livedarklions

No, I didn't claim that it solved the pollution problem, but only a guy who doesn't actually ride behind buses from time to time would think that exhaust is still going in your face when the pipe is positioned above the vehicle. And no, more city buses are diesel than CNG. . https://afdc.energy.gov/data/10302

I'm old enough to remember riding behind diesel buses with a tailpipe at the bottom, and it was definitely spewing in my face. I've ridden behind many diesel buses with the tailpipe above the roof, and yes, that small relocation solved that particular problem. Pretty sure noting that doesn't make me an "environmental whackjob",

As to electric vs. CNG buses, I admittedly don't have enough knowledge to have an informed opinion, but I do know that you are just about the last person on the planet I'd ask. This is also definitely not the forum for that particular debate.

Roughstuff

Please don't. I've read a lot of the discussion on electric buses/trucks/semis and the pluses and minuses seem to be so numerous I think I am more confused than I was before. Hopefully stronger/longer life batteries will resolve the issue.

Leisesturm

They would, but we just don't have the time. And they know it. So they aren't even making a good faith effort to develop them. We allowed them to run the clock out.

PhilFo 

Perhaps just obeying the law as a motor vehicle (which every state requires bicycles to do), which includes minding the marked area where a bus will pull into. I'm in Philly and I've been hit by SEPTA buses (side swiped into parked cars and curbs) not because the bus was not minding the law, but because I was riding like an idiot. Perhaps the solution is just riding with traffic like a responsible cyclist, not splitting it, stopping behind buses, not passing a stopped bus and complaining about a pedestrian (who has the right of way) delaying you by a couple seconds, etc., ad infinitum.

Roughstuff

Phil has SEPTA (or any other bus systems) tried using the smaller buses---even akin to Volkswagen Buses!--- in the city? It seems like they would be able to scoot in and out of traffic more and be less bulky. You see these types of buses throughout central and south america, so would they work here? I'm wondering if they have been tried anywhere.

I-Like-To-Bike

What difference would a smaller size bus make for a bicyclist who cannot (in your opinion) figure out how to safely ride in a curb side lane or bike lane on a city street if busses pickup and discharge passengers at the curb?

ExtremeSquared

I did this driving in Paris once. Driving in Paris is confounding. Luckily I corrected it before any interactions with cyclists.

fooferdoggie 

no camera it would have been great. ok crazy thing on a road with a wide bike lane. a line of cars on the left at the red light. someone in a little kia getting into the bike lane. thought they were going to turn into the driveway nope. was thinking a right turn nope. well they ran out of room so drove the right hand wheels up on the curb and drove that way till the light change and got back in line. no clue what was going through their head.

livedarklions

I have found it pretty easy to pass stopped buses safely, but part of that might involve waiting behind it a couple stops before the opportunity to take the lane and give the bus a wide berth rises. It really isn't any different than riding around other big vehicles except that the buses are much ore predictable.

base2 

This thread is so fun.*


*reading this while sitting on "empty" bendy bus that comes every 10 minutes with no fewer than 20 people and 2 bicycles on board at 11:15am on a Wednesday.

IMG_1114 by Richard Mozzarella, on Flickr
While editing the other bike rider exited. So 19 souls onboard, now.

I-Like-To-Bike

Nice bike racks on the bus. The ramp for guiding the front wheel into the proper slot looks like a good idea. Nice bike too!

Roughstuff

True.....but seriously, I would think the sight lines would be better, and less intimidating. I did have some experience with these mini buses in several countries, and they seemed easier to navigate and anticipate.

But heck as a passenger half the fun of TAKING a bus or subway at Rush hour was getting sardined while standing up and holding onto the old leather straps.

AndreyT

Um... There's a bike lane and there's a bike lane. It is probably worth noting that the bike lane in the video is intended to be separated/isolated and therefore free of cars.

In California the law explicitly requires cars to drive in bike lanes when performing a right turn. Cars are required to always enter the bike lane first and then make the right turn from the bike lane.

​​Despite that we have a large number of "genius" drivers who ignore that important law and make right turns from rightmost car lanes, thus subjecting bicyclists to the dangers of the notorious "right hook".

homeless in ca.

I often call 911 to report drivers parked in the bike lane. Occasionally stuff happens.

I-Like-To-Bike

"Stuff" like this?
Called 911 for a bike lane parking violation? Needlessly initiate and provoke a confrontation with strangers (while parked in the adjacent driving lane)? Like Drama much?

"Stuff" happens indeed.

homeless in ca.

"driving lane" LOL

Wasted Tuition

For Real

tungsten

It's Quebec, eh?

To be fair though, one could actually "live" there on a bicycle manufacturing wage.

Roughstuff

does the situation call for a blue streak?