Overtaking buses

[Dr Jekyll]

Following a bus along a rural road this morning, I was trying to work out whether it was worth looking for an overtake given that there was a bus stop a mile or so ahead. I was on the bike so an overtaking opportunity was quite likely to arise.

My initial thought was that I might as well wait for the bus stop so I could pass it when it was stationary and probably without having to venture onto the other side of the road. But on reflection I'm not so sure.

Once the bus has stopped you know it's going to pull out sooner or later, so if you pass without going over the white line you are using a bit of road someone else wants. Not really recommended, especially given the tendency of bus drivers to assume they have priority when pulling out of stops.

The other issue with passing a bus at a bus stop of course is pedestrians running out from in front of the bus. Not such an issue if it's moving.

Might there really be a case for overtaking moving buses in preference to stationary ones?

[Dr Jekyll]

Pontoneer said:

Lots of valid points

Which is exactly why I thking it might actually be preferable to overtake it when it's moving. You have a really good indication that passengers are unlikely to be getting off, and you're likely to be using the other side of the road whether it's staionary or not.

[Dr Jekyll]

MC Bodge said:

Exactly.

I'm all for discussion and I understand the point about pedestrians, but is this really something that needs to be asked? Surely you just apply the same judgement that you'd apply for any vehicle in front of you? I certainly wouldn't be trundling along behind a bus on my motorbike if I didn't need to be. The decision to go could be made and the overtake completed very quickly.

The reason I raised the point is that I've known a couple of instructors (one car one bike) specifically recommend trying to get past stationary vehicles whenever possible to save trying to overtake them on the move. But in the case of buses it seems this may not apply, and, counter intuitively, it might even be better to wait for the bus to start moving again before passing it.

That's why I wanted to know others views, if everyone said 'pass it at the bus stop you mad fool' then passing the bus once it had started moving again might piss people off. If others agree that passing it before or after the bus stop is reasonable then I won't attract unwanted attention by doing it.

[Dr Jekyll]

Vince Smythe said:

What is the best way here? A bus is indicating it is stopping at a bus stop. It is a 2 lane road with no traffic. So you try to overtake the bus as you have to turn left after 50 metres. But suddenly the bus indicates that it is joining the traffic as no one probably is getting off or on and you are half way overtaking a stopping bus. Does the Bus driver still have priority in joining the traffic when he has indicated his intention to stop?

I'd be wary. A driver that's just changed his mind is liable to be unpredictable, pedestrian behaviour near a bus stop is often dodgy especially if they are in the process of missing a bus. Hang back let everyone sort themselves out.