Why do bus drivers see us in the bus stop and pull in at high speeds trying to pass us just as we start passing thru the bus stop

Several times I have been riding down the street to look over my shoulder and a CTA speeding up to try and pass me when I am a few inches from the bus stop they can force me off the road way.One time I was riding down Clark street right after Howard moving at a good rate of speed with a friend from work who wasnt as experienced as I am on the streets Good thing I looked to my left as I heard the busers transmission shift gears in the middle of the block as I came up to the bus stop the next thing I knew I was being forced to the curb.I was so close to the curb after stopping that I could not move to confront the bus driver of her action.The next block traffic was moving very slow so I took this oppertunity to tell the bus that,the bus out weighs me buy long shot and If I was not paying attention she would have ran me over.She simply told me stay out of the way and get out of the way.I could have sworn that there was a law passed that would ticket people for cutting off , opening cars doors other bad things of that nature to bicyclist.This is the reason that cop kicked that CTA bus drivers ass.He did the very same act to him cut him off in the bus stop.So we need law enforcement to step it up on CTA drivers as well.The cops I contacted sayed sayed if she didnt make contact with me there was nothing that they could do.B.S.I guess the next time I will be a Free Spirit.

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Permalink Reply by alvin mitchell on July 31, 2011 at 6:38pm


alvin mitchell said:
I do ride the bus
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on August 1, 2011 at 12:43am
I've usually gotten good follow-up when I've sent letters like this.  Over the years, I've seen a decrease in the number of incidents like this and gotten more cooperation from CTA bus drivers.  Keep on writing.

Jennifer Mach said:
I have emailed the CTA before to complement drivers who were particularly bike-friendly, but today I sent in this complaint:

At 10:15 today (June 15th), I was riding my bike along Milwaukee. At Milwaukee and Western, the #56 bus, bus driver #45516, pulled alongside me and then moved to the right, effectively crushing me to the curb. I yelled to the driver that "crushing me to the curb is not cool." Since the bus was stopped, I moved ahead. The driver performed the same maneuver at Milwaukee and Armitage. After that, I moved ahead again and, being faster than the bus, immediately lost the bus.
This bus driver would have lost no time by pulling behind me. Her actions were pre-meditated, aggressive, and dangerous. I hope that the CTA management can remedy this situation before her dangerous driving injures or kills someone.
I know that there are a lot of annoying, stupid bicyclists along Milwaukee Avenue. However, I was careful to stay behind the bus until I had a good shot at passing. I wish the driver had accorded me the same courtesy.

Doubt it will help.

Jen
Permalink Reply by Tim S on August 1, 2011 at 10:46am

Maybe it is because some bus drivers and cars do not expect a bike to be moving along as fast as some ride.

 

 

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on August 1, 2011 at 11:34am


notoriousDUG said:
They do it because they are angry, frustrated morons.

Buses are, in my opinion, the biggest danger out on the road be you a bike, car or pedestrian.

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on August 1, 2011 at 1:09pm

It's a crap shoot some drivers are good, give you the 2 tap honk to let you know they're passing some sit behind and honk or repeatedly tap the air brakes.

Instead of getting angry and banging on a car, bus I just ride up to the drivers window if I can and tap on it.

 

We can always start f'ing with them like waiting at a stop, pulling the rack down, fumbling then not put the bike on and leave the rack down.

Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on August 1, 2011 at 5:40pm

"We can always start f'ing with them like waiting at a stop, pulling the rack down, fumbling then not put the bike on and leave the rack down."

 ...so that the CTA can be perfectly justified in removing all the bike bus racks?

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on August 2, 2011 at 1:09am

That how I like to handle it, too.  I give them a bit of courtesy, and usually get it in return.  If they catch up with me again, I let them pass, and they stay clear.

 

I agree that there's no excuse for deliberately endangering someone, especially doing it over and over again.


Jeff Schneider said:

I almost never ride through a bus stop.  Instead, when I approach a bus stop, I go left and take the lane, leaving the bus stop open for the bus.  Bus drivers seem to appreciate that I am trying to make life easy for them.  Doing this is really just the same as keeping out of the right lane at a red light unless you are making a right turn - it allows traffic on the right to move while you are stopped.  

That said, regardless of the behavior or riding technique of the cyclist (and some cyclists are pretty inconsiderate), there is no excuse for a bus driver to intentionally put anyone in danger.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on August 2, 2011 at 1:09am
Exactly.  Not the best idea.

Thunder Snow said:

"We can always start f'ing with them like waiting at a stop, pulling the rack down, fumbling then not put the bike on and leave the rack down."

 ...so that the CTA can be perfectly justified in removing all the bike bus racks?

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on August 2, 2011 at 4:50pm
Well they can do that and then ridership will fall,slightly  fares will go up to offset losses. Chicago will be a more bike UN-friendly town people leave for a place where you're not nearly killed or injured for riding a bike. Mutual respect is a hard thing to come by these days.

Thunder Snow said:

"We can always start f'ing with them like waiting at a stop, pulling the rack down, fumbling then not put the bike on and leave the rack down."

 ...so that the CTA can be perfectly justified in removing all the bike bus racks?

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on August 2, 2011 at 4:53pm

Probably not but I've found complaining to "higher ups" and following the channels gets me no where. Then when no bike racks are on buses we'll have 10 people take the lane in front of the bus.

 

Critical mass is not once a month for me.
Anne Alt said:

Exactly.  Not the best idea.

Thunder Snow said:

"We can always start f'ing with them like waiting at a stop, pulling the rack down, fumbling then not put the bike on and leave the rack down."

 ...so that the CTA can be perfectly justified in removing all the bike bus racks?

Permalink Reply by Davo on August 3, 2011 at 3:58am
I feel lucky. I have had no problems with Busses on Damen, other than them being a little anoying when we're leap frogging each other. They have always "knock on wood" been courtious towards me.
Permalink Reply by sara dykman on May 8, 2012 at 4:38pm

This post will probably get lost but I needed the therapy of a well deserved rant.

 

I was biking on Halsted this afternoon, on the left side of the bike lane to avoid being doored.  I am a respectful cyclist and until this moment have mostly felt sorry for the bus drivers that have to deal with traffic all day.

 

The bus passed me less than eight inches away.  Now I know cars often FEEL closer than they are, but I have cycled over 50,000 miles and this was one of the more offensive passes I have been involved in.  

 

When I caught up to the bus I told the lady that she passed really close and that it was scary.  She told me I was in the bike lane and she was in the driving lane. I didn't need to be so close to HER lane.".  I explained the dangers of the door zone and she asks "well, did YOU SEE a door opening?"  My next argument was about bikes having the legal right to the road and drivers needing to pass bikes with 3 ft.  In response she told me to stick to the bike land and she'd stick to the driving lane and to sum it all up: shut up you annoying biker.  I regrettably started yelling like a crazy person and discredited myself, but reason was not on my side.  

 

I could hardly breath I was so mad/sad/frustrated/scared.  Sure I was upset that she almost killed me.  BUt what really made me upset was her blatant disrespect for my life and her serious lack of knowledge on road rules.

 

I reported the incident to 311 and suggest they review the rules of the road with bus drivers. I'll also print out a copy of a newspaper article where a bus killed a cyclist that was flipped into the street by a car door opening.  

 

Cyclist can't win.  We get yelled at if we follow all the rules (I teach bike safety to students and we teach KIDS to bike three feet from parked cars...would she have given a 12 year old a bit more space?).  We get yelled at if we don't.  good luck out there.

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