Manchester cyclist hits bus after brakes fail at traffic lights

A cyclist who collided with the side of a double-decker bus in Manchester on May 18 says that he tried his best to slow down after his brake cable snapped.

Charlie Baker, a builder who was cycling to a work meeting, was riding a fixed-wheel bike along Portland Street, and hit the bus as it came across the Oxford Street junction.

The incident was captured by a motorcyclist who had been overtaken by Mr Baker as the junction approached.

The motorcyclist then posted the video on YouTube on an account called 'Captf'.

>>> Cyclist nearly taken out by London bus (video) (opens in new tab)

Mr Baker told the Mail Online (opens in new tab): "I tried to make the lights before they changed but when I realised I was going to run a red light I pulled the front brake and the cable in the handle snapped."

He said that there had been no frayed cable visible, and told the Mail about his fear that he was about to run into pedestrians.

"I was also worried about sliding under the bus if I skidded off at an angle so I positioned myself to hit the side of it," he said.

"I remember I saw the back wheels as I hit the bus and just rolled out the way so my legs weren't run over."

Replying on YouTube to comments from people who had watched the footage and remarked that he seemed to continue pedalling after going through the lights, he added: "Pushing back on the pedals gives you controlled but sadly slower braking with the back wheel, so what you see is me pushing back as hard as I can but it's a crap bit of road surface and it was wet."