Buzzed by a Bus
05-21-09 | 04:39 PM
#26
Barbieri Telefonico
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,522
Likes: 2
From: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Bikes: Crappy but operational secondhand Motobecane Messenger
"Hey dummass! ... close me again and i will beat the living snot outta you!"
City buses have some wonderful drivers and others not so much.
Enough punishment is when the dummas goes to the lot and tell his buddies, they will rip him a new one for being careless.
City buses have some wonderful drivers and others not so much.
Enough punishment is when the dummas goes to the lot and tell his buddies, they will rip him a new one for being careless.
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05-22-09 | 07:24 AM
#27
Thread Starter
These go to eleven
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 414
Likes: 0
From: Distrito de Columbia
Bikes: BF Pocket Crusoe; B Tikit; dust-gathering MTB
This reminds me of lyrics to a Violent Femmes song, truly inspired by NYC:
"you got the mother and her kids
you got the guy and his date
we all get mad
we all get late
looks like somebody forgot about us
standing on the corner, waiting for a bus...
Let's call the mayor, let's complain
looks like somebody's done it to us again.
Tied up in traffic, whaddya know,
the damned city bus moves so SLOW"
"you got the mother and her kids
you got the guy and his date
we all get mad
we all get late
looks like somebody forgot about us
standing on the corner, waiting for a bus...
Let's call the mayor, let's complain
looks like somebody's done it to us again.
Tied up in traffic, whaddya know,
the damned city bus moves so SLOW"
05-29-09 | 02:03 PM
#28
Thread Starter
These go to eleven
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 414
Likes: 0
From: Distrito de Columbia
Bikes: BF Pocket Crusoe; B Tikit; dust-gathering MTB
FOLLOW UP: The County just replied to my email. They are generating a "complaint case" and I should hear something more "soon". I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't a form letter but was personalized. We'll see what happens. They were "glad I took time out of my busy schedule to report the incident".
05-29-09 | 02:22 PM
#29
Female Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 915
Likes: 0
From: NYC
Bikes: Citizen Tokyo (Silver), Schwinn Collegiate (1980's)
Welcome to my world. I get buzzed by double-length NYC buses almost daily. I normally try to speed the up so I don't get right hooked by the bus as it's making a stop. Those things are dangerous. Nothing but a solid 10 foot wall of steel and wheels... And of course they put the bike lane on the right-hand side on most streets here forcing you to fight it out with the city buses. 
05-29-09 | 03:16 PM
#30
jackalope
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: MA.
Bikes: couple of fast ones
After a buzz by a passing municipal bus, I looked up the county department responsible and sent off this missive. I post in case anyone else has similar experiences and wants a template letter, and also if you have feedback as to my approach or wording, fire away. Thanks!
The Email I sent:
To Whom it May Concern,
I would like to document a bus driver (Ride On bus) who passed me, while I was on my bicycle, with about 1.5 feet-2 feet of space, inside the required 3 feet of passing space. If there is a department specifically for cyclist safety, please direct this enquiry there. Here are the details:
Bus number: 5031
Route Number: 59
Time/date: Approx 5:00pm today, Wednesday, May 20.
Location: Muddy Branch Rd, 1 block south of West Diamond Ave.
Incident: I was riding in the right lane of the two southbound lanes on Muddy Branch Rd. Driver passed me unsafely by passing within my lane and closer than the legal 3 feet of space.
I request that the driver, and all drivers (if not already standard training) be informed of the 3 feet passing rule and all code related to sharing the roads with bicycles. I am an experienced bike commuter and have taken bicycle safety and training courses through WABA (Washington Area Bicyclist Association). At the time of the incident, I was following all road rules and operating my bicycle vehicle in a safe and predictable manner; riding my bike in a straight course and at a steady pace. The driver had space, time and opportunity to safely change lanes and pass me (I have a rear-view mirror and saw the driver approaching and could also clearly see the traffic pattern behind me) but chose to pass dangerously close. I appreciate your help in making the roads safer for all parties concerned.
The Email I sent:
To Whom it May Concern,
I would like to document a bus driver (Ride On bus) who passed me, while I was on my bicycle, with about 1.5 feet-2 feet of space, inside the required 3 feet of passing space. If there is a department specifically for cyclist safety, please direct this enquiry there. Here are the details:
Bus number: 5031
Route Number: 59
Time/date: Approx 5:00pm today, Wednesday, May 20.
Location: Muddy Branch Rd, 1 block south of West Diamond Ave.
Incident: I was riding in the right lane of the two southbound lanes on Muddy Branch Rd. Driver passed me unsafely by passing within my lane and closer than the legal 3 feet of space.
I request that the driver, and all drivers (if not already standard training) be informed of the 3 feet passing rule and all code related to sharing the roads with bicycles. I am an experienced bike commuter and have taken bicycle safety and training courses through WABA (Washington Area Bicyclist Association). At the time of the incident, I was following all road rules and operating my bicycle vehicle in a safe and predictable manner; riding my bike in a straight course and at a steady pace. The driver had space, time and opportunity to safely change lanes and pass me (I have a rear-view mirror and saw the driver approaching and could also clearly see the traffic pattern behind me) but chose to pass dangerously close. I appreciate your help in making the roads safer for all parties concerned.
07-21-09 | 09:34 AM
#31
Eternal Newbie
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
From: Connecticut
Bikes: Univega Trail
This reminds me of lyrics to a Violent Femmes song, truly inspired by NYC:
"you got the mother and her kids
you got the guy and his date
we all get mad
we all get late
looks like somebody forgot about us
standing on the corner, waiting for a bus...
Let's call the mayor, let's complain
looks like somebody's done it to us again.
Tied up in traffic, whaddya know,
the damned city bus moves so SLOW"
"you got the mother and her kids
you got the guy and his date
we all get mad
we all get late
looks like somebody forgot about us
standing on the corner, waiting for a bus...
Let's call the mayor, let's complain
looks like somebody's done it to us again.
Tied up in traffic, whaddya know,
the damned city bus moves so SLOW"
Kevin
07-21-09 | 09:58 AM
#32
Gold Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Washington D.C.
Bikes: 1985 Fugi Opus III
Last week I had my first collision with a bus. I made eye contact with the driver as he was turning across my path, and I thought he was yielding (I had the right of way technically, although it doesn’t matter here) but he sped up suddenly. I went into a skid, and I ended up slamming into the side with my arm bracing after kicking my rear wheel around. It hurt, but there was no serious injury. I would complain, but T.I.A. Just kept on riding.
-RR
-RR
