Cyclist David Tong says his tyre was squashed into a "taco''.

A Wellington cyclist who earned the wrath of a bus driver while riding in a bus-only lane says he had his back tyre buckled as the bus nudged him from behind.

David Tong, a recent arrival to the city from Auckland, says he was unaware of the bus-only rules in Manners St as he was pedalling to work at 8.45am on Wednesday.

He claims the Go Wellington driver behind him became angry and squashed his back tyre..

DAVID TONG Shaken by the incident, Tong said it triggered flashbacks of a previous serious cycle crash.

Tong stopped at a red light and said the driver began yelling abuse at him for cycling on the bus-only street in the central city.

READ MORE:

* Cyclist in serious condition after colliding with bus in Wellington

* Bus drivers swap roles with cyclists

* Killed cyclist Ben Lawless didn't feel safe in Wellington

* Man seriously injured in Wellington after crash involving cyclist and car

"I'm looking back to try to understand what he's mad about, when the light goes green and he drives straight over my stationary back wheel.

STUFF The section of Manners St, formerly Manners Mall, where Tong was riding is always bus-only. No other vehicles are allowed at any time, including motorbikes, taxis and bikes.

"I wasn't even moving, with my foot on the ground.

"I can't say it was deliberate, but I can say it was reckless. My wheel is squashed like a taco."

Wellington has bus lanes, bus-only lanes, part-time bus lanes, and part-time bus-only lanes. The section of Manners St, formerly Manners Mall, where Tong was riding is always bus only – no other vehicles are allowed at any time, including motorbikes, taxis and cyclists.

DAVID TONG Tong said the driver of this bus yelled abuse at him before nudging him from behind.

Tong accepts he was in the wrong, but says the bus driver went overboard and should face consequences, such as having to do a safe driving course. Tong may yet take matters to police.

Zane Fulljames, chief executive of Go Wellington operator NZ Bus, confirmed the incident was being investigated, and said there was no excuse for the driver's alleged behaviour.

Fulljames, who is a cyclist, said such behaviour could not be condoned, and it did not matter that Tong was in the wrong.

"We're generally happy with our drivers – we take them on refresher courses, including how to interact with cyclists. We're really supportive of the Wellington cycling community, but occasionally that gets undone very quickly by one individual."

Cycle Action Network spokesman Patrick Morgan said bus lane distinctions could be confusing and differed around the country, but condemned the driver's alleged behaviour.

"This is called a punishment pass – when you choose to intimidate someone with your road behaviour.

"It's never OK to intimidate someone with your vehicle, even if they've made a mistake."

The network ran courses with bus drivers and cyclists to promote mutual empathy, and Morgan said intimidating behaviour by Wellington's bus drivers was unusual.