In Philly, it seemed like the buses had to pass through the bike lanes to pickup/dropoff passengers anyway. I agree that buses are most predictable (and the drivers are required to have commercial licenses, making them hopefully better drivers).
It just might work.

Hmm, when I first read this I thought it was a terrible idea. But, then I thought, "Is it really any worse to get run over by a bus than to get run over by an SUV?"

And the more I thought about it, the more I thought there is some merit here. Buses don't suddenly make unsignaled turns into the Starbucks parking lot. Bus drivers don't talk on the cell phone while feeding a screaming baby, and - oh yeah - try to drive at the same time. And you can definitely hear a bus driving up behind you better than you can hear a Honda Civic driving up behind you. Plus, the same people who don't think twice (or even once) about pulling out in front of bicycle wouldn't dare do that to a bus; cyclists could use buses as a form of defensive shield, actually.

Now I'm for the idea! But sadly my little town doesn't have bus lanes anyhow, so the point's moot here, I guess.

This isn't as much about allowing bikes in the bus lane, but rather allowing buses to use the bike lane.
A shared lane no longer allows bus drivers to think they own the road.
Big kudos for this move.

Ban cars, 'nuff said.

Or just give cyclist fully isolated pathways.

But yeah, cars got to go.

This is odd -- I seem to remember, years ago, that the bus lane was marked as a bus/bike lane, and I've used it that way ever since, assuming this was the case for all bus/bike lanes. (Um, oops?)

Still, I disagree with the Mayor's take that this is the safest place. One of the problems with buses, at least with the typical load of private vehicles on streets, is that bikes and buses are often traveling at the same average speed, block after block. This means that there is a lot of repeated passing between buses and bikes, which, given the stimuli that most bus drivers have to deal with, combined with bus length, makes for some undesirable situations.

Bus drivers in Chicago are not always the most predictable drivers. In fact, they're often some of the most careless.

I'm pleased with the Mayor's devotion to bikes in general, but I can't pretend that some of the key issues to improving bike safety -- and in turn, bike use -- are still being ignored. Better enforcement of motor vehicle laws would directly help, (there is a ban on cell phones here, right? right?!), nevermind be a source of revenue. I'd bet you could lower property taxes with the revenue from ticketing bike lane parker or driving cellphone users.

Likewise, attending to some of the road surface issues would be a significant help. A bike lane filled with potholes is not a bike lane.

There's plenty of other ideas, but I'm sleepy.

We just lost another cyclist here in Chicago a week ago or so. He got doored, and then flung into oncoming traffic. Along with safer places to ride in the street, I'd really like to see Mayor Daly spearhead some kind of PSA program, designed to inform and educate drivers about safely sharing the road with cyclists.

Bikes share with busses in London, largely with no problem despite recent major growth in both the number of busses and bikes. Issues have arrisen, however, around the recently introduced articulated busses (aka "bendy busses") - but their interaction with cyclists is just one of the issues related to them.
A current topic for discussion is whether motorcycles should also use bus lanes... the London Cycling Campaign opposes the proposal as it feels it may put cyclists at increased risk.

its not a very controverisal idea. They Have shareed Bike+Bus lanes in Both Sydney and London (two cities I've spent a lot of time cycling to/from work in) and I can say it generally works quite well.

There are often a lot of large gaps between Bus traffic and if you try and stick to the gaps then its a lot safer than riding vehicularly.

Hi,

Just a note, this is also done in London. It's a hell of a lot better than cycling in regular traffic lanes. For the most part as buses and bikes go at a similar speed it works well. It is a lot quiter than regular traffic lanes. Whilst we would all like seperate cycle lanes bus lanes are a definet improvement.

There should be a clear effort to arrest bikers who hitchhike on the back of buses. Extremely dangerous and the driver often can't see you. Buses need room, and bikers are often so hopped on adrenaline they forget their own safety.

We all agree that car drivers need to be better educated about other road users. It is much easier to educate a smaller pool of professional bus drivers about the need to watch out for cyclists who have an equal right to use a shared bus/nike lane than it is to educate all potential road users.

I too have seen this work weel in Paris. A gentle honk from the bus driver lets the cyclist know he is there and they make room for each other.

One bi observation from when I was receltly in Europe. Drivers, pedestratians and cyclists all respect each other. Here in New York (and I suspect most of the rest of the country judging by many comments on these types of discussions) its an 'us versus them' viewpoint. Reality here is that Pedestrian constantly are on the road when they shouldn't be. Cyclists frquently don't obey trafic laws and the rights of pedestrians. Car drivers are oblivious to the rights of others.

The roads will be safer for all when the Police enforce laws against J-walking, cyclists who don't obey traffic laws and drivers that do the same.

I say all of this as a pedestrian, cyclist and driver.

I agree that there should definetly be stricter driving laws. Especially about sharing the road with cyclists.. some drivers (at least in philly) are just plain a**holes to cyclists. There should also be a definte ban on cell phone use while driving. I cannot even count how many people i have seen with one hand on the wheel and the other hand texting, and you know where that persons eyes are... it is very scary while im riding next to this driver.

Hi !

I am a Parisian, using the new bicycle system Vélib.

To answer to Rod Millott : I don't think there is really a difference of respect between drivers, pedestratians and cyclists here in Paris, in comparison to NY.
Maybe more in Germany, as everyone respects the rules.

Concerning the sharing of the lane with th buses, I must say it is not a perfect experience (bus are so big ! and stop all the time, so we keep chasing each other, as jimgreasy wrote), but it is less frightfull as sharing the streets with the cars.

Seattle does this; has done for years. Third Ave downtown DURING rush hour (three hours in the morning and afternoon). It's fine; and this is a Metro bus driver talkin' that communtes by bike!