It seems every Tuesday Night Bike Ride somebody comes up to me with another horror story about almost getting hit by a Sun Tran bus and I can see why. Is there some kind of institutional hostility over there against bicyclists? What is it about that organization? Are there any cyclists in Tucson who have not been struck with terror by Sun Tran drivers?
I was hit by a Sun Tran bus once (grazed, actually, and not badly hurt) and when I approached the driver he screamed at me and told me he had no other option but to hit me because, otherwise, he might have hit a car. Waiting to pass safely (this occurred in a construction zone) was apparently so unthinkable as to not even be an option.
I filed a complaint against him and later asked Sun Tran if they had ever spoken with the driver. Neither Sun Tran nor their lawyer ever responded to me, and I assure you that next time it happens I will not be so accommodating.
From the looks of the above video, Louisville's got a whole different thing going on than Tucson.
--Erik Ryberg
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Nothing about this says "Sun Tran"
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7 comments:
I had a nice encounter with a Sun Tran driver some months back. I was coming into downtown from Stone and was at the light waiting. To my left was a bus. I started to think about jumping the light to get a head start before the bus, when the driver opened the door and told me he'd wait for me to go first. I said thanks, and when the light turned green, I went first, and the bus followed. Sun Tran drivers to get some training, while not all are perfect, they are doing a good job overall.
In contrast, I have found U of A Cat Tran drivers to generally be very good at sharing the road. At Mountain and 2nd they will usually straddle the white southbound lane line so that cyclists have a good 4 feet to the side. I find it very helpful because very few students realize that they can take the lane in that situation so they try to squeeze by on the right.
I almost got a creamed by Sun Tran bus just this morning! I've never had a problem before, I have a feeling this particular driver was just having an agro Monday morning. I have, however, consistently had issues with TICET drivers. Why are they in such a hurry? It doesn't seem like they ever have anyone on board? It's a free bus right? Oh well, I hope when I'm mowed by a TICET I will be handsomely reimbursed for my troubles. Probably just wishful thinking.
-Charlotte
They are giant buses you know... Even in a car you kind of have to be aware of buses. So trying to beat a bus past the light generally isn't something I like to do, and passing them on the left isn't a whole lot better. Basically, I think it's best to let the bus do what it wants.
Now as for the Sun Tran blasting past you while you're both moving that's a different story. I could easily see being clipped from behind by a bus, which is indeed very scary.
But on a utilitarian point of view, the bike racks they have are nice and I have definitely used them before when it is too dark and cold to ride home.
I was "swiped" by a bus on a Sunday downtown. There was no excuse. The driver"s response was to open his doors and flip me the bird. I filed a complaint, but haven't heard a word. It doesn't surprise me though--These days --acknowledgment seems to equate guilt---legally . I now carry at all times a pen and paper to record transgressions. I'm sure it's tough to drive a bus---but really???----DG
I've had pretty good luck with SunTran drivers and I do Broadway and Kolb every day. I even emailed them a few times when the drivers were particularly courteous. I did have a problem one time with a driver that moved to squeeze me out - I emailed them and they looked at the bus video, agreed with me, apologized and counseled the driver.
I was riding on a part of Speedway that had no bike lane and a bus passed within a foot of me. I caught up with him at Alvernon and told him not to pass so close next time...that he has to have 3 feet between him and the bike. He looked confused and said well, you were slowing me down and there was a car in the other lane. I said that in that case you have to wait until the other lane is clear so you have room to pass safely. He nodded like a tiny light had gone on and said oh...okay. So at least he was half polite, but the man had clearly never heard about the rules regarding passing bikes, and this is someone who drives for a LIVING! Horrifying.
Mindy
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