Rough ride today *explicit language warning*
 

First, I nearly got run over by a school bus (despite running a 400 lumen front strobe & high-vis clothing):


Then minutes later, I had this lovely encounter:


Definitely not one of my better rides. So, do you think I over-reacted with the school bus? I initially thought about slamming on the brakes, but was concerned the butt-end of the bus would get me anyways, so I took the ditch option. Luckily I didn't fall.

The schoolbus thing was pretty awful. You should report the bus to the company, and hopefully the driver will be warned and/or fired. Good news is that if you were actually hit or injured by that bus, you could sue the bus company, unlike the Yahoos in the Honda Fit, who probably are 16 year olds who don't have two dimes to rub together...another day on the road, don't let it bug you too much.

I would be tracking down the driver of that bus and having a chat with them and the transportation superintendent.

Happy you are OK.

Good to see you are running Cycliqs front and rear. You have solid evidence if you want to cause the bus driver pain. Car driver as well if you have a clear shot of the license plate.

Running Cycliq Fly 6 myself. I was taken down from behind which caused me to buy one.

Agreed. Report that bus driver.

I've noticed that the bus drivers usually display no respect on the road. They seem to feel entitled because they are driving a school bus. It makes me boil sometimes as the 3 foot law seems to not apply to them because they have children on board...

Yeah, I wouldn't be happy with that pass. Report the driver.

You know, he's probably making the same turn on Monday, if that's his regular route.

For me I've had many more bad encounters with courier drivers (UPS and Fedex).

My language would've been worse. I'd send a copy to the school district and the outsourced company if separate company.

no i don't think you over reacted, you did good. Screw them.

I have reported at least two bus drivers (without video evidence) for repeated stupid passes (into oncoming traffic and/or very little clearance). They get the hint as I never had an issue again after the phone call or email.

In all honesty, I think you should report the bus incident to CMS. They will take it serious as the next error made by the driver could really hurt someone or the children on the bus.

Yeah, I've contacted CMS re: the bus driver but was told the supervisor would return my call. I'm not expecting to hear back until Monday.

I filed a police report on the hooligans. Officer went to the registered owner's address, and turn out it was their teenage son driving the vehicle and his friend who leaned out of the car. The officer informed the parents what their son did, to include describing the video evidence, and insinuated they could be held legally liable. Apparently, the parents were irate at their son, and the officer told me he thinks their son won't have driving privileges for quite a while.

send a copy to your local t.v. station to show it on air and see if they will investigate the driver. that should attract a lot of attention the bus company and transportation dept. wouldn't like.

See, told ya haha

You were riding very courteously at the edge and drivers had plenty of room to pass. The school bus driver is a $14/hr 60 yr old who smokes and hates life. You could get her fired but another one would replace her.

I suppose meaning that the candidate that was originally passed over for the bus driving job, they'll need to now reconsider hiring.

To me it looks like the bus just didn't see you. Negligence, yes, but not malice.

The school buses here are dangerous when I am in my truck. They usually are over the yellow line on back roads and going faster than the 30 MPH limit. When they come around me on a bike they never brake.

Getting yelled out happens more frequently than I would like. They usually come from little ones with parents driving. It always scares me because I am usually in my own little bike world.

You should report the driver. We've had several children die in accidents due to poor driving habits and cell phone use. You may be doing a greater service than saving bike riders.

Yes, negligence - but to be clear, the bus driver didn't look, and nearly killed someone as a result. The potential harm that could've arisen from this cannot be understated. Next time it could be a kid on a bicycle who doesn't have the ability to know how to evade a bus.

I'm guessing the time that the bus driver looked to his right to gauge traffic, was the same time that passing white car was masking the OP from view.

I would report both of those. Even if the bus driver didn't see you, they're responsible for driving children and should be paying better attention than that, especially considering they waited for the car that just passed you (and gave you ample space by driving in the other lane). That said, in all of my experience, buses are the worst.

I'd also report the driver, especially if you can pick up the license plate. They could have caused a serious accident.

No way. That white car was long gone before the bus started its turn into the OP. Plenty of time for bus driver to see the cyclist and wait before turning into main road.

School Bus: You saw the bus rolling and had enough time and distance to brake hard and turn right to avoid the bus. It's obvious there was going to be a squeeze. Riding like that will get you killed some day. See the squeeze before it happens and avoid it. A collision with a bike vs Car/Truck/Bus- you lose, regardless of whose fault it was. You're sticking your head into the lion's mouth and waiting to blame him when he bites you.

Wanksters: Nothing you could have done about that.

I'm inclined to agree with BillyD I don't think the driver even bothered look at the Op's direction. He saw a break in traffic and went for it.

That being said I don't mean to blame the victim but the OP should have been able to foresee situations like that. We are taught at the motorcycle safety courses to scan for potential situations like that and assume that the ALL drivers don't see us. The Bus driver gave plenty of clues that he wasn't even looking in that direction and kept creeping up into the intersection just waiting for that break. He still in the wrong and the OP had all the rights of the road but being right isn't important if you are dead. Still a ****ty move by the driver and you were absolute correct in reporting.

Please keep us posted as to any developments as I'm sure most of us here would like to hear if anything comes out of it.

I'm glad you're ok and BTW I think you chose the right corrective manuver by going into the grass/ditch. If you locked up you could have gone down and even if you didn't you never know whats coming behind.

Stay safe!

Did the kid in the SUV actually hit you or just yell or something as they passed? If actual contact was made I'd look into filing charges.