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This calls for war! Not really, but I did call the Metro promptly after reading that article. I know the number well as I have called it before. I was told that the incident was being taken care of. Here are my recent experiences with Metro Buses.
The other day I was riding up Pasadena Ave. I heard a bus approaching me from behind. and thought little of it. The bus pulled up along side me, slowed down and decided to force me into the curb. Apparently I was in the way of his bus stop located at that particular curb. This was a fucking scary ass place to be. I blew the shit out of my whistle, and the bastard still kept coming. I stopped and let him pass me. The bus stopped at the bus stop there on the curb, and I proceeded to pass on the left. As I did, the driver decided to lean on the horn and drive about 1 foot behind my rear wheel. I turned around to look and he was cussing me out and giving me the finger. I blew the incident off because I was on my way to a mass ride.
The Following day I was heading down Sunset Blvd. towards Downtown LA.(Ceasar Chavez). I was stopped at a red
light at Broadway.(yes, I actually stop at lights) when a Metro bus pulled up at the light next to me on my left. The light turned green and I proceeded. At first I was in front of the bus. Then the driver blew the horn, punched the gas and drove up along side of me. Anyone who rides or knows this area, you know that the road becomes very fucking narrow. Now this driver (along side of me) drove right into me. I was blowing the shit out of my whistle, and some piece of something on the bus caught me left shoulder as it passed. This turned my front wheel into the curb and sent me over the bars and onto the sidewalk. I was also on the brake at this point. Didn't help much. I picked myself up , checked my bike real quick, mounted back up and chased the bus via the sidewalk. I caught up to the bus about half a block passed Alameda St. After some people boarded I said to the driver "did you not see me back there?". Her answer was "I don't know what you're talking about". I told her she cut me off, and even hit me. All her answers were the same "I don't know what you're talking about". I also told her she needed to wait here until the cops came because she hit me. She said the same thing and drove off.
It took the cops over an hour to get there. Apparently because I wasn't hurt, and nothing was damaged it wasn't worth their time. When I called back they told me I needed to go down to the station to file a report. The dispatcher asked me why on earth I was riding my bike in the street. I eventually got even. I called the Metro bus line directly, and spoke with a supervisor who listened to my complaint and assured me that the driver will be disciplined if not fired.
Oh yeah, and Hollywood Blvd. Is the most aggro stretch of road I have ever ridden!
I really hope that justice is served on this issue.
Some bus drivers are cool and respectful. Some of them are complete assholes about bikes on the road. That inconsistency suggests that LA Metro seriously needs to address its driver training policies.
The article didn't mention if you got cited or not. Were you cited? Not being cited is actually worst than being cited. Not being cited just continues this behavior with this driver. If you were cited, this kind of behavior would be addressed and maybe some change would have been addressed. In my totally unscientific observation regarding the training of bus drivers is that it's gotten worst. There doesn't seem to be the caution used in the previous years. I think what would be a good idea is to start attending any kind of meeting with MTA officials and the public. I would be interested in attending if we are given a voice to address our grievances. This would also apply to the police meetings.
I think some good old fashion guerrilla training of this driver wouldn't be a bad idea either. Maybe a group of ridazz riding with some trailers that point out the VC and cite the required clearance for passing wouldn't be a bad idea either. What bus line was this? Maybe we could hit her a couple of time since we would know the route and time.
Oh yeah I forgot, why not follow through with filing charges against the bus driver and that asshole passenger? That is assuming you got that guy's info.
Box, is Supervisor Dunn the same numbnuts that we talked to (or tried to talk to) when that 720 driver tried to kill us on the Dark Metric Century? The picture looks familiar.
Also, were Sgt. Jarrett and Officer Swan from Hollywood Division? If so, Hollywood Division needs to start getting some attention as well as the MTA.
Oh man... reading about your incident made me feel so much frustration and anger. I am sorry this happened to you guys.
If you and your wife couldn't talk any sense into that driver, those police officers, and that Metro supervisor, then nobody could have.
If there is a ride to any meeting Beverly-Hills-Police-Department-style, I hope to participate in it.
Also, Ms Michelle Mowery, the Bicycle Program Coordinator of the Department of Transportation of Los Angeles gave me a bunch of pamphlets with the California Vehicle Code Bicycle Reference Summary on it. I asked her for them to give out on MR rides.
Maybe there is a better time or event to hand them out to MR people? Otherwise I'll just keep handing them out little by litte at rides.
PC, you are very observant. Supervisor Mike "Cyclists are Road Hazards" Dunn is the very same non-responsive responder that we encountered on the Dark Metric Century.
As for the contact info for the Hollywood Police Department:
Captain Farrell (Tracy - Adjutant) 213-972-2900
Complaint Unit 323-957-4583
Watch Commander (put this number in your cell phone to avoid going thru the CHP when you call from the street) 213-485-4302 option 4
"Regardless of your mode of transportation, your freedom to move in the public arena is a civil rights issue, and whenever one user-group gains access at the expense of another user-group, it's a civil rights violation - plain and simple."
The fact that the officer did not even ask the cyclist his side of the story before putting him in handcuffs is ridiculous. Hopefully the driver will get what's coming to her.
I had an incident a couple months ago with a bus driver cutting me off very dangerously while I was in the bike lane on Santa Monica Blvd... when I stopped to nicely tell her she could have really hurt me, and to ask her to pay more attention while driving a massive vehicle, she yelled at me to move and proceeded to close the bus door on my hand...
The best thing we can do in situations like this is flex our collective muscle. The more noise we make when we're treated unfairly, the more they will realize that we're not simply a 'problem' that will disappear.
Yo Mr. Box,
We all know this type of shit happen ALL THE TIME its just rare that an informed and dedicated rider will stick it out to make sure that justice is done. Thanks Stephen!
I discovered the mirror technique one night at balboa orange line stop. it was late and I wasnt sure I could ride to NH in time for the last redline back to hollywood so I waited for the orange line. bus pulls up with the bike rack already full so I headed for the back door. there was barely anyone in the bus either... I hear the driver yelling and she wouldnt open up the door. " you gotta wait for the next bus no bike allowed inside" I walked up to the front and tried to get in there and she repeated that I couldnt get on. I was pretty pissed off I gotta admit and the only thing I could think of in a flash was to push the right hand mirror all the way out of wack. hahahahah it was so satisfying to see that fat ass have to get up an re-adjust her mirror pretending like she was gonna get the cops on me. then I raced her to NH and won and rode right on front of her dumb ass as she pulled into the station. soooo satisfying. ok I will go stand in the corner now.
#1. Headed North on Vermont. Riding through green light as a Bus honks their horn and proceeds to semi-pass me...she veirs the bus to the right forcing me dead into the curb. I was lucky enough to not get hurt, walked to the front of the bus where, before I could say anything, the driver gives me the finger and says"Fuck You , I honked!" I was stunned.
#2. Headed south on Vermont towards Melrose around 20 mph, bus drives next to me, veirs over, forces me into the curb. I could not stop or hop onto the curb due to some trees on the immediate right. I ended up grinding my body along the entire length of the bus until I was lucky enough to pop through as it came to a stop. Fucking Scary...Although Lucas Brunelle did get it all on tape.
#3. I was parked at a red light in my car and was hit by a bus. She luckily only hit my side mirror, when I got out to look at the damage and approach the bus, she immediately said twice "I didn't your car" It is their immediate response. Fuck Them!
Once again I like what Portland did! Let's get a petition group together and lobby for our rights with MTA and LAPD. There's so many stories of ridazz getting shitted on in accidents when it wasn't their faults. And many more stories that we haven't even heard before. Lobbying for an addition to the MTA training manual along with the VC reference would be a good place to start. Referencing the Portland incident with the threat of a lawsuit would move things along too.
Pretty much same thing happens over and over
And nothing is being done about
It I mean
Not a dammed
Thing and I'm getting really upset
Because I ride a bike
And if we just
Let it go it will happen again
Literally
This is not fair
Hope the rider is ok
Everyone should do something
We should call and write to them
I think that might work if
Not then we could do
Do something more constructive
Start a dialog or something
Hell we could have a sit
In a Metro bus
Eventually they will hear us out right
Lets
Do something
Hello Lynne Goldsmith and Metro Customer Relations,
An MTA bus driver endangered a bicyclist yesterday while driving, and further assaulted the cyclist with her bus, see http://laist.com/2007/09/24/hollywood_bus_d.php. This is totally irresponsible and unacceptable conduct on the part of the bus driver. She should be disciplined, for endangering the cyclist with her bus if not arrested for threatening to run down the cyclist. I believe the cyclist was well within his rights in all regards.
MTA Metro Supervisor Mike Dunn seems, by his own statement, to think that cyclists are "road hazards" rather than people with the same privileges on the road as autos and buses. This is not acceptable; this person should be relieved of supervisorial duty.
Please see to it that action is taken both with regard to the individuals and to training all drivers and supervisors that bicyclists have the same rights as motorists, and that CYCLISTS HAVE FULL RIGHTS TO THE LANE. Cyclists' safety must be respected by drivers and supervisors.
Nice letter but IMHO I would have included the VC to the right of the lane for the cyclist. I also think there's a something included in the VC that states that bicyclist are traffic and is required to follow the same rules as other vehicles. These guys think we're road hazards because they know about these VCs is my perception.
BTW, it would be nice to see all the VC listed on this site under the "Bicycle Safety" link above.
It's kind of unsettling how much of a problem this is becoming.
Last week, I was run off the road, honked at, and then nearly hit AGAIN, all by the same bus while I was biking west on Sunset from Silverlake. And when I finally pulled up alongside the bus that nearly hit me twice, he wouldn't even allow me to talk to him. He just opened his window, flipped me off, and yelled, "Get the fuck off my road!"
I reported him to Metro, but I've filed reports before, to no avail. Doesn't mean I still won't continue doing it.
I'm down for a ride to Metro HQ to do some good ol' activism in.
I wrote to Lynn Goldsmith also. She immediately wrote me back and said she'd rather hear my own personal experiences with Metro buses while cycling than reiterate what I heard from a blog. So I then wrote her back and told her of the times I was aggressively honked at and nearly run into the curb by Metro buses in the Hollywood/Silverlake area. She said that the information was useful.
Markedge and others; I hope you'll consider writing or even calling that woman and telling her of those bad experiences that you've had with Metro. I think that will help our cause. Be sure to BCC metro@illuminatela.com as well.
RocketFuel, the Beverly Hills incident is working its way through the process. The cyclist is filing a new complaint, this time with the asssistance of a CABO Director. (California Association of Bicycle Orgainzations) We'll keep you posted.
remember kids: when touching mirrors USE knuckles or gloves! fingerprints are bad especially if you have a record deal with the polize!
and yeah man it was last tuesday borfo and i were getting honked at by a bus on sunset (up the hill from silverlake lounge) FOR RIDING IN A BIKE LANE in front of a bus stop. i'll admit we *just* jammed up that hill so we weren't going full speed or anything but s/he should sympathize because i'm sure his/her foot was tired from pressing on the gas up that hill.
According to "The Operator's Rulebook and Standard Operating Procedures"
SOP 11.106
Hazards, Obstructions.
When reporting hazards or obstructions, accidents unauthorized (non-metro) vehicles, Pedestrians, bicyclists, skateboarders, joggers, runners Operators are to call BOC with the following information. Location, Description of hazard, persons (physical & clothing)
I think that is where Supervisor Dipshit got the idea that cyclist are hazards, there is no mention of using the horn or pushing the cyclist into the curb.
Now this is how I operate.
Rule 3.63
Cyclist
Operators encountered with a cyclist on the road or on an adjacent bike path should follow at a safe distance or maintain 3 - 4 1/2 feet of right side clearance from them when passing. Use caution and observe the right side mirror carefully for the cyclist.
Cyclist casing a hazardous situation or interfering with the safe operation of the bus should be reported to BOC. Operators are not to confront the cyclist and must refrain from any type of verbal or physical confrontation.
(see SOP 3.128 & 3.158)
SOP 3.128 just goes on reiterating the 3 to 4 1/2 foot clearance and safe following distance thing so I'll skip that.
SOP 3.158
Cyclists
People using bicycles and motor driven cycles have the same rights and responsibilities as those driving motor vehicles. Operators encountered with a cyclist on the road or on an adjacent bike path should follow at a safe distance and assume the cyclist is not aware of the bus' presence. If it is necessary to pass a cyclist, slow down and pass with 3 -4 1/2 feet of right side clearance from them. Use caution and consider the wind draft the bus creates. Avoid Passing a cyclist if you are turning right or making a bus stop within 200 yards of where you encounter them.
When faced with a cyclist that is not operating their bicycle appropriately and is causing a hazardous situation, interfering with the safe operation of the bus, report the incident to BOC. Use caution in this situation and be prepared to stop or slow your vehicle refrain from any type of verbal or physical confrontation.
(see rule 3.63 & SOP 3.128)
We should focus on the fact that these are not regular drivers that we are dealing with but professionals. Bus operators drive for a living and if some of them have this kind of attitude towards the general public they shouldn't be driving for METRO in the first place. We've all had some close calls and I personally have been shown the 3 inch courtesy area when I was passed by a bus. I would like to talk to their safety department and the people who are doing the training to see what kind of emphasis is being taught to the Metro bus drivers on how to drive in traffic and share the road with cyclist.
Outrageous, especially since buses are supposed to be on our team!
I've had couple of minor incidents with bus drivers lately:
* An off-duty DASH bus got really crept up from behind close to us recently for no reason. There was only one lane and we were riding pretty fast, we might have cost him five seconds of time.
* A woman bus driver yelled at me and a few other cyclists using the the front racks to hurry up, just because we took an extra few seconds to make sure our bikes were secure.
the one that gets me is, why the fuck do bus drivers feel the need to honk at you if they're passing (usually right before they cut you off into a stop)? It's not like it's some stealth vehicle, it's pretty easy to hear a roaring CNG or Diesel engine 5 feet to your back/rear.
this happened to me yesterday riding down 6th toward downtown this bus kept honking at me and passing me really close just to stop at the next corner and i would have to pass the bus again. honking at me does not make me move it just startles me.... they really need to learn how to handle a cyclist on the road. lets do something ride to mta start a petition anything that will change the way things are
Let's plan a ride.
I'm down for sure.
I've about had it with the buses in LA and the way they treat cyclists.
I was thinking we could print up 5 x 7 cards that list the bus drivers training codes that pertain to cyclists. Maybe when we have an encounter with a bus, we can hand them to the driver to remind them that they are violating their work's policy and ignoring training.
Just an idea, but we could hand out these cards to those who show up for the ride.
What's even more amazing about your Orange line story is that the MTA had to be persuaded to add bike racks to the front of the Orange line buses. The bus, as designed, has racks on the INSIDE, but if the bus is full, you have to ask some people to get out of their seats to make space for your bike. Recognizing the idiocy of such a design, some folks complained to Metro and racks were added to the front of the bus just like all the others. I haven't ridden the Orange line bus, but those inside racks should still be there. That driver should have let you on the bus to use it, especially if the bus was nearly empty. Given that driver's ignorance and petty attitude, I fully support your exercise of the mirror twist technique...
Gotta love the part about not releasing information about whether or not at an employee was disciplined or not. I'm a very privacy conscious person, but these are public employees involved in standard traffic issues as public servants. I would hope at least the other parties involved would be notified of any.... or no actions taken.
I think this letter is pretty insulting to the cycling community, actually.
Ms. Flowers assures us that the MTA takes cyclists' rights and the California Vehicle Code seriously, and will investigate any complaints. However, the results of any of these investigations, and whether or not any concrete actions were taken as a result, will never be revealed to the public, or even, apparently, available to oversight by any third party. So we are expected to record a litany of details after any incident we might be involved in, perhaps risking arrest, in order to report this to the MTA, who may utilize this information to improve bus driver training, or then again, may not?
I agree, to an extant.
Its a simple fact that privacy regulations require that an employee's emplyment status remain confidentail. I'm 100% OK with that. I don't need to see a bloody scalp to feel that progress has been made on this subject.
I'll argue that that the fate of this particular employee is far less important than making sure that MTA drivers as a whole are educated about the MTA rules regarding busses AND that the policies of the MTA are as bike friendly as possible.
What was more disturbing to me than the illinformed and dangerous actions of the driver was the ignorance and mishandling of the supervisor who is presumably, the person who is supposed to inform and educate drivers about these situations.
It wouldn't surprise me at all if the driver got hung out to dry and the lame-ass supervisor who is in effect responsible for events like this happening on the broader scale never even got spoken to.
The letter doesn't mean much.
The date could be changed and applied to any like incident.
Instead of putting cheeky bike propaganda on the BACK of busses perhaps the MTA needs to put posters and ads about bike safety in break rooms, company newsletters, or in the envelopes that their paychecks come in.
I agree with Trickmilla; I don't want to violate the employees' right to privacy. But that message to the biking community reeks of PR clean up, not anything of actual substance.
I suppose the release is better than nothing and I hope that we can continue to work towards making the biking situation better here in Los Angeles.
Borfo, what email is that metro@illuminatela.com address? I can BCC to them, but I'm just curious as to who that would go to.
I actually had a really fun and interesting experience with a bus driver on Tuesday. On days when I'm feeling particularly adventurous (or when I need to get to work in a jiffy), I'll ride down Wilshire Blvd. (I live next to MacArthur Park and my work is two blocks from Amoeba.) I take it up to Arden and that all the way up to where it merges with Vine and Melrose.
Anyway, there are a shit-ton of buses, as I'm sure you know. So I take up the entire right lane to avoid getting squished by a bus. I was pulled up at Wilshire and Western and a 720 was on my left. I was preparing for the light to turn green when I glanced over at the driver of the Rapid bus. He smiled and pointed to the light. He mouthed, "RACE YOU."
The light turns green and I bolt off the line. Traffic wasn't too thick, but it was heavy enough that the bus couldn't go 40, since there was traffic stopped up ahead at Wilcox.
So him and I took turns racing up to Crenshaw. He'd edge in front of me, barely; I'd turn up the speed. He'd laugh and speed up just a bit. It was actually really fun and rad and he gave me a thumbs up as I reached the hill at the top of Crenshaw before him.
Maybe racing isn't the safest option, but he respected my right to the lane and had some fun with it too!
markedge, I'm Enci from illuminateLA. Any letters cc'd to metro@illuminateLA.com go to me and I'm compiling them (good and bad) to take to the Metro Board of Directors.
So far, we have over a hundred well written letters from all over the U.S. and all telling personal stories of what it's like to ride the streets with bus drivers who don't treat cyclists with respect.
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Ridazz Roulette!
This calls for war! Not really, but I did call the Metro promptly after reading that article. I know the number well as I have called it before. I was told that the incident was being taken care of. Here are my recent experiences with Metro Buses.
"Slam•i•phobia" my ass.
snap, snap, snap,,,,
remember kids: when touching mirrors USE knuckles or gloves! fingerprints are bad especially if you have a record deal with the polize!
This is good to hear and read. Taking the appropriate channels for feedbakc sometimes does work.