Whatever Japan’s laws may or may not be and whether or not they’ve proved beneficial in saving lives, they are not U.S. laws and on the streets where I ride no one type or size of vehicle has the automatic right of way over another. Size does not matter.

Further in this specific incident, the bus approached me from behind and in passing me hazardously and with little regard for safety, created a potentially injurious situation. No vehicle or vehicle operator has the right to do that. Ever.

So from that perspective perhaps I’m as much culpable as the bus driver.

Frankly, I’m very much guilty of riding in the door zone too often, which is something of a paradox given how adamant I am about having a right to the road and defending that right.

I continue to make conscious efforts to break that bad habit — and have had some success — but I often find myself subconsciously back in the door zone.

So the struggle continues.

Here is a
” title=”why bike lanes in the door zone”> are more dangerous than a plain old road, but you already know that right? Another thoughtful article about ” title=”bikes and bus sharing urban spaces”> for local bus operator.

Stay out of that door zone!

We’re glad you weren’t hurt!

I have found Mitch O’Farrell of Council President Eric Garcetti’s office to be responsive and helpful.

Since this is was a DASH Bus, operated by a contractor of the LADOT, Mitch might be able to get a response and some form of accountability out of the bus operator’s supervisor.

His phone number is 323-957-4500 or you can email him at Mitch.Ofarrell@LACity.org

“See you on the Streets!”

I have no hopes for anything other than similar treatment from the LADOT but maybe — just maybe — it’ll get cc’d to the supervisor of the driver involved and he or she will tell her it’s best not to piss off a cyclist.