Hi folks, I figured I'd share my report of a Metro bus buzzing incident and Metro's response. Aside from contaminating my name, I am satisfied enough with the response, such as it is. But the incident got me wondering...
What is the view among bicyclists of how Metro bus drivers interact with bicyclists in general? I would like to hear from the list if you feel there are issues regarding how Metro drivers interact with bicyclists. Have any LCIs, transportation or family cyclists from the bicycling community reviewed Metro's training protocol regarding bicyclists? It might be interesting to assess their training against best practices. (I have cc:ed Chris Olson, a Metro General Operations Supervisor. If you have anything to report, please cc: him, too.) Thanks, Jay Ferm ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Olson, Chris <[email protected]> Date: Wed, Aug 3, 2011 at 10:13 AM Subject: Your Feedback Received on 8/2/2011 - #31933 To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Mr. Germ I reviewed the video from bus 947 to investigate your safety concern. It showed you making a left turn and the bus moving over to the right to go around you and your children. The video recorded the bus going the posted speed limited. I did talk to the driver and felt he should've slowed his bus when approaching bicyclist from behind. I truly believe you and your children were not in danger from the driver's maneuver to pass you. I apologize if this incident made you feel threatened by our bus. We do take safety very seriously at Metro and continue to train our driver's with refresher training every year. We also use the video as a tool to show drivers how to handle situations on the road and change driving habits. If you've any questions please feel free to contact me. Chris Olson Metro transit General Operations Supervisor 608-267-8762 colson@cityof madison.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Your Feedback: Dear Metro, I write to tell you of a dangerous driving on Sunday, July 31 involving a Metro bus. My family were riding our bikes on the eastside. I was pulling a bike trailer with our two toddlers. We had turned right from Ivy St. onto S. Fair Oaks Ave. northbound. Preparing to turn left onto Thorp St. we positioned ourselves in the left lane and signaled our turn. As we waited for southbound traffic to pass I noted a Metro bus approaching us from the south. As the bus approached it did not slow down to a safe passing speed. With oncoming traffic and the load of the trailer and kids I could not get out of the bus' way. It passed us going much too fast and much too close. I sensed, but cannot confirm (since my attention was split between front and back), that the driver swerved the bus around us. It was not clear to me that we were safe and that the driver was aware of our presence prior to passing. I am very angry about what happened. The driver put me and my children at risk. The number on the bus was 947 and it occurred at about 5:38pm. I would like to...request the incident be investigated. Best, Jay Ferm
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