An MBTA fun fact
By adamg - Thu, 10/08/2009 - 6:00am.
Well, maybe not fun, exactly, but still a fact, at least when it comes to MBTA buses vs. bicycles.
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Sanctimonius bicycle riders.
Sanctimonius bicycle riders. Please, oh please tell me that this artist/velocipedian has never ran a red light, ignored a stop sign, blown over a crosswalk when pedestrians are crossing, and always uses hand signals when turning.
I love being told to "share" the road while our two wheeled friends feel like they can do whatever they please.
Who is the sanctimonious one here?
My vote goes to the guy who thinks that driving a large piece of heavy equipment makes him king of the road and gives him special rights.
Consider this: most cyclists have a license to drive and passed the same test as motorists.
How is it 'sanctimonious' to
How is it 'sanctimonious' to call an MBTA bus driver an asshole if that MBTA bus driver is 'blatantly running a red light' ? Because none of us were there, let's just assume that the facts stand on their own. If you don't want to, let's take it as a hypothetical. If a bus driver runs a red light and almost hits a biker, or a car, or child going to school, or *anyone at all*, is that bus driver an asshole? I'd say yes.
But MBTA buses never endanger people!
OOPS!
I am not trying to say the
I am not trying to say the MBTA driver is right. What I am trying to say is that when I sit at a red light, say Harvard and Brighton Avenue, and watch 3 bikers slow down, look and see if any traffic is coming, and then go through the light and down Brighton Avenne while I stay at the light, I feel a hard time having to feel sympathy for people interpeting the rules as they see fit.
There is a huge do as I say, not as I do mentality with bicyclists in Boston.
Um
You do realize that when a bicyclist runs a red light (as opposed to say a car or a bus) they don't have the capacity to really kill anyone but themselves, right?
Please
"You do realize that when a bicyclist runs a red light (as opposed to say a car or a bus) they don't have the capacity to really kill anyone but themselves, right?"
Really, Do you drive in Boston? How about this; Byclist runs red light, driver with green light (i.e. the right of way) going across intersection swerves to avoid killing law breaking bicyclist. Driver with right of way in process of swerving/breaking hits another car and/or pedestrians crossing againt light to make inbound Government Center trolley. Flattened BU grad student, minor or seriously hurt drivers/passengers of cars. That never could happen at the intersection of Comm.Ave and Harvard. Never would happen at Harvard and Beacon, never, right?
Have you ever driven in the Financial District? Bike couriers going the wrong way down streets, swearving through traffic. I have a bike, I have a car. I try to follow the rules as best I can with both. If the person who almost got hit with the bus, gets the bus number, calls 617-222-1212, the driver can be reported and warned/disciplined. That works better than trying to rip off the cover of Slaves of New York and posting it online.
You would think it would work but..
I actually got HIT by a bus. Yes. Hit, while on my bike. Luckily I was simply knocked over and not, you know, killed. I ran after the bus and when it stopped at the red light I yelled 'you just hit me, I need your information!' through the door. She, without opening the door, yelled back, 'I don't have to.' I called the MBTA, gave them the bus number and the description of the incident and the driver AND her reaction to my telling her she hit me. Guess what their reaction was. 'Oh, she has been with the MBTA for 19 years, we are very confidant that she is a competent operator.' (I only got hit by her after she swerved in and out of the bike lane over and over...competent my ass) She remained on duty, and if she got a warning, they didn't need any more information from me to tender it because I never heard another thing.
My feeling is, if hitting me doesn't count, then me hitting things doesn't count, right? :D
But seriously, I stop at red lights. I like breathing, I'm damn good at it.
You should have called the police
Unfortunately you didn't, and she is still driving a bus. This second part is your fault, as much as her hitting you is hers. Call the correct authorities. The MBTA knows that if you're calling them, you're not calling the police. Why would they do anything?
...
...
Enough.
If a cyclist runs a red light and hits a car (or gets hit), guess who gets hurt?
If a car or bus runs a red light and hits a cyclist, guess who gets hurt?
Let the cyclists look out for themselves. If they run red lights and get hurt, dial 911, and then feel free to point and laugh if you're that kind of person.
If you're driving anything with an engine, STOP AT THE FUCKING RED LIGHT.
I've had bicyclists running red lights nearly hit me....
...when crossing (as a pedestrian) at a cross walk (with the walk light). Because the bicyclist are riding between lanes of cars, one can't see them until they are practically IN the cross-walk themselves.
Don't look at me...
I agree completely that cyclist that wantonly run red lights are leotarded losers who are endangering not just themselves but others as well, but the danger is GENERALLY not that of grievous bodily harm and death if simply hit by a cyclist, unless you're an infant or an elderly person or lying prone and naked in the street. I challenge you to find me a case of death by cyclist - I know they exist, I do, they are just REALLY rare.
If you're driving or RIDING anything, then stop at the red light
AND wait for the light to turn green.
That's what the law requires.
And please, don't give me that tired old nonsense that bicyclists shouldn't have to stop at red lights or stop signs if the cross street is clear because they need to maintain momentum or get a "head start" on other traffic.