I almost ended it today with a school bus. There is a curved road .5 mile from my house that I commute on everyday. Near the end of the curve is an intersection (Maple and Alluvial)  where I need to make a left turn. Today while riding in the bike lane and merging left to make my turn. I looked over my shoulder and saw the all clear. When I began to merge I felt the wind rush of a full size yellow school bus right next to me moving at a high rate of speed. Scared the jeebus out of me.  My commute  does  go right by  3 elementary schools in 5 miles. I leave early enough that I don’t have to deal with little “Trevor, or Wingspan’s” mom in her hummer H5 Urban Drive Through Vehicle dropping them off 3 feet from the curb halfway in the road. But man that bus was jammin!

Buses that are rear engined are esepecially troublesome because  you can’t hear their engines struggling to masticate the dinosaur juice in their veins.  You just can’t hear them coming. Hybrid cars are also a nuisance, mostly because of their pretentious and elitist owners but also due to the fact that in the city at traffic speeds their audible signature resembles an electric golf cart.  Can’t hear them behind you.

My commute is planned to avoid a regular city bus route. City buses are dangerous to bikers also. I feel that I have at least average or above average hearing in most situations and can discern between the sound of rushing wind, a fellow biker with all their clicks and creaks, and a 4000 pound pollution factory on wheels.

Loud pipes save lives. Either be loud or give me my space.