a mere second away from becoming pancake

[badger]

I'm still shaken by the knowledge that I could very well have been hit by a bus yesterday morning.

I was nearing the end of my commute at an intersection. That particular intersection has a house with a brick wall that obscures my line of vision so I can't see the oncoming traffic much beyond 20 feet. I'd have to literally put myself within inches of rushing traffic to see (it's a very narrow street, too).

The light turned green so I pushed off. I heard a honk - and thank god for that, or I would have smacked right into or worse, ran over, by the bus. He ran the light and by the time he crossed it, it had turned red. I stopped just in time to feel the huge whoosh of air.

Needless to say I nearly pooped my pants. I complained to the bus company and they said they'll investigate. uh huh.

[crazycanuck]

Holy Moly!!!

Are you able to veer onto any side streets to avoid this type of situation? At the intersection, can you jump onto the footpath for a few seconds?

Glad you're ok!

[Mr. Bloom]

Glad you're OK!

Just for giggles, you might follow up with the bus company asking what their investigation revealed...make 'em squirm just a bit...you might also ask them to describe for you their safety training about yellow lights, cyclists, etc

[Grog]

I'm really, really glad you're okay.

Wow, where is that?

Glad you called Translink, too.

I was sitting at Granville and King Edward (25th) the other day, waiting for a bus. At EVERY SINGLE LIGHT CYCLE (yes, I'm screaming) there was at least one car that went through a red light. Not a yellow. A RED.

Now, cycling or driving, I take it for granted that I have to wait at least a few seconds before taking off on a green. Ridiculous.

Glad you're okay. *gentle hug*

[OakLeaf]

Yikes, glad you're okay!

Extra careful with those blind intersections. We have several of those downtown, and there are accidents pretty much weekly in spite of light traffic.

[tctrek]

Very, very scary! I would have done more than "nearly" poop my pants!!
So glad that you are ok!

[surgtech1956]

Glad you're OK. Riding my bicycle isn't enough, I also ride a motorcycle. Just throwing this out there, but any thoughts about having your light on????

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Is there any way you can get off your bike and WALK through that section?
I sometimes opt to become a pedestrian when navigating extra dangerous traffic spots. Cars definitely see pedestrians better and also give them more respect.

[spindizzy]

Glad you're ok!

I take it for granted that there will be one or two cars running reds. Even in my car I wait. I'm starting to see more and more red light cameras at intersections, but I'm not sure it's going to help these idiots who think they are above the law.

[Blueberry]

I'm really getting ticked at the bus drivers 'round here. I've seen about 4 run red (not yellow) lights recently. I've almost been hit on my bike and as a pedestrian by more than one. I know everybody's under lots of stress right now, but geez....please remember you're driving a huge vehicle.

CA

[badger]

yeah, those buses are horrible. If they're not running reds, they're blocking the intersection. Sometimes they don't even "run" reds, they just mosey through like they own the road. Grr

I almost got run over at a very busy intersection by a bus hell bent on turning right - I was walking my bike as it's very heavy with pedestrian traffic. I admit I was on a blinking red hand signal, but I still had the right of way but this eh-hole decided that he's going to turn right regardless. I banged on the side of the bus as it certainly was going to hit me. The driver jumped out and started throwing a hissy fit and yelling holy h3ll.

I wrote to them about that one, too, and and all they did was "oh, so sorry". The response I got for this fracas was basically them saying "oh, so sorry, we'll conduct our own investigation but due to the nature of it being internal, we can't tell you what we find". Translation: we're not going to bother.

Grog: it's a small pedestrian-controlled light at Princess and Prior. I hate crossing that street, it's like playing Frogger.

[uforgot]

Time to step it up then. Surely there are others you can write! The city? Department of transportation? The local police? Local bike advocacy? Sounds like something needs to be done before someone is seriously hurt, car or bike!

[Grog]

I could dig out the name of the guy at Translink that took care of my complaint last fall. Really nice guy.

This being said, though, they effectively cannot tell you about the outcome, and they won't no matter what. But in some cases they'll talk to the driver, especially if it looks like the manoeuvre was intentional.

[shootingstar]

Wow, badger. Some bus drivers are ok on the road, others are real a**holes. Glad you are in 1 piece.

Some just hate their jobs..and I say this after taking a transit bus daily for part of my work commute for last few years. But still no excuse for illegal, dangerous driving.

I'm seeing alot more cars blowing through red lights in last few years. Just scary.

A long time ago, I was hit by a car as a pedestrian that ran a red light, as soon I started to cross the intersection.

[badger]

I don't think there was any malice on the part of the driver. I think it was simply that he was going faster than he should, didn't want to or, more likely, couldn't stop for the light and didn't see me due to the same brick wall that was blocking my view of him.

I got hit at an intersection as a pedestrian, too. Had the green light and everything but the girl didn't see me as she was rushing to turn left. That one was even closer, I did get hit, and I was really only a split second from death or becoming vegetable.

So, I guess the moral of all this is to trust no driver, and be super vigilant when you're in a crosswalk as a pedestrian or a cyclist. At least in a car you have a wee bit of a blanket of protection.