I’d say yes but pictures can be deceiving. A good driver with a lot of experience under his belt knows instantly if it’s on or not.
I have PSV as well as HGV and have driven buses of that size and looking at that picture I would say yes that bus will comfortably fit through there with space to spare. Wouldn’t have hurt him to have tried it, as he already blocked the traffic in both directions by advancing too close to the Argos lorry anyway. 
Plenty of room to fit through but maybe the driver does not have enough confidence to go or as I have seen many times with buses and lorries they will not go through just so they can cause a big hold up. It seems to give some drivers a thrill. 
Same with corners…plenty room but they will stop and cause a big hold up…nobs.
Ian58:
Tris:
You can’t be too careful in the bustling metropolis of Matlock.That’s not Matlock.
It’s The Hood. Downtown Middleton. A little like Compton, only tougher.
That’s correct, what you can’t see in the pic are the ‘Boadacia Chariot’ type blades sticking out from the hubs helping to keep the riff-raff away which is why he couldn’t get through that gap! 
Pete.
Dan Punchard:
0what do you think folks ,could this bus have fitted past the parked Argos lorry ? Was it worth a 15 min wait ,my mrs offered to drive the bus through for the driver which really boiled his ■■■■ .
watch me piggin caravan 
Yes it is only a little bus anyway but he can’t get the ■■■■ with the camera 
A debate about overhang/rear swing/disciplinary action is pointless guys; the gap’s about 50% wider than that bus, you could put it in ANY position after that! I know we all had to start somewhere, but if a driver would rather sit before a space like that for 15 minutes, he could do with some additional training, I mean, he’s not even trying…
Edited to say… From where I’m sitting and if I didn’t know the backstory, the way the bus driver is looking indicates that he’s more precarious about not being able to pass the vehicle the picture is taken from, or a line of cars out of shot. But if it’s the space between the Argos truck and the bollards he’s worried about, that really is pathetic. Like throwing a hotdog down a wide hallway 
Seriously he can see what we can’t and maybe he can see that the road is blocked behind the camera and that is why he is waiting? For instance behind our picture could be a wide load that the bus driver can’t get past.
Had this before with a bus driver,
Was waiting to get into a building site and told to park up around the corner,no problem,found a spot and pulled in as tight as I could to the kerb.A double decker comes along and stops,I signal to the driver to come through and he does,a little tight but no big deal. Was parked in the same spot for 30 minutes and in that to his ime 7 or 8 double deckers came through,again a little tight but no problem.
Then along comes a double decker and the driver stops,I signal him to come through and he just sits there refusing to even acknowledge me,I went over to his window on his side,he sat looking straight ahead and refused to even look at me!
I explained to the side of his head through the partially open window that 7 or 8 buses exactly the same size had gone past already,his reply was “I didn’t witness that” I explained that it was a little tight but his reply was that if I refused to move he would call the police 
I gave up trying to talk sense to him and went back and sat in the cab. Very quickly the trafic built up and the passengers got off the bus and started walking. One irate car driver came up to me ordering me to move and let through. I calmly explained how long I had been parked there and why,and how many identical buses had passed already,he calmed down a bit and began to see my point.
At this stage the passengers on the bus had gathered around me and I explained it all to them and told them it was not my fault that the bus driver could not drive! To my surprise they all understood what I was saying and turned on the bus driver,even a number of motorists stuck behind the bus joined in 
The bus driver just sat there and ignored everyone! After 15 minutes the Police arrived,of course they came straight to me and told me I was at fault,I explained the situation to them and how many buses had already been through and they changed their tune and went and spoke to the bus driver,he defiantly refused to budge!
The Police officers came back to me and said “look he’s refusing to move and we can’t force him” I said no problem,I’ll move if you tell me to but only to make your life easier and not his! They asked me if I wouldn’t mind driving around the block just to let the “Thick f****r” (Police officers words not mine!) through and unblock the road.
I did this and got a round of applause from the passengers and motorists who had gathered around us while the bus driver got jeered and called some rather choice names! Truck driver -1 Bus driver-0
Transc:
Had this before with a bus driver,
Was waiting to get into a building site and told to park up around the corner,no problem,found a spot and pulled in as tight as I could to the kerb.A double decker comes along and stops,I signal to the driver to come through and he does,a little tight but no big deal. Was parked in the same spot for 30 minutes and in that to his ime 7 or 8 double deckers came through,again a little tight but no problem.
Then along comes a double decker and the driver stops,I signal him to come through and he just sits there refusing to even acknowledge me,I went over to his window on his side,he sat looking straight ahead and refused to even look at me!
I explained to the side of his head through the partially open window that 7 or 8 buses exactly the same size had gone past already,his reply was “I didn’t witness that” I explained that it was a little tight but his reply was that if I refused to move he would call the policeI gave up trying to talk sense to him and went back and sat in the cab. Very quickly the trafic built up and the passengers got off the bus and started walking. One irate car driver came up to me ordering me to move and let through. I calmly explained how long I had been parked there and why,and how many identical buses had passed already,he calmed down a bit and began to see my point.
+1 good story but unfortunately some truck drivers do the same.Cannot work out whether it is ignorance lack of confidence or just generally just being a dik.
At this stage the passengers on the bus had gathered around me and I explained it all to them and told them it was not my fault that the bus driver could not drive! To my surprise they all understood what I was saying and turned on the bus driver,even a number of motorists stuck behind the bus joined in
The bus driver just sat there and ignored everyone! After 15 minutes the Police arrived,of course they came straight to me and told me I was at fault,I explained the situation to them and how many buses had already been through and they changed their tune and went and spoke to the bus driver,he defiantly refused to budge!
The Police officers came back to me and said “look he’s refusing to move and we can’t force him” I said no problem,I’ll move if you tell me to but only to make your life easier and not his! They asked me if I wouldn’t mind driving around the block just to let the “Thick f****r” (Police officers words not mine!) through and unblock the road.I did this and got a round of applause from the passengers and motorists who had gathered around us while the bus driver got jeered and called some rather choice names! Truck driver -1 Bus driver-0
+1 Good story but it is not only bus drivers that are like that. I have seen many truck drivers do exactly the same.
I used to caravan with a chap who drove for Nottingham City Transport and they were taught that passenger safety was the most important part of the job as they could sue whereas with vehicles damaged the insurance would sort it out! He once took the door of the Mayors car when the driver opened it while he was passing, he got a rollicking for it and was asked why he hadn’t swerved to avoid it. His answer was that swerving and braking could injure the passengers so he just kept going, they couldn’t really argue the fact then!
Pete.
Dan Punchard:
0what do you think folks ,could this bus have fitted past the parked Argos lorry ? Was it worth a 15 min wait ,my mrs offered to drive the bus through for the driver which really boiled his ■■■■ .
Go on then i will say it,agency bus driver 
seth 70:
Dan Punchard:
0what do you think folks ,could this bus have fitted past the parked Argos lorry ? Was it worth a 15 min wait ,my mrs offered to drive the bus through for the driver which really boiled his ■■■■ .Go on then i will say it,agency bus driver
Agree must have been agency
You can all debate the size of the gap vs the size of the bus till the cows come home. But at the end of the day,its the bus driver who has the final call in if he thinks it is safe to pass through. HE is the one with his arse on the line if he goes for it. And if he catches the lorry,the cones or some unfortunate workie then he’s the one who might be heading to the dole queue,not any of us.
The gap looks more than big enough from where the picture was taken but as we all know,a gap can look more than big enough from outside but by the time you get back into the drivers seat it appears to have shrunk by about 70%.
Transc:
Had this before with a bus driver,
Was waiting to get into a building site and told to park up around the corner,no problem,found a spot and pulled in as tight as I could to the kerb.A double decker comes along and stops,I signal to the driver to come through and he does,a little tight but no big deal. Was parked in the same spot for 30 minutes and in that to his ime 7 or 8 double deckers came through,again a little tight but no problem.
Then along comes a double decker and the driver stops,I signal him to come through and he just sits there refusing to even acknowledge me,I went over to his window on his side,he sat looking straight ahead and refused to even look at me!
I explained to the side of his head through the partially open window that 7 or 8 buses exactly the same size had gone past already,his reply was “I didn’t witness that” I explained that it was a little tight but his reply was that if I refused to move he would call the policeI gave up trying to talk sense to him and went back and sat in the cab. Very quickly the trafic built up and the passengers got off the bus and started walking. One irate car driver came up to me ordering me to move and let through. I calmly explained how long I had been parked there and why,and how many identical buses had passed already,he calmed down a bit and began to see my point.
+1 good story but unfortunately some truck drivers do the same.Cannot work out whether it is ignorance lack of confidence or just generally just being a dik.
At this stage the passengers on the bus had gathered around me and I explained it all to them and told them it was not my fault that the bus driver could not drive! To my surprise they all understood what I was saying and turned on the bus driver,even a number of motorists stuck behind the bus joined in
The bus driver just sat there and ignored everyone! After 15 minutes the Police arrived,of course they came straight to me and told me I was at fault,I explained the situation to them and how many buses had already been through and they changed their tune and went and spoke to the bus driver,he defiantly refused to budge!
The Police officers came back to me and said “look he’s refusing to move and we can’t force him” I said no problem,I’ll move if you tell me to but only to make your life easier and not his! They asked me if I wouldn’t mind driving around the block just to let the “Thick f****r” (Police officers words not mine!) through and unblock the road.I did this and got a round of applause from the passengers and motorists who had gathered around us while the bus driver got jeered and called some rather choice names! Truck driver -1 Bus driver-0
This driver might be on his first day. Maybe hes had a few bumps in the past and hes been told hes on his last warning if he does any more damage. You admitted yourself it “was a bit tight”. If he had went for it and caught your lorry,you’d have been giving him abuse for that too. If I see a gap thats a bit tight and Im not 100% sure then I aint risking it,no matter what anyone else tells me about who else got through there driving what. In those situations,I couldnt give a flying ■■■■ if two dozen large vehicles got through. If I dont like it,im not doing it. And in my opinion,the guy parked causing the obstruction is to blame for traffic build up as they aint the one who has to take the risk and then answer if it goes wrong.
The-Snowman:
You can all debate the size of the gap vs the size of the bus till the cows come home. But at the end of the day,its the bus driver who has the final call in if he thinks it is safe to pass through. HE is the one with his arse on the line if he goes for it. And if he catches the lorry,the cones or some unfortunate workie then he’s the one who might be heading to the dole queue,not any of us.
The gap looks more than big enough from where the picture was taken but as we all know,a gap can look more than big enough from outside but by the time you get back into the drivers seat it appears to have shrunk by about 70%.Transc:
Had this before with a bus driver,
Was waiting to get into a building site and told to park up around the corner,no problem,found a spot and pulled in as tight as I could to the kerb.A double decker comes along and stops,I signal to the driver to come through and he does,a little tight but no big deal. Was parked in the same spot for 30 minutes and in that to his ime 7 or 8 double deckers came through,again a little tight but no problem.
Then along comes a double decker and the driver stops,I signal him to come through and he just sits there refusing to even acknowledge me,I went over to his window on his side,he sat looking straight ahead and refused to even look at me!
I explained to the side of his head through the partially open window that 7 or 8 buses exactly the same size had gone past already,his reply was “I didn’t witness that” I explained that it was a little tight but his reply was that if I refused to move he would call the policeI gave up trying to talk sense to him and went back and sat in the cab. Very quickly the trafic built up and the passengers got off the bus and started walking. One irate car driver came up to me ordering me to move and let through. I calmly explained how long I had been parked there and why,and how many identical buses had passed already,he calmed down a bit and began to see my point.
+1 good story but unfortunately some truck drivers do the same.Cannot work out whether it is ignorance lack of confidence or just generally just being a dik.
At this stage the passengers on the bus had gathered around me and I explained it all to them and told them it was not my fault that the bus driver could not drive! To my surprise they all understood what I was saying and turned on the bus driver,even a number of motorists stuck behind the bus joined in
The bus driver just sat there and ignored everyone! After 15 minutes the Police arrived,of course they came straight to me and told me I was at fault,I explained the situation to them and how many buses had already been through and they changed their tune and went and spoke to the bus driver,he defiantly refused to budge!
The Police officers came back to me and said “look he’s refusing to move and we can’t force him” I said no problem,I’ll move if you tell me to but only to make your life easier and not his! They asked me if I wouldn’t mind driving around the block just to let the “Thick f****r” (Police officers words not mine!) through and unblock the road.I did this and got a round of applause from the passengers and motorists who had gathered around us while the bus driver got jeered and called some rather choice names! Truck driver -1 Bus driver-0
This driver might be on his first day. Maybe hes had a few bumps in the past and hes been told hes on his last warning if he does any more damage. You admitted yourself it “was a bit tight”. If he had went for it and caught your lorry,you’d have been giving him abuse for that too. If I see a gap thats a bit tight and Im not 100% sure then I aint risking it,no matter what anyone else tells me about who else got through there driving what. In those situations,I couldnt give a flying [zb] if two dozen large vehicles got through. If I dont like it,im not doing it. And in my opinion,the guy parked causing the obstruction is to blame for traffic build up as they aint the one who has to take the risk and then answer if it goes wrong.
Seriously■■?
If at least 7 other identical buses had gone through already and you refuse, well I’m sorry but you should not be driving the bus in the first place as you are obviously not able!!!
Transc:
Seriously■■?
If at least 7 other identical buses had gone through already and you refuse, well I’m sorry but you should not be driving the bus in the first place as you are obviously not able!!!
Yes seriously. What part of “I dont care who went through the space driving what” is it you dont get? You said yourself it was a bit tight. One mans “a bit tight” is another mans “im not fitting through there”. Why should I risk causing damage just because you dont want to move? Who’s the one who then has to answer for why he went for it and removed the truck mirror and smashed the bus window? Ill give you a clue. It aint the guy who was causing the obstruction who went “on you come,its fine”.
Who are you to cast judgement on my driving skill? So you park up and cause a gap that is “a bit tight” but just because you say the gap is fine,anyone else who thinks it isnt,maybe because they are on a last warning or new to the company, is therefor deemed unskilled and unable? You dont need to answer for any damage,you dont get to decide its big enough for everyone to fit through no problem.
I squeezed through plenty of tight gaps when I was a bus driver but I never attempted it just because the guy causing the obstruction said so. And I dont do it just to avoid being slagged off on a forum for deciding its too tight to risk either
It’s only tight when you’ve to think about folding the mirrors in!
he could move first block
I would get it through
As above looks like enough room from the angle of the pic, the Optare isn’t the nicest or easiest to drive, might be small but the most difficult to position near the kerb due to the seating position over the front wheel, if anyone has drove these they should know what I mean.