Raise your hand if you have been hit by a BUS. Anyone?
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I've never been hit by a bus while riding a bike, but once I fell out of an airplane, got hit by another airplane on the way down, landed on fresh wet asphalt, was run over by a steamroller, then a marching band went over me while playing 76 Trombones. I ain't worried about no bus!
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So I'm on the way home from my little 20 miler late yesterday afternoon around 3:30 PM.
I live in Northern Virginia and ride the W and OD trail pretty much every day when I was approaching Ferndale Ave in Herndon for those of you that are familiar with that area between the Herndon GC and Herdon Rec Center.
Traffic was stopped both ways and as always I was looking up from at least 20-30 yards to make eye contact with both the bus drive to the left and the car on the right. Both had come to a complete stop and as always I raise a hand and or nod to both drivers.
I was doing about 15 mile per hour when I entered the intersection and got t-boned (slammed to the ground) by the bus. I never spoke to the bus driver when people got out of the vehicles at the intersection and started towards me to make sure I wasn't dead (well...making sure I was not hurt too bad). I peeled myself off the ground and shook my head like a wet dog to clear the cobwebs. The lady from the first car on the right when the bus hit me kept sayin "I saw you look @ the bus and wave and then you waved to me." One of the drivers dialed 911 and 10min later no fewer that 14 police (BOTH Herndon and Fairfax County) and fire and rescue people arrived @ the scene.
I was just a bit scuffed up on my right shoulder, hip, knee and had a cut on my left ankle (the side the bus hit me on AND the leg I have 3 plates in from my knee and ankle fusion surgeries.)
So I will have a hell of a story to tell my grand-kids (or someone else's) what its like to get hit by a bus.
I live in Northern Virginia and ride the W and OD trail pretty much every day when I was approaching Ferndale Ave in Herndon for those of you that are familiar with that area between the Herndon GC and Herdon Rec Center.
Traffic was stopped both ways and as always I was looking up from at least 20-30 yards to make eye contact with both the bus drive to the left and the car on the right. Both had come to a complete stop and as always I raise a hand and or nod to both drivers.
I was doing about 15 mile per hour when I entered the intersection and got t-boned (slammed to the ground) by the bus. I never spoke to the bus driver when people got out of the vehicles at the intersection and started towards me to make sure I wasn't dead (well...making sure I was not hurt too bad). I peeled myself off the ground and shook my head like a wet dog to clear the cobwebs. The lady from the first car on the right when the bus hit me kept sayin "I saw you look @ the bus and wave and then you waved to me." One of the drivers dialed 911 and 10min later no fewer that 14 police (BOTH Herndon and Fairfax County) and fire and rescue people arrived @ the scene.
I was just a bit scuffed up on my right shoulder, hip, knee and had a cut on my left ankle (the side the bus hit me on AND the leg I have 3 plates in from my knee and ankle fusion surgeries.)
So I will have a hell of a story to tell my grand-kids (or someone else's) what its like to get hit by a bus.
Here is the streetview of the intersection of the W and OD trail with Ferndale Ave:
https://goo.gl/maps/C7xdF3V4fuT2
There is no streetview from the path, but from the street we can see the back of a stop sign that is facing cyclists on the path approaching the intersection.
Or maybe it's one of these?
#29
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I've never been hit by a bus while riding a bike, but once I fell out of an airplane, got hit by another airplane on the way down, landed on fresh wet asphalt, was run over by a steamroller, then a marching band went over me while playing 76 Trombones. I ain't worried about no bus!
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Been hit by a cab at 25-30mph...........a USPS truck...........a BMW not looking in the rain............accident from an off duty Chicago Firefighter in a pick-up who almost T-boned me then attempted to flee..................a cab ran me into a curb onto the ONCOMING traffic side, yes, took me from the right hand lane all the way into the curb of the LEFT hand oncoming traffic lane curb.............and a broken collarbone from a dog off leash that took out my front wheel on a training ride at 25mph. It's part of the deal.
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Been hit by a cab at 25-30mph...........a USPS truck...........a BMW not looking in the rain............accident from an off duty Chicago Firefighter in a pick-up who almost T-boned me then attempted to flee..................a cab ran me into a curb onto the ONCOMING traffic side, yes, took me from the right hand lane all the way into the curb of the LEFT hand oncoming traffic lane curb.............and a broken collarbone from a dog off leash that took out my front wheel on a training ride at 25mph. It's part of the deal.
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I try not to make eye contact w drivers or use hand gestures because the drivers always interpret it as me waving them on as if they have the right of way. never seems interpreted as thank you for letting me go first
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Ha! Quite so! Unfortunately I commute year round here in Chicago, must go on training rides for racing, and the world is now filled with.................
1) Folks with no attention span
2) Folks who think texting is more important than human life
3) Low IQ's
4) Me....Me....Me....syndrome
5) Darwin on vacation and not keeping up with his quotas/responsibilities
1) Folks with no attention span
2) Folks who think texting is more important than human life
3) Low IQ's
4) Me....Me....Me....syndrome
5) Darwin on vacation and not keeping up with his quotas/responsibilities
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Ha! Quite so! Unfortunately I commute year round here in Chicago, must go on training rides for racing, and the world is now filled with.................
1) Folks with no attention span
2) Folks who think texting is more important than human life
3) Low IQ's
4) Me....Me....Me....syndrome
5) Darwin on vacation and not keeping up with his quotas/responsibilities
1) Folks with no attention span
2) Folks who think texting is more important than human life
3) Low IQ's
4) Me....Me....Me....syndrome
5) Darwin on vacation and not keeping up with his quotas/responsibilities
Key to traffic cycling safety is taking responsibility for avoiding car-bike crashes which would have been the fault of the motorist.
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Careful my friend. You know absolutely nothing about me or my experience(s). I have 10's of thousands of miles on the road, in training, racing, commuting, group rides, singletrack, grocery/errands, etc., etc. I think I very well know how to ride a bike and to ride one safely. In all of those instances the driver was not paying attention and made a very quick turn either in front of me or at me. The dog off leash is just another example of irresponsibility. If I didn't react as quick as I did, the outcome would have been different. And yes, that comes from experience. These were not accidents, but a lack of respect, intelligence, thought, care, acknowledgment, for/of others. This seems to be the trend in our society now as is your response/comment not knowing the facts of any of these situations. I know crazy concept, huh? Facts and stuff.
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Careful my friend. You know absolutely nothing about me or my experience(s). I have 10's of thousands of miles on the road, in training, racing, commuting, group rides, singletrack, grocery/errands, etc., etc. I think I very well know how to ride a bike and to ride one safely. In all of those instances the driver was not paying attention and made a very quick turn either in front of me or at me. The dog off leash is just another example of irresponsibility. If I didn't react as quick as I did, the outcome would have been different. And yes, that comes from experience. These were not accidents, but a lack of respect, intelligence, thought, care, acknowledgment, for/of others. This seems to be the trend in our society now as is your response/comment not knowing the facts of any of these situations. I know crazy concept, huh? Facts and stuff.
Cyclists who do recognize and accept that that is normal, and adjust their expectations and behavior accordingly, seem to do much better. It's about adopting habits and practices that keep you out of trouble with drivers who err in the first place, rather than relying on vigilance and quick reactions. Offense-is-the-best-defense vs. just defense. That's just what I see, over and over and over. Attitude and expectations are crucial to safety.
#40
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I have dodged a bus on my bicycle, and that's why I am still alive and able to raise my hand.
https://imgur.com/a/NRVVq
https://imgur.com/a/NRVVq
Last edited by dragoonO1; 02-07-18 at 01:48 AM. Reason: Image
#41
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So I'm on the way home from my little 20 miler late yesterday afternoon around 3:30 PM.
I live in Northern Virginia and ride the W and OD trail pretty much every day when I was approaching Ferndale Ave in Herndon for those of you that are familiar with that area between the Herndon GC and Herdon Rec Center.
Traffic was stopped both ways and as always I was looking up from at least 20-30 yards to make eye contact with both the bus drive to the left and the car on the right. Both had come to a complete stop and as always I raise a hand and or nod to both drivers.
I was doing about 15 mile per hour when I entered the intersection and got t-boned (slammed to the ground) by the bus. I never spoke to the bus driver when people got out of the vehicles at the intersection and started towards me to make sure I wasn't dead (well...making sure I was not hurt too bad). I peeled myself off the ground and shook my head like a wet dog to clear the cobwebs. The lady from the first car on the right when the bus hit me kept sayin "I saw you look @ the bus and wave and then you waved to me." One of the drivers dialed 911 and 10min later no fewer that 14 police (BOTH Herndon and Fairfax County) and fire and rescue people arrived @ the scene.
I was just a bit scuffed up on my right shoulder, hip, knee and had a cut on my left ankle (the side the bus hit me on AND the leg I have 3 plates in from my knee and ankle fusion surgeries.)
So I will have a hell of a story to tell my grand-kids (or someone else's) what its like to get hit by a bus.
I live in Northern Virginia and ride the W and OD trail pretty much every day when I was approaching Ferndale Ave in Herndon for those of you that are familiar with that area between the Herndon GC and Herdon Rec Center.
Traffic was stopped both ways and as always I was looking up from at least 20-30 yards to make eye contact with both the bus drive to the left and the car on the right. Both had come to a complete stop and as always I raise a hand and or nod to both drivers.
I was doing about 15 mile per hour when I entered the intersection and got t-boned (slammed to the ground) by the bus. I never spoke to the bus driver when people got out of the vehicles at the intersection and started towards me to make sure I wasn't dead (well...making sure I was not hurt too bad). I peeled myself off the ground and shook my head like a wet dog to clear the cobwebs. The lady from the first car on the right when the bus hit me kept sayin "I saw you look @ the bus and wave and then you waved to me." One of the drivers dialed 911 and 10min later no fewer that 14 police (BOTH Herndon and Fairfax County) and fire and rescue people arrived @ the scene.
I was just a bit scuffed up on my right shoulder, hip, knee and had a cut on my left ankle (the side the bus hit me on AND the leg I have 3 plates in from my knee and ankle fusion surgeries.)
So I will have a hell of a story to tell my grand-kids (or someone else's) what its like to get hit by a bus.
#43
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I have the unique distinction of having been hit by two buses at the same time.
Way back when I was riding down 5th Avenue with a bus passing on my left, just as a stopped bus we were both passing decided it was a good time to pull out. So, I had to move left to clear the bus to my right, while limited by the bus on my left. This was like one of those thriller "shrinking room" scenarios, and I'm only here because I and my bike are narrower than the drivers' minimal gap.
However, that 18" or so lane wasn't quite enough and I ended up bouncing between both buses before escaping out the back.
Way back when I was riding down 5th Avenue with a bus passing on my left, just as a stopped bus we were both passing decided it was a good time to pull out. So, I had to move left to clear the bus to my right, while limited by the bus on my left. This was like one of those thriller "shrinking room" scenarios, and I'm only here because I and my bike are narrower than the drivers' minimal gap.
However, that 18" or so lane wasn't quite enough and I ended up bouncing between both buses before escaping out the back.
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WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
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I have the unique distinction of having been hit by two buses at the same time.
Way back when I was riding down 5th Avenue with a bus passing on my left, just as a stopped bus we were both passing decided it was a good time to pull out. So, I had to move left to clear the bus to my right, while limited by the bus on my left. This was like one of those thriller "shrinking room" scenarios, and I'm only here because I and my bike are narrower than the drivers' minimal gap.
However, that 18" or so lane wasn't quite enough and I ended up bouncing between both buses before escaping out the back.
Way back when I was riding down 5th Avenue with a bus passing on my left, just as a stopped bus we were both passing decided it was a good time to pull out. So, I had to move left to clear the bus to my right, while limited by the bus on my left. This was like one of those thriller "shrinking room" scenarios, and I'm only here because I and my bike are narrower than the drivers' minimal gap.
However, that 18" or so lane wasn't quite enough and I ended up bouncing between both buses before escaping out the back.
Holy manure! Would love to have seen that video!
#45
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This was about 45 years ago, long before anyone had cameras on a bike.
But it's easy enough these days when you have multiple buses playing leapfrog on many of Manhattan's avenues.
NYC bus traffic is one reason that NYS'c one way avenues have long had signage instructing bicycles to keep left.
But it's easy enough these days when you have multiple buses playing leapfrog on many of Manhattan's avenues.
NYC bus traffic is one reason that NYS'c one way avenues have long had signage instructing bicycles to keep left.
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
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“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
#46
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Thread Starter
@ the intersection of the path (W and OD trail) and Hunter Mill Rd. Didn't get hit this time but for those of you that know where I'm talking about, drivers can be doing upwards of 50 mph and you have to be RIGHT on top of the intersection to clearly see up and down the road.
Just another case of misunderstanding between myself and the driver when I nodded to the driver (thanking them for stopping) who though I was was gesturing to them to go thru.
If I would not have hesitated being on a slight incline and a few feet from the road I probably would have gotten knocked over again. So there you have it. When in doubt take a few extra seconds, un-clip and make damn sure the drivers comes to a complete stop.
#47
Senior Member
I've had quite a few close calls when an express bus made a very close pass on my right on 5th Ave. Sometimes I took note of the bus numbers (one day I had two of them making close pass, one being at a turn), planning to email the bus company, but forgot when I got home.
Here is a coach bus driver caught watching TV while driving in heavy rain and traffic:
Passenger records his New York coach driver watching TV on his PHONE
Here is a coach bus driver caught watching TV while driving in heavy rain and traffic:
Passenger records his New York coach driver watching TV on his PHONE
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Bus drivers put up with a lot of BS and many of them are quite disgruntled and any pro driver could also be very tired at any time. Combine that with their large size and it is a good idea to give them a wide berth, whether in a car or on a bike.
#50
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It looked like the bus driver saw him but wasn't thinking. At 3:30pm you could be right he was tired since this is the time of day of the second sleep cycle of the day.
A few days ago I was cut off by someone in a 3-way stop. We all saw each other, stopped and took our turns. But unfortunately, someone decided that my turn didn't count. So when she was right in front of me, I pointed my index-finger straight to her face. Should have blasted my horns too.