Comments for The Shredded Schrader

Comment on Complaint filed with the MBTA by grimlocke

grimlocke — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:56:05 +0000

Let’s be realistic. If you ride a bike, you pass stopped vehicles on the right. There is zero reason that bicycles should not be allowed this option. The only negative is that it puts the cyclist in danger of getting doored by people who are exiting their vehicle while in traffic, which we all know is a Dick Move.

I have never, EVER seen a cyclist stopped in traffic unless there is zero room to pass the gridlock on either side of the lane. If you DO stop next to cars in stopped traffic, props to you, because you’re the only one. Or you’re lying. Don’t be that guy.

Buses are required to keep passengers inside the vehicle until the bus is stopped at a designated bus stop. This is important to keep passengers safe from oncoming traffic and to allow traffic to pass the bus. If a bus driver DOES let passengers off while in traffic, that is an infraction against the regulations set by the MBTA, and that driver should be reported and reprimanded.

Comment on Complaint filed with the MBTA by Danimal

Danimal — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:43:29 +0000

And thank you for your feedback, I am posting these complaints for just that reason. I’d rather be caught being wrong then continue being wrong and making an ass out of all of us.

Comment on Complaint filed with the MBTA by Danimal

Danimal — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:40:06 +0000

And don’t get me wrong, I’m a HUGE supporter of public transportation. I am just for it being regulated. If the bus drivers aren’t safe, if they are just dropping people off in the street away from bus stops, then they aren’t being safe. There is no excuse for putting people in danger. This was not a “too small” situation, though I hear the complaint. I definitely agree that is a major problem. The 83 has several stops that are barely even marked. I was run off the road recently, not realizing that I was driving by a place where it was going to stop. Until it started to merge into me I was entirely unaware.

Comment on Complaint filed with the MBTA by Danimal

Danimal — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:38:33 +0000

In fairness, as I described, the bus was not at a bus stop. If it were at a bus stop I would be taking different sides. However, it was in the middle of the street.

Comment on Complaint filed with the MBTA by Alex

Alex — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:25:19 +0000

MGL 85.11B says “the bicycle operator may keep to the right when passing a motor vehicle which is moving in the travel lane of the way.” http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/85-11b.htm If a bus or car is stopped, you may not pass it to the right. Cambridge, and perhaps other localities, explicitly prohibits passing a bus to the right when it’s at a bus stop.

Practically speaking, the bus is doing a lot to reduce the number of vehicles competing with you for space on the road. It’d be polite to cut the driver and passengers some slack since it’s very difficult for the bus to pull into and out of many bus stops because they’re too small.

Comment on Complaint filed with the MBTA by Danimal

Danimal — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:51:19 +0000

http://www.massbike.org/resourcesnew/bike-law/

Comment on Complaint filed with the MBTA by Danimal

Danimal — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:00:44 +0000

There are a few ways that bicycles are different from other vehicles. One is that we can pass or ride to the right of another vehicle _while in the same lane, given enough room.

Comment on Complaint filed with the MBTA by Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:51:17 +0000

Hi Danimal,

You should have passed the bus on the LEFT. A vehicle always passes another vehicle on the left.

Peace, Lisa

Comment on At 11pm on WBZ-TV we are heard. by Danimal

Danimal — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:56:05 +0000

Your support of Grimlocke is the support of every cyclist. If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know. In addition to being obnoxious and cliché, I have several other useful talents

Comment on At 11pm on WBZ-TV we are heard. by bostonbiker

bostonbiker — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:25:52 +0000

Just wanted to let you know that MassBike heard about this and did in fact contact several higher ups at the MBTA. Good to see that you are getting some traction, MassBike has pledged to continue to work on this issue.