Advocacy & Safety - Stopping for school buses - am I the only one?

It is an odd situation. You're out riding, and you see a school bus coming to a stop up ahead, perhaps on the other side of the road, stop sign extending, and yellow/red lights flashing. Now, personally, I stop if the red lights are already flashing. But I'm guessing (maybe I'm wrong) that I'm one of the only bicyclists in town that does stop. I would expect the argument that it would be ok to slow to like 5-mph and safely roll by - but I wouldn't do it. My policy is if I want to be treated like a vehicle, I need to act like one - and I'm sure the law clearly states that bikes must stop (?).

I'm not sure what the law is in MA. I've managed to get in that situation a couple of times. When it's happened I've stopped. It just seemed like good form.

Speedo

As a parent with a child who uses a school bus every day, I want all vehicles, powered and manual, to come to a stop when the bus stops. If there were a problem at my stop with people not stopping, I'd request that the police enforce it.

Paul

This stopping at school busses is so ingrained with me that I even stop when out running. Silly, no argument here, but there is a stigma attached to passing a school bus disgorging little beggers. This is one time I actually do "think of the children."

I always stop when it is required by law for any other vehicle to stop.

It is an odd situation. You're out riding, and you see a school bus coming to a stop up ahead, perhaps on the other side of the road, stop sign extending, and yellow/red lights flashing. Now, personally, I stop if the red lights are already flashing. But I'm guessing (maybe I'm wrong) that I'm one of the only bicyclists in town that does stop. I would expect the argument that it would be ok to slow to like 5-mph and safely roll by - but I wouldn't do it. My policy is if I want to be treated like a vehicle, I need to act like one - and I'm sure the law clearly states that bikes must stop (?).

I also stop for buses, I think that if one is on a divided roadway that one doesn't have to stop.

I was right, at least here in Fl.

316.172 Traffic to stop for school bus.-- (http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0316/SEC172.HTM&Title=-%3E2009-%3ECh0316-%3ESection%20172#0316.172)
(1)(a) Any person using, operating, or driving a vehicle on or over the roads or highways of this state shall, upon approaching any school bus which displays a stop signal, bring such vehicle to a full stop while the bus is stopped, and the vehicle shall not pass the school bus until the signal has been withdrawn. A person who violates this section commits a moving violation, punishable as provided in chapter 318.
(b) Any person using, operating, or driving a vehicle that passes a school bus on the side that children enter and exit when the school bus displays a stop signal commits a moving violation, punishable as provided in chapter 318, and is subject to a mandatory hearing under the provisions of s. 318.19. (http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0318/Sec19.HTM)
(2) The driver of a vehicle upon a divided highway with an unpaved space of at least 5 feet, a raised median, or a physical barrier is not required to stop when traveling in the opposite direction of a school bus which is stopped in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(3) Every school bus shall stop as far to the right of the street as possible and shall display warning lights and stop signals as required by rules of the State Board of Education before discharging or loading passengers. When possible, a school bus shall not stop where the visibility is obscured for a distance of 200 feet either way from the bus.
History.--s. 1, ch. 71-135; s. 1, ch. 76-31; s. 89, ch. 77-104; s. 3, ch. 85-309; s. 1, ch. 87-167; s. 23, ch. 95-143; s. 19, ch. 96-350; s. 1, ch. 97-10.
Note.--Former s. 316.139.

If it's taking forever, I'll get off and walk my bike by.

Motorists generally stop, but I'd say about 10% drive through at full speed.

I ride around the bus at a walking pace. Thats whats so great about a bicycle, you can tranform yourself into a virtual pedestrian at will and then switch back to a vehicle that can ride on roads designed for motor traffic.

Not that I have to worry about it very often but I would not pass near a stopped bus at 20 mph, but at 5 mph a lane away when you could eaisly stop seems kinda silly not to ride on.

Of course, at 5 mph a lane away it seems just as silly not to drive (your car) on ...

But if the cops catch you, it's a $500 fine. And it's likely that the bus driver will take your plate and call it in -- it's not like he's busy driving, and you're going nice and slow so he has plenty of time to do so.

Whatever you decide to do, the laws generally say `vehicle', which means that bikes have to stop too. And the fine is usually extremely high, probably due to `think of the children!' fever. So make an appropriate decision.

In Indiana I think passing a school bus is the same as reckless driving in your car, besides you might run over a kid in your car, no matter how careful you are. But come on, do you really think an old slow fat guy is a threat to running over school kids at least 20 feet away?

My policy is if I want to be treated like a vehicle, I need to act like one.....

:thumb:

I always stop. This happens frequently on my ride, at least once a week, sometimes 3 or 4 times. I'm riding a vehicle, and I act like it.

I stop, dismount, and walk my bicycle past it, mount, and ride away.

I break no laws with this.

Don't even think of going past a stopped school bus in Illinois..... Cops really frown on it, no matter what kind of vehicle you have.

Don't even think of going past a stopped school bus in Illinois..... Cops really frown on it, no matter what kind of vehicle you have.

My neighbor kid passed a stopped bus on his bike this afternoon. He is 6. I am probably not really on the right side of the argument. I think we should always do the safest thing possible. If it is possible to stop and let the kids walk by you and it is perfectly safe for everyone, by all means. I say just what ever is safest.

Of course, at 5 mph a lane away it seems just as silly not to drive (your car) on ...

But if the cops catch you, it's a $500 fine. And it's likely that the bus driver will take your plate and call it in -- it's not like he's busy driving, and you're going nice and slow so he has plenty of time to do so.

Whatever you decide to do, the laws generally say `vehicle', which means that bikes have to stop too. And the fine is usually extremely high, probably due to `think of the children!' fever. So make an appropriate decision.

" 'think of the children' fever"... you must not have any. Good, because until you wise up, you don't need to breed. Kids are unpredictable little creatures of impulse, and can cause mayhem to themselves and others through nothing more than sheer exuberance.

You and your business, whether on a bike or in a car, are not so important that you need to 'creep by at 5 mph'; if 5 mph is allowed by law, then idiots will take 25 mph. Get over yourself. Wait for the bus, and keep your neighbor's kids -- or MINE -- safer.

maybe I'll stop doing the 5 mph roll by and start doing a CX style dismount and run by... ;)

maybe I'll stop doing the 5 mph roll by and start doing a CX style dismount and run by... ;)

Video or it doesn't happen!

It's a good idea to stop, kids are as unpredictable as pets on leashes. No school bus in sight, but I came within a foot of nailing an eight year old boy running out between two cars the other day. Both of us yelled DAMN at the same time.

It's a good idea to stop, kids are as unpredictable as pets on leashes. No school bus in sight, but I came within a foot of nailing an eight year old boy running out between two cars the other day. Both of us yelled DAMN at the same time.

A couple of months ago on a Sunday (luckily for her) I had a close call with some dingbat get off of the bus, take, or make a call on her cell phone and step off the curb without looking.

It's a good thing for her that it was a Sunday otherwise she'd probably be dead right now. I was able to swerve around her. Between her and the curb. It's also a good thing for her that I was on a bike not a motorcycle. As if I was swerving between her and the curb I'd still probably would have clipped her.

Oh well, she'll one day be a Darwin award winner or at the very least a runner up.

I probably wouldn't pass a bus stopped facing the same direction of travel. I do pass them if they're stopped going the opposite way. I slow way down around them, and ride as if to expect a kid to jump out at me.

I stop.

" 'think of the children' fever"... you must not have any. Good, because until you wise up, you don't need to breed.For the record, I have three children. Currently 3, 6 and 8.

But far more kids are killed by red light running than by cars passing stopped school busses, and yet the fines (here -- Austin, TX) for red light running are around $200, and $500 for passing a stopped school bus. And I know why -- and it's summed up nicely by `think of the children'. If this makes me a bad person in your mind for pointing it out, so be it.


You and your business, whether on a bike or in a car, are not so important that you need to 'creep by at 5 mph'; If you're preaching at me, you didn't read my post very well.

It is an odd situation. You're out riding, and you see a school bus coming to a stop up ahead, perhaps on the other side of the road, stop sign extending, and yellow/red lights flashing. Now, personally, I stop if the red lights are already flashing. But I'm guessing (maybe I'm wrong) that I'm one of the only bicyclists in town that does stop. I would expect the argument that it would be ok to slow to like 5-mph and safely roll by - but I wouldn't do it. My policy is if I want to be treated like a vehicle, I need to act like one - and I'm sure the law clearly states that bikes must stop (?).
You are not the only bicyclist who stops for school buses.

Many years ago during my teenage years, I began stopping for school buses while out riding. I thought it only made sense due to the fact I ride my bicycle in the fashion of any other vehicle, that it would be safer for the passengers who were getting on or off the bus. Each time these occaisions presented themselves, I came to a halt whenever the red flashing signal lights came on.

Years have gone by and now it is law in Maine for people who ride bicycles to stop for school buses - something I've done for so long.

I would stop; It would not surprize me if it was illegal to pass a school bus in either direction with blinking lights in Maine./Kenneth

I take the middle of the lane and stop.

If you are on a bike, what could be SOOOO important that you cannot stop for a school bus?

If you are on a bike, what could be SOOOO important that you cannot stop for a school bus?

I just don't understand the real danger of killing a kid while I'm on my bike carefully passing a school bus. Heck, there are plenty of countries cars are allowed to pass stopped school buses in a careful, slow manner. Not trying to use that as an excuse, as if I'm ticketed I'll fess up and just pay it. I just can't see how it's a huge danger.

The times that it is unavoidable I do stop, but when school year is going on, I'll alter my route or ride time so I don't come across that many school buses. Also do that to avoid the lunatic people that the bus companies in this part of NJ hire. I've literally had them dive bomb right in front of me when I'm either driving(at the speed limit) or riding and have too slam on the brakes, or in my bike's case, brake.

In NC, I think it's legal for a nonmotorized vehicle to pass a stopped school bus.
But I stop. If I really had to get around the bus, I would get off the bike and walk.

One reason I stop behind the bus: Schoolbus drivers are not good at passing cyclists. I often have to brake because the bus starts coming toward me before it has fully passed me. It's safer to be behind the bus.

Actually, school buses in my neighborhood DO have on-board video cameras to collect evidence against drivers who don't stop.

I know, because such evidence was used in the case before mine on the day I was in court to testify against the truck driver who hit me on my bike.

They didn't show the actual video, because of technical problems..., but the cop who wrote the citation testified that he watched the video.

I always stop for school buses, and i did so even before i knew about the video cameras.

Actually, school buses in my neighborhood DO have on-board video cameras to collect evidence against drivers who don't stop.

Now we just need micro-videocameras on our bikes to catch reckless drivers :) But that's another topic ...

Stop for the damned bus...wtf is so important that you can't wait a minute or so, just like every other vehicle on the road has to. If you are in that big of a hurry, jump off the bike and walk it.

I stopped for a bus this morning on my way home from work, Got a big smile and a thumbs up from the driver.

I would stop; It would not surprize me if it was illegal to pass a school bus in either direction with blinking lights in Maine./Kenneth
It is illegal to pass a stopped school bus in Maine.

Stop for the damned bus...wtf is so important that you can't wait a minute or so, just like every other vehicle on the road has to. If you are in that big of a hurry, jump off the bike and walk it.

Well said, well said.

It really doesn't take that much time out of our day to stop and wait for kiddies to get off of the bus, or to pull over and wait for the fire truck or ambulance to pass.

Let them pass, who knows it may be your house that they are going to.

I stop, I'd hate to clip or even come close to hitting a kid running across the road.

Also, one day those kids will be driving. I don't want to be the one that edged them towards raging against cyclists.

It is an odd situation. You're out riding, and you see a school bus coming to a stop up ahead, perhaps on the other side of the road, stop sign extending, and yellow/red lights flashing. Now, personally, I stop if the red lights are already flashing. But I'm guessing (maybe I'm wrong) that I'm one of the only bicyclists in town that does stop. I would expect the argument that it would be ok to slow to like 5-mph and safely roll by - but I wouldn't do it. My policy is if I want to be treated like a vehicle, I need to act like one - and I'm sure the law clearly states that bikes must stop (?).

Generally the law requires all vehicle operators to stop, there are sometimes exceptions, for example on roads with a centre raised median, you may not need to stop for a school bus on the other side of the median. Check with your state or provincial laws though, they are slightly different everywhere.

When the bus is in the oncoming lane I move to right before I stop. Getting rear-ended isn't on my wish list.

Stop for the damned bus...wtf is so important that you can't wait a minute or so, just like every other vehicle on the road has to. If you are in that big of a hurry, jump off the bike and walk it.

If there's one thing I have learned here on the BF it's that cyclists have special dispensation to do whatever they happen to feel is convenient at any given moment no matter what the repercussions might be for others. Such is our righteousness!

I always stop for school busses (when they are rocking the lights and "Stop" sign), and have had one driver holler at me that I was the first bike he had seen do that. I just shrugged and rode on; it is only polite, and I always try to be polite in traffic.
At one time my route took me past a stop where a "Short Bus" made a regular pickup. The child at that adress needed a lot of help, and boarding the bus generally took him (or her, not sure) at least two or three minutes, which seems like an eternity to someone driving. I make it a policy never to be in a hurry, so I would wait behind the bus (no shoulder) and proceed once all was well, and the bus was moving. One day I had a car in front of me, and we both pulled up behind the bus. After about thirty seconds, the driver honked his horn (!). I put on my best Voice of Authority (audible for at least 1/4 mile) and said: "BE PATIENT!" He rolled down his window and yelled back: "I'm late for work!" "THAT'S NOT THEIR FAULT!" I replied, and he waited quietly until they were done.

I always stop for school busses (when they are rocking the lights and "Stop" sign), and have had one driver holler at me that I was the first bike he had seen do that. I just shrugged and rode on; it is only polite, and I always try to be polite in traffic.
At one time my route took me past a stop where a "Short Bus" made a regular pickup. The child at that adress needed a lot of help, and boarding the bus generally took him (or her, not sure) at least two or three minutes, which seems like an eternity to someone driving. I make it a policy never to be in a hurry, so I would wait behind the bus (no shoulder) and proceed once all was well, and the bus was moving. One day I had a car in front of me, and we both pulled up behind the bus. After about thirty seconds, the driver honked his horn (!). I put on my best Voice of Authority (audible for at least 1/4 mile) and said: "BE PATIENT!" He rolled down his window and yelled back: "I'm late for work!" "THAT'S NOT THEIR FAULT!" I replied, and he waited quietly until they were done.

I'm guessing no one ever taught him that he should leave early enough so that if the unexpected happens he won't be late for where he's going. If more people would learn to do that, then maybe, just maybe they wouldn't have to rush and be in such a hurry to get where they want to go.

As long as the coast is clear I hop up on the sidewalk and keep on truckin till I get past and hop off the curb to get back on the road.

About 10 years ago it became law that California school bus drivers had to turn on the red lights and put out the stop sign whenever they stopped to drop off/pick up kids. Its required that car drivers stop for stopped buses, and I almost never see anyone do it on my way to work in the morning when a bus stops. I do, and I almost got rear-ended by someone last spring (I was prepared for the impact when I heard the skidding tires). What would I do on my bicycle? Probably stop, since the citation is $350 and it goes on your driving record.