Commuting - City transit bus does right hook...lots of big eyes.

Going home Friday night I was coming down a hill with traffice at about 30 mph and a city bus tried to beat me to a highway on ramp. It's a good thing for practicing emergency stops. I dropped way back behind my seat and got on the front brake hard. The front tire was shuddering and close to skidding point and the back tire was making classic black s marks on the road. There were a lot of very large eyes in the bus windows. I got down to about 5 mph when I cleared the back of the bus. Thankfully, the driver didn't get on the brakes or there would have been nowhere to go. The scariest part was the car skidding in the next lane over and 20 feet behind me. He got cut off too. It has always seemed safest to stay with traffic at this location because it makes the necessary lane shifts easier. I merge in from the left side, cross two lanes, and need to get back to the left lane 1/2 mile further along. I don't go to the far right, or I would be crossing the highway on/off ramp in a right turn only lane which scares me. Cars going my way have nearly always be courteous and given plenty of room. Nobody seems to mind a biker that doesn't slow them down. Only the downgrade makes it possible to travel with the traffic...Friday traffic can be really scary.

Definitely report the bus driver. The bus dispatchers should be able to figure out who the driver was from the time and location. Anyone who cuts off a car and a bike at the same time shouldn't be driving a bus.

Glad to hear you got your weight back before slamming on the front brake. I bet the bus driver didn't realize how fast you were going. Either that or he's an idiot.

That sucks. At least you're ok.
Great Effective Cycling skills (sliding back on the saddle) :beer:
Did you get the bus number or license number?

My first thought was that the bus didn't know how fast I was going. Skidding sounds from my rear proved I wasn't alone on the road though...he would have been looking into the sun. It is unfortunate that I can't trigger my airhorn in such a panic situation as it takes my hand away from the front brake. Has anyone thought of a way to trigger an airhorn? Maybe an accelermeter to trigger a servo...nah.

Did you get the bus number or license number?

You probably wouldn't even need that. If you complain to the bus company and you can tell them exactly where the bus was and when then they can figure out exactly who was driving.

Sounds dicey.
Glad you weren't killed.
Friday traffic is the worst.

Glad you're okay!! I seem to more often get rude motorists on Fridays too. Nature of the day, I guess.

I wondered about what you said here:


I merge in from the left side, cross two lanes, and need to get back to the left lane 1/2 mile further along. I don't go to the far right, or I would be crossing the highway on/off ramp in a right turn only lane which scares me.
I agree you definitely don't want to get into that right-turn lane. I wonder if you could just stay in the left lane for the whole 1/2 mile? Can you past a link to a Google satellite image of the location?

tuolumne, I am also in New England (Portland Maine area), and I find the metro bus drivers to be some of the most courteous drivers that I come across. There are other bus drivers who are not nearly as good - but the Portland Metro drivers are pretty good.

I would second the comment that you should write the bus company, explain the circumstances of the near miss and suggest that they train their drivers to learn how to merge in a safe manner.

I agree; the metro bus drivers are usually pretty alert. This is the first time anything close to this has happened with a city bus. Sometimes they pull away from a stop while I'm next to them, but then they do this with cars too. The bus can't just wait all day to get out. School buses on the other hand...

Regarding the lanes: one is a left turn only, the next is a left/straight further along. If I get into this one I would be stuck behind a line of cars turning left. The lane switching has never been a problem, and I've always found drivers courteous. Again, it's downhill. I wrote about the uphill (morning) part in a previous post a while back (with a picture). That involves some heavy sprinting and a few rude stares while I take the necessary lanes. If I can draft a metro bus up this part I'm grateful. I think that post was about drafting...

I have to say that the Portland Metro bus drivers on the #4 line often pass me way too closely (closer than a foot) while going down Brighton.