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Cyclist Mark reported that a refuse collector launched a wheelie bin across the road as he turned in Watford, leaving him to brake sharply to avoid it. Mark said he was not injured and that the worker apologised; Veolia apologised and said it had opened an investigation and would provide additional safety training.
A cyclist said he had to brake sharply to avoid a wheelie bin thrown across the road during a refuse collection in Watford, prompting an apology and investigation from Veolia, which operates the town’s collections. The cyclist, identified by road.cc as Mark, said he was not injured but described the encounter as very close.
According to road.cc, Mark was turning right from Cassiobury Drive into Bellmount Wood Avenue on his regular morning commute when he saw a bin lorry ahead on the right. He said a wheelie bin was suddenly launched across the road, leaving him little time to react. Mark said his brakes worked and he avoided being struck.
Mark told road.cc that the refuse collector apologised and said he had not seen the cyclist. Mark also said he called out during the incident but could not recall much of what was said. The report does not give the date of the encounter or identify the worker.
A Veolia spokesperson said the company had launched a full investigation and that its teams would receive additional training to reinforce safety procedures. The company apologised to the cyclist and said the safety of its workers and the public was its top priority. No further details of the investigation or any finding were included in the report.
Safety During Watford Bin Collections
The incident highlights how routine collection work can create a hazard for people travelling nearby, particularly where workers and cyclists have limited sightlines around corners. In this case, the reported danger came from a wheelie bin crossing the cyclist’s path, rather than a collision with the collection vehicle itself.
Mark said quick braking prevented him from being hit and that he was not hurt. His account and Veolia’s response establish that the company is investigating and plans additional training, but they do not establish how the bin came to be launched across the road or whether any procedure was breached. Those details matter in assessing what changes, if any, could prevent a similar near miss.
Mark told road.cc he considered complaining to the council or reporting the incident to police but did not think it would be worthwhile. His decision is his own; the report does not say whether anyone else made a formal complaint or whether police were contacted. The account nonetheless illustrates why documented reports can help organisations examine hazards that do not result in injury.
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How the Near Miss Was Reported
The account was published by road.cc as Near Miss of the Day 949, part of the site’s series about close calls involving people cycling and other road users. The publication says such reports often concern vehicles; this instalment focused on a bin handled during a collection.
Road.cc identifies the cyclist as Mark and says he was on his regular morning commute in Watford. It does not provide a date, video footage, an independent witness account, or a detailed account from the refuse collector. The episode should therefore be understood as a reported near miss, with the cyclist’s account and Veolia’s public response as the information available in the source material.
Veolia operates Watford Borough Council’s bin collections, according to the report. The company’s spokesperson said it works with the council on road-user safety during collections. The response acknowledges the incident and describes planned steps, but does not give a timetable or describe the investigation’s scope.
“The refuse collector did apologise and said he didn’t see me.”
— Mark, speaking to road.cc
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What the Investigation Must Establish
The available report does not establish how the bin was moved across the road, exactly where the worker was positioned, or what sightlines were available at the time. It also does not say whether the bin was thrown deliberately, accidentally, or as part of a collection action that went wrong; the wording in the headline should not be treated as a finding about intent.
There is no reported investigation outcome, disciplinary action, police involvement, council response, or confirmation that the cyclist filed a formal complaint. The incident date and any video or other independent evidence are also not provided. Veolia’s statement confirms an investigation and planned training, not the result of either.
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Veolia’s Review and Training
Veolia said it would investigate the incident and provide additional training to its teams on safety procedures. The report does not say when the review will conclude, whether the council will publish its findings, or what specific changes may follow.
Any further account from Veolia, Watford Borough Council, or the cyclist could clarify the circumstances and whether the planned training addresses a particular finding. For now, the confirmed next steps are limited to the company’s stated investigation and additional staff training.
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Key Questions
Where did the reported near miss happen?
Mark told road.cc that he was turning from Cassiobury Drive into Bellmount Wood Avenue in Watford on his morning commute.
Was the cyclist injured?
Mark said he was not hurt and that his brakes allowed him to avoid the wheelie bin.
What did Veolia say it would do?
Veolia apologised, said it had opened a full investigation, and said its teams would receive additional safety training. The report does not give a timetable or findings.
Is it confirmed that the refuse collector acted deliberately?
No. The report gives Mark’s description of the bin being launched across the road and says the worker apologised, but it does not establish intent. Veolia’s investigation had not produced reported findings.
Did Mark report the incident to police or the council?
Mark said he considered contacting the council or police but did not think it would be worthwhile. The report does not say that he filed a complaint or police report.
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