Here's a good one:

1. Bus driver stops to pick me up. I honestly don't remember if he kneeled or not. (That's not my point).
2. I proceed to load my bike properly and LOCK it, just to be cautious. I had previously witnessed 2 teens make off with a passenger's bike as the bus came to a stop. So, I didn't want to take any chances.
3. Bus driver beeps and signals (I finish locking).
4. i get on and he asks "what did you do that for?"
5. I excitedly tell him about the incident I witnessed and tell him "don't be offended, but it's not your job to keep my bike safe. I don't even know you."
6. He tells me to calm down. I do.

if a driver doesn't kneel the bus can't the cyclist simply ask him/her to lower it?

I thought the idea of buying a bike was to ride it, not to clog up the public transit system. What do I know, I'm not a Yalie.

One time i got a flat and hobbled it to a bus stop and took the bus to a store ..
Another time i put my bike on the J bus and went to cheshire , after getting my bike and off of the bus i had to ride 2 miles to my destination , being near 60 it was a lifesaver..
-II have seen young kids take the bus with bike for a 1/4 mile to downtown ..

actually , the rules and law of the land is , We all Kneel before the bus drivers .
The connected and holier than thou royal drivers of his honorific Mallory , wield the royal coaches gallantly , Never stopping for the peasants , running them down..

I would like to know if the drivers are instructed to kneel the bus for bikes during their training, and they just don't bother, or is it assumed that when someone appears in front of them lifting 30 lbs of awkwardness, they should know to do it, and shouldn't have to be told. Hey CTTransit folks, which is it.

Actually, there are many places the buses don't go, I used to have to ride the J for an hour to Milford, and then bike for 20 minutes to get up to the Orange town Line

Drivers routinely kneel the bus for any woman getting on or off with a large purse! But they don't notice you are trying to lift a 30 lb. bike right in front of them

If CTTransit is monitoring this discussion, why have they not chimed in?

@ Actually , or sorry but the drivers do not routinely kneel for passengers , elderly or baggage laden

Bus Operators are encouraged to use the kneeler “automatically” when they’re at a stop without a curb, but it is not mandated. Operators are instructed to lower the bus whenever they are asked, so the bicyclist should simply ask the driver to lower the bus. The Operator may have to wait for the front door to clear so no one boarding the bus is thrown off balance by the movement of the bus.