Batson

I have a short commute to work and back, only a few blocks (37th st.-N.Moore in Tribeca) I take 9th ave. pretty much all the way downtown until I get to Bethune st. then I take washington st. down...you get the picture.

9th ave at Bethune st. crosses over 8th ave. there are only two lanes that you can take to cross 8th ave and there is one lane that is right turn only. This right turn only lane, if you were to continue going straight, would take you straight into a median with huge flower pots.

Now that you (hopefully) get the idea, Ill get on with my story.

At this intersection there is a bus stop. This is a stop for one of those long, double length busses with an accordian-looking section in the middle holding it together. After the bus does their pick up, it (usually) goes into one of the lanes that crosses 8th ave. I was moving at my casual pace watching the bus merge onto the straight lane, so I decide to pass on the right hand side of the bus. As Im passing the 2nd section of the bus, I notice there is a work van illeagaly parked in the right turn only lane. I thought, "no big deal, Ill just go around it on the drivers side." As Im about to get to the rear bumper of the van, the bus suddenly starts to turns right. Im in trouble now. I can either get pinched between the bus and the van and possibly get run over, or I can take it, and run into the rear end of the van. I chose to hit the rear end of the van. I slammed into the back of it, and I bent my front wheel up pretty good. The frame looks to be ok, Im going to get everything looked at tomorrow.

I left the scene since nothing happend to the van. But while I was about five blocks south I thought that I should called the police to make a report since the van was parked (illeagaly) in the right turn only lane.

Should I have made a report? Or is it my own dumb fault for hitting a parked car?

(and yes, before you say it, I do have a brake)

roadfix

....but did you use it?

Batson

haha, yea, the roads are a little slick today.

gwhalin

Never never never a good idea. I sometimes suspect those MTA drivers watch for cyclists to try to pass on the right so they can veer over to smash them.

Grampy™

Did the bus have little bicycle stamps on the side of it, like WWII Aces?

Rugen

Articulated buses (like the one you describe) are also notorious for needing really wide right turns, similar to an 18-wheeler. It probably wouldn't have been entirely in the right turn lane with our without the van. I hate that kind of bus.

cointelpro

Yeah, I'm always trying to figure out who's trying harder to kill me--MTA bus drivers, or garbage truck drivers. Either way it's like 20 tons of rolling death. <--If there was a skull and bones emoticon it would go here

iamjberube

neither one is trying harder, you forgot about the cabbies...gold medal every time.

gwhalin

I find cabbies to not actually be that bad. Sure you find the occasional ass, but most of the time they are not too pushy, and often times I find them to be respectful (as long as they don't see a fare ... then watch out). Now livery drivers ... they are bad. Right up their w/ the buses.

deathhare

Maybe bus drivers suck. At least today. One tried to muscle me this morning. He had a whole lane next to him and could have easily given me some space as he was passing... but instead was a dick and held his line and forced me into a very tight spot between him and a parked car. I guess he didnt think he'd see me again. He did in less than a block on his next pick up. I gave him something special.

veggiemafia

Unless that something special was a brick to the face, I can almost guarantee he didn't give a ****, and just thought "****ing nuisance bikers." Your middle finger does not conquer all. It does not have the power to make people feel guilty for their transgressions against you.

As to the OP, I think I would've filed a report since the guy was parked illegally.

scotthorrigan

totally agree with you. in boston, as well as every where else im sure, busses stop every 1000-2000 feet. and if the bus decides to give you enough room to pass on the right there is always the chance that someone is going to leap off the bus when you least expect it.

LóFarkas

Haha, the exact same thing happened to me today. Looks like noble bus driving traditions are shared between continents.
I just shrugged ("Another attempted murder") and went on. I'm so zen sometimes.

Edit: but here cabbies are the absolute worst. "Not too pushy" and "respectful" don't make any sense in the same sentence with "cabbie".

deathhare

Youre way wrong. This isnt America and people DONT do what i did. Never. It wasnt the finger. It was a tap on his glass and big ****ing wad spit on his window. He was very shocked.
..and as for the finger..it still has massive impact in this country. Basically no one lets out any kind of assualt on other people here in any form in any situation.

veggiemafia

You're so manly.

Take me now.

fenester

Seriously. I was out Saturday and wiped twice. It still hasn't rained enough to clear the oil off the streets. Hope the frame's ok.

deathhare

age, sex, location?

gwhalin

I spoke too soon. Had multiple cabbies try to run me off the road tonight. Guess thats what I get for saying something nice.

Batson

UPDATE:

Since wiping out, Ive spent the money on a new wheel and found that both my wrists are screwed up pretty bad (from hitting the van) and that my favorite pocket knife, that I keep on my key chain, was broken in half by my ass/hipbone. My frame is fine at least.

-Batson