Two versions of the same story; the KATU story seems to have more useful information; the oregonian story is almost worthless in this regard, plus it heads off into blame the victim mode--sorry, but I don't think a helmet is of much use when you are hit by a bus...
Here's a reposted opinion from a local list-serve:
Does the bus have to cross into the bike lane as part of its routine? Was an automobile somehow legally blocking or traveling through the bike lane? These two theories seem to suggest the infrastructure's design--in this case, the design of bus mass transit and bike lanes--put the cyclist at risk. At best, they paste the cyclist needs on top of an incompatible premise. How many times to you ride with a "please don't hit me" prayer on your lips? How many times do I have to ride in a car because my friends are afraid of cycling? I wonder what archeologists will think when they analyze our streets, like we do the sunken streets of Tenochtitlan? How did Cortez cross the canals of that city when the defenders removed the bridges? He crossed them on bridges made of corpses.
The roads are lubricated with blood as much as oil.
They are engineered for homicide as much as smooth traffic flow.
Chi
10-26-03, 12:37 AM
Geez ... for being the most bike-friendly city in the US, bicyclists have a rather draconian view of the local government.
randya
10-26-03, 01:28 AM
Bike Lanes do not necessarily do cyclists any good, as any number of other threads here will tell you. Motorist behavior towards cyclists in Portland is not necessarily better than anywhere else, either, although there are more cyclists and there is some truth to the 'safety in numbers' axiom. I don't think local cyclists view the local gov't as draconian--rather, I would characterize cyclists' view of the actions of the local gov't (striping of unsafe bike lanes for the 'benefit' of cyclists) to be one of misguided benevolence. Of course, not all cyclists would agree with me, there are many cyclists who want to see the city continue to stripe more new bike lanes, to encourage novice cyclists (by providing them with a false sense of security). And the 'Most Bike Friendly City' Award is based in part on the number of miles of striped bike lanes, so we're dealing with a 'Catch-22' situation...
TrekRider
10-26-03, 03:52 AM
Although 99.9% of motorists in my area are very considerate of cyclists, there are times when I go on extra alert. Chief among them is when the bike lane disappears to become a right turn lane, especially on a busy street. You never know if some moron is going to jump into the bike lane to get a head start on his right turn.
Da Tinker
10-26-03, 05:38 AM
John Forester has it right: the worst thing for cyclist safety is an unsafely designed bike lane. It gives some a false sense of security, denies cyclist lane rights (in the eyes of cage drivers), and can place them in unsafe situations, apparently like this case.
No helmet and wearing headphones in traffic doesn't help either.
closetbiker
10-26-03, 06:23 AM
The description of the accident says the cyclist was hit from behind, and the pitcure shows damage to the bus right front headlight.
I don't see how the bike lane had anything to do with this accident. It looks like the driver simply ran the cyclist down from behind. It could have happened with or without a lane.
Chi
10-26-03, 07:58 AM
What I think happened, in agreement with closetbiker, is that the biker was on the right of the bus, riding faster, but as the bus tried to veer to the right (either to pick up pax or to make a right turn), the driver wasn't paying attention to his/her right, and the biker was hit just as he had passed the bus on the right.
It's unfortunate ... I feel bad everytime I hear about something like this happening. I've heard many good things about cycling in Portland, and I've been wanting to go there and see for myself the environment. RIP John Doe. :(
Allister
10-26-03, 07:58 AM
Two versions of the same story; the KATU story seems to have more useful information; the oregonian story is almost worthless in this regard, plus it heads off into blame the victim mode--sorry, but I don't think a helmet is of much use when you are hit by a bus...
Looked like more a statement of uncertainty than blame. But, yes, the spurious helmet comments without any context (like what the man actually died of) is getting rather tiresome.
Here's a reposted opinion from a local list-serve:
Does the bus have to cross into the bike lane as part of its routine? Was an automobile somehow legally blocking or traveling through the bike lane? These two theories seem to suggest the infrastructure's design--in this case, the design of bus mass transit and bike lanes--put the cyclist at risk. At best, they paste the cyclist needs on top of an incompatible premise. How many times to you ride with a "please don't hit me" prayer on your lips? How many times do I have to ride in a car because my friends are afraid of cycling? I wonder what archeologists will think when they analyze our streets, like we do the sunken streets of Tenochtitlan? How did Cortez cross the canals of that city when the defenders removed the bridges? He crossed them on bridges made of corpses.
The roads are lubricated with blood as much as oil.
They are engineered for homicide as much as smooth traffic flow.
You got all that from those couple of vague news reports? You don't think you're being a tad melodramatic?
I've gotta agree with closetbiker - looks more like inattention on the bus driver's part.
Da Tinker
10-26-03, 09:14 AM
Inattention on the bus driver's part does look like a part of it. But look a little deeper, using the paradigms of the average driver.
Drivers look for traffic in the traffic lanes, which is why I dislike bike lanes, preferring wide (14' +) curb lanes to share with traffic. This puts riders out where drivers are looking for traffic, not off to the side, where they are not looking. Plus, bike lanes are trash catchers, used as breakdown lanes, parking lanes (legality aside), and drivers regularly pull into them to chack for cross traffic before turining into the auto lanes.
The only advantages bike lanes have is that once laid down, they are politically tough to remove, and you don't get hassled for zooming past stalled traffic in the auto lanes.
SamDaBikinMan
10-26-03, 10:25 AM
Face it folks, you are not in a big SUV, you are not in a fancy BMW,Mercedes, Volvo, etc.., you are not in a Hummer, You are not in a Limo, He** your not even in a geo!
This can only mean one thing! You are a bum who probably does not even have a job or your job is so lowly that you cannot afford even a junker car or a bus pass so you are riding your bike in the way of all these upper classmen who can afford cars.
This makes you a useless second rate citizen then you are only as valuable as roadkill. You are a bum, you are in the way of soccer moms and people in a hurry to get the nails done or the get to tee time.
Stay out of the damn way you useless cyclists. Get a job and buy a car! Go ride on the sidewalk where you belong!
Sorry, but when I hear of cyclists being run down it makes me angry and realize what we are to most drivers.
Chris L
10-26-03, 08:26 PM
Sorry, but when I hear of cyclists being run down it makes me angry and realize what we are to most drivers.
That's why, in situations like this, you get the hell out of the bikelane. I don't know if it would have helped on this particular occasion, but it's protected me from numerous left-hooks and so on down the years. You'll be a lot safer (and contrary to what motorists will actually say) a lot more respected of you make an attention wh@re out of yourself.
ngateguy
10-26-03, 09:19 PM
I used to take a route to work with a bike lane, but after almost being clipped several times bu buses. And of course cut of when they make a stop I stopped and now I take the most direct route that has 2 lanes so they have a lane to pass me in and park my butt right in the middle of the lane as it states in the pamphlet that Washington state put out on safely operating a cycle in traffic. What gauls me the most I have a friend that works for Metro and recently when I was at his house he showed me the drivers training manual and they have a whole chapter on being attentive toward bikes, not to pass them to closely and not cut them off. It sates that if you let them go pass the stop you most likely will not have to encounter them on the remainder of the route. They actually train them to watch out for us, but they ingnore us when we are in their way. I bet TriMet has the same thing in their handbook. If he was avoiding a car while in the bike lane than it was one that was parked either in the lane or one of those very unsafe bike lanes the put on the left of the parking strip.
alexs
10-26-03, 09:46 PM
What gauls me the most I have a friend that works for Metro and recently when I was at his house he showed me the drivers training manual and they have a whole chapter on being attentive toward bikes, not to pass them to closely and not cut them off. It sates that if you let them go pass the stop you most likely will not have to encounter them on the remainder of the route. They actually train them to watch out for us, but they ingnore us when we are in their way.
seatle metro sucks hard. the bus drivers in seattle seem to think of cyclists as just an obstacle keeping them from making their routes on time. they're as bad as cabbies that way. i can't wait for some real transit alternatives (monorail, light rail, i don't care), hopefully that'll get some of these sketchy bus drivers off the street and make cycling (and driving for that matter) a little safer.
Zin
10-26-03, 10:09 PM
We don't have bike lanes here. I have noticed in several "college towns" in the state they have been popping up. We have a desinated "bicycle route" from one end of the town to another, but no stripped lanes. Our local club has been working to get lanes marked. I wonder if it is really a plus or not after reading many of the replies here.
randya
10-26-03, 10:38 PM
It's been said before and I will repeat it again: bike lanes are not usually that safe and amount to segregated, 'separate but equal' facilities for cyclists, the presence of which drivers seem to resent even more than when cyclists share the travel lane, because most drivers incorrectly think that they own the PUBLIC road (gas taxes and so forth...) and they hate it when bike lanes pop up 'cause they think they're paying for them, that the bike lane is reducing the motor vehicle carrying capacity of the road, and so forth. Plus, once an unsafe bike lane goes in, be prepared for the motorists to shout at you to 'use the bike lane' no matter how unsafe it is or what kind of hazard you're trying to avoid by leaving the bike lane, and be prepared for the inevitable news stories of bicyclists being injured and killed while using the bike lane.
lsits
10-27-03, 09:51 AM
I noticed a discrepency between the printed report and the video of the witness: The police reported that the bus and the cyclist were both traveling eastbound when the bus struck the bicyclist. The witness said that the cyclist was traveling the wrong way in the bike lane and that he struck the bus.
ngateguy
10-27-03, 11:04 AM
because most drivers incorrectly think that they own the PUBLIC road (gas taxes and so forth...) and they hate it when bike lanes pop up 'cause they think they're paying for them, that the bike lane is reducing the motor vehicle carrying capacity of the road, and so forth.
I've always liked that one, next time you hear someone use that lame excuse tell them that you need to know just where this tax deduction is for bicycles because silly you has been paying taxes for a long time, especially down there since you have an income tax and your vehicle tabs are not a tax, but a fee.
Spire
10-27-03, 11:50 AM
I don't understand how it can be any clearer.
Bike Lanes are for bikes only!!! Noone else is allowed, not busses, not cars not anything else, how can anybody justify that? I hope the bus driver is dealt with accordingly.
ChezJfrey
10-27-03, 12:05 PM
What a coincidence you bring this up. I had a similar tangle with a bus two months ago, though not as severe and fortunately not as deadly. I also heard about this cyclist while I was in the ER for my injuries sustained after being struck off my bike by a truck that same Friday.
I was at a different hospital, but they had heard the story and felt obliged to tell me I guess.
ChezJfrey
10-27-03, 12:13 PM
That's why, in situations like this, you get the hell out of the bikelane. I don't know if it would have helped on this particular occasion, but it's protected me from numerous left-hooks and so on down the years. You'll be a lot safer (and contrary to what motorists will actually say) a lot more respected of you make an attention wh@re out of yourself.
I agree, and do just that quite often. But honestly, there is some bad luck that comes into play. Unfortunately, you sometimes get run down and there's nothing you could have done about it.
Rich Clark
10-27-03, 12:22 PM
I don't understand how it can be any clearer.
Bike Lanes are for bikes only!!! Noone else is allowed, not busses, not cars not anything else, how can anybody justify that? I hope the bus driver is dealt with accordingly.
Most places, AFAIK, certainly in Philadelphia, buses have the right-of-way when stopping to pick up passengers. No, of course they can't merge into a bike that's already there, but they can merge with the bike lane and then stop in it if there's a bus stop, and overtaking bikes have to yield, just like any other vehicle.
RichC
ngateguy
10-27-03, 12:41 PM
Most places, AFAIK, certainly in Philadelphia, buses have the right-of-way when stopping to pick up passengers. No, of course they can't merge into a bike that's already there, but they can merge with the bike lane and then stop in it if there's a bus stop, and overtaking bikes have to yield, just like any other vehicle.
RichC
here not only can buses pull in to stops but most of our bike lanes are to the left of legal curbside parking which is ludicrous and dangerous. Cars never seem to look before they pull out or the rush to cut you off just so the can slow you while they attempt to parallel park
LittleBigMan
10-27-03, 02:49 PM
Drivers look for traffic in the traffic lanes, which is why I dislike bike lanes, preferring wide (14' +) curb lanes to share with traffic.
I do not feel as safe in bike lanes as I do in normal traffic lanes, in general. They are often not well designed, conceptually or practically. Sometimes, they are actually "accidents" waiting to happen.
Bike lanes can lead a cyclist to ride in a narrow space between motor traffic on the left and parked cars on the right. Bike lanes encourage motorists to pass with less clearance than otherwise, instead of the three-foot limit. They often place the cyclist in a space travelling alongside motor traffic, where they can be sideswiped, cut off, or run off the road, instead of travelling in the lane, where cars generally either stay behind the cyclist while waiting to pass, or get in front of the cyclist.
Chris L
10-27-03, 08:26 PM
I agree, and do just that quite often. But honestly, there is some bad luck that comes into play. Unfortunately, you sometimes get run down and there's nothing you could have done about it.
That is true of every human activity (including eating and breathing). However, we should still use our own judgement in these situations and get the hell out of the bikelane if we feel the need to. The more I think about it, the more I'd prefer to see roads with plain shoulders rather than bike lanes. At least there seems to be less of an expectation of "staying in a bike lane" attached to them.
randya
10-27-03, 09:25 PM
I don't understand how it can be any clearer. Bike Lanes are for bikes only!!! No one else is allowed, not busses, not cars not anything else, how can anybody justify that? I hope the bus driver is dealt with accordingly.
When the bus stop is to the right of the bike lane, the bus is allowed to cross the bike lane to get to the stop. However, the bus driver is required by law to yield to the bicycle rider to get to the bus stop, see below:
811.050 Failure to yield to rider on bicycle lane; penalty. (1) A person commits the offense of failure of a motor vehicle operator to yield to a rider on a bicycle lane if the person is operating a motor vehicle and the person does not yield the right of way to a person operating a bicycle, electric assisted bicycle, moped, motor assisted scooter or motorized wheelchair upon a bicycle lane.
Also:
811.440 When motor vehicles may operate on bicycle lane. This section provides exemptions from the prohibitions under ORS 811.435 and 814.210 against operating motor vehicles on bicycle lanes and paths. The following vehicles are not subject to ORS 811.435 and 814.210 under the circumstances described:
(1) A person may operate a moped on a bicycle lane that is immediately adjacent to the roadway only while the moped is being exclusively powered by human power.
(2) A person may operate a motor vehicle upon a bicycle lane when:
(a) Making a turn;
(b) Entering or leaving an alley, private road or driveway; or
(c) Required in the course of official duty.
(3) An implement of husbandry may momentarily cross into a bicycle lane to permit other vehicles to overtake and pass the implement of husbandry.
(4) A person may operate a motorized wheelchair on a bicycle lane or path.
(5) A person may operate a motor assisted scooter on a bicycle lane or path. [1983 c.338 §645; 1991 c.417 §1; 2001 c.749 §24]
I believe that the bus driver would be allowed to operate his bus in the bike lane pursuant to ORS 811.440(2)(c), but still be required to yield to any cyclists present pursuant to ORS 811.050(1).
Spire
10-28-03, 04:49 PM
Most places, AFAIK, certainly in Philadelphia, buses have the right-of-way when stopping to pick up passengers. No, of course they can't merge into a bike that's already there, but they can merge with the bike lane and then stop in it if there's a bus stop, and overtaking bikes have to yield, just like any other vehicle.
RichC
This is not the case where I live. For a bus to be able to do what you describe, the bike lane gets oblique lines through it or it merges into traffic for the stop. It kind of defeated the purpose of a bike lane if other vehicules are allowed into it, doesn't it?
Rich Clark
10-28-03, 05:50 PM
This is not the case where I live. For a bus to be able to do what you describe, the bike lane gets oblique lines through it or it merges into traffic for the stop. It kind of defeated the purpose of a bike lane if other vehicules are allowed into it, doesn't it?
Yes, it does. It's just another of the many ways in which bike lanes are dangerous and stupid. In my experience, the painted ones that have been retrofitted on to existing streets in old, crowded city centers are the most dangerous and stupid of all.
RichC
Spire
10-28-03, 05:53 PM
[QUOTE=randya]When the bus stop is to the right of the bike lane, the bus is allowed to cross the bike lane to get to the stop. However, the bus driver is required by law to yield to the bicycle rider to get to the bus stop, see below:
811.050 Failure to yield to rider on bicycle lane; penalty. (1) A person commits the offense of failure of a motor vehicle operator to yield to a rider on a bicycle lane if the person is operating a motor vehicle and the person does not yield the right of way to a person operating a bicycle, electric assisted bicycle, moped, motor assisted scooter or motorized wheelchair upon a bicycle lane.
Also:
... [legal jargon :)] [QUOTE]
Thanks for the info. Evidently the bus did not yeild and it cost a man his life. I said it before, I'll say it again, I hope the driver is prosecuted.
Dahon.Steve
10-30-03, 10:20 AM
>>>>Bike lanes encourage motorists to pass with less clearance than otherwise, instead of the three-foot limit.<<<<
JACK-POT!
This what happened folks. The bus driver was probably inches away from the cyclist getting ready to pick up passengers or drop some off at the corner. There are plenty of bus drivers that are expert drivers and they swing those vehicles around town like a Geo Metro. A bus driver will miss you by inches because they have the skills to do so but if you are unpredictable, the results can be fatal.
The bus driver in this case was inches behind the cyclists and EXPECTED him to MAINTAIN postion regardless of the situation in front because of the restrictions imposed by the bike lane to the cyclists. The cyclists does not know the motorists considers his bike lane to be dual line non-passing road which means he cannot leave that lane under any circumstances.
So our friendly bus driver decides to tail-gate behind the cyclist and the moment a car blocked the cyclists path, the worse happened. The rule on riding in a bike lane are as follows. (In my opinion, of couse)
1. Ride on the outside or very close to the outside of the bike lane to avoid being doored.
2. If a car pulls out in front or you are blocked, use your neck and look behind. (I'm almost certain, the cyclists who was killed never did this)
3. If you feel the cars behind are too close are traveling too fast, you must come to a full stop. Don't make an issue by exiting the bike lane forcing the driver behind you to yield.
4. Ride slowly.
ngateguy
10-30-03, 11:27 AM
>>>>Bike lanes encourage motorists to pass with less clearance than otherwise, instead of the three-foot limit.<<<<
JACK-POT!
This what happened folks. The bus driver was probably inches away from the cyclist getting ready to pick up passengers or drop some off at the corner. There are plenty of bus drivers that are expert drivers and they swing those vehicles around town like a Geo Metro. A bus driver will miss you by inches because they have the skills to do so but if you are unpredictable, the results can be fatal.
The bus driver in this case was inches behind the cyclists and EXPECTED him to MAINTAIN position regardless of the situation in front because of the restrictions imposed by the bike lane to the cyclists. The cyclists does not know the motorists considers his bike lane to be dual line non-passing road which means he cannot leave that lane under any circumstances.
So our friendly bus driver decides to tail-gate behind the cyclist and the moment a car blocked the cyclists path, the worse happened. The rule on riding in a bike lane are as follows. (In my opinion, of course)
1. Ride on the outside or very close to the outside of the bike lane to avoid being doored.
2. If a car pulls out in front or you are blocked, use your neck and look behind. (I'm almost certain, the cyclists who was killed never did this)
3. If you feel the cars behind are too close are traveling too fast, you must come to a full stop. Don't make an issue by exiting the bike lane forcing the driver behind you to yield.
4. Ride slowly.
As a supervisor of drivers I do not buy into that at all The law states that you pass vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles in a safe and proper manner. I do not know enough about what happen in this particular case to pass judgment on what happen. Any so called professional driver that passes a cyclist or any traffic by mere inches is not operating their vehicle according to any training standards I know of. Professional drivers SHOULD not jeopardize other people by passing them in an unsafe manner. Professional drivers are all taught defensive driving which states never expect what the other person is going to do they are unpredictable.
And when I am riding in traffic ,bike lane or not it is not safe to ride slowly. You need to be visible and riding fast, otherwise get off the road and on to the sidewalk.
Also you need to go out and ride in traffic with some of these bus drivers some are far from being friendly to cyclists or pedestrians.
Dahon.Steve
10-30-03, 01:17 PM
>>>> Any so called professional driver that passes a cyclist or any traffic by mere inches is not operating their vehicle according to any training standards I know of. <<<<<
Exactly.... Even though it is unprofessional, I see it all the time.
>>>Professional drivers are all taught defensive driving which states never expect what the other person is going to do they are unpredictable.<<<<
Exactly..... I guess in a perfect world, these concepts would be the rule of the day. Living and riding in New York, the reality is just the opposite.
A bus driver has a schedule to meet and is racing against time. His lunch and break times are often determined by how soon he gets to the station. It's this race against time that's the reason you see this crazy behavior on the streets.
<<<And when I am riding in traffic ,bike lane or not it is not safe to ride slowly. You need to be visible and riding fast, otherwise get off the road and on to the sidewalk. <<<<<
You never ride on the sidewalk. What did I mean by fast. In New York City, an average speed of 15 MPH is fast. If you're traveling at that speed, you're looking to become a statistic. I would consider 8 - 10 MHP slow. Other cities may be different.
>>>>Also you need to go out and ride in traffic with some of these bus drivers some are far from being friendly to cyclists or pedestrians.<<<<
I ride with them every day. I know exactly what you mean.
Chris L
10-30-03, 08:31 PM
>>>> Any so called professional driver that passes a cyclist or any traffic by mere inches is not operating their vehicle according to any training standards I know of. <<<<<
Exactly.... Even though it is unprofessional, I see it all the time.
>>>Professional drivers are all taught defensive driving which states never expect what the other person is going to do they are unpredictable.<<<<
Exactly..... I guess in a perfect world, these concepts would be the rule of the day. Living and riding in New York, the reality is just the opposite.
A bus driver has a schedule to meet and is racing against time. His lunch and break times are often determined by how soon he gets to the station. It's this race against time that's the reason you see this crazy behavior on the streets.
<<<And when I am riding in traffic ,bike lane or not it is not safe to ride slowly. You need to be visible and riding fast, otherwise get off the road and on to the sidewalk. <<<<<
You never ride on the sidewalk. What did I mean by fast. In New York City, an average speed of 15 MPH is fast. If you're traveling at that speed, you're looking to become a statistic. I would consider 8 - 10 MHP slow. Other cities may be different.
>>>>Also you need to go out and ride in traffic with some of these bus drivers some are far from being friendly to cyclists or pedestrians.<<<<
I ride with them every day. I know exactly what you mean.
I dunno. Everytime the traffic picks up to even moderate levels around here it generally slows to a crawl. Everytime I commute during the school holidays I pass more cars and buses than actually pass me. I don't think traffic is really an issue here -- unless we're expecting bus drivers to start trying to drive over cars to maintain their schedule.
Just on the schedule thing -- I have to ask just how seriously they really treat it? I know that in this part of the world, buses run at an average of 15 minutes late.
ngateguy
10-30-03, 08:43 PM
>>>>
Exactly..... I guess in a perfect world, these concepts would be the rule of the day. Living and riding in New York, the reality is just the opposite. .
Yep it is that way here to
And I think I may have misunderstood the spirit of your first post, sorry
Allister
10-31-03, 12:18 AM
I dunno. Everytime the traffic picks up to even moderate levels around here it generally slows to a crawl. Everytime I commute during the school holidays I pass more cars and buses than actually pass me. .
That's funny. I get the exact opposite. My roads are relatively deserted during school holidays. I guess we know where they're going now.
Chris L
10-31-03, 03:24 PM
That's funny. I get the exact opposite. My roads are relatively deserted during school holidays. I guess we know where they're going now.
You can have them back anytime you like. :D
Dchiefransom
11-11-03, 06:19 PM
As a supervisor of drivers I do not buy into that at all The law states that you pass vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles in a safe and proper manner. I do not know enough about what happen in this particular case to pass judgment on what happen. Any so called professional driver that passes a cyclist or any traffic by mere inches is not operating their vehicle according to any training standards I know of. Professional drivers SHOULD not jeopardize other people by passing them in an unsafe manner. Professional drivers are all taught defensive driving which states never expect what the other person is going to do they are unpredictable.
And when I am riding in traffic ,bike lane or not it is not safe to ride slowly. You need to be visible and riding fast, otherwise get off the road and on to the sidewalk.
Also you need to go out and ride in traffic with some of these bus drivers some are far from being friendly to cyclists or pedestrians.
I've been wondering about the reference to the car being parked. A scenario that hasn't been mentioned is the cyclist was not in the bike lane, but to the right of it, riding by the curb. He might have swung wide to get around a parked car and entered the traffic lane, giving the bus driver no time to react. I've seen people ride like this many times. It's very dangerous.
If I'm in a bike lane, I'm usually riding just inside it, next to the traffic lane, so the cars will know I'm there.
ngateguy
11-11-03, 07:12 PM
I've been wondering about the reference to the car being parked. A scenario that hasn't been mentioned is the cyclist was not in the bike lane, but to the right of it, riding by the curb. He might have swung wide to get around a parked car and entered the traffic lane, giving the bus driver no time to react. I've seen people ride like this many times. It's very dangerous.
If I'm in a bike lane, I'm usually riding just inside it, next to the traffic lane, so the cars will know I'm there.
You are right there is mention of the car and if the cyclist left the lane to go around the car without yeilding to on coming traffic he would be at fault. However the driver of the bus, being a profesional should of seen the potential for that to happen and made the necesary adjustments thats part of defensive driving. Like you I always ride to the left of the bike lane , and I do not move in and out of parked cars. Keep a straight steady line and be very aware of what is going on all around you.