Overtaking stopped buses

[stowie]

OK, so I have been cycling for a fair number of years now. In most situation I have coping strategies, in large part to listening to people on these forums.

I have never really been able to get a good positioning for overtaking buses when a line of traffic is waiting behind it. I will explain - frequently I will have the situation where a bus is stopped and blocking the path of cars because of oncoming traffic. I can happily filter either up the inside to the bus or the outside. Or I can stay where I am. If I filter, I end up at the bus and need to go around and this involves fine timing, normally I can go and the cars cannot but sometimes they spot a gap and go for the overtake without checking mirrors so we end up heading for the same space. I am very aware of this and ready to take evasive action if needed.

Most of the time I would take the option of staying where I am, but in London long lines of traffic form and I am filtering through anyway. Drivers will frequently overtake the stopped bus even though there is a traffic jam directly ahead.

What do other people do? I had the situation yesterday where I filtered - slowly - up a very long queue and the car behind the bus decided that they might be able to squeeze through just as I was level with them. I slowed and the sound of my brakes panicked them and they stopped dead and looked a bit shocked. It wasn't dangerous as I was prepared to stop but they clearly hadn't looked in their mirrors at all before trying to pull around the bus - I had two lights on the front of the bike, one flashing, so it would be hard to miss me if they had looked.

I think the best solution is to filter up to the bus if going on the inside and wait behind or filter on the outside and wait behind the car first in the queue behind the bus like I might at traffic lights. It will mean I cannot progress until the car in front can, or the bus pulls away, but it feels a bit safer. Any thoughts on this idea?

 

[Beebo]

It is a tricky situation, but I think you have it about right.
Having a regular route helps as I know where I am likely to encouter this problem and I can prepare accordingly.
I usually filter on the left to the rear of the bus. If I can spot a safe gap in the traffic I will take primary, if I cant I wont, and I will wait at the rear of the bus.
Only pass the bus if it's safe, always on the right hand side.
What annoys me is when a bus is indicating to pull away but cars and cyclists insist on overtaking it. Let the bus out, it is much safer in front of you than behind.

 

[Koga]

@rbreid recommended this gadget : Airzound

Just google it, I think it's great and I need one !

 

[fossyant]

@rbreid recommended this gadget : Airzound

Just google it, I think it's great and I need one !

You don't

 

[mustang1]

I (usually) filer on the inside of the line of cars up to the bus, or a couple of cars before the bus, before going to the outside. Before going to the outside (ie when I'm on the inside) I can still see passengers getting on/off the bus so have an advantage over the car drivers and better gauge when the bus will make a move.

On a side note: when there is a bus lane and the bus is stopped at the bus stop, and there is also a lane for regular traffic (which for whatever reason I cant get in to), as I approach the bus and I'm still far away, the bus driver indicates right that he wants to move off. So I stop pedaling thinking the bus would have moved by the time I get there. But no, the bus drivers sits there, and sits there. Only when I'm right behind the bus and crawling pace, the bus driver decides to move. Why is that? I cannot find a good enough explanation why the bus driver needs to wait for as long as he does. This has happened too many times for it to be a coincidence. Is it their training to drive this way?

 

[Koga]

You don't

Yes I do

 

[fossyant]

Yes I do

Oh no you don't. Antisocial bits of crap, that just add more junk to a bike.

 

[Koga]

Oh yes I do, but I promise I will only use it when needed at which time it is not antisocial (unlike what you see in the product supporting Youtube clips).

 

[steveindenmark]

I have got an Airzound and in my opinion you dont need one. Mine is on a shelf in the garage, I think. They are loud but good observation works better.

I just have this vision that you safely filter round all this traffic and make all the jugements and decisions needed. Only to be overtaken by the whole pack 2 minutes later.

Is it really worth the effort?

Steve

 

[ianrauk]

They are the devils work....

 

[fossyant]

I have a loud voice that goes 'Oi', works better and doesn't need charging up - it self fills automatically !

Just more junk to put on a bike. You'll be buying a camera next.

 

[Koga]

I have got an Airzound and in my opinion you dont need one. Mine is on a shelf in the garage, I think. They are loud but good observation works better.

I just have this vision that you safely filter round all this traffic and make all the jugements and decisions needed. Only to be overtaken by the whole pack 2 minutes later.

Is it really worth the effort?

Steve

Sure, for me it would not substitute observation and experienced judgement. The Youtube clips illustrate exactly where observation, judgement and a little patience should be used, instead of a horn.

 

[Koga]

I have a loud voice that goes 'Oi', works better and doesn't need charging up - it self fills automatically !

Just more junk to put on a bike. You'll be buying a camera next.

I have got a loud Oi but it is not always charged or loud enough, but don't worry I am not going to buy one yet ! As for the camera, not for me thanks.

 

[steveindenmark]

I dont use Oi, I use excuse me please

Cameras........dont get me started.

Steve

 

[stowie]

I have got an Airzound and in my opinion you dont need one. Mine is on a shelf in the garage, I think. They are loud but good observation works better.

I just have this vision that you safely filter round all this traffic and make all the jugements and decisions needed. Only to be overtaken by the whole pack 2 minutes later.

Is it really worth the effort?

Steve

I filter through traffic and in London you rarely see the traffic again. I have noticed that I have a potential issue with one or two bus stops where buses are stationary and I am looking to move around. If you go on the outside of the queue behind the bus I think it gives better sight lines but puts you in the path of the lead car if they decide to overtake.

I asked the question because the incident above occurred on a fairly narrow road with two lanes moving slowly if at all. The bus stopped at the bus stop and a small gap between the bus and the back of the queue in front formed. I was cycling down the outside as a motorcyclist would. The car directly behind the bus couldn't go around since there was a van opposite which made the gap too narrow, but as I reached alongside the car the van driver suddenly moved hard left to create more room and the car driver swung out to go through without checking his mirrors. I am ultra cautious when in this situation and was going slowly enough simply to stop but the driver clearly got a big shock when my squeaky brakes were applied and he stopped dead in his tracks as well.

I think it best to filter on the outside and then sit behind the first car waiting to overtake even though there is ample room for me to filter past the bus even if the car cannot. I will have to wait for the car but it seems sensible.

I was just wondering what everyone else does. I see most cyclists go up the inside of the queue and then go around the bus in front of the waiting car but you are completely unsighted at this point and this seems dangerous.