Originally Posted by
fthomas
You can add city buses to the list. Just as dangerous and the drivers do not seem overly concerned about bicycle lanes and cyclist [emphasis mine]. If it is at a bus stop on a street with a bicycle lane I don't pass it. I can sit and wait.
I hope that isn't a problem in your city. If you feel it is so bad that you have to wait behind buses, take some PREEMPTIVE action.
*YOU* *CAN* *FIX* *THIS*. Several cities have training programs for bus operators that have made *HUGE* differences, such as
this effort. These days, when I use
Write to the Top it's for a commendation of fantastic behavior. I can't remember the last time I had trouble with a public transit bus.
Until then, transit buses are among the most predictable vehicles on the road. They have a finite number of places where they stop. They have a fixed route. Learn both of those and make yourself visible to them. Stay out of their no zone. And if an operator puts *you* into their no zone and pulls to the curb, it's a teachable moment. Report the incident.
During heavy automobile traffic, I'll usually pass several buses - but each one only *ONCE.* Bicycles are often the fastest vehicles during heavy automobile traffic, transit buses with their frequent stops often the slowest.
-mr. bill