Hey all,
I had a really close call when biking home last evening.. I was going west on 26Ave. SW, heading towards Killarney. There was a full size Calgary Transit bus that was stopping at the bus stops. He stopped in front of me the first time, I signalled and passed on his left. The second time he stayed behind me because I was approaching the next bus stop about the same time as him.. he passed me again and when I caught up he was pulled over into the bike lane, stopped at the lights at 29 Street, only leaving about 2 feet between the bus and the curb. I assumed he was pulling to the right ahead of time because there is a bus stop just on the other side of the intersection.. annoyed, I decided to ride by on the right (because I'm making a right turn on 29th), but right at the moment I was approaching the front of the bus, I realized that the doors were open and he was letting someone off before the bus stop. I barely had time to process this information in my head when I see a leg and body stepping off the bus!! It was an older lady, and I swerved and fortunately missed her! But I couldn't help but thinking if I was about 2 seconds further back, what might have happened.
So 2 things.. First, I was annoyed at myself for making the poor decision to ride by the bus on the right and almost hitting a person (especially an older lady), when I could have just waited.. and only lost ~30 seconds.
Second, I was annoyed at the bus driver who pulled across the bike lane to let somebody out BEFORE the actual bus stop..
Any thoughts as to what the rules are in this situation? I think "never pass a bus on the right" is probably the first one. :) I remember when I used to take Calgary Transit all the time that "nice" bus drivers will let you off at red lights if you ask politely... but I never really thought of it from the other standpoint. Seeing as there was no bus stop there, I did NOT expect a person to be getting off (although I will next time). So what are your thoughts? Is Calgary Transit pretty much allowed to cross back and forth on bike lanes at their leisure, or are they only allowed to do it at actual bus stops?
I'm not trying to blame the bus driver... again, I should have just waited instead of trying to prove my point. Drivers that pass you and then purposely squeeze over as close to the right as possible so you can't get back by them at red lights are a pet peeve of mine. That's what I thought he was doing.. I thought wrong.
"Nice" bus drivers...
Submitted by row_wood on
I can see that happening. I bet that it didn't even cross the driver's mind that a vehicle could possibly be between his bus and the curb, given that there was only a couple of feet. Calgary Transit should be concerned, for if you had hit that lady and injured her, it would have been because the driver was operating outside CT guidelines.
I would send the note that you just posted to Calgary Transit. It is highly likely that this possibility has never been brought to their attention, as bike lanes are somewhat new in this town.
Thanks for sharing this event. I will be more cautious should I encounter a similar situation. Because there was enough room left on the bike lane for me, I also would likely have gone through there without thinking about the risk of being doored.
Calgary Transit
Submitted by ivan on
Well Birchy You should be comended on your effort for self assement of the situation.
Let me just say that I am not a big fan of Calgary Transit's as the they often seem to feel that the rules of the Province do not apply to them.
So on with what happen to you. You are right in that a bike lane is restricted to bikes Now not knowing this intersectionn specifically I have to just comment on the basics. The bike lanes if you notice have solid white lines tha break to broken lines at alleys, bus stops and intersections. Solid white lines denotes differnt lanes of trave in the same lane. It is illegal to cross a solid white line car or cycle. If you have ever noticed that when approaching and intersection usually multiple lanes and traffic signal that the dotted lines turn to solid that means no lane changing. That should cover your second point.
Your first point is that you should have waited is correct. Passing on the right is illegal period. Your pet peeve is kinda a lost cause in a way. If the cars passed you legally on the left and if you want to be considered traffic you should in all technically senses keep your place in line at the red light. If you want to be respected as a legimate part of traffic you respect the other users of the road as well. Now for the realistic part will you get a ticket of for passing on the right next to the curb? In all likely hood if there is no issues or collision, no you will not get a ticket. As for getting past someone who has squeezed over so you can not get past. Do you really want them behind you or just let them go and they are where you can see them.
I guess it kinda boils down to if you would not make that maneuver in car there is good chance you should not being doing it on a cycle.
Row_wood, You are right about the bus but if you hit the lady while passing on the right of the bus you would most likely being be found to be legally responsible.
It is not illegal to cross a
Submitted by Richard Z on
It is not illegal to cross a single white line: http://www.canlii.org/en/ab/laws/regu/alta-reg-304-2002/latest/alta-reg-...
15(1) When operating a vehicle on a highway,
(b) in the case of a highway in an urban area where a single solid line only exists between traffic lanes, a person shall not drive the vehicle so that the vehicle or any portion of the vehicle crosses the single solid line from one traffic lane to another except when overtaking and passing another vehicle;
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (1) and unless prohibited by a traffic control device, a person driving a vehicle may, whether within or outside of an urban area, drive the vehicle on a highway so as to cross a single solid line or, if outside an urban area, a double solid line for the following purposes:
(a) when necessary to turn left onto a highway or into a private road or driveway;
(b) when necessary on entering the highway from a private road or driveway;
(c) when necessary to enter a parking lane on the right side of the centre line.
It is also not in general illegal to pass on the right, although squeezing past a bus on the right is especially when that bus is letting off passengers (as it can't be done safely)
http://www.canlii.org/en/ab/laws/regu/alta-reg-304-2002/latest/alta-reg-...
22(1) A person driving a vehicle may drive the vehicle so as to overtake and pass on the right of another vehicle
(a) when the vehicle being overtaken is making a left turn or the person driving the overtaken vehicle has signalled that person’s intention to make a left turn, or
(b) in the case of a one-way highway, where the roadway
(i) is of sufficient width for 2 or more lines of moving vehicles, and
(ii) is free from obstructions.
(2) Where a highway has 2 or more traffic lanes on the same side of the centre line for vehicles travelling in the same direction, a person driving a vehicle that is
(a) overtaking another vehicle travelling in the same direction may pass on the right or left of the other vehicle if there is a traffic lane available for passing to the right or the left of the traffic lane being used by the vehicle being overtaken,
Corrected.
Submitted by ivan on
I will stand corrected on the White line issue till I can find the exerpt again form the Alberta Rules of the Road.
The passing on the right I disagree. as when a Cyclist is passing on the right where there is no bike lane the act specifically says
"vehicle if there is a traffic lane available for passing to the right or the left of the traffic lane being used by the vehicle being"
if there is a traffic lane available. Now if you consider yourself traffic and want the lane you can not therefore invent one on the right between vehicles and the curb.
There is no lane and therefore no passing on the right.
passing on the right
Submitted by 2wheeler on
Passing on the right hand side is not illegal. If you think you know the law then why don't you quote it ? Try reading section 22 of the Traffic Safety Act. Educate yourself before you misinform others.
2wheeler
Submitted by ivan on
Lanes can not be invented and are defined. If there is two lanes aproaching a traffic signal how does a third vehicle fit there ( cycle or car)
Please see the discussion above.
I will re read the section 22.
So I assume you come to a complete stop all stop signs and red lights, yield to pedestrians at cross walks and never ride on the side walk.
Chill
Submitted by ryker on
It's okay to break the law sometimes. Jesus was a lawbreaker.
Incorrect Assumptions
Submitted by 2wheeler on
Please, before you expound on what is legal and illegal, read the Traffic Safety Act. A lane is an area in which your vehicle fits whether or not it is delineated by a line. Lanes are created all the time, if you've ever driven around Calgary's industrial parks there are very few lanes desingated by lines, but lots of room for people to pass on either side. Your assumptions regarding what constitutes a lane are incorrect. See below for a quote from the Traffic Safety Act.
(t) “traffic lane” means
(i) outside an urban area, a longitudinal division of a roadway into a strip of sufficient width to accommodate the passage of a single line of vehicles but does not include a parking lane, and
(ii) inside an urban area, a longitudinal division of a roadway into a strip of sufficient width to accommodate the passage of a single line of vehicles,
whether or not the division is indicated by lines on the road surface.
Aside from the bus mishap..
Submitted by birchy on
Aside from the bus mishap.. Drivers pass me in the same lane when I'm going too slow.. so I'll pass them in the same lane when they're going to slow. Simple as that.
Passing buses on the right = really dumb!
Submitted by critninja on
Passing on the right, whether it is legal or not, is a recipe to get killed sometimes. Cetainly running up the right hand side of a line of stopped vehicles is possible and done all the time by bikers - but - passing a single vehicle that you are leap frogging is a recipe to be right hooked and killed.
Especially buses!
Dont be dead dumbass.
bike lane pass
Submitted by 2wheeler on
If you read the scenario he passed the bus while riding in the bike lane (on 26th Ave). The bus was stopped, partially obstructing the bike lane, but not at a desingated stop. I really don't think you can fault the cyclist for using the lane designated to them, even if it's a dashed line at the intersection.
Bus and Bike Lane
Submitted by Smokey Crow on
26 Avenue is a shared bus/bike lane with both the triangle and bike symbol painted on the pavement along the entire stretch and, though very rarely, the buses sometimes travel in this lane between stops and are legally able too, but for the most part use the car lane.
There was one time where a bus suddenly stopped infront of me to drop a passenger off on 26th and it wasn't clear at the time what he was doing but I saw how doing this can be a dangerous thing if they aren't paying attention to cyclists sharing the same lane but passing on the right is something I would be very cautious about, that is foresure.
Yep, you're right. I paid
Submitted by birchy on
Yep, you're right. I paid closer attention yesterday on the ride home and it's definitely a shared lane. I accept half the blame for this one.. I would take all the blame except that he was letting someone off where there was no bus stop. :)
Portland Transit Operator's Cyclist Awareness Bulletin
Submitted by row_wood on
This discussion has taken a turn with the discovery that 26th Ave is a shared bike/bus lane. A related discussion came up today on BikePortland.org http://bikeportland.org/2012/07/12/trimet-focuses-on-safety-with-close-call-videos-busbike-training-bulletin-74585 , where they quoted the Trimet document Training Bulletin: Cyclist Awareness and Safety and provided a link to the full text at http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/2012-07-12-Bikes-Training-Bulletin.pdf . One doesn't have to agree with every sentence in the document and you could wish that a few other points had been covered, but it is heartening to see the effort made to address conflict between cyclists and transit vehicles.