There was a time when I would have just backed off , got out of his way , and called him a jerk, if I'd been in that situation. But living in NYC for 10 years changed my outlook on such things, and now I probably would be in jail for assaulting a bus driver. Not the best way to handle such things, though.

So you got very angry when he tried to kill you. I can understand that, happens to me when drivers try to kill me too.

I find this interesting. IME folks here in NYC are much more used to these kinds of "insults" and manage to get by with yelling and gestures on both sides before moving on with our days.

I agree. It would be different if you were sharing a lane with the bus, but you were in a separate, marked lane.

I had some trouble with the local school busses. It took three contacts for things to occur, with the third contact being their superintendent. I think you need to find his boss, and his boss's boss and put your concerns in writing.

Yeah, although you have to be careful about passing to the right of a car that could be turning at an intersection (or to the left in the UK). At least check for turn signals.

Buses around here tend to be pretty good. I've had a few pass me by about 10 feet, then just stop in the road lane until I pass to the right before pulling across the bike lane to allow passengers to get on/off.

Cool.

Sometimes some unkind words are well deserved.

Perhaps your use of vulgar language impressed his memory more so than had you been cordial and polite. This is a good thing. I am reminded of what Master Po said to Kwai Chang after grasshopper had killed the royal nephew: Kwai Chang: "Master.., after all you have taught me." Master Po: "Sometimes, it is better to cut off the hand to save the arm".

I'm reminded of what my son said some 20 yrs ago, when I asked him about listening to music that contained curse words he said; "sometimes there aren't any better words to describe some things." The next morning I woke up early to turn the heater on and stubbed my frozen toe on the coffee table and knew exactly what he meant.

I stay way far away from busses, especially after encountering them on Comm Ave in Allston into Boston. they are all over the place in and out changing lanes without warning, etc

This used to happen to me constantly in the "old days" before there were bike lanes. A bus and a bike travel at about the same speed given the frequency of traffic lights, so I think you have to put distance between yourself and the bus by either pulling a block ahead of the bus or letting yourself fall back a block and staying back there. Otherwise you will both be fighting for the same curb position at the next light, block after block. The driver's behavior was wrong, but if he pulled in behind you the same problem would happen at the next light: he would go around you and then cut in front of you again. (All dependent on the speeds of you and the bus, but even if you're going faster than the traffic you still have to stop at lights.) So I think it's best to keep well out of their way rather than risk your life.

Although large vehicles should yield to smaller more vulnerable ones, I also feel like I don't want to impede a bus hauling 50 people. The bus is providing a needed service to many people and reducing the number of vehicles on the road. I don't want to slow down 50 people block after block.

It's a natural human reaction to lose your temper when your life is threatened and we're also territorial animals. When I'm driving I have to remind myself to just yield my territory on the road to idiots who want it, rather than getting killed fighting for my legally owned space on the road. Probably we've all lost our temper and made a fool out of ourselves.

I lost my temper once. My wife was seriously ill, I hadn't had much sleep, and I was taking 15 minutes to ride around my quiet neighborhood. Actually, I went berserk, and followed an offending car for three blocks, yelling at the driver at each stop sign.

I was extremely embarrassed with myself – the driver, by the way, was giving it right back to me, with her son, about 10 years old, in the seat next to her. I consider it a learning experience all around. For my part, I'll try not to ride my bike when I'm in a dark mood, and if I do and I am, I hope I'll remember that making a firm point and staying calm, and carrying a camera to record license plate numbers, is the best policy.