Bloody typical! Yesterday I rode from home (Oakleigh) to Fed square
then back to Monash and had a near perfect ride. Maybe it was all the
publicity but everyone seemed to be pretty well behaved (which I
always find a miracle on St Kilda rd, whether they're on bikes, on
foot, or in cars). Had my coffee and roll and made it back for a
slightly latish 9:20 start. Didn't really need a third breakfast at
wholefoods!

This morning, back to the normal ride, straight along North rd, not
riding in the bus lane since its not yet 9:30 am. Cars pass on the
right, cars illegally pass on the left. Stopped at the lights at
Clayton rd with a car on my right and a turning car on my left, and a
bus behind on the left. Bus driver calls out the window "Excuse me.."
then proceeds to tell me over and over again that I am NOT allowed to
ride on the road and MUST ride on the off-road path. "That is your
path, over there, this is my lane". I tried to point out that I was
on the road, not in the bus lane and explain that bicycles are legally
allowed on the road, she aint having none of it, louder and louder she
tells me I MUST get off the road.

Lights go green and off I go through the intersection, with a
continuous, deafening and intimidating blast of the horn she came up
behind me and unfortunately I finally got annoyed and gave her the
finger, she sped past on my left and I raised my hand up and hit the
mirror since it was only about 30cm from my head.

Followed her to Monash bus loop and as I walked up to the bus there
were four or five passengers[1] having a huge argument with her loudly
complaining about her attacking cyclists and what the hell was she on
about. I took her photo and she started yelling that she had video
showing that I was attacking her and "road-raging her bus" Once again
she tries shouting that I must use the off road path "it is law"
(crap, closest law is rule 247. which says you must use an ON-ROAD
bicycle lane where provided unless it is impracticable to do so).

Eastrans this time, driver's name badge says Maryla, 8:45 am or so, bus 5485-AO.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajft/2945744106/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajft/2945744116/

Happy f'kin birthday to me.

Adrian

[1] Talking to one of the passengers later, she said the driver had
been in a bad mood all morning and had shouted at her to "turn her
music down" on her iPod.