Description

I was run out of my lane by a CAT driver who illegally used the right hand turn lane to pass me on the right and go straight through an intersection pushing me over into the oncoming left hand turn lane. This was the No. 7 bus route and I believe the bus number was 105 but could have been 103. The incident occurred around 8:50AM this morning, Dec. 6 during rainy conditions.

As I was travelling west up the hill on University Ave. from the RR underpass at the Corner, a CAT bus driver passed me uncomfortable close. I cannot say for sure if it was within the minimal 2 feet required by law, but I was very uncomfortable. The driver then proceeded to make a stop in front of the Bank of America. He did not pull into the bus stop lane (which was clear), but stayed completely in the travel lane. I've seen both these behaviors before and didn't think much of it. The driver proceeded up to make his stop in front of Madison Hall where he pulled to the curve (in the right hand turn lane). As I approached, the bus driver switched from hazards to left turn signals. The car in front of me proceeded by the bus and I saw someone else disembarking from the bus. I proceeded around the bus to the left in the through lane and cued up at the red light behind other cars in the through lane at University and Rugby at least two car lengths in front of the bus. As I stood in line waiting for the green to proceeded straight through the intersection, the bus drive crept up beside and past me to my right in the right hand turn lane. When the light turned green, the driver gunned his bus, switched lanes and proceeded straight through the intersection. I was forced to take evasive action to avoid being pushed into the cars cued up in the opposing left hand turn lane. He essentially ran me off the road.

I was fully lit. I have a front headlight, a bright rear blinking red light, flashing helmet lights (front, white and rear, red), I was wearing a blaze yellow rain jacket with reflective stripes on it. My bike and helmet are covered with high end reflective stickers. In other words, there was no way this driver did not see me.