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Not only are people blind in bus-lanes;at one time I used the Gloucester by-pass regularly and at one set of traffic lights,all the vehicles queued in the left hand lane.I regularly used the right-turn lane because as well as a right turn arrow,there was also an "ahead" arrow painted on the road.Horns were blown,headlights were flashed.
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We have a bus lane here, not a long one, which 90% of cars ignore, out of hours and prefer to drive in the right hand lane, closer to the oncoming traffic. If, during 'bus' times, a vehicle is stuck in the right hand lane waiting to turn right....is it illegal to 'undertake' him using the bus lane breifly and then return to the right ? I would imagine it's an offence, so a backlog of traffic will occur even if there are no buses in sight....senseless waste of road space !
Ted
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We have bus lanes in Sunderland that are, more or less, no-car lanes.
Particularly on the A690 Durham Rd. these lanes are empty of any vehicles and simply slow down the flow of traffic. Back in the time of trams, these ran on the central reservation of this road so why this cannot be re-enacted for bus lanes, I have no idea.
I have a question regarding bus lanes. They are partitioned off with a solid white line, which should not be crossed. However, when van and taxi drivers are permitted to use bus lanes, they are quite happy to "undertake" at well above the speed limit, then cross the solid white line to turn right as required.
They seem to consistently get away with their abuse of speed and the bus lanes.
We, law abiding drivers become increasingly frustrated by this behaviour.
As Ted says, senseless use of road space to try to force us onto public transport that does not provide the service required.
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As I've suggested before, we should standardise the colour coding of bus lanes and only have a two or three different types, e.g. Red for 24/7, Green for peak hours only.
Then it'd be obvious what the bus lane times are without having to read tiny lettering on a sign that's mixed in with all the other roadside clutter.
I know some people are colour blind which would mean we'd still need additional signage, but it's still a good idea in my opinion as the majority of drivers would benefit.
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If car drivers do not have the ability to read a sign stating the times a bus lane is in use, how can you believe they will have the ability to work out different colours for different times?
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Just the same in Northampton. Lane past the Saints ground going west effective 16:00 to 18:00 completely ignored at 18:30 - even when traffic worse than usual due M1 closure .
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A48 into Newport from M4 west likewise. I drive my truck down there most Fridays about 10.30 am (bus lane is 7-10) and have even had car drivers shout at me that I'm in the wrong lane. I think it was something to do with the fact that I was making better progress in a 26-ton truck!
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I do an occasional run from the A1 to Streatham at weekends. I love using the bus lanes along Brixton road and around Swiss Cottage. I'm aware of the 24/7 restriction by the Oval, and Maida Vale needs careful sign reading. An alert 'spotter' in the passenger seat helps.
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In an ideal world, of course, an "intelligent" SatNav would be able to direct the driver (by voice, rather than distracting screen) when to use the time-restricted bus lane, by combining an accurate clock with accurate positioning and up-to-date street plans.
Barcelona has the feature mentioned a few threads back - lines of flashing yellow LEDs to indicate when the lane is in operation.
No good for catching out and fining motorists and swelling the appropriate coffers, of course....
Sigh.
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Wasn't there someone famous ( I want to say Stephen Fry for some reason ) who had an old London black cab which he then drove in the bus lanes without being challenged ?
Might be complete rubbish of course
If Stephen Fry had a taxi licence then he could drive in a bus lane which permits taxis. Otherwise no.
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Yes he did, it was on TV years ago.
Edited by Hamsafar on 05/02/2009 at 23:37
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