Bad Bus Driver, No Donut
Thread started by
trickmilla at 01.28.09 - 11:31 am
Despite their stinky hulkishness and our often conflicting pace. I usually find that busses and their drivers tend to be more predictable and more professional the the average schmo on the road.
Last night was an exception.
Asshole bus driver on Hollywood (wb) came up behind me, laid on the horn and passed me close, then started getting over, forcing me to slow down or get run off the road.
I pulled up next to him (yup he was racing up to a red light ((vine)) where he was gonna make a right turn) and let him know I know the rules he is supposed to follow, that i'd be reporting him to metro dispatch.
He responded negatively to that, I believe his exact words were "fuck you" ... I was so mad that I pulled over and wrote down his bus number (metro customer service is closed at night).
Today I called, and based on the time, direction and description they were able to determine that I had remembered the bus number correctly.
So off it goes through the system.
Who knows if it will mean anything.
I'm not sure I would have called, but the fact that he passed me so close (less than their required 3 feet) I knew that in addition to being a rude asshole, he did definitively break some rules.
The dispatcher said that the supervisor will look at the buss' video to see what happened.
I know I'll never know for sure, because metro never discusses employee discipline because out of respect for "employee privacy'
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ive come across a few of these bus drivers who make me do the same thing.
i think ill start writing down their bus number too.
Frozen Fingersss01.28.09 - 11:37 am
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post the driver's info up here and let the multitude of fingers do the walkin
Roadblock01.28.09 - 11:38 am
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The bus # was 7614 @ around 7pm on 1/27
I was traveling westbound on hollywood blvd
and the bus was racing up to the red light at vine when he cut me off.
Don't know the driver's name name, and the vague description would be useless except to the dispatcher who can match it up to who was driving that night.
When I contacted MTA about an incident with another driver they told me that they can only take firsthand witness accounts. I have already given them that.
If you contact them regarding my case, they will solicit you for personal experiences. If you ask about what action will be taken they will tell you that MTA keeps employee matters private.
This was a minor incident and I did the right thing by calling it in.
I think the only thing others can do to help, is to be diligent about reporting MTA drivers that are dangerous or out of line.
I know that is abstract and doesn't offer a lot of satisfaction but for a minor incident there isn't much more we can do that would be effective.
trickmilla01.28.09 - 12:01 pm
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You could also try reporting the incident to the
BikeX Database.
That way an outside source can keep tabs on the drivers. If enough incidents are reported, the Database can be used to make sure these drivers have to suffer more than a slap on the wrist for such bad behavior.
danya01.28.09 - 1:03 pm
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like i said before all you need to do is carry 2 good sized pebbles (rocks) or stink bombs!
pporras01.28.09 - 1:03 pm
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trickmilla -
I know that is abstract and doesn't offer a lot of satisfaction but for a minor incident there isn't much more we can do that would be effective.
Me -
Actually there's alot more we can do. We can start creating a database that logs thee incidents. If there was an accident with this driver and a log of incidents, you can bet there would be people taking notice from the trial attorneys, to the MTA, to the insurance company.
Danya suggested using bikexdatabase above, if no one has a better idea, then why not start using it?
You also could have requested a follow up with the MTA regarding this incident when you filed. I do this with any complaint filed. You may get some feel for what happened with the driver.
User101.28.09 - 2:18 pm
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like i said before all you need to do is carry 2 good sized pebbles (rocks) or stink bombs!
pporras
01.28.09 - 4:03 pm
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Forget the pebbles, ive been an advocate of shatter rocks for a long time.
buckchin01.28.09 - 2:25 pm
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I'm still waiting for a follow-up from Amtrak after the conductor bitched me out for my folded bike taking up too much luggage space.
I mean, everyone else's shit literally buried my bike, take up room my ass!!!
bentstrider01.28.09 - 2:27 pm
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Contact your city councilperson also.
http://www.lacity.org/council.htm
JB01.28.09 - 2:28 pm
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Dude ive have had so many encounters with bus drivers they fucking suck balls.. Can i get the # you called to report this douche i wanna program it into my phone and make it a point to follow through.
Debut21301.28.09 - 4:44 pm
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@ U1
I already submitted the info to bike x database as I mentioned above.
The MTA will never say anything about the action taken against a driver in a minor incident like this as a matter of employee privacy.
The person I talked to was really nice, and seemed to get it.
I asked if they would follow up with me. He said that the complaint would be sent to the driver's supervisor and that my complaint would be compared to the busses cameras. That they would call me if they had any further questions.
---------------------------------------
There are several ways to contact MTA customer service via
MTA.NET the "contact us" link is at the bottom of the page.
The number I called:
213.922.6235 is only staffed form
8a - 4:15p (m-f)
I found this really frustrating last night
but then I came to my senses and realized that there it would be just as effective to call the next day. I wrote down any info I thought I might forget and just made the call this a.m.
trickmilla01.28.09 - 5:41 pm
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The solution to this is easy:
Driver side rear view mirror - ride up to it, grab it, twist it to one side, then ride away full of adrenaline and guilty shameful pleasure.
If confronted, smile and wave. If necessary, repeat.
ubrayj0201.28.09 - 6:47 pm
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really friends?
break windows or tweak mirrors and make the driver the victim, rather than report the incident to the driver's supervisor.
Or were you guys thinking that I should cal the MTA after fucking with the bus.
I think a driver would rather have somebody fuck with a bus they don't own than have a documented complaint in their employee file.
trickmilla01.28.09 - 6:59 pm
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Very good point trickmilla.. Thanx for the # it will be used...
Debut21301.28.09 - 7:13 pm
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i've come across mostly nice drivers. one even cleared the road for me on the westside where the bike lane's shut down.
et01.28.09 - 9:08 pm
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I think the driver of a bus with a twisted rear view mirror will have to slow down, or stop, the bus to get out and properly re-orient that rear view mirror. No permanent damage done, no need to waste your time on the phone with the MTA - which doesn't care about customer service as much as it should in the first place.
ubrayj0201.29.09 - 9:37 am
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Hi all! I'm Ele Munjeli of the Bikex Database. Thanks to a recommendation on the forum I got a submission regarding a Metro driver. I contacted Metro bike services, and have the opportunity to sit down, face to face and discuss cyclists and Metro drivers. My main concern is more transparency in the disciplinary process. I want to make sure that when a complaint is filed by a cyclist, the driver is informed and warnings are documented. I think we can achieved this without compromising privacy for Metro drivers. We need feedback when we are harassed or endangered..As usual, you can count on me to take a hard line.
elemunjeli01.29.09 - 5:18 pm
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re: Amtrak
I'm still waiting for a follow-up from Amtrak after the conductor bitched me out for my folded bike taking up too much luggage space.
Caltrans is seeking suggestions for bicycle accommodation on Coast
Starlight trains (LA to Seattle). Currently bikes must be boxed & can
only be loaded or unloaded at Amtrak stations with baggage service
If you have ideas, please email our bike/pedestrian coordinator David
Kuperman (david_kuperman@dot.ca.gov). A better accommodation would encourage more multimodal bike/rail travel.
mk452401.30.09 - 12:18 pm
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In response to the above, Amtrak's website states that folding-bicycles actually count as a piece of carry-on luggage.
It doesn't list dimensions or anything like that, but I'm definitely bringing extra copies of the policy with me to shove in his face.
FUCK BARSTOW!!
bentstrider01.30.09 - 12:31 pm
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I've had some experiences with some bus drivers also...
I've waved them by on long stretches that I know they'll overtake me...and in turn, they waved me by when they knew they had a long wait for passengers getting on/off...
and I've had some go out of their way to go slow and get entirely into the far left lane before passing, so as not to get too close...
I'd say that that was pretty cool on their part...
adrian01.30.09 - 12:46 pm
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I'm just bumping this up in honor of Mr. Box who is at the MTA right now trying to get Metro to shape up their act RE: busses & bikes on the road.
trickmilla responding to a
comment by adrian
05.28.09 - 11:07 am
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Interesting investigation of MTA's handicap policy...
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=6832872
alicestrong05.28.09 - 11:58 am
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Oops...missed METRO vs cyclist thread
la la la la la...
alicestrong05.29.09 - 10:35 am
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A recap of the Metro Board meeting adventures. http://tinyurl.com/BUSvsBike
SoapBoxLA05.29.09 - 10:59 am
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