I mean, I’m a bus driver, I’m well aware it sucks,I do not want to be doing this to bike riders, but they’re forced to be in the road because of no bike lanes in my area.
Whenever there’s no bike lane, and the sidewalk is busy/unusable, I just bike right in the middle of the lane so they need a different lane to pass. Not sharing a lane with cars, they’re crazy and will just drive off after hitting you.
I don’t know if you’re in the US, but here you are required to keep at least 4’ of clearance between yourself and a bicyclist when passing them. If you can’t pass safely while leaving that much of a cushion, then you don’t pass them until you can do it safely and legally. This is even on the CDL test (I’m a school bus driver myself). Safety first, schedule second.
Personally, I don’t pass cyclists unless I can safely go all the way into the other lane. 4’ is really not enough space – at that distance a cyclist could easily still fall under your wheels if they suddenly go down. That being said, for me the most dangerous situation is when cyclists ride on the wrong side of the road, against traffic. This is completely insane behavior but something I’m seeing more and more often where I live and work.
(when a city is designed well, most cases there is no need for a bike lane, but I agree more bike lanes please!)
I do not want to be doing this to bike riders
You don’t have to, do you? I’m not sure it works as well for a bus because they are wider, but if you drive a car there’s the option of passing too closely or waiting for enough space in traffic to pass safely. Does that not work in a bus? Would waiting for a gap take hours in a bus?
They weren’t forced to be on the road, they’ve fought tooth and nail to put themselves on the road with you.
I can’t tell you how many arguments I’ve gotten into because somehow cyclists feel like they belong next to the 4+ton rolling metal, instead of risking gasp having to slow down for a pedestrian on the sidewalk every once in a while.
There are laws in some places written about cyclists facing fines for using the sidewalk when it is clearly the safer choice, but no, they have wheels so they must use the asphalt. I will always gladly risk the fine before my health or life. Use the sidewalk folks, learn to deal with the pedestrians.
Yes, blame cyclists instead of the people piloting 2 ton killing machines. Heaven forbid they be safe around other road users and pedestrians don’t have to fear being seriously injured by cyclists.
For some reason it’s better to you to inconvenience cyclists who already have a longer commute to make it even longer instead of some comfy driver who can stop and start with nary any physical input.
And no, the safest choice is to redesign our society for PEOPLE and that means roadways which accommodate all vehicles and heavy fines and actual punishment for drivers who put everyone in danger.
I don’t know what areas you’re talking about, but where I live yes they are forced to be because there are no bike lanes or side walks for them to be on. It is only the road
I mean, I’m a bus driver, I’m well aware it sucks,I do not want to be doing this to bike riders, but they’re forced to be in the road because of no bike lanes in my area.
Whenever there’s no bike lane, and the sidewalk is busy/unusable, I just bike right in the middle of the lane so they need a different lane to pass. Not sharing a lane with cars, they’re crazy and will just drive off after hitting you.
Ok so don’t pass them in the same lane
Already don’t, I’m not a moron
I don’t know if you’re in the US, but here you are required to keep at least 4’ of clearance between yourself and a bicyclist when passing them. If you can’t pass safely while leaving that much of a cushion, then you don’t pass them until you can do it safely and legally. This is even on the CDL test (I’m a school bus driver myself). Safety first, schedule second.
Personally, I don’t pass cyclists unless I can safely go all the way into the other lane. 4’ is really not enough space – at that distance a cyclist could easily still fall under your wheels if they suddenly go down. That being said, for me the most dangerous situation is when cyclists ride on the wrong side of the road, against traffic. This is completely insane behavior but something I’m seeing more and more often where I live and work.
Yeah, I do that. I follow the law and do things safely, but this community is rabid and don’t care about any of that lol
(when a city is designed well, most cases there is no need for a bike lane, but I agree more bike lanes please!)
You don’t have to, do you? I’m not sure it works as well for a bus because they are wider, but if you drive a car there’s the option of passing too closely or waiting for enough space in traffic to pass safely. Does that not work in a bus? Would waiting for a gap take hours in a bus?
They weren’t forced to be on the road, they’ve fought tooth and nail to put themselves on the road with you.
I can’t tell you how many arguments I’ve gotten into because somehow cyclists feel like they belong next to the 4+ton rolling metal, instead of risking gasp having to slow down for a pedestrian on the sidewalk every once in a while.
There are laws in some places written about cyclists facing fines for using the sidewalk when it is clearly the safer choice, but no, they have wheels so they must use the asphalt. I will always gladly risk the fine before my health or life. Use the sidewalk folks, learn to deal with the pedestrians.
Yes, blame cyclists instead of the people piloting 2 ton killing machines. Heaven forbid they be safe around other road users and pedestrians don’t have to fear being seriously injured by cyclists.
For some reason it’s better to you to inconvenience cyclists who already have a longer commute to make it even longer instead of some comfy driver who can stop and start with nary any physical input.
And no, the safest choice is to redesign our society for PEOPLE and that means roadways which accommodate all vehicles and heavy fines and actual punishment for drivers who put everyone in danger.
I don’t know what areas you’re talking about, but where I live yes they are forced to be because there are no bike lanes or side walks for them to be on. It is only the road