This time it was an RTD driver – as reported by the Close Call Database:
This one involved an RTD bus. I am happy to report that the cyclist was riding with a video camera, captured the incident on file, and the RTD driver was cited. Hopefully RTD will choose to address all of their drivers to remind them that this behavior is illegal and dangerous.
5170 Table Mesa Dr, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
RTD bus
License Plate: CO 656-AQA
I was traveling Eastbound on Table Mesa Dr, starting up the overpass over US 36.
An RTD bus passed me driving on the white line on the edge of the bike lane, with the side of the bus about 12″ from my left hand.
After passing me, it returned to the center of its lane.
This was reported to Boulder PD, (using their excellent online complaint system).
Driver has been cited for violation of 42-4-1003 (b) (Passing bicycle on the left with less than 3′ clearance).
I don’t want to make light of this or make this a political debate. What that driver did was dangerous and I am glad he suffered the consequences of this actions.
Here is where I get controversial. The bus was a RTD bus, but the tag number on the bus in the upper right corner of the bus ends in the letter “F”. The driver is NOT a RTD driver, but a subcontracted employee from First Transit. By Colorado law, 30% of all RTD routes are driven by inferior subcontracted drivers. RTD drivers receive, on average, double the training hours as the subcontracted drivers and account for 4 times the accidents.
As anybody who has worked at RTD knows there is a massive amount of anti-bicycle hate within the company and that includes management. I’ve heard bus driving instructors tell students to run bikes off of the road and to disobey the 3 foot rule. Typically the training regarding bicycle riders takes up about 3 minutes and it consists of repeating the same tired old stereotypes about bike riders, “they run stop lights all the time” “they don’t pay taxes…” The usual BS. That bus was operated by First Transit so under their contract with RTD they should get a liquidated damage charged for failing to follow proper traffic laws. Anybody want to guess if it happens?
Nicely done. Good to see some justice. In Flagstaff Arizona a similar incident happened but the city charged the cyclist. That cyclist single handle educated the whole police department and attorney’s office. Got everything reversed
https://youtu.be/8imU93A7mLk
I got buzzed by the Baseline RTD a few days ago (215 route?). The driver put the bus at least a foot over the white line.
Almost exactly the same thing happened to me with a JeffCo school bus on 86th Parkway near Stanley Lake about a week ago. Wasn’t riding with a camera unfortunately. Did have a “chat” with the bus driver at her next stop. Her opinion was that I should have moved over more (I was in the middle of the substantial bike lane as far as I could be considering road debris) and that “all you guys” are always ignoring traffic laws. SMH.
Sure doesn’t look like the bike lane width meets the standard 5′. Seems like the City of Boulder signs and stripes their shoulders as “bike lanes” when in fact they don’t meet standard and provide a false sense of security for cyclists. They should fix this problem.
Also, if the law is to provide a 3′ separation between cars and cyclists, why aren’t their any signs along the roadways to demonstrate this?
As mentioned by other commenters this bus is contracted to RTD. The contracted buses can easily be identified by the letter next to their number and there is sign just behind the front door noting the contractor’s info. Whenever you have a problem with RTD call 303-299-6000. That is their complaint number or use their website’s contact page.You might get a response or you might get a generic “gee we’re so sorry” response. If you are sure that it is a private contractor bus there are two managers at RTD to contact. It is their job to oversee these buses and they will be happy to help. They also oversee the smaller Access-a-ride buses that look like vans.
Carolyn Conover, senior manager of contracted services: 303-299-2551. carolyn.conover@rtd-denver.com
Gregory Smith, Manager of competitive services: 303-299-6262. gregory.smith@rtd-denver.com