Comments on: LA Metro Bus Driver Hits Cyclist, LAPD Handcuff Cyclist (and Wife!)

By: Enci

Enci — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:11:42 +0000

Jocelyn, I never yield to the bigger vehicles if it means putting myself in danger. If I ride along the door zone, I take the lane because that is the safest for me for not being doored. This means that I’m 3-4 feet away from parked cars and this makes the lane not sharable. Drivers will be forced to move over to the next lane to pass me safely. If I’m on a narrow road that has only one lane each way and a bigger vehicle approaches me from behind and I know that I’m too slow for them, I pull over, stop and let them pass.

Never every put yourself in a dangerous position to be nice to others. Be safe, be predictable, think ahead! Help others drive safely by being visible. No driver would want to be responsible with hurting or killing anybody because of another road users unsafe moves.

By: Jocelyn

Jocelyn — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 01:05:33 +0000

I experienced the exact same thing today on Melrose Ave. I was approaching Highland heading west, and I actually slowed my bike down and pulled into the potholes to let the vehicle pass. I was unaware that it was a Metro Bus, but it passed me with such speed I was in serious danger of being hit. If i had turned my handlebars one inch into the road, or wavered a bit because of my slow speed, I truly would have been thrown into the intersection of Highland/Melrose and potentially would have been killed. This goes to show that you are in danger, even IF you try to yield to the bigger vehicles. Are there any good people left in LA who care about others? This makes me so sad.

By: Enci

Enci — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 07:41:54 +0000

DC Busdriver,

1. you should know the law before you comment. CVC (that is California Vehicle Code) says that cyclists have all the rights and responsibilities to the road. It doesn’t say “sometimes.”
2. look at the photo and you will see the mirror on the handcuffed cyclist’s helmet.
3. read the articles. We always write down all the info and we’re always reporting drivers even though reporting the drivers hasn’t gotten very far in LA.
4. my Schwinn is far from shiny. It’s a beat up 70′s bike.
5. nobody has sued anybody, so I have no idea what you are talking about so chill and
6. again, I’m repeating, read before you comment!

By: DC BUSDRIVER

DC BUSDRIVER — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:22:50 +0000

MOST PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLIST DONT HAVE MUCH COMMEN SENSE…………….IT GOES LIKE THIS CARS=STREETS, BIKE=BIKE LANES/ SIDEWALKS/SOMETIME STREETS
MAYBE GETTING THE DRIVER’S INFO AND GOING ON WITH THE LIFE YOU ALMOST BUT DID’NT LOSE…………….TRY THOSE LITTLE THINGS CALLED BIKE MIRRORS OUT FOR YOUR SHINY SCHWINN, KEEP A PENCIL/NOTEPAD ALONG WITH THE RIPFUEL NEXT TIME AND TRY NOT TO SUE THE HARDWORKING……..LETS SUE THE LAZY……………BUT THEN THEY COULD’NT AFFORD A BIKE HUH!

By: Mike Fountain

Mike Fountain — Fri, 30 May 2008 05:13:57 +0000

Expecting bus drivers and police to act like they have good sense is bordering on psychotic stupidity. Didn’t you ever read the story of the scorpion and the frog?

By: leewynski, robert

leewynski, robert — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 01:33:56 +0000

I drive a truck for a living, constantly i have encounters with people on bikes, skateboard and scooters, all of whom i’m forced to share the road with. I’m aware of what the laws are and the responsiblity of driving a large vehical, but lets face it, responsibility goes both ways. the laws of physic requires/demands, hell, its even common sence to give a larger moving object A WIDE BERTH for your own safety. And yes, i’ve had encounters with a few idiots on two wheels who take advantage of the law, my message to these JERKS, before impedding the flow of traffic while you’re out exercising, consider the people on the bus who want only to get home/work. I’ve taken buses and witnessed the stupidity of some bike riders, do yourself and everyone on board a favor, let the bus/truck pass if only for your safty, because if you get hit, you’ll never be the same. SAFETY BEGINS WITH ME, REPONSIBILITY BEGINS WITH EVERYONE Bike safely, not arrogantly.

By: ben

ben — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 20:36:17 +0000

Well, I’m a regular bike/bus commuter, and I’ve been on the pavement and on the bus when drivers misbehave. I certainly feel for the bike rider, having been in confrontations like that myself, only vs. entitled Zipperheads in shiney expensive SUVs, delivery drivers on personal Jihads, etc.

But what about the people on the bus? They didn’t ask the driver to disrespect the cyclist, and it certainly sounds like they were trapped in their seats while he and the bus driver have their standoff.

My guess is that the folks sitting in their seats may not have come out of this incident feeling like bicyclists were their brothers in transportation reform.

By: Stephen Francisco

Stephen Francisco — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 03:57:38 +0000

I am not surprised at all with what did not happen to the driver involved in the incident on Hollywood Blvd.
That driver needs to be removed from the road!!!
As a cyclist myself and ride 5 days a week in the SFV I have had similar incidents. Metro drivers and LAPD need to do a better job of informing drivers and cops of the REAL rules. The next time it happens to me I will step up and act by stop telling myself that they are just stupid and don’t know anybetter. I will photograph and just hand them over to my lawyer.

By: Albert Gonzalez

Albert Gonzalez — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 19:04:20 +0000

I was reading the story today and i couldnt belive the two things. One the ignorance of the bus driver who is by law supposed to yield to the cyclist. Two the LAPD are a bunch of idiots who hires this guys? you dont get to the scene of an accident and start arresting people, but anyways the proper procedures were not taken. In conclusion I thnk that the bus driver should get punished depending wether this is her first incident, also the offices should go back to tranining school on how to aproach accident scenes.