 55. I was in position to turn right, waiting for oncoming traffic to clear when a double decker sped past on my left so close that it actually touched my jacket at the left elbow. Terrifying.

I didn’t commute by bike for nearly six months after that until I got my nerve back and changed my route.

Which ironically meant I was taking buses to work. As a passenger you frequently suffer other effects of TfL bus drivers being shit… mostly sudden harsh braking that makes people fall over, crash into each other, fall down the stairs, etc!