my near trampling on Independence last night

Can’t imagine *never* passing a bus. You just have to pass them sometimes, but it is hard to judge. Several times I’ve ended up in a race with a Metrobus in Georgetown when they pulled out sooner than expected, at least one of which I finally had to give up and lose. It’s so difficult to know the right choice though because you can’t see the future and what drivers are going to do and when. (Aren’t they supposed to use turn signals?) Perhaps if you had merely slowed and not stopped behind the second bus you would have been more mobile and able to get out of the way? Sometimes there’s just no good solution. Glad the “screaming like a goat” (awesome phrase, even if I don’t know what a screaming goat sounds like) worked out.

@elbows 142956 wrote:

Last night heading west on Independence near the Freer, I was riding in the right most lane of the 4 lanes. A commuter bus had pulled over to pick up passengers. I thought that might take a while, so I pulled into the second lane from the right and got behind a metro bus. I didn’t want to end up in the 3rd lane from the right given that I might end up trapped in the middle of what’s effectively a four-lane slow highway, so I decided to stay behind the metro bus as it stopped in the second lane and let passengers walk across the first lane. At this point, the commuter bus is to my right, and starts moving to enter the lane, not seeing me. I screamed like a goat as it got closer. Luckily and to my surprise, the driver heard me. I’m not sure what I could have done if he hadn’t.

I get that I should not have put myself into a situation where the bus driver couldn’t see me, but I’m not sure what my self-maintenance policy should be. Never pass a bus? Never pass a bus on Independence? Practice my ability to hop off my bike and grab onto the door of a bus? Don’t take Independence until X years from now when they install a bike lane?

I do like to take Independence occasionally as opposed to going all the way up to Madison which has an unpleasant intersection at 14th or Pennsylvania, which has bike lanes, but which is a bit far north. Eventual destination for this route is the south side of Memorial Bridge. CBD so sidewalk riding is illegal.

Not that it makes you any safer, but the commuter bus driver should have checked his mirror before pulling out. I pass buses all the time, but I agree that it can be tricky to judge, with timing and all.
Personally, I probably would have gone over to the 3rd lane and taken it–particularly if you could see that the bus was going to be stopped for 10 seconds+ unloading. If the Metrobus started up again before I got in front of it, I would maintain my speed, signal right and move behind it as it passed me. If we all ended up at a stop light together, I would use that opportunity to use the crosswalk to move back over to the right lane.

@elbows 142956 wrote:

I get that I should not have put myself into a situation where the bus driver couldn’t see me, but I’m not sure what my self-maintenance policy should be. Never pass a bus? Never pass a bus on Independence? Practice my ability to hop off my bike and grab onto the door of a bus? Don’t take Independence until X years from now when they install a bike lane?

The best advice I can give (I try to follow this, and it applies to all giant hulks of metal on the road) is to watch the mirrors. Give space and stay in an area where you can see a reflection of the driver’s face in their side mirror. When deciding whether to pass a bus or not, I will approach the bus from behind to the left side so that I’m likely visible for at least a few seconds in their side mirror.

TL;DR – I think of those stickers on some trucks that say, “If you can’t see my mirrors, I can’t see YOU.”

I’ve only ridden on Independence Ave. to get to Freer/Sackler Galleries for evening films and concerts, coming from N. Capitol St. – mainly to avoid tourists walking on the sidewalk.

Thanks for the informative thread. Too bad not all bus drivers are as nice to cyclists as the ones who drive the Circulator buses on the National Mall.

Many’s the time when my proverbial bacon has been saved by shouting “Hey!” at the top of my lungs. Your voice is a valuable safety tool.

@komorebi 143024 wrote:

According to the WABA/DDOT/MPD pocket guide, http://www.waba.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/PocketGuide-Sept-2015.pdf:

I occasionally ride on the sidewalk along Independence, although the oblivious tourists sometimes seem to be more dangerous than the buses.

Independence is outside the CBD

@elbows 142956 wrote:

I get that I should not have put myself into a situation where the bus driver couldn’t see me, but I’m not sure what my self-maintenance policy should be.

Never trust a bus driver. Fairfax Connector drivers are the worst in my experience. My experience is riding from the top of Capitol Hill to the south side of the Memorial Bridge 3-4 times per week for the last five years.

I’ve had a few close calls and have learned to never trust the bus drivers. I don’t pass one parked at the curb unless I can see a line of folks waiting to board. A good head of speed always helps!

@DismalScientist 143043 wrote:

No it’s not.
http://ddot.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/ddot/publication/attachments/dc_central_business_district_bikes_0.pdf

However, you can ride on sidewalks in the CBD if they are subject to NPS jurisdiction, which may allow a cyclist on part of the Independence Avenue sidewalks. Not sure where the NPS jurisdiction starts.