How long can a bus park in a bus stop

How long can a bus park in a bus stop

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Discussion

Burwood

Original Poster:

18,709 posts

245 months

Friday 6th March 2015
quotequote all
Is there any restriction on buses stopping/parking in a bus stop. There is a designated bus stop in our area where the stop protrudes into the flow of traffic. A private bus company has an annoying habit of parking up and waits for all the kids to meet the bus. The impact being the entire main road is blocked causing long tail backs. You can get caught for 10 mins waiting.

SVTRick

3,633 posts

194 months

Friday 6th March 2015
quotequote all
I thought that bus stops were for designated service busses ? as in the description BUS Stop as opposed to coach parking.
A private coach firm near to me got told not to park in them and that included over night too.

A real pain when the bus arrives and stop bay has a coach parked up.


Basic

82 posts

180 months

Friday 6th March 2015
quotequote all
If it has a road marking (dashed yellow line around the stop, the words 'bus stop' and a thick yellow line along the kerb) then local bus services can use it: to pick up passengers; for up to two minutes to get back to timetable; or to change drivers.

Private vehicles wating to pick up children from school could get a ticket, whether they be a bus or a car.


Red Devil

13,055 posts

207 months

Friday 6th March 2015
quotequote all
It depends on what the OP means by private bus company. All regular services in London, where the OP is from according to his profile. are contracted out by TfL to private companies. Quite a few bus routes in the capital are specific schools only ones using the usual big red vehicles and displaying route numbers like any other service - http://www.londonbusroutes.net/routes.htm#school

If it's a service organised directly by a school with a coach operator then a contravention is being committed. If it's that big an issue complain to TfL and/or the relevant Traffic Commissioners who oversee the operator's PSV licence/London Service Permit.

The Turbonator

2,792 posts

150 months

Friday 6th March 2015
quotequote all
Basic said:
If it has a road marking (dashed yellow line around the stop, the words 'bus stop' and a thick yellow line along the kerb) then local bus services can use it: to pick up passengers; for up to two minutes to get back to timetable; or to change drivers.

Private vehicles wating to pick up children from school could get a ticket, whether they be a bus or a car.
I'm not doubting you but do you have an example of where it states that in the law?

I work for a bus firm and we sometimes have timetables that stipulate that we stay at a stop for much longer than 2 minutes.


Basic

82 posts

180 months

Friday 6th March 2015
quotequote all
The Turbonator said:
Basic said:
If it has a road marking (dashed yellow line around the stop, the words 'bus stop' and a thick yellow line along the kerb) then local bus services can use it: to pick up passengers; for up to two minutes to get back to timetable; or to change drivers.

Private vehicles wating to pick up children from school could get a ticket, whether they be a bus or a car.
I'm not doubting you but do you have an example of where it states that in the law?

I work for a bus firm and we sometimes have timetables that stipulate that we stay at a stop for much longer than 2 minutes.
It's in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions. I don't have access to a copy at the moment (am using my phone and it's a bit of a faff to look it up!) so can't be any more exact than that I'm at the moment I'm afraid.

I'd be surprised if anyone issued a ticket to a bus service though.

Edited to add that I just checked the 2015 regs and it's in table 26.

Edited by Basic on Friday 6th March 22:32

daveinhampshire

527 posts

125 months

Friday 6th March 2015
quotequote all
We used to be parked all over the place on the school buses when I worked for Stagecoach. It's not like you can pop the bus anywhere else.

HertsBiker

6,300 posts

270 months

Saturday 7th March 2015
quotequote all
Burwood said:
Is there any restriction on buses stopping/parking in a bus stop. There is a designated bus stop in our area where the stop protrudes into the flow of traffic. A private bus company has an annoying habit of parking up and waits for all the kids to meet the bus. The impact being the entire main road is blocked causing long tail backs. You can get caught for 10 mins waiting.
So much for buses reducing congestion and pollution. No wait.. It's just another way of punishing the private motorist for daring to have their own choices. Can't you call the police as it's clearly obstructing the highway?

The Turbonator

2,792 posts

150 months

Saturday 7th March 2015
quotequote all
Basic said:
It's in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions. I don't have access to a copy at the moment (am using my phone and it's a bit of a faff to look it up!) so can't be any more exact than that I'm at the moment I'm afraid.

I'd be surprised if anyone issued a ticket to a bus service though.

Edited to add that I just checked the 2015 regs and it's in table 26.

Edited by Basic on Friday 6th March 22:32
Thanks for that.

Burwood

Original Poster:

18,709 posts

245 months

Saturday 7th March 2015
quotequote all
Red Devil said:
It depends on what the OP means by private bus company. All regular services in London, where the OP is from according to his profile. are contracted out by TfL to private companies. Quite a few bus routes in the capital are specific schools only ones using the usual big red vehicles and displaying route numbers like any other service - http://www.londonbusroutes.net/routes.htm#school

If it's a service organised directly by a school with a coach operator then a contravention is being committed. If it's that big an issue complain to TfL and/or the relevant Traffic Commissioners who oversee the operator's PSV licence/London Service Permit.
it's a Gastonia Coaches Cranleigh. Definately a school designated private bus. I will be calling the bus company too-cheers

Burwood

Original Poster:

18,709 posts

245 months

Saturday 7th March 2015
quotequote all
daveinhampshire said:
We used to be parked all over the place on the school buses when I worked for Stagecoach. It's not like you can pop the bus anywhere else.
Well, i think most road users would be a bit annoyed at you 'popping' it in the middle of the road for 10 minutes.

Lotus Notes

1,197 posts

190 months

Saturday 7th March 2015
quotequote all
Burwood said:
A private bus company has an annoying habit of parking up and waits for all the kids to meet the bus.
If I remember correctly, on public roads people wait for buses, buses do not sit there for 10 minutes waiting for passengers..Give them a call.

TooLateForAName

4,725 posts

183 months

Saturday 7th March 2015
quotequote all
HertsBiker said:
So much for buses reducing congestion and pollution. No wait.. It's just another way of punishing the private motorist for daring to have their own choices. Can't you call the police as it's clearly obstructing the highway?
Hell yeah - cos obviously 50 odd parents in cars turning up to collect their kids from school would be massively better rolleyes

herewego

8,814 posts

212 months

Saturday 7th March 2015
quotequote all
TooLateForAName said:
HertsBiker said:
So much for buses reducing congestion and pollution. No wait.. It's just another way of punishing the private motorist for daring to have their own choices. Can't you call the police as it's clearly obstructing the highway?
Hell yeah - cos obviously 50 odd parents in cars turning up to collect their kids from school would be massively better rolleyes
But all those kids must have their own cars surely, any kid over 6 anyway.

grumpyscot

1,277 posts

191 months

Saturday 7th March 2015
quotequote all
I understood that bus STOPS were for buses to pull in only for the purpose of dropping off / picking up passengers for a short, limited time. In our area, we have bus STANDS where buses are allowed to wait (e.g. at termini). Coaches are specifically NOT allowed to use bus stops or stands in our area and are also not allowed to use bus lanes.

Red Devil

13,055 posts

207 months

Saturday 7th March 2015
quotequote all
Burwood said:
It's a Gastonia Coaches Cranleigh. Definately a school designated private bus. I will be calling the bus company too-cheers
Start at the top of the tree. This may be of help - http://www.tan.gov.uk/tanen/vosa_anonymousoperator...