Today I hit the road along the bus route I normally take when not riding, and wouldn't you know it? The bus I usually take passed me. I got to work the same time I would have if I had been on that bus: one hour later.

But here's the part I want to mention: after I got to work, I stopped in to talk to a supervisor that rides the same bus I do, just to ask her if she saw me.

Before I could ask her, she said, "I saw you on the bicycle today."
I thought I was going to get good news from her, since she is a former bicycle commuter. She said that everyone talking about how dangerous it was for me to ride on the street.

I thought, "Gee, by now everyone must realize that I go to work and come home safely."

How long, how long must this go on?

:confused:

(NOTE: I edited the original version to prevent some confusion.)

It seems to me that the dangerousness level depends on how you ride. I personally do not pass back and forth busses like that. I would just stick it out behind the bus.

Do you take the lane? What is the type of road?

OH MY GOD! Your ride sounds like mine the other day. I decided to stop the longer commute and now take the light rail because of the bus situation. We have some of the worse buses in New Jersey as they have the exhaust on street level so when they take off, a cloud of smog is left behind for you to inhale. During the winter, you can see the cloud of smoke a block away and that's what your breathing. It's horrible.

A couple words of caution. If your not faster than the bus, let it pass and wait three minutes. I would not play leap frog with a slow heavy moving bus as one error could be a quick trip to the hospital. First of all, the minute you try to pass a bus, cars might hit you on the outside since they are trying to pass that lunbering giant. Second, you never really know when the bus will pull out of the curb or if he/she sees you trying to pass. The buses where I live pass you up a faster speeds thinking your a danger which makes it unsafe for the cyclists to ride along with them. Don't play this game.

I hate playing leapfrog with buses. In a small town, the bus drivers may get to know you by sight, so it pays to be extra considerate. Many cyclists ***** about bus drivers, but Ive had them go out of their way to help me at times.

I guess the image of Pete the Leapfrog is indelibly imprinted in the minds of readers.

Let me attempt to steer this thread in the direction I intended it:

The ex-bicycle commuter I mentioned is a dear friend, yet she says she "quit bicycle commuting 20 years ago because it's too dangerous."

I thought by showing up safely everyday, I had changed some of the thinking of people who say bicycle commuting is "too dangerous."

It's really funny, because these same folks will fly along the freeway at breakneck speeds everyday.

I find it is safer to pass the bus on the left if there is no traffic and the bus seems to be stopped for some time. I have seen buses stopped for 5 to 10 minutes before and I refuse to wait for them in this situation. If it appears that the bus will be stopped for just a few seconds I will wait. In some areas I find I can outrun the bus, especially in congested areas. In other areas the Bus averages 25 mph and I just let it go. I think it depends on the situation. My main rule is don't get in a rush. I find when I am rushing is when I am in the most danger, on bike or in car.

I deal with buses similarly. My commute only requires me to interact with a bus occasionally. In the particular areas that I normally encounter them, it is pretty easy to merge into the traffic lane and pass the bus. Often, if a bus just overtakes me as we are approaching a stop, the bus driver will often wait a few seconds for me, then pull to the curb.

My only complaint is getting stuck behind a buss on a hot day.. The diesel engines bleed heat like nooo tommorrow. But, that they cruise at 25 - 30, up hill, I've got no chance to pas them on the hills.

On flat land in the city, I'll pass a buss on the left, but rarely on the right, especially between it and parked cars. Bus drivers in San Diego are generally very nice and give a lot of room when they see you. I've found it helpful to get eyecontact in a mirror, and usually, you can tell what the bus driver is going to do. Some of them have such a steely gaze that I lay off or change streets.

But on a 90 degree day, behind a buss going up hill is like getting into an oven.

you asked: "How long, how long must this go on?"

the answer: as long as you let it.

personally, i LOVE the fact that i'm doing something different that not everyone approves of because it might be "unsafe." it reminds me that i'm not a lemming scurrying madly toward the abyss of normalcy. that others don't like it can only bother you if you let it. i rather like that they don't like it.

let me toss some kerosene on this little flame: if cycle commuting ever gets popular among the masses, i'll probably give it up. 'cause, ya see, i don't enjoy being like all the rest.

But when your temps dip to a frigid 65F and you're all bundled up, I bet you really enjoy that engine heat - reminds you of a nice summer day. LOL!

You've got sun; appreciate it, or send it up here for awhile

65? Isn't that when water freezes? (humour).

It gets in the 40's here in the morning.

My favorite "look" is the face of a passenger in a car in slow moving traffic when you pass them.

I'm gonna have the view from the bus tomorrow and I don't like the idea one little bit.

Where is Closetbiker with all his stats when we need him? I'm almost certain that bicycle commuting is statistically safer than riding on a bus - guess I'll find out tomorrow. Interestingly, I recently had a conversation with a Frenchman who has apparently ridden all over Europe and claims the Gold Coast is the most dangerous place he's ever cycled.

As far as passing buses goes, no hard and fast rules here. I judge each situation on it's requirements. Mind you, legislation in this country allows bicycles to overtake on literally whichever side they please.

Well yes and no. There is no doubt that you are more likely to be killed or injured riding a bike than riding a bus. Particularly if you are a child. And particularly in the UK which has a singularly poor record in these matters. However, as a group the bus passengers are likely to have a lower life expectancy than cyclists overall because they will be less physivcally active and more likely to develop heart disease, obesity, and so forth.

I, for one, am yet to be convinced of that one, but that's been discussed in numerous other threads. Although, this may be different in Liverpool if what a Liverpudlian friend of mine says is true.

Indeed. Kinda like"you're laughing at me because I'm different and I'm laughing at you because you're all the same."
I carry a large Rubbermaid storage box with a lid on my BOB trailer,I have a bumper sticker on the box;"Question conformity". One day after I had finished shopping at Wal-Mart and was unlocking my bike and old lady walked up and said "Question conformity, what's that mean?"
Many people only feel safe when they commute with a couple tons of steel wrapped around them, a handgun under the seat and oh yes, the bar code window sticker to allow them entrance into their gated community.

Like my sister-in-law?

She feels safest travelling with the gun under her seat and the radio blaring! And she and my brother are moving into a home with my parents towards the end of the year- a secluded, gated home in a cul-de-sac where there are "No Trespassing" signs everywhere. And they are getting some pretty mean attack dogs too...

On the other hand, back to the bus issue- I outrun buses if I think I can. I pretty much figure out how fast they are at picking up and dropping off their customers, and if things are pretty slow going, I try to lose them at the closest stop light. If they are going at a pretty fast clip and they are being super efficient, I just let them go.

Of course, on cold days, I get behind them and enjoy the shield and just draft in the fumes as long as possible, too!

Koff

At least behind a bus the cars change to the next lane, and if you can get in front and stay there again the cars will mostly stay in the next lane. I agree it doesn't pay to cheese off the bus driver..I wouldn't play leap frog.

But it does really feel good to pass cars, when they are stuck in traffic!

Personally I try to get in front of buses as quickly as I can. Have you ever smelt the s**t that they belch out? Who wants to breathe that?