Avoiding buses

[beerwolf]

eddiec wrote :
> I hesitate to recommend it as a 'solution', but my approach has simply
> been to avoid roads with buses wherever possible. Not that I've had
> negative encounters, but it's just the constant pulling over,
> overtaking, repeat, etc circus combined with diesel fumes belched in
> your face that encourage me to find alternative routes... Of course,
> that may not be possible in your neck of the woods...

On quite a few occasions when travelling *in* a bus, I've been quite
impressed by the closeness with which the driver has passed another
bus (sometimes less than 6 inches clearance, this is at low speed in
the CBD). I think most of the drivers have an extremely good sense
of just where the boundaries of their vehicle are, relative to surrounds.

Couple of months back I was riding on City Rd Newotwn, and came
up behind a bus stopped at lights. Not wishing to breathe diesel, and
without enuf room to filter thru on the left, I went up on his RHS (knew
I could beat him in a standing start), took off like the clappers on the
green and pulled over to the left when I was well in front (yes, it was
rather rude of me). He passed me with literally *inches* to spare,
I'm sure it was deliberate, also pretty sure he knew it was safe, and
I think I deserved it too. But it gave me a hell of a fright at the time.

My point? I think the drivers are often more in control than we think.
After all, they do it every day for a living.

Just my 2c.

--
beerwolf (remove amphibian to reply by email)

 

[Peter Signorini]

"Resound" wrote:

> I seem to recall reading somewhere that motorists will generally give you
> about as much room as you are out from the gutter for some reason. It
> seems to work that way when I've thought about it and taken notice.

It's also all about motorists' perceptions of you. The typical lightly
loaded cyclist with a day pack is a linear figure. Motorist translation =
"don't need to allow much room". drivers overtake in a risky fashion,
cutting close as if you weren't there, unless you actively ride wide to
claim road space. By contrast a cyclist with two panniers (how I commute to
work) has a decided lateral bulge. Translation = "this guy is wider, might
scratch my duco". I get very few problems with cars cutting close.

Ten years ago when the kids were small, we had them in a two seater trailer.
This thing was low, but bright yellow and pink, and about a metre wide, a
big bright blob on the road. Motorist translation = "Whoa, what is that?
Better give it plenty of room while I have a gander". We could ride down
busy Dorset Rd in Boronia (4 lanes, undivided) and have no problems with
traffic. Everyone changed lanes fully to overtake us.

--
Cheers
Peter

~~~ ~ _@
~~ ~ _- \,
~~ (*)/ (*)

 

[Donga]

Beerwolf : (gotta love that name)
>My point? I think the drivers are often more in control than we think.

I'd like to think you are right. So would the cyclist who went under a
bus recently in Brissie. Ahh, you said 'often'! Don't be too confident
around the yellow Volvos.

Donga

 

[Zebee Johnstone]

In aus.bicycle on Thu, 23 Mar 2006 22:15:34 +1100
Peter Signorini <[email protected]> wrote:
> It's also all about motorists' perceptions of you. The typical lightly
> loaded cyclist with a day pack is a linear figure. Motorist translation =
> "don't need to allow much room". drivers overtake in a risky fashion,
> cutting close as if you weren't there, unless you actively ride wide to
> claim road space. By contrast a cyclist with two panniers (how I commute to
> work) has a decided lateral bulge. Translation = "this guy is wider, might
> scratch my duco". I get very few problems with cars cutting close.

Haven't had enough cars passing me to be sure, but every one who has,
has moved over a long way. The bent looks quite wide from the back
due to the mesh seat.

They've had the room to pass though as it's been mostly back streets
or lightly trafficked main streets in the suburbs.

Once I get out into more heavily used areas or at times with more
impatient motorists, that may change.

Zebee

 

[Karen Gallagher]

beerwolf wrote:
> eddiec wrote :
>> I hesitate to recommend it as a 'solution', but my approach has
>> simply been to avoid roads with buses wherever possible. Not that
>> I've had negative encounters, but it's just the constant pulling
>> over, overtaking, repeat, etc circus combined with diesel fumes
>> belched in your face that encourage me to find alternative routes...
>> Of course, that may not be possible in your neck of the woods...
>
> On quite a few occasions when travelling *in* a bus, I've been quite
> impressed by the closeness with which the driver has passed another
> bus (sometimes less than 6 inches clearance, this is at low speed in
> the CBD). I think most of the drivers have an extremely good sense
> of just where the boundaries of their vehicle are, relative to
> surrounds.
> Couple of months back I was riding on City Rd Newotwn, and came
> up behind a bus stopped at lights. Not wishing to breathe diesel, and
> without enuf room to filter thru on the left, I went up on his RHS
> (knew I could beat him in a standing start), took off like the
> clappers on the green and pulled over to the left when I was well in
> front (yes, it was rather rude of me). He passed me with literally
> *inches* to spare, I'm sure it was deliberate, also pretty sure he knew it
> was safe, and
> I think I deserved it too. But it gave me a hell of a fright at the
> time.
> My point? I think the drivers are often more in control than we
> think. After all, they do it every day for a living.
>
> Just my 2c.

I think you've missed the point - the suction effect of a bus passing a
cyclist is quite substantial, let alone the psychological effect, both
tending to draw you towards the bus as it passes. The closer the pass, the
greater the chance of a terminal wobble taking place. The fact that the bus
does not actually strike you is irrelevant at this stage, you're still
liable to be under its back wheels.

Karen

--
"I'd far rather be happy than right any day."
- Slartibartfast

 

[beerwolf]

Karen Gallagher wrote:
> I think you've missed the point - the suction effect of a bus passing a
> cyclist is quite substantial, let alone the psychological effect, both
> tending to draw you towards the bus as it passes. The closer the pass, the
> greater the chance of a terminal wobble taking place. The fact that the
> bus does not actually strike you is irrelevant at this stage, you're still
> liable to be under its back wheels.
>
> Karen

If the bus is passing at speed, I'm quite sure you're right - at least as
far as the suction effect is concerned. My comment and anecdote related
to being passed at a moderate speed (it was within 50 metres of a standing
start with another bus stop down the road a bit). I didn't feel any suction,
but
I can assure you that the psychological effect had me wanting to go very
fast
in the opposite direction.

--
beerwolf (remove amphibian to reply by email)

 

[John Pitts]

On 2006-03-22, Theo Bekkers <[email protected]> wrote:
> Some of our buses in Perth just belch steam.

Fuel cells??

--
John
Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love
- Albert Einstein

 

[Terry Collins]

John Pitts wrote:
> On 2006-03-22, Theo Bekkers <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>Some of our buses in Perth just belch steam.
>
>
> Fuel cells??

Hydrogen I think. 2H2 + 02 = H20 which gives steam

They'd be labelled.

Bing, could be methane ch4 + 3O2 = co2 + 2H20

 

[Theo Bekkers]

John Pitts wrote:
> Theo Bekkers wrote:

>> Some of our buses in Perth just belch steam.

> Fuel cells??

Hydrogen. We have eight I think.

Theo

 

[Tamyka Bell]

Zebee Johnstone wrote:
>
<snip>
> Haven't had enough cars passing me to be sure, but every one who has,
> has moved over a long way. The bent looks quite wide from the back
> due to the mesh seat.
<snip>

Sure, blame it on the seat...

;-)

"Honey, does this mesh seat make my bum look big?"

Tam