How Should School Bus Handle BRT Lane In This Situation?

[brockalee]

So today I traveled the Blanding stretch of our new BRT, looking for buses. It wasn't until Morse Ave. that I saw one - a school bus - but it was in the regular traffic lane and it stopped THERE to let a child off. Whoa. I'm not sure if that's right or wrong, but it didn't look safe.

The bus lane continues a very short way past Morse where it merges into regular traffic lane, and I understand that may be difficult to get back in, but the driver DOES have that handy "STOP" sign and I can't imagine people having problems yielding to a school bus.

But then again, this is Jacksonville...

If my explanation didn't do a good job, please let my drawing confuse you further.



What do you think? Did the school bus driver do the right thing with the bus lane - and if so, is the right thing safe?

[jandar]

He/she did wrong.

The Bus lane, when not used by a city bus, is a turn lane. The school buses are supposed to go over as far as possible to let the children off on the curb or median or grass.

[Springfielder]

The school bus stopped and allowed a student to get off, and still had to cross a lane to the sidewalk? If that's the case, that driver was wrong.

[brockalee]

The school bus stopped and allowed a student to get off, and still had to cross a lane to the sidewalk? If that's the case, that driver was wrong.

It was weird looking because it looked like the driver just dropped the kid off in the middle of the street. And of course the kid didn't look when he jumped off the bus... What if someone was only looking at the green light ahead and didn't see the bus was unloading?

Point being - the lane seems to have already caused a little dangerous confusion.

[BridgeTroll]

This is a classic example of where our local media outlets drop the ball.  This change should have been and still be part of every newscast and paper published.  Public service announcements and billboards should be used also.  Nothing will be said until some kid gets run over by a confused driver who has never heard of a bus only lane and has no idea what the new rules are.

Get ready for the "tragic accident"... it is waiting to happen.

[Springfielder]

I agree, that there should be public service announcements about this and other critical issues. Anyone with a drivers license should already know the law(s) related to school bus safety, but many ignore it...and that does and will lead to serious problems. Let's hope that this particular bus driver won't do that again.

If anyone sees a school bus driver violating the safety of the children, it should be reported. You can get the name of the contractor from the side of the bus, and it's easy enough to report it to the school district or to the actual contractor.

[JeffreyS]

The school buses should use the bus lane.