A plurality of nodes are coupled via a serial data bus so that simultaneous transmission on the bus of a dominant state by at least one of the nodes and a recessive state by the other nodes results in the dominant state being detectable on the bus. A transition from a first state to a second state is repeatedly transmitted onto the bus from a node arbitrarily selected from the plurality of nodes. The first and second states are complementary states selected from the dominant and recessive states. The arbitrarily selected node is defined as the bit master. One or more of the nodes transmits onto the bus dominant and recessive states at a first predetermined time after each transition. The transmitted states representing respective dominant and recessive bits of an attempted message. The plurality of nodes detect dominant and recessive states of the bus at a second predetermined time after each transition. The sensed dominant and recessive states representing respective dominant and recessive bits of a detected message. Any of the one or more nodes that transmits a recessive bit at the first predetermined time and detects a dominant bit at the second predetermined time ceases transmission of bits onto the bus.