Ok so what is a bike supposed to do when it comes to buses?

Here is a scene from my commute though: There is a light, and not right after it but pretty close (less than half a block) is a bus stop. Then about a block later is a railroad crossing (so buses all stop to open their doors). Then about 2 – 3 blocks later there is another bus stop.

I always thought that if a bus pulls to the curb, just go around it (assuming traffic is free enough). However, I did that the other day and the driver only had one person getting on and then he honked at me. I figured I was doing the right thing, but that he can’t see me (yeah, he shouldn’t go so fast he has no idea if someone is next to him, but that is another story). Then he proceeded to go around me, just to pull in front of me and stop for the railroad, so I went around him again (yes, I probably should have stopped this time, since I knew he was dumb, but I’d stopped there before and some of the buses stop FOREVER). Although annoyed, I figured it was just my bad luck that our timing was hitting that way that day, and then when he got to the next stop there was a bit of time before I would get to him so I just slowed, and then he was about ready to go once I got to him and I just waited. Yes, there are times that there is gray area — and on a bike and more vulnerable, I need to err on the side of caution at those times. However, yesterday didn’t seem like gray area to me.

Yesterday I’m at the light (it was red). A bus pulls up somewhat next to me, but stays behind me (although there was room in the lane). And it honks a few times. I was like, whatever, there is room if he really wanted to pull forward, and I’m allowed to be here too. Then the light turns green, and I go, as does the bus. Although he had stayed behind me at the light, as soon as it is green he moves up next to me, and stays there since his acceleration isn’t that good, and he knows he has to stop in a second. And so he does… starts pulling over to the right to hit the stop! While still next to me! WTF??? I pulled hard on the brakes to avoid getting pidgeonholed into the curb (or the doors they were going to open to let people in), and went around it. As I pass it, the driver honks a few more times, and points at his eyes, like he is saying “I can’t see you!” If he couldn’t see me, why did he honk at me at the light?!!? Is it just me, or should he have just gone to the curb behind me? It’s not like it was that far to the bus stop, or like he was going at all faster than me by the time we got there! So I was pissed, and yes, I think it was the same driver as the other time.

He pulls out of the stop a little bit after I passed (when I passed there were still people getting on, so it’s not like he could have been moving yet). He flies past and slams on his breaks pulling in front of me (very much cutting me off and again causing strong breaking, and strong words) for the railroad crossing. I’m sick of him, so I stop, wanting him to just keep going and get away from me, as I know he will by after his next stop. But he stays stopped for a while (like, I put a foot down, my HR monitor started beeping, etc). And then goes again. I just waited. And he was soon gone. But I was PISSED. My great morning ride in became a stress yesterday.

I am tempted to call the bus company and file a complaint against the driver, reporting his action right after the light (of pressing me into the curb, and coming close to side-swiping me). But at the same time, although I can give the company the exact time and location (wooo GPS), as well as the bus number (2 — there are a few routes that use some of the same stops), I am not sure I want to. I commute that way. It is one of the sections where it might be possible to pick another road, but with how badly the roads in that city are paved and how thin some are I’m really not sure if I could. I don’t want a pissed off bus driver knowing I “told on him” to be in a lane next to me (even if it is only about 1 or 2 times a month that we seem to have our timing matched).

And then I get a bit more frustrated and upset. I’m scared to report something that threatens my safety? And why? Because I don’t feel it will do any good. Because it seems like it could just make the situtation worse. Because he is like the bully on the playground that no on will stand up to, just glad it isn’t them getting picked on. And when getting picked on, you just take it because the teachers really don’t stop it anyways. But I don’t know that there is any good solution here, other than me avoiding him. *sigh*

Last night I got home to see my roommate riding the bike I got her around our street!! So I joined her (I bike commuted so was already on a bike), and even got her to go around the block twice! It’s exciting… as a kid she never learned to ride, and it’s one of my missions to get her comfortable enough to bike commute to her work (about 1.25 miles on easy roads with a bike lane and wide shoulder, etc). I think I even have her convinced that it might be nice to sometimes ride to her boy’s place… just under 3 miles away. To get there is a bike path… no cars, and lights at all road crossings. I think it would be fun for her (plus parking at his place sucks).

Then I got up this morning to find a message on my computer from my roommate’s boyfriend’s roommate, who is also a good friend of mine, and who I took to Foothill Cyclery the other day. He is going to get the Jamis they showed him! Wooo! He ran 6 miles each day last year (yes, every day, 6 miles, always the same route, or the track or treadmill — not the best plan but it worked for motivation for him). Oh and did I mention he likes to swim? And that I told him to do the tri that is this Sunday (minisprint)? Heh… Right now I’m thinking if they have a bike in his size and he gets it this week I might have to work more on that part. *grin*

Today’s bike ride home I was flying. I hit every light just about perfectly, and was feeling great and strong and smooth. I was making great time, and it didn’t even feel like I was working too hard. I even thought a bit about how lucky I am to be able to have such rides — both the time and the ability. I cruised along, down the same roads I commute on all the time. A bit over half way, around 7 miles into the ride, I was on a major road. 4 lanes, 2 each direction. Just cruisin’. No lights nearby, and only a few very small side streets. As I’m about to pass one of these side streets in the middle of a straightaway over a mile long, I see a semi (a gianormous deep red one, with a full trailer — yet now I remember much more vividly the black edging on his grill) coming to the edge with the busy road. He is slowing as he approaches the stop sign he has there. At this point, I was already crossing in front of his side street, about to pass in front of him. And then, he floored it. Ok, it’s a semi, they don’t move that fast. But when the front tire of your bike is starting in front of it, a semi can appear to fly. I screamed and swerved, and didn’t think I was going to make it. He was so close, and still moving faster. The people walking on the sidewalk approaching the street turned and looked, and I kept swerving to my left. When suddenly, he slammed on the breaks — I was in the center of the road, between 2 sets of yellow lines, and almost into oncoming traffic, and could feel heat from the truck’s engine on my left knee. It was so close, even with the breaking I thought it was going to catch me. Shaken, I cried “what the fuck??!?!?” and kept drilling. Still knowing I just needed to move, to get out of the way of the beast and it’s teeth. I knew if I stopped, it would be that much harder to get started again. But I was off — still flying, but hurting inside. What ifs popped into my head… and I was fighting back tears of terror. “What if I hadn’t seen him start, and hadn’t pulled left as hard as I could?” “What if there had been cars near me?’ “What if his window hadn’t been open, and he hadn’t heard me scream?” “I almost got broadsided by a semi” “Would he have even been able to tell he hit me?” “What if his window had been closed?” I pushed it, pedaling away the thoughts, pushing and driving, needing to get away. A light. It’s red. I slow, unclipping. I feel shaking, and am barely able to step down and not fall over. He pulls up next to me, a lane over. I don’t know how… I thought he was making a left as he almost hit me. Window down, he leans over “Sorry…” he says, grinning. I definitely am not grinning, and am not about to accept his apology. “Next time, STOP.” “And look.” The light changes, and I pound on. Racing myself. His license plate has a 1V then 8 or 9, and a 3 and either and 8 or 9 later. I get it, think about writing it down, and move on. I’m still pedaling… and that is enough. I go, and just keep going, all the way to the train station, where I have to stop. I look down… It took me five minutes less than a normal fast day. I was only pedaling for 35 minutes, despite how long those few seconds watching a semi accelerate directly toward me. After the train ride, I ran. And did pilates. And thought about how I was lucky to be able to do these things…