Unsuck DC Metro: Bus 1; Pedicab 0

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Bus 1; Pedicab 0

Via @segaljen:

While on an N4 bus heading westbound on Friday, the bus hit a bike cab with a passenger in it on the corner of P and Connecticut, right outside the Dupont Circle.

The bus was stopped at a light waiting to turn right, as was the bike cab.

When the bus operator turned right it clearly underestimated the amount of space it needed to make the turn and literally ran into and knocked over the bike cab.

Sitting on the back of the bus, I luckily (unluckily) saw it all.

After the bus operator hit the bike cab, he got off and yelled at the cabbie saying he shouldn’t have been there, instead of, oh I don’t know, asking if they were okay.

I got off, went over to the people asked if they were okay, then asked if it was okay to take pictures of them and the accident to post on Twitter.

The passenger, a tourist, was injured and EMS, police, and the whole shebang showed up.

All I was trying to do was get home before 5.

Fail.

Comments (19)

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+9 Vote up Vote down

Soylent Green Line · 708 weeks ago

OP:

Would you assign blame to the pedicab or the bus? It's hard to tell from your account. Was the pedicab driver clearly visible to the driver? Was he waiting to turn in a legal lane?

2 replies · active 708 weeks ago

0 Vote up Vote down

Soylent Green Line · 708 weeks ago

I reiterate my previous request to the OP as an eye witness.

Can you clarify as to who, in your estimation, is at fault in this scenario? I'm sorry you didn't get home before 5, but after stirring up so much debate it'd be nice to know the scenario a little better.

You say the bus and the pedicab were waiting to turn right... did the pedicab pull up alongside the bus as it was idling and waiting to turn, or was the pedicab there first?

I think a little more perspective would be useful in helping this hoard of raving commentators come to some kind of agreement... but, I suppose this IS the internet after all won't hold my breath...

+3 Vote up Vote down

Everly Anonerly · 708 weeks ago

Soylent... such sarcasm. (I do so love good sarcasm. :)

Interesting question about where, exactly, was the pedicab. A very good point there. Still, I am saddened and concerned that when the bus driver jumped out his first thoughts were to verbally assault instead of first seeng if everyone was alive to be verbally assaulted.

+6 Vote up Vote down

John · 708 weeks ago

Paid Suspension (vacation), COMING RIGHT UP!!!!

1 reply · active 708 weeks ago

+8 Vote up Vote down

DCRider · 708 weeks ago

The bus driver probably did this on purpose to get two weeks paid leave....

+1 Vote up Vote down

Everly Anonerly · 708 weeks ago

Wonder if he'd have yelled if they were laying there dead instead of just injured. Why does Metro consistently hire selfish vulgar people? Is it is the job description or something?

1 reply · active 708 weeks ago

+6 Vote up Vote down

John · 708 weeks ago

If you think he should have asked if they are ok, you believe in slavery
- Jackie Jeter

+5 Vote up Vote down

Jeff · 708 weeks ago

Well, if the biker wasn't doing that retarded trick where the biker pretends it's okay to pull up alongside the vehicle at the very front of the right lane, he probably wouldn't have gotten hit. He got what he deserved.

Folks, the fact that you're on a bicycle doesn't entitle you to run red lights or otherwise pretend you're anything other than another vehicle that must follow the law (and common sense).

2 replies · active 708 weeks ago

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dddddda · 708 weeks ago

Oh don't pretends that if the bike had been in the middle of the lane you wouldn't bitch "they're not a car!!1! Get out of the lane!!!"

-4 Vote up Vote down

U St · 708 weeks ago

Kind of like doing that retarded trick of spouting off at the mouth and not knowing the laws? It's legal to lane split while on a bike in DC. What it doesn't say is that it's not always used with basic common sense. http://ddot.dc.gov/DC/DDOT/Publication%20Files/On...

+17 Vote up Vote down

Jeff · 708 weeks ago

I wouldn't bitch at all, actually. I have absolutely no problem with a cyclist riding the far right portion of the right lane (where a bike lane ought to be) while traffic is moving down a road. Hell, it's what I do. No one wants to slow down traffic, after all.
But when the light turns to red and everyone's coming to a stop, the cyclist should take a position between cars just like any other vehicle. It's called safe cycling. Riding up against a vehicle that's about to turn right and getting into his blind spot (which he has no reason to check when turning right from the right turn lane) is called cycling like an idiot, and you're eventually going to get what you deserve, like this guy did.

3 replies · active 708 weeks ago

-13 Vote up Vote down

John · 708 weeks ago

Were you there, genius?

-8 Vote up Vote down

Kara · 708 weeks ago

Were you?

-9 Vote up Vote down

John · 708 weeks ago

No, but I'm not acting like I know all the details like this guy does.

+22 Vote up Vote down

James · 708 weeks ago

Metro bus drivers and people on bicycles....

The two groups of people in DC who on the whole ignore just about every basic rule of the road.

1 reply · active 708 weeks ago

+13 Vote up Vote down

mike · 708 weeks ago

You forgot taxis. They're the worst.

+4 Vote up Vote down

JoeN · 708 weeks ago

Buses and any large vehicles make wide right turns... for the Darwinians out there, there are yellow signs on the back of buses and large vehicles stating that...

or if he tried to sneak between the bus and the curb, then the biker failed even more...

Those pedi cabs should be restricted to less congested roads... on CT ave any Dupont is just silly IMO

1 reply · active 708 weeks ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

F'n JD · 708 weeks ago

What kind of liability insurance are pedi-cabs required to carry? Because the value of a pedi-cab, much less the drivers license and photo being displayed, ain't worth much.

0 Vote up Vote down

anon · 707 weeks ago

Whether it is a bus that hits someone or a train that kill someone.. to discipline these perosons, you must believe in slavery.
Has anyone been charged for killing the employees