Hollywood bus driver attacks cyclist, LAPD handcuffs cyclist
 

LA bus drivers (and cops) do tend to be surly, but this is over the top:

http://laist.com/2007/09/24/hollywood_bus_d.php

Matt O.

Hollywood bus driver attacks cyclist, LAPD handcuffs cyclist
 

On Sep 25, 4:33 pm, Matt O'Toole wrote:
LA bus drivers (and cops) do tend to be surly, but this is over the top:

http://laist.com/2007/09/24/hollywood_bus_d.php

Matt O.

I had a run in with a bus driver yesterday. He saw me coming across
the top of a T intersection and decided I was of no consequence so he
just pulled out in front of me. He had a yeild sign. I was forced to
brake resonably hard and swerve so as not to broadside the bus. I gave
him the finger, and turned around to give chase. It took some serious
motoring on my part to catch him (rural area!) but when I did, he was
ready for a "discussion". I decided to start out nice and give him an
out by asking if he didn't see me due to the sun glare. He responded
with that he was tired of cyclists who think they own the road. So I
asked if that meant that because some other people are jerks it was ok
to run me over. Then he said I didn't have reflectors (I have
reflective tape) which is I think the standard bus driver response
around here as I have heard others say they heard the same thing from
jerk bus drivers. I stuck to my story asking him if he had a yeild
sign, and if so he was supposed to yeild to me. He then claimed I was
going too fast. The speed limit is 50km/h and I was lucky if I was
doing 30 up the rise where the intersection is. He said I was doing
60. I said no way, if I could do 60 there I'd be down winning the
world championships not sitting there arguing with him. He laughed. I
then said I knew he wasn't going to admit it because it had to do with
his job, etc, but that I knew that he knew I was at least partially
right, and he shouldn't take it upon himself to give some cyclist a
lesson because some other cyclists have been a problem for him. He
sort of half nodded, and we went our seperate ways. I saw him again
today and I waved.

Joseph

Hollywood bus driver attacks cyclist, LAPD handcuffs cyclist
 

On Sep 25, 9:05 pm, Wayne Pein wrote:
wrote:
On Sep 25, 4:33 pm, Matt O'Toole wrote:

LA bus drivers (and cops) do tend to be surly, but this is over the top:

http://laist.com/2007/09/24/hollywood_bus_d.php

Matt O.

I had a run in with a bus driver yesterday. He saw me coming across
the top of a T intersection and decided I was of no consequence so he
just pulled out in front of me. He had a yeild sign. I was forced to
brake resonably hard and swerve so as not to broadside the bus. I gave
him the finger, and turned around to give chase. It took some serious
motoring on my part to catch him (rural area!) but when I did, he was
ready for a "discussion". I decided to start out nice and give him an
out by asking if he didn't see me due to the sun glare. He responded
with that he was tired of cyclists who think they own the road. So I
asked if that meant that because some other people are jerks it was ok
to run me over. Then he said I didn't have reflectors (I have
reflective tape) which is I think the standard bus driver response
around here as I have heard others say they heard the same thing from
jerk bus drivers. I stuck to my story asking him if he had a yeild
sign, and if so he was supposed to yeild to me. He then claimed I was
going too fast. The speed limit is 50km/h and I was lucky if I was
doing 30 up the rise where the intersection is. He said I was doing
60. I said no way, if I could do 60 there I'd be down winning the
world championships not sitting there arguing with him. He laughed. I
then said I knew he wasn't going to admit it because it had to do with
his job, etc, but that I knew that he knew I was at least partially
right, and he shouldn't take it upon himself to give some cyclist a
lesson because some other cyclists have been a problem for him. He
sort of half nodded, and we went our seperate ways. I saw him again
today and I waved.

Joseph

In general, here in Chapel Hill NC the bus drivers are good with
cyclists. However, I've had my share of run-ins with bus drivers over
the years. They can be very aggressive with their vehicles, but those
that are are also too stupid to realize that I can easily catch them at
the next light. At that point we have a discussion, and I let them know
I have their bus number and they will be reported. Then I go to the
municipal bus offices and have a face to face with the boss.

Wayne

Actually around here the busses have been amongst the most thoughtful
of drivers, so I was surprised at his "f*** you" move throwing the bus
in front of me. There are only a handful of bus drivers (8-10?) that
drive the routes I ride, and I'm sure they all recognize me. One bus
driver is a neighbor, and another is a racer I ride with. Maybe this
(new) guy will tell them about it back at the locker room or where
ever, and they'll let him have it too!

Joseph

Hollywood bus driver attacks cyclist, LAPD handcuffs cyclist
 

I drive a school bus. I give bicyclists so much room .. you can't believe.

If I can't give the cyclist room, I wait till there is room.

I have honked on occasion. I do this way back, so the cyclist isnt scared.
This is just to tell the cyclist I'm coming along.

While I hate to admit it, there are some cyclists who break the rules. I've
come across a few who ride in the middle of the road when there is plenty of
shoulder.

In a city, dealing with city buses, I would not bother to yell at or
confront the driver.
It would be better to immediatly call the bus company, tell the dispatch or
ask for a supervisor, and give them the bus number, etc.

When you get home, write a letter, send it to the authority or transit
company. Also send a copy to the police department, mayor, etc. Make sure
a few agencies get the letter. This way they must respond to each other and
eventually the bus company.

The "cc" in a letter is a very powerful tool.

===========================




"Matt O'Toole" wrote in message
g...
LA bus drivers (and cops) do tend to be surly, but this is over the top:

http://laist.com/2007/09/24/hollywood_bus_d.php

Matt O.

Hollywood bus driver attacks cyclist, LAPD handcuffs cyclist
 

Wayne Pein wrote:

In general, here in Chapel Hill NC the bus drivers are good with
cyclists. However, I've had my share of run-ins with bus drivers over
the years. They can be very aggressive with their vehicles, but those
that are are also too stupid to realize that I can easily catch them at
the next light. At that point we have a discussion, and I let them know
I have their bus number and they will be reported. Then I go to the
municipal bus offices and have a face to face with the boss.

I was buzzed by a student shuttle bus on campus at my University. I
called the office that runs the busses and reported the incident. You
really don't need the bus #, just the time and place. They know who is
there when.


After I reported the incident it never happened again. Unfortunately we
can't deal with drivers of cars the same way.

--

David L. Johnson

Some people used to claim that, if enough monkeys sat in front of
enough typewriters and typed long enough, eventually one of them would
reproduce the collected works of Shakespeare. The internet has
proven this not to be the case.

Hollywood bus driver attacks cyclist, LAPD handcuffs cyclist
 

On Sep 25, 9:33 am, Matt O'Toole wrote:
LA bus drivers (and cops) do tend to be surly, but this is over the top:

http://laist.com/2007/09/24/hollywood_bus_d.php

Matt O.

It's a bit unwise to form an opinion on an incident based solely on
the word of one of the participants. Somewhere there may be a post (in
some LA Metro bus drivers NG undoubtedly) from this female bus driver
generating all kinds of sympathy for *her* version of events...
"This huge bearded guy on a bike just went berserk slapping the side
of my bus as I passed him, shouting profanity at me, intentionally
blocking the street, and threatening me and my passengers. Why, some
of my passengers were so frightened they got off the bus and ran away!
The police showed up but of course they let him go. Cyclists *always*
get away with it." g

Regards,
Bob Hunt

Hollywood bus driver attacks cyclist, LAPD handcuffs cyclist
 

In general it's poor practice for a bicyclist to escalate the
confrontation as much as the rider did in the article. Right or
wrong, motor vehicles are much bigger than we are. Better to take
down as much information as possible about the vehicle and report it
later.

Hollywood bus driver attacks cyclist, LAPD handcuffs cyclist
 

In general, here in Chapel Hill NC the bus drivers are good with
cyclists.

Yeah I have had good luck with them in Vancouver. I think they have an
understanding, or at least and appreciation of cycling in traffic, as
they get to deal with the most atrocious drivers all day long but
aren't exposed at a personal risk to themselves.

Byron

Hollywood bus driver attacks cyclist, LAPD handcuffs cyclist
 

Although I sympathize with the cyclist, I take the basketball rule of
thumb to vehicular activity, that is, "no harm, no foul." Maybe, when
I'm in a bad mood I'd flip'em off, but I'd never seek a confrontation.
I mean there are jerks everywhere. Jerks on the road, at work, in
public places, you can't educate them all. If you tried you might go
postal.

Hollywood bus driver attacks cyclist, LAPD handcuffs cyclist
 

On Sep 27, 6:49 am, Kenny wrote:
Although I sympathize with the cyclist, I take the basketball rule of
thumb to vehicular activity, that is, "no harm, no foul." Maybe, when
I'm in a bad mood I'd flip'em off, but I'd never seek a confrontation.
I mean there are jerks everywhere. Jerks on the road, at work, in
public places, you can't educate them all. If you tried you might go
postal.

Close only counts in horseshoes and hand-grenades?

Joseph