Photo by Whitehorse Star
Pictured Above: CHERI MALO
New bylaw requires motorists to yield to merging transit buses
Drivers are being reminded to yield to buses merging back into traffic after picking up passengers.
Drivers are being reminded to yield to buses merging back into traffic after picking up passengers.
The yield to bus bylaw with the yield requirement for drivers is now in effect, city officials said in a statement Friday.
Those who don't yield could face a $500 fine.
"It is very difficult to keep a bus on schedule when other drivers don't let the bus back into the travel lane,” acting mayor Betty Irwin said. "The new bylaw makes it easier for buses to merge and will help keep buses on schedule. This law will therefore improve transit service reliability, especially during rush hour.”
As transit manager Cheri Malo explained in an interview this morning, the situation not only meant buses could end up behind schedule, but it was also a safety issue with vehicles speeding up to get around the buses instead of yielding and allowing the buses to go ahead.
"Safety is our number one concern,” she said Friday. "Drivers have a seat belt on, but the 35 or more passengers on the bus do not. Let's keep everyone safe on our roads.”
While it will be up to the city's bylaw department to enforce the bylaw, Malo noted in addition to drivers recording the licence plate and date of the offence there are cameras on the buses and recordings will be used if need be.
She noted though Whitehorse has great citizens and she's confident that with the bylaw now in place, most drivers will yield to buses that have their signal lights on to merge back into traffic.
The city also noted that similar bylaws have been in place in a number of other jurisdictions. Quebec, for example, has had similar legislation since 1982 with British Columbia adopting the legislation in 1999.
As Canadian Urban Transit Association president and chief executive officer Michael Roschlau said: "The yield to bus Bylaw will encourage more people to use public transit, allowing more efficient use of road space by giving preference to buses that can move many people at once and avoiding transit delays that cost the city time and money. That way, everyone gets to where they are going on time.”
While the bylaw came into effect in July, Malo said the city is now starting the campaign to let people know of the new rules on the road.
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Comments (21)
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bobby bitman on Sep 3, 2013 at 9:38 am
I passed a bus on Second Ave today and noticed it had its blinker on trying to merge back into traffic. I felt that I noticed a little too late to stop, especially since I was going about 55km/h and someone was on my tail. Then I remembered the new law! I actually felt bad, and then figured the bus driver would at least give me a dirty look, but he didn't. He just waited for a space and moved out into the traffic.
Personally, I think our bus drivers are patient, and good drivers. I do not mind yielding to them, so long as I notice them in time and don't have someone right on my bumper. In fact I am happy to have an excuse to yield to them. I believe in the concept of public transit and think buses should have privileges.
But I do not think the $500 fine is a good idea at all. Are people supposed to come to screeching halts? Get rear ended? What are the parameters here?
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Charles on Sep 2, 2013 at 2:54 pm
Agree with many comments. Major factor is that we enable buses to adhere to timetable, so I don't mind allowing them to pull out providing they signal first. 'Concerned Driver' is correct as basic driving skills are that you signal first before pulling out into traffic or changing lanes, not while you are doing it. This should also apply to bus drivers. When I see a bus at a pick up point, am I supposed to wait until they decide to pull out or go ahead & crumple while listening to 'Well I signalled whilst I was doing it!'
@ Jimminy Billbob are you saying that neither 'Just this week' nor the bus driver can read the lane signs at that intersection? In very few places is it acceptable to pass on the right hand side. In merge situation, yes, but overtake from behind with a single lane ahead and a merge from S. Access this is not acceptable. Most of our bus drivers are good, but rammy doesn't cut it!
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Jimminy Billbob on Sep 1, 2013 at 11:38 pm
Silly Whitehorse drivers, I agree.
Martin I agree. Maybe if everyone were allowed to + or - a comment some of these ignorant posters might get a dose of reality and check themselves before they post. But then some of these winner comments might not make it on here. I wouldn't want that!
Just this week. It sounds to me like that bus driver was obeying the laws of the road, if I understand your play by play.
Concerned pedestrians. I agree, the blind spots next to crosswalks are accidents waiting to happen. I also think that there should be more visibility, i.e. flashing lights on more crosswalks downtown. Think of the tourists in the summer. A central bus station I think is a great idea also.
Just a thought, maybe we should lower the speed limit to 40km/h or even 30km/h in certain spots downtown?
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Silly Whitehorse drivers on Aug 31, 2013 at 2:25 am
Wow... Comments on here are amusing.
First off, the bus drivers in this town are some of the best drivers I've seen. Mainly due to the fact they deal with foolish Whitehorse drivers on a daily basis. Added to that the sometimes less than cooperative clients they deal with while they're driving.
Second off, how many of the commenters are being filmed when they drive? Because all of the buses are equipped with cameras, and the drivers know they have cameras on them. So if any of these ranty people really saw as big of infractions as they say they did, please bring it to the attention of transit and they'll happily check the video. But I suspect that most of the complainants were breaking a multitude of road rules and laws themselves not knowing they may have been on camera too.
Glad to see the new bylaw. Bus drivers have a difficult job yet they keep doing it safely. Some of us recognize and appreciate that...others will eventually get into an accident all there own and Darwin will win another argument.
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DMZ on Aug 30, 2013 at 6:28 am
The fine seems pretty steep to me and it makes me wonder how much analysis goes into these things. Is there proof that the higher the fine the more it acts as a deterrent? How does it compare to a speeding ticket or other traffic violations? When the seat belt law came into effect, the fine was nowhere near as high, even in today's dollars.
Behavior might be changed just as effectively by causing irritation rather than hardship, which is demonstrated by the effectiveness of the seat belt law.
When you're getting into fines of several hundred dollars, I'd like to see more accountability from the city that the amount of the fine is justified.
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martin oreste on Aug 29, 2013 at 10:51 am
Some of the comments are awesome! I'd like for the moderator to allow us to grade these comments. "I like it" would be enough to show City Council where WE, as residents, stand.
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flyingfur on Aug 29, 2013 at 3:53 am
A bylaw officer is going to pull somebody over for this kind of infraction? Ya - I'd love to see that. People drive around all the time with cell phones and while texting...ever see anyone pulled over for that?
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john jack on Aug 28, 2013 at 11:39 pm
I pay my taxes to have the same rights on the road as everyone else. They should merge for me the same or start fining the bus drivers
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textin' and drivin' on Aug 28, 2013 at 3:41 pm
The fine for texting and driving is $250...now a $500 for not yielding to a bus? Get real. And I agree with above posts; buses are mainly empty yet texting and driving is RAMPANT--fine those who text while driving $1000 and stop making up bylaws that aren't warranted.
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north_of_60 on Aug 28, 2013 at 12:40 pm
The next time a bus cuts you off or runs a light phone 911 and report the driver as impaired.
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Just this week on Aug 27, 2013 at 10:25 am
I was driving into Riverdale and just went past the stoplight at Riverside and with one car in front of me when a bus roared by on my right, went straight through (i.e. did not turn onto South Access) and continued to speed up to get ahead of the car in front of me to get across the bridge first. The bus driver totally cut off the car in front and made a merging car coming in on the right from the South Access hit their brakes ... it was unbelievable to watch. This happened around 4:30 in the afternoon.
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Atom on Aug 27, 2013 at 6:47 am
Stu...I just have not seen the 'crazy drunk' atvers you have. And please stop making a 4 wheeled machine into such a monster.....this article was about another bylaw...I've seen mountain bikers hoovering joints and swilling beers then driving, and talking, right by my backyard fence....
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Jackie Ward on Aug 27, 2013 at 2:46 am
From renaming First Ave, to this. This council is turning into a real joke. Please tell us how you will enforce this ridiculous bylaw? How? Every stupid driver in this town puts my life and your life everyday in jeopardy. But I see no one getting tickets for being a dumbass. So how will you enforce this? I shudder in thinking what is coming next from this council.
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Max Mack on Aug 26, 2013 at 5:21 pm
Absolute BS. Cheri. The safety issue is that bus drivers do not wait to pull out until it is safe to do so.
Now with this new "we are just like the big cities" bylaw, bus drivers can pull out into traffic with impunity. Rather than the bus driver being charged, city bylaw will issue tickets to the victims.
This bylaw increases risk, and rewards ignorant bus drivers. Shameful.
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June Jackson on Aug 26, 2013 at 10:36 am
Other offerings say it all.. I too have never seen a full bus, or even a half full bus. I'm sure the 1 person taking the evening bus is very glad he's getting a lift. The most I have ever seen is 3 people at a bus stop waiting for the bus.
Concerned Pedestrian has the right of it though.. should be a bus lane. This council is CONSTANTLY outside this, outside that.. quoting what other jurisdictions do to justify what they are doing.. so please note other jurisdictions have bus lanes.
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Stu Witherspoon on Aug 26, 2013 at 10:28 am
I have found Whitehorse bus drivers to be very professional and respectful.
It must be difficult to pull out into traffic. If you are trying to turn left into the traffic lane it seems most drivers speed up and do not get the concept that you can slow down and give someone who wants to merge a break; drivers often speed up and do not allow people to turn left, for example, while knowing they will have to stop or slow down further ahead due to traffic lights and traffic congestion.
Offroad vehicles are another disgraceful part of this down. Drinking and driving, impaired driving and going everywhere and anywhere because noone is out ensuring the safety of people walking on the city trails.
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Yukoner By Birth on Aug 26, 2013 at 9:31 am
Bylaw or no bylaw bus drivers have to obey the same rules of the road as anyone else, except for emergency vehicles there are no different priorities for different types of vehicles using the roads. Otherwise there might one day be a bylaw where everyone has to pull over when the mayor's car or premiers motorcade drives past, $500 if you don't.
I also totally agree with Concerned Pedestrian, it is ridiculous to have a bus stop located where a city bus completely brings one lane of traffic to a stop such as Second Avenue by Tim Hortons.
Totally different subject but it would sure be nice to have traffic cameras at the red lights around town. Local drivers in Whitehorse seem to think a red light is only a suggestion and yellow means stick your foot in it! I guess you can't really blame them as there is next to no traffic law enforcement given by the RCMP so really no consequences to pay unless you're in a collision.
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Concerned Pedestrians on Aug 26, 2013 at 8:50 am
First the buses should have proper pullouts to let users on and off, instead of stopping one lane of traffic, second is a proper central bus terminal instead of putting pedestrians lives in danger running the gauntlet at second and steel st., buses block crosswalk and you can't tell till last second when someone wanting to cross street. Big empty lot at 2nd and Black make perfect spot, with leased out coffee shop newstand etc. Give people warm place wait for bus in winter
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Atom on Aug 26, 2013 at 8:04 am
I've had to literally evade these buses as drivers have pulled out as soon as they signal.....I'm not in the business of road rage or competitive driving but I look out for the transit drivers because they will cut you off. Now we know they have the row and so do they. This bylaw is good and it will be interesting to see it at work.
Now would Ryan Leef get back to work...he's like Forest Gump
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laughable on Aug 26, 2013 at 7:37 am
35 passengers on the bus? You have got to be kidding me! When? What bus? Prove it!! Those buses are the biggest waste of money this city has! They are empty 99% of the time! Here's an idea, if the driver drives past every stop that there isn't anyone standing waiting to be picked up, they would be ahead of schedule if anything. Maybe even have time for a nap or a doughnut.
Just another excuse to charge us hard working ppl more fines. Oh and with the typical consolation excuse of "similar bylaws have been in place in a number of other jurisdictions.” What a joke.
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Concerned Driver on Aug 26, 2013 at 7:16 am
Hopefully some attention will also be paid to the bus drivers who signal and then turn out immediately into traffic already in the lane beside them. I have had this happen to me twice in the last week - I was driving the speed limit, and saw the signal light start flashing as I drove past the rear end of the bus; only to have the bus just start moving and heading in to my lane! Also not a good way to keep the buses moving in a timely fashion...
That said; Whitehorse traffic in general is atrocious. And I don't mean volume - I mean the astoundingly high occurrence of drivers not stopping for stop signs, not signalling their intent to turn/change lanes, and not following posted speed limits. Not to mention driving THISCLOSE to the bumper ahead of them, not allowing for safe merging of traffic lanes. It's gotten so bad that I actually look forward to seeing tourist plates because at least there is a chance that they might know how to drive!