I have used the bike rack on the front of a bus a few times. I have not been real comfortable that the bike is held in that securely. I once asked the bus driver if he had ever seen any fall off. He said "oh yeah" and that if that happens he just keeps on driving (I imagine this would include thoroughly flattening the bike in the process). It make me wonder about what happens if a situation arises where bike damage occurs.

The driver may have been doing some mind games with me or I could have had an overactive imagination in how often this might happen. I imagine some cyclists aren't real careful in putting the spring-loaded arm up over their tire when securing the bike in the rack -- in my mind I am thinking this may mostly account for any bike damage the driver has seen.

I do wonder what the bus company's policy is about bikes on the rack. If a bike falls off and gets destroyed will the bus company take responsibility and pay, or do they figure the rack was used at the cyclists own risk? Of course, if another motor vehicle was also involved that adds another option into who could pay.