I'm so pissed I am seeing red.
There is a bike lane part of my route and for some reason they like ending bike lanes at intersections n GA despite the fact that changing lanes in an intersection is illegal in GA .
I have rode this intersection 100's of times so I am well aware of what is coming up.
In the below picture the green dots is where the bus was at the bottom and I was at the top. A car traveling in in front of the bus had just past me and I moved into the lane. As you can see I gave the bus plenty of time to change lanes or slow. It is down hill so I am rolling about 20-22mph. The bus is just clearing traffic merging into the left turn lanes and rolling 30-25mph max due to traffic.
The Yellow dots I am fully in the right lane. The bus driver blows the horn at me and has made no attempt to change lanes and I think they were still accelerating.
I maintained the lane.
Red dot the jack hole runs me up on me, I get out of the lane and I had to run through the striped gore area that is full of pebbles and sand from the last snow storm and very hazardous to ride in. The mirror missed me by less then a foot about a 1/4 way into the intersection.
I sent off the following e-mail to every address I could find for the transit when I couldnt get a person on the phone.
I want the tapes. I want them to be shown to the state legislators to help pass the 3ft law that has been introduced in GA.
45 route at approximately 4:35pm Friday April 2nd. I believe the actual bus number was 5021
East bound on Chastain road after crossing 575. The Bicycle lane ends at the intersection just east of the bridge. Just as any traffic lane The bicyclist must merge when the lane ends. By Ga code it is not legal to change lanes in an intersection. That means the bicyclist should merger before the intersection since the bike lane ends.
The car that was traveling in front of the bus was a good 10-15 car lengths ahead of the bus when it passed me as it was accelerating much faster then the bus. I was careful to make sure I gave the bus plenty of time to make an adjustment in lane or speed and merged just as soon as that vehicle passed me to maximize the time they had to allow them to make a safe pass. I was traveling approximately 20-22mph (its down hill at that point and I run over 20mph all the way to Chastain Corners). The bus was traveling approximately 30 when I merged . The light on the west side of the bridge had also just cycled as I was caught by it as was the bus several cars back.
I took control of the lane at a point to make sure the bus was not overtaking me in the intersection since the bike lane ends. Instead of the bus driver changing lanes as the law requires when passing or slowing if the lane to the left was not clear the driver appeared to maintain speed started blowing the horn at me trying to intimidate me to leave the roadway. I looked back at the driver at that point I still had plenty distance between us since I was traveling in the same direction few MPH less speed. I do not recall seeing a vehicle to the left of the bus that would have prevented the driver from changing lanes but even if there was the driver had plenty of time to slow till the lane cleared allowing them to move into the left lane. As I entered the intersection the driver made no attempt to give me room and overtook me in the same lane in the intersection in a VERY unsafe manner. The mirror on the bus was less then 1 foot from my head as the bus passed me. The air being displaced from the bus almost caused me to fall it was so close to me.
I am very upset at this behavior.
Your driver is discourteous and disrespectful of other drivers on the road.
I want the video from that bus pulled and reviewed with the driver. I want the driver consoled on the fact that a bicyclist has the same rights on the road as a motor vehicle. I want that driver reminded that they are not to bully other drivers. I want the driver to understande that safe passing is 3 ft or more and that requires the leave the lane. Just like any other vehicle A bicyclist is not suppose to drive in gored off area or a turn lane unless they are turning I was in full compliance of those law when I merged..BY LAW a Bicyclist can drive right down the middle of any lane less then 14ft in width. I do not do that I do try to leave room for drivers to only need to get the left wheels out of the lane to pass me on a road like Chastain.
Please note when you review the recordings there is rear view mirror on the end of my left handle bar as well as one on the left side of my head that clips on my glasses. I have as good of visibility behind me as any automobile without the need to turn my head. I was fully aware of where the bus was.
I have had a problem with the 45 bus route before. I can not say if it was the same driver but due to the obvious issue this driver has with bicyclists I would not be surprised if it was the same driver.
Last fall I was passed by the 45 in front of KSU and before the bus had cleared me the driver came over into the bicycle lane and pinched me to the curb to make a stop. I was paying attention as I hear the tone of the engine change so I was not hurt but I did have to make evasive maneuvers. The driver should have pulled in behind me and NEVER attempted to pass me knowing they had a stop that close. That time I wrote it off as an honest mistake. Never again with this route will I think the driver made an honest error. I will treat drivers on this route as bullies and I will from now on involve law enforcement.
GA bicycle laws.
http://www.gohs.state.ga.us/gabikelaws.html
Handbook that is given to law enforcement.
http://www.georgiabikes.org/Portals/...G%20052306.pdf
Bill HB 988 3ft passing bill that I activly am involved with as a member of Bikecobb.org. Once passed this driver would have received a ticket on par with reckless driving for passing a bicycles that close. I am also activly involved with complete Streets and alternative transportation proponent including mass transit and attend county work shops.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2.../sum/hb988.htm
What did I do wrong besides thinking this jackhole would be professional?