If they're so concerned with this, why don't they move the bus stops themselves so pedestrians aren't in danger?

"D.C. police say that the total number of traffic fatalities in the city is down 9 percent this year. There have been 17 pedestrian fatalities, one more than in 2005."

Mathematically, how is this possible?

i don't get it. you can pass the bus... but can you move back into the right lane after you pass it?

you want to know what the real solution is?

designated bus lanes.

The total TRAFFIC fatalities (including vehicle vs. vehicle) are down, but the number that have caused pedestrian deaths (a subset) are up.

The law is -- when a but stops just before an intersection, you can't pass to the left and then immediately turn right in front of it. You can move back into the lane in front of it and go straight. But turning right is now illegal, because there could be pedestrians trying to cross the street that you can't see because the bus is blocking your view.

The intent of this law is no doubt noble. The effect will be stupid. It seems like it may just snarl the traffic even more by making it that much harder to turn right. It's already difficult to make legal right turns downtown because of the illegally-crossing pedestrians who think they're exempt from obeying "DON'T WALK" signs. At many intersections you can't go right on red legally, so the new bus law will require people to wait through an extra light cycle (or two, if the bus doesn't move quickly enough). People who have to stop to wait for a bus to move are going to be the subject of a lot of horn-honking and finger-flipping from other drivers who get stuck behind them waiting to go straight. (Consider the situation when you have parallel-parked cars prior to the bus stop; the driver turning right can't pull in behind the bus and must wait in a lane of traffic.)

"nashpaul" has it right--it would make more sense to move the bus stops back from the intersections so that people can see around the bus when going to turn.

I think this law will be about as well-respected as the so-called "Bus Only" lane on 9th Street NW (a restriction that is generally ignored).

Well meant but perhaps doomed. Also, it's not just a bus issue. On the infrequent occasions when a driver stops with the idea of letting me make a crossing, I try to see if there is any other vehicle stopped behind them, and often don't cross if there is because of this loop-around thing. I'm legally blind so I'm on transit and on foot daily, and I've learned not to trust drivers if I have a choice.
One place I see this often is the Dunn Loring Metro exit to Gallows Road where a car trying to turn left or right, but waiting for pedestrians in the crosswalk, will be passed by another vehicle pulling out from behind.
Now I know at least one person who is hesitant to stop for pedestrians for fear of being attacked by one of those drivers, plus fear of being crashed into by the passing driver swinging back in front of her when the pedestrians have gotten far enough to leave just one lane clear.

I can completely understand and respect that law. It makes sense. Drivers in DC are horrible; they are not only aggressive drivers, but most drive FAR too fast on city streets. I hope that this new law cuts down on accidents and fatalities.

However, I also think that there should be some sort of focus made on the fact that the Metro Bus drivers that drive on Penn Avenue have NO consideration for drivers OR pedestrians. I have seen them run red lights and nearly hit people crossing the street, and I myself have almost been sideswiped in my car by a metro bus that decides to cross 3 lanes of traffic at one time!

I am ALWAYS considerate of the bus drivers - they have a tough job - but some of them are really awful drivers and could really pose a danger to people, both in cars and on foot.

I've lived here for almost 5 years, and this is just now becoming apparent to me. Does anyone see the same type of behavior in these drivers?

I have no issues with this for rapid transit buses, that is Metrobuses (and I guess MTA & OmniRides that go into DC). I have a major issue when it extends to tourist charter buses and the TourMobile (!).
The former drop off a few passengers who go about their way, in various directions, and may not be able to see around a bus when they use a marked crosswalk.
The latter drop off ALL of their passengers, many of whom are often distracted, or of limited mobility, and usually are dropped off right at the door of where they are going (or at least congregate on the sidewalk), rather than scattering to various crosswalks at that intersection. Would you want to sit behind a 70 passenger bus as every single camera-toting tourist saunters off of it on a 100 degree day? I don't see how that affects pedestrian safety in the least.
Transit authority buses in other, less dysfunctional cities, have decals on the back saying something to the effect of "City Law - no right turn in front of stopped bus." Can we just put those on the Metrobuses and leave it at that?

Great, another traffic law that DC cops won't even consider enforcing. That cellphone law really stopped people from talking on their cells while driving, hasn't it?

I doubt MPD will be enforcing this rule sufficiently, much like the cell phone rule that has had little effect on drivers. Honestly, I'd rather them arrest genuine criminals(plenty of these in some parts of DC) than enforce traffic laws like this.

Perhaps they could release the we-dont-turn-right-on-red mandate on bus drivers or hire smarter drivers who can tell when traffic is coming. Theis would probably achieve the same effect as the new law. I have to do this all the time because some bus is just sitting at the intersection waiting for the light to turn @ 0530 with cross traffic clearly stopped or non-existent.

Yeah, Metro Bus drivers in DC. In one day, I nearly got hit by two busses on Constitution while driving, one blew through a light on Pennsylvania Ave. (I think I was on 12th at that point) and it wasn't close. My light was green for about 10 seconds because four cars went through the intersection.

Then, once where I was going and now walking, crossing with the light and the clock counting down from 20, a bus pulls right up to let people out, but stops in a crosswalk.

I fear Metro Bus which is why I'll only ride the rail, at least there, I know they can only go where the tracks go!

Bus drivers in this city are aggressive and out of control. They pose a hazard to pedistrians and drivers alike. The attitude they have towards obeying simple traffic rules is very disapointing.

The law gives the right of way to pedestrians but makes no provision for flowers.

A PSA to the passengers getting off the bus should tell them to wait until the bus pulls away to try to cross any road. The odds just are not in their favor when the view is obstructed.

I think the Metro bus drivers are great. It must be hard to get out there every day.

Stick, the problem with your analysis is that you're implying that you have a right to go right on red regardless of anyone in front of you. But you don't. No driver is ever obligated to go right on red, and I'd submit that it's irresponsible to go right on red if you have any doubt at all about whether it's safe. I know in the rain I sometimes err on the side of not turning in situations where I'd definitely go ahead in dry weather, simply because I don't want to take any risks, and I've been honked at for it but I don't give a rat's arse. I care more about not taking risks with my own car than I do about whether the dingleberry behind me has to wait an extra thirty seconds.

With that said, it is definitely annoying on a clear, dry day when you get stuck behind a tourist from a country that doesn't allow turns on red who just sits there. But it doesn't entitle anyone to go around him. The law is that you have to suck it up and deal with the annoyance.

What are the specifics of the law. It has to be written very specifically in order to be enforced. If you're allowed to move into the right lane after passing the bus, but not allowed to immediately turn right -- what constitutes "immediately turning right"? ... 10 feet in front of the bus? ... 50 feet in front of the bus? How far must the bus be from the next corner to make it ok to turn right after passing the bus? This law will not work very well because very few people will know it exists (even with signs on the backs of buses). Thus, you'll have people zooming past buses and turning in front of them, while a noble few wait patiently behind the bus. What if the bus is sitting at the station with its doors open but for some reason not moving anytime soon? I can only hope the law is written more carefully then the way it was presented here, otherwise it is a non-starter.

I don't understand?!?!? If you don't want drivers to hit pedestrians then put them in cars!! This is a silly law. I have places to go. This just means that I will have to start cutting off buses so I won't have to wait. If the bus hits me, the METRO have have a lot of lawsuits! I'll be rich (along with a lot of other drivers)