Commuting - Amazing experience with a bus driver

we spend so many electrons on this board slamming cagers (i.e. car drivers) that i felt obliged to relay my experience on my commute this morning before new years. it is dark in the morning when i commute and my route runs in tandem with a bus scheduled for the same time. as most of you know, buses and bicycles can be a bit of a nuisance for each other because the bus' constant stopping/starting results in similar rates of forward progress. this morning i attempted to overtake a bus which had stopped to pick up passengers, but as i did he started to drive forward and into my path. i prepared to slow down and give way. my jamis and i are no match for a large deisel contraption, see?

and that's when it happened. the bus abruptly stopped, and waved me forward, leaving me an open road. surprise, surprise. i'm the type who appreciates gestures like this because of their rarity, so i gave the driver a friendly wave as i passed. miracles DO happen, it seems.

and that's when lightning struck twice. as he slowly overtook me, he opened his door and apologized! "sorry," he said politely. "normally i see you but this morning i didn't."

stunned, i said, "it's quite alright. i appreciate the fact that you even looked! have a great day."

so in sum there is hope yet that some cagers, even bus drivers, are looking out for us.

let me add: to all my friends on the board: best wishes for a happy, healthy, and SAFE new year for you and yours. keep the rubber side down.

ThanX for the positive post. It's nice to hear that not everyone is out to get me! :D

Can we get your bus drivers to come over here and give lessons to some of our bus drivers?

that's bus "driver" (singular) not bus "drivers" (plural). it's a fairly important distinction.

You probably encountered a cyclist who happens to drive a bus for a living. It's rare but not unheard of. ;)

there are bus drivers who are courteous, and there are bus drivers who are Sh@$%T head, so your very lucky to have encountered one of the rare kind....

Most of the bus drivers I see in Montréal are professionnals and act like professionals. I also like to do my part of "sharing the road" and clearly stop behind them at a red light, and I don't pass a bus if I suspect he will pass me shortly thereafter.

One thing I noticed (not only as a cyclist, but mostly as a passenger): busses have a schedule to follow, otherwise the interval between busses won't be regular. When busses are late, they tend to force yellow lights, drive fast and stop suddently, etc. (at least in Montréal). In those situations, I try to stay away from them...

Regards,

To take it a step further; get the bus number and call or write the bus company with your commendation. It could help get the guy a raise, or at least be something positive in his file.

It's rare we hear anything good about 'cagers'.

This is a great chance to ultimately help our cause.

I second that writing a letter suggestion!

I'll add a third reccomendation for a letter.
Good for karma if you ask me :-)
Doug

That was very nice of the bus driver, but I think there is a lesson to be learned here too. He didn't see you this time. So why didn't he see you? Was it bad weather? Were you wearing less visible clothing? Your lights getting weak? Were you riding in a different part of the lane? It's also possible it was nothing you did and the driver was just distracted that morning. But it is time well spent to consider the why of not being seen just in case there is a way of improving visibility. Our commuting lives depend on being seen.

At the risk of jinxing my luck, I have found that the professional drivers out there( bus, delivery, tow truck, etc.) are the most courteous and helpful. I rode out to the beach this morning and had a delivery truck hold traffic for me to safely cross a freeway entrance. With all the superbowl traffic, it was tougher than usual. Very nice of him.

update: since my initial post i have encountered this bus driver numerous times during my morning comute. he always is cheery and never fails to beep his horn and wave.

i figure writing a letter would be nice, but for now i'm just enjoying having a new friend who happens to wield a slightly larger vehicle than i.