Have you ever seen that Flintstones episode where Fred is a School Bus driver for the day? There was a scene where he goes into a coffee shop where all the other drivers hang out, and they were all sitting there twitching and trembling.

OhioH, I am from the same area as you. That street sucks big time anyway. I can't tell if phoning in the issue is any better. I called once and you wonder if anything really happened to change things. I never had a problem at night with a bus driver for some reason just in the morning.

Its strange to hear such anger against buses, I guess I'm just lucky. My experience with buses has been nothing but positive. I actually enjoy riding near buses because the drivers seem to be more aware of me and don't encroach upon my space.

Or maybe its just that buses don't accelerate as fast as cars so I don't feel as threatened. Hrmmm.

I wouldn't say I "like" buses -- they are large, cumbersome, and the segmented buses sometimes require creative tactics to avoid when they and up blocking intersections or generally getting in the way. But I don't think I've ever encountered an intentionally mean driver.

I do like racing the buses. My commute home is almost all uphill, and I consider it a victory when I start next to the bus that takes the same route and beat it. (On the downhill, of course, there's no contest.)

As for the horn tapping, I wish I could understand that. My grandfather used to do that to every cyclist he passed. (Fortunately, he doesn't drive much now.) I tried to explain that it's annoying to the cyclist, and that with some bad luck he could startle the cyclist resulting in unpredictable behavior (like falling in front of the car or whatever). He was convinced that it was the polite thing to do, to let the cyclist know that he was going to pass. I don't know if that was some protocol back in the thirties, but I never could talk him out of it.

I draft them downtown because they make most lights.

You definitely should complain, but I think the your letter was a little harsh toward the company. The harshness to the bus company may not be warranted because they might just take your complaint seriously. This driver may just be reckless and someone they want to get rid of. If you haven't already sent it, think about toning down the attacks on the company.

In any case, let us know the response. If the response is inadequate, you should look into the procedure for filing a complaint with law enforcement. As you describe them, the driver's actions might be attempted vehicular assault, assualt, reckless driving, or improper passing.

Of course, threatening criminal charges is a good way to shut down any possible dialog.


P.S. I think bus drivers are, generally, some of the safest on the road. That's because, as this incident demonstrates, buses are numbered and run on regular routes, so the drivers lack the anonymity most cagers have. When drivers misbehave, motorists or cyclists can complain. For liability reasons, bus companies have to take complaints seriously. And notice, the liability system creates a strong incentive to act the RIGHT way.

[QUOTE=billhWhy are paid "professional" drivers the worst? [/QUOTE]



Paid professionals are the worse because they have good driving skills that are better than the average motorist. As a result, they tend to take the most risks with their vehicles "hoping" the other driver will give way or hold their position why the bus misses you by inches!

We have had so many post last year about wreckless bus drivers. I've had a number of close calls with these "Professional Drivers" coming within inches of my bicycle. A lot of these newer buses are very quite and it comes as a complete shock when I see them pop up out of nowhere within inches going 30 mph!

I've found out that many bus companies time their drivers and they get in trouble if passengers complain their trip took too long!

Well, buses do run on schedules, and drivers are expected to meet those schedules if possible, I am sure. I doubt, however, that any company would advise their drivers take driving risks to meet the schedule... that would be self defeating and, frankly, crazy. But if there's a consistent problem, perhaps the scchedules need revision.

Note that too-slow schedules also create a problem: buses can't be early (or passengers will *really* complain -- about missing a bus they shouldn't have), so overly cautious schedules result in buses
sitting at each stop, or each timed stop, waiting for the schedule to catch up. This also annoys passengers -- and cyclists too! As a cyclist, I don't like passing buses that are at bus stops because (A) I never know when they are going to pull out again, and (B) if it's a narrow road, there can be some tricky traffic passing a bus.

I am sure there are bad bus drivers out there for the simple reason that there are bad, crazy, inconsiderate people everywhere. But in general, and -- I should add -- in Seattle, I have never had a problem with a bus driver.

Around here (some/most?) busses are fitted with GPS systems. The allows the support center to know or track at all times where the busses are. As I understand the issue is not busses going to fast, but that busses should not be ahead of schedule when leaving each stop. Before the GPS sometimes a driver would drive ahead of schedule so that when they got to a designated rest area on the route they would have more downtime. Most passengers want the bus to be on or slightly behind schedule, but not ahead of schedule.
Al

In Kansas City, the public transportation is terrible, almost nonexistant. If you live and work anywhere of the main thourfares or if you dont work and live near the major streets and buslines,you're screwed. If you dont own a car, or do not have a family member who drives,and you live too far to bike or dont own a bike. then youre screwed. Very few people can ever depend on the public buses here.
And the drivers here are mean, surley, stressed, underpaid, and angry. I wonder if they make new applicants are screened,so that they only hire the disgruntled.
If you dont drive in this town, your better off geting a bicycle.

not totally on topic but, Today on the news i saw that a school bus Driver was Pulled over, and arrested for DWI. WHILE taking kids to school.

To be a school bus driver, you gotta be igorant, angry, and have a increadable slow reaction time.

My only problem with buses in my area is they make them too damn quite. I've been startled more then once by a bus passing me on the left. I don't know the thing is there until I hear the air brakes bleed or I feel the breeze of air that big lunch box is pushing in front of it. Then it's right next to me. Kinda scary when something that big can get that close.

OhiOH, how about an update?

Hey Daily, thanks for asking and thanks to all that responded. I was surprised by the number.

The update is: there is no update. I can say I haven’t had any problems with the busses on that stretch which was my goal, but I have not heard from the RTA.
Yesterday two passed and I was impressed with the room one of them gave me.

Daily,
I pondered your response about being too harsh on the company. You may be right, it is hard to say. I work for a large ‘service’ company and I know that one bad customer experience can make us all look bad. It’s just the nature of the service business.

Also, I didn’t want to make it sound like all the bus drivers around here are like that. One spot where the bike path crosses a fairly busy street I have actually had a driver stop and let me cross.

Should I resend my letter or research other alternatives? I was going to let it rest as long as the big bad busses behave.

A couple weeks after you sent the first letter, you could follow up with a less harsh (toward the company) letter, phone call or e-mail. If you don't get a response from whomever you wrote to, try going up the company hierarchy. Probably the best advice is to think about what the most effective way would be for a cyclist to complain about one of your company's drivers. Then do that to the bus company.

I think you should insist on a response.