concern for people on bikes.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)
In the coming weeks, the Stakeholder Advisory Committee for the North Williams Traffic Operations Safety Project will hammer out a formal recommendation to PBOT on how to improve bike access on the street. One of the considerations they’ll take into account is the safety of the bicycling environment and how people operating cars, bikes, and buses interact on the street.
Today I got an email from reader Craig H. that underscores one of the urgent public safety issues the Williams project aims to address — the dangerous proximity of humans on bicycles with multi-ton steel vehicles that pass by just inches away.
Here’s Craig’s story:
“I realized my helmet had been grazed by the bus’s side mirror.”
Monday, I was riding northbound on N Williams, hugging the left side of the bike lane, as I normally do when passing parked cars [in order to avoid the door zone]. At about NE Thompson, I was startled by a light “thwack” on the left side of my helmet. My instant thought was “tree branch”, but my startling carried on as a TriMet bus passed me within an elbow’s reach.
I realized my helmet had been grazed by the bus’s side mirror.
The mirror is positioned fairly high, but my riding posture [on a Yuba Mundo cargo bike] is also rather upright on an already tall seat.
My adrenaline rushed and I pedaled hard to catch up to the bus at its next stop. The traffic light at N Russel turned red and the bus stopped. I approached its door from the bike lane, and a TriMet staffer stood at the doors as they opened, to greet me. I was still shaken and upset and I stood there demanding that a formal report be made. It turns out that the bus was being driven by a new trainee, and the staffer who greeted me a the door was his trainer. He suggested we pull to the side to exchange information.
Once we were stopped at the curb, he offered to call his supervisor and/or police, and I said that the supervisor would be sufficient. I apologized for being so demanding earlier, and everyone was gracious about the whole thing. A supervisor arrived and took my information for a TriMet report and said that the video would probably be reviewed and there would possibly some other internal follow-up from the incident.
I wanted to share this because of all the blog comments about the danger people feel when riding in the bike lane on N Williams.
Thanks for sharing this Craig. I hope PBOT is able to move forward on improvements very soon.
glad no one was hurt and glad to see it was worked out in an amiable manner. Thanks to all involved.
Thanks Jonathan for sharing this. I’ll let you know what I learn after following up on the report number given me by the TriMet supervisor. The driver, trainer, supervisor…all treated the situation with patience and understanding (so did I after the initial adrenaline rush had passed). While we waited for the supv to arrive, we chatted about the proposed TriMet cuts.
Just yesterday (Tuesday) several cyclists (Myself included) were moving through the Rose Quarter at the intersection with Multnomah where cyclists are on the left of the bus lane when Bus #2139 (Line 44) abruptly and rapidly moved away from the stop and into our path without signaling at all, forcing everyone to stop their accelerating momentum rather suddenly to avoid being hit. At the light on the North end of Wheeler I informed the bus driver of his negligence, which he seemed to already be aware of but not apologetic for. He continued driving quickly and erratically up Williams for as long as I was behind him.
If bus drivers are going to be sharing the streets with the highest volumes bike traffic, there should be special training involved in understanding how to share the road with all users (Ideally this would happen on all lines, but that may be a long time coming).
I had a driver do the same thing to me last year. When I caught up to him asked him if he didn’t see me while I turned my bars and shined my light in his face, he said he did see me.
Apparently the drivers think they have priority when leaving the Rose Quarter stop and don’t have to wait for other traffic to clear. They will simply drive right through anyone who is to their left.
If they have their turn signal on and the yield sign flashing they do have right of way.
I believe they’re held the the same standard as other movements into traffic, i.e. with sufficient warning ahead of time “so as not to constitute an immediate hazard”–a phrase which is used time and time again in the ORS to define right of way for movements into traffic.
There is a standard, but it’s not the same. http://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/811.167 Essentially if you can stop for the bus to enter traffic you must stop. While it may seem like the drivers are being rude and inconsiderate by pulling out and making you lose momentum, they are usually acting within their rights and ORS.
That doesn’t describe the obligation of the (bus) pulling out, but that of other vehicles already in traffic approaching from the rear. It doesn’t seem to diminish what I’m supposing (above) about the standard for entering traffic safely.
Hmm, I think we may be arguing different points. I was reacting to the comments above who were complaining about buses pulling out in front of them in a transit mall area. My point is that as non-bus traffic, when the bus pulls off to the side you should be preparing yourself to yield right of way when they need to pull back into traffic. This is true on every road, but especially if you’re in a bus mall. If you don’t know that you have to yield right of way to the bus and then get upset when they exert their right, you’re getting upset for your own failings.
If a car or bike is right up alongside the bus, then yes the bus must yield to the person, but if you’re behind the bus with enough room to stop for the bus then you have to yield. You should also be anticipating the expected (covering your brake) if you are coming up on a bus pulled to the side on a stop. Most cars and bikes don’t do this. Buses, in an effort to keep to schedules often force cars/bikes to follow the law. This upsets some cars/bikes who feel that the bus unfairly inconvenienced them by making them apply their brakes.
For the first time ever, I reported a driver in September to Trimet. He was driving a #4 and cut off numerous cyclists and nearly hit a few of us between Rose Quarter and Emmanuel. When I tried to get his attention, he just honked at me.
I assumed it was common knowledge that a solid number of Trimet drivers openly loathe cyclists.
Seems like a lot of cyclists openly loathe drivers, too.
Yeah, well the difference here being one of them is swathed in ten tons of metal – there’s no consequence near that of the cyclist’s if there’s a collision. In general I’m all for buses, but I’ve seen them jump across two lanes of traffic to go from stop to left turn a half block ahead on NW 6th, where I had to hit the brakes to keep from being plowed under. I don’t care if he did signal; no one’s expecting that maneuver and I doubt crossing the second lane is even legal when traffic is present. It’s the equivalent of my pressing the gas to beat one of those idiot pedestrians with the nerve to step into the crosswalk ahead of me. Gee, now what’s he so pissed about?
Glad to hear that Craig is OK.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been 4 years to the week that Austin Miller was hit and killed by a TriMet bus.
This happens *so* frequently I’m surprised no one has really been hurt yet. The parked cars on the right side of the street, particularly between Freemont & Shaver, force riders to hug the left side of the bike lane. I almost got clipped by a flat-bed truck’s trailer a few months ago. Missed my head by about a foot. Still gives me the heeby-jeebies…
Get the video, they have five days to give it to you, if Jonathan doesn’t post it send it to me…
I’ve seen vehicles drive unnecessarily close to the bike lane, as well, when there is no car next to them in left lane. Nearly putting a wheel on the white line for no reason while a bicyclist is trying to stay out the door zone.
I suspect this is being done intentionally in a “teach those damn bike riders a lesson” kind of way.
“You have to stay in the bike lane and I will threaten you with my 2 ton vehicle to make sure you don’t encroach on my territory.”
“I suspect this is being done intentionally in a “teach those damn bike riders a lesson” kind of way. ”
I used to think this for a while but then I started watching the lane placement habits of drivers more from my car, as a pedestrian and on my bike. I notice this the most when I am waiting for the bus watching oncoming traffic – it gives a good vantage point and decent statistical sample size.
I think the “close calls” (and I have had my share) result from drivers putting their driver’s seat and not their car in the middle of the road. Right there is a loss of about 3 feet – the zone of safety if you fall from your bike or have to dodge crap in the bike lane or an opening car door.
Drivers think they are passing safely but because their vehicle is way over to the right, they don’t. An update to the DMV manuals and maybe some big billboards might help.
through segment four, as they are calling it these days, cook to skidmore or thereabouts, the bike lane is itself a hazard. i do not ride at the left edge of the bike lane, i ride to the left of the bike lane altogether, a foot or two into the travel lane. no motorist has any difficulty figuring out how close they can safely pass me in the lane. they can’t. they have to put a wheel into the next lane. if there is overtaking traffic in the next lane, they have to wait. someone somewhere might get annoyed, though frankly there is usually enough going on in the bike lane that anyone can see why i am not there.
i hate to always be sounding like the vehicular curmudgeon here, but: hey, people, protect yourselves. ignore those stupid lines.
You can usually tell if someone is intentionally giving you a close brush, because my experience is that as soon as they pass you, their heads will shoot right to the rear-view mirror in order to ascertain whether they gotta rise out of you.
I think most people drive unnecessarily close to the bike lane because they have no idea of where the passenger side of their car is– no idea of how wide their car is, or where they are positioned in the lane.
Most people aren’t driving the line maliciously, they’re doing it because they have no clue.
Also, if you watch when you’re not riding, like when driving or riding the Max, such a huge number of drivers ignore the bike lane, always driving with a wheel or two over the white line.
This is the ingrained habit they revert to when not paying attention.
I’ve seen that right side mirror come uncomfortably close to cyclist’s heads who were riding in front of me on several occasions. While I don’t think it is intentional behavior on the bus driver’s part, I think it is something that maybe Trimet should start paying attention to.
i often bumped right mirror when I came out of bus to get my bike. I think it hung a bit low.
Damn near knocked myself out w/one of those mirrors… I trying to board a bus after loading my bike
This section of Williams must go on a diet…one lane for motorized traffic and one big fat bike lane. Further north with New Seasons going in and vacant lots sprouting apartment buildings, its time that PDC put some Interstate URA $ in play to do a whole new street design as was done on Killingworth and lower Russell. Wider sidewalks, generous bike lanes and parking for retail will only leave room for a single traffic lane. It’s becoming a place to go, and no longer a place to get through.
I was over there yesterday going south on one lane Vancouver…a nice moderately paced string of cars, then back north on Williams…cars racing by in the second lane like its I-5. This has got to go!
+9,000
seriously, what’s with uber narrow sidewalks in this town?! Time to allocate some road space to other modes. Even Seattle streets are more balanced. Although nothing is as bad as the travesty of 39th ave.
I’ve seen this kind of aggressive behavior from Trimet drivers on Williams as well particularly when they are pulling in/out of the stop just north of Broadway. I filed a complaint after a particularly egregious incident, but since I couldn’t give a complete physical description of the driver, I was told there was nothing they could do. Apparently the time and route and bus numbers were not enough, I called CS, in so many words, for being afraid to take on the union, but got nowhere.
I am actually pretty forgiving with Trimet drivers because impatient fellow road users are often reluctant to let them change lanes or pull back into traffic in front of them. Must be particularly frustrating when you are expected to keep a schedule as part of your job. Doesn’t excuse, however, the few bad apples or Trimet’s piss poor system for disciplining them. I’m glad Trimet staff were responsive this time, but if it hadn’t been a trainee driving an empty bus, my guess is that Craig would have been ignored.
I have the same issue with buses in Gresham. So, now I avoid bus routes all together.
Bike lanes adjacent to parallel parking are a danger for many reasons, including the basic premise of this story. The cyclist has to hug the left side of the lane for fear of being doored, but is then in danger of being hit from behind or in this case, by a stray mirror (right hooks into/out of driveways and people who pull out of parallel parking spaces without looking are others). Why oh why do we continue to install such facilities that put us more in harms way than if we were simply to take the lane? Because it’s more convenient for motor vehicle operators, who would then actually have to change lanes to pass. I am glad the cyclist in this incident wasn’t injured, but certainly not all will be so lucky.
Please, no more bike lanes adjacent to parallel parking, it’s an accident waiting to happen.
I’ve been told Tri-Met was behind the 35mph exclusion to the 3ft law..In other news.. Ca. Gov Brown Vetoed the same basic law @ 15mph.
Move the bike route to Rodney. Get some seperation from bikes and buses. It will be a much more enjoyable ride without the fumes and doors opening, buses cutting in and out, less worrysome for children, safer for everyone
No. Unacceptable.
All commercial corridors should have supreme bike facilities. All of them. No excuses.
What is the result of not calling the cops (is there any)? I am assuming if the cops were called a report would have been taken and our city would have this in there stats for accidents. Recording and having that information available to city planners seems important. Maybe that is not the right assumption though.
It’s odd a new driver would pass that close to a cyclist. Usually drivers of large vehicle believe they are closer to objects than they are, and err far on the side of caution, until they become more comfortable with the vehicle.
I’d say maybe he simply did not know where the mirror was, but for the mirror to hit someone’s head, the side of the bus itself must have been less than 18 inches from the cyclist.
A big troubleshot for me is going west foster underneath the 205 overpass. There will be 2-4 busses, back to back. Often they are partially in the bike lane. They stop here for long periods of time, not picking or dropping people off (not sure why). Having to take the lane on Foster at 5pm rush hour is an absolute nightmare. I have had a couple close calls where I felt I was about to get sandwiched between a bus and a car.
I’m about done with the zone 4 bike lane on Williams. I came as close as I ever have to being doored last night, instinctively ducked out of the way, and as you all know getting out of the door zone on Williams puts you in the traffic lane, as the door zone and bike lane are one and the same. It’s sheer dumb luck I’m not a red spot being hosed off the asphalt.
Dear City of Portland: If I get maimed on Williams, I’m suing. Big time. If you don’t fix it by June 1, I’m taking the lane at my pokey 11-12 miles an hour until you do. Consider yourself on notice. Who’s with me??
I’m sure a lawyer will very happy to take your several hundred dollars per hour. 😉
Ummm no. Personal injury cases are almost exclusively taken on a contingency basis. Instead of a fee, the attorney takes a percentage of the settlement or jury award. The plaintiff doesn’t have to pony up anything and the attorney pays all the costs.
End the mandatory sidepath law!
This is the downside of bike lanes. When I’m on streets without them, people give me much more room.
I think it’s all too common for people driving large vehicles to forget that they have large mirrors projecting off the sides of their vehicles. While they might think they are not driving in the bike lane, they in fact are. This is an education issue. All drivers need to be aware of this. But people riding bikes also need to realize that if they are riding on the line of the bike lane that nearly half of their profile projects outside of the bike lane. I guess what I’m trying to say is that if you’re riding on the line of the bike lane, you might be fooling yourself into thinking you are in a safe zone, but in fact it might be safer to take the lane if adjacent parked cars pose a threat of opening doors.
I’ve rarely ridden Williams, but in similar circumstances I usually try to look for car occupants in parked cars, so as to anticipate possible doorings. But if I can’t see clearly I have no qualms about taking the lane.
And I’m glad that Craig was wearing a helmet, even if the wider profile of his helmet ‘may’ have contributed to getting wacked in the first place. If he’d been hit in the head without it, it could have been ugly.
maybe it’s time to boycott the bike lane on williams? if most riders who go that way would do it (by taking the lane) until the city finds a reasonably safe solution, i doubt it would go unnoticed. same goes for sw broadway and any other highly dangerous door zones. bike swarm williams anyone?