Biking in london bus lanes
Discussion
I have just received a penalty charge notice for riding my motorbike in a bus lane in London.
This has taken me by surprise because I thought motorbikes could use bus lanes
The penalty notice is from Barnet London borough if that makes any difference.
Grateful for any information from people who know about these things as I very rarely take my bike into London
This has taken me by surprise because I thought motorbikes could use bus lanes
The penalty notice is from Barnet London borough if that makes any difference.
Grateful for any information from people who know about these things as I very rarely take my bike into London
Oh good grief
I just assumed you could use all of them
That's ridiculous.
It was dangerous enough trying to keep tabs on a the other vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians without needing to check bus lane signs.
How do you know if a bus lane is good or not?
What's the rationale for them having permission or not?
I just assumed you could use all of them
That's ridiculous.
It was dangerous enough trying to keep tabs on a the other vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians without needing to check bus lane signs.
How do you know if a bus lane is good or not?
What's the rationale for them having permission or not?
The blue bus lane sign at the start of it will have a picture of a motorbike on it if you can use it. Barnet area has quite a few where you can’t use them, more than most other parts of Greater London.
Also check the operating times, any vehicle can use them outside the hours marked (so look out for cars undertaking you if you aren’t using it)
Also check the operating times, any vehicle can use them outside the hours marked (so look out for cars undertaking you if you aren’t using it)
vtr1000f said:
Zakalwe said:
The blue bus lane sign at the start of it will have a picture of a motorbike on it if you can use it.
As above,It's not that difficult...
Bloody annoying and there's no obvious reason for keep randomly changing it all over the place. For example, ride from Westminster Bridge to Waterloo Bridge south of the river, (which you now have to do because they've closed Westminster bridge to plebeian drivers like us), help yourself to the bus lane all the way to the Waterloo roundabout, but hit the bridge and oh no, keep out. Get back onto the Strand and you're good to go again. Where's the rationale there?
Edited by CAPP0 on Saturday 7th September 21:35
CAPP0 said:
...there's no obvious reason for keep randomly changing it all over the place...
The cycling lobby.https://www.cyclinguk.org/campaigning/views-and-br...
I understand it’s annoying to get a ticket when your assumptions have been misplaced, but it’s really no different to follow the signed information for bus lane use than it is for speed limits, no entry, stop etc. Fail your test these days if you tell the examiner you’re too busy trying to ride safely to be able to check road signs
Zakalwe said:
I understand it’s annoying to get a ticket when your assumptions have been misplaced, but it’s really no different to follow the signed information for bus lane use than it is for speed limits, no entry, stop etc. Fail your test these days if you tell the examiner you’re too busy trying to ride safely to be able to check road signs
He's already admitted he didn't know how to tell if he was allowed or not. How many other signs are you unaware of, OP?
gareth_r said:
What a stupid argument. They will probably campaign to get buses out of them nextgareth_r said:
Never let the facts get in the way of a good ill informed judgement! 
TfL understood that it has been repeatedly shown in studies that opening bus lanes to motorcyclists makes it a lot safer for motorcyclists with no detremental impact on other users of those bus lanes (busses, taxis and "lycra locusts"). As such, TfL controlled bus lanes are opened to motorcycles. However, most bus lanes are controlled by the various London boroughs and they feel they have higher priorities than saving motorcyclists. TfL are "trying" to get them to adopt the safer bus lane policy but most
Just as a foot note. The studies I have seen from European cities also suggest that there are safety advantages (and no safety disadvantages) in allowing motorcyclist to use the "puff box" at the front of the queue for traffic lights. Let's hope that also gets adopted.
black-k1 said:
Never let the facts get in the way of a good ill informed judgement!
TfL understood that it has been repeatedly shown in studies that opening bus lanes to motorcyclists makes it a lot safer for motorcyclists with no detremental impact on other users of those bus lanes (busses, taxis and "lycra locusts"). As such, TfL controlled bus lanes are opened to motorcycles. However, most bus lanes are controlled by the various London boroughs and they feel they have higher priorities than saving motorcyclists. TfL are "trying" to get them to adopt the safer bus lane policy but mostcouldn't give a toss are occupied elsewhere. https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/moto...
Just as a foot note. The studies I have seen from European cities also suggest that there are safety advantages (and no safety disadvantages) in allowing motorcyclist to use the "puff box" at the front of the queue for traffic lights. Let's hope that also gets adopted.
Tfl were eventually made to understand, or understood but that made no difference as the change in policy was blocked for years until a change in Mayor prompted approval (AFAIK, Ken Livingstone was opposed). TfL understood that it has been repeatedly shown in studies that opening bus lanes to motorcyclists makes it a lot safer for motorcyclists with no detremental impact on other users of those bus lanes (busses, taxis and "lycra locusts"). As such, TfL controlled bus lanes are opened to motorcycles. However, most bus lanes are controlled by the various London boroughs and they feel they have higher priorities than saving motorcyclists. TfL are "trying" to get them to adopt the safer bus lane policy but most
Just as a foot note. The studies I have seen from European cities also suggest that there are safety advantages (and no safety disadvantages) in allowing motorcyclist to use the "puff box" at the front of the queue for traffic lights. Let's hope that also gets adopted.
You can continue to hope, or join MAG, who were the major lobbyists for London bus lanes to be opened to PTWs/ They have also recently been successful in getting Birmingham City Council to exempt PTWs from the CAZ/ULEZ charges which are imminent in that city.
A993LAD said:
Oh good grief
I just assumed you could use all of them
That's ridiculous.
It was dangerous enough trying to keep tabs on a the other vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians without needing to check bus lane signs.
How do you know if a bus lane is good or not?
What's the rationale for them having permission or not?
Do you live on Sark? How can this not be something you do every day when using the road no matter where you are. I just assumed you could use all of them
That's ridiculous.
It was dangerous enough trying to keep tabs on a the other vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians without needing to check bus lane signs.
How do you know if a bus lane is good or not?
What's the rationale for them having permission or not?
Lindun said:
A993LAD said:
Oh good grief
I just assumed you could use all of them
That's ridiculous.
It was dangerous enough trying to keep tabs on a the other vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians without needing to check bus lane signs.
How do you know if a bus lane is good or not?
What's the rationale for them having permission or not?
Do you live on Sark? How can this not be something you do every day when using the road no matter where you are. I just assumed you could use all of them
That's ridiculous.
It was dangerous enough trying to keep tabs on a the other vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians without needing to check bus lane signs.
How do you know if a bus lane is good or not?
What's the rationale for them having permission or not?
1. The other traffic.
2. Pedestrians who will likely simply walk out.
3. Where I'm going.
4. The three sets of traffic lights in the next 100yds that are all sequenced differently.
5. Other road signs that if I fail to follow will potentially get me points.
6. Actually making progress.
I tend to err on the side of safety and only use the bus lane if other bikers are using it.
But hey, some of as are just mere mortals and not supermen!
The way I work it is:-
Bikes are allowed in TFL bus lanes. These are pretty much all the red routes. So if it's got double red lines at the side of the road it's OK to use them.
Double yellow lines means it's managed by the local council and I don't use them unless I've seen a sign to say it's OK. Mainly it's not.
It's the same for motorcycle parking, free if a red route, chargeable if not.
Bikes are allowed in TFL bus lanes. These are pretty much all the red routes. So if it's got double red lines at the side of the road it's OK to use them.
Double yellow lines means it's managed by the local council and I don't use them unless I've seen a sign to say it's OK. Mainly it's not.
It's the same for motorcycle parking, free if a red route, chargeable if not.
Harry H said:
The way I work it is:-
Bikes are allowed in TFL bus lanes. These are pretty much all the red routes. So if it's got double red lines at the side of the road it's OK to use them.
Double yellow lines means it's managed by the local council and I don't use them unless I've seen a sign to say it's OK. Mainly it's not.
It's the same for motorcycle parking, free if a red route, chargeable if not.
Not a bad approach but not always 100%. Bishoptsgate, outside of Liverpool St. Station, is a Red Route where bikes are OK in the bus lane going south but not allowed in the bus lane going north!. Bikes are allowed in TFL bus lanes. These are pretty much all the red routes. So if it's got double red lines at the side of the road it's OK to use them.
Double yellow lines means it's managed by the local council and I don't use them unless I've seen a sign to say it's OK. Mainly it's not.
It's the same for motorcycle parking, free if a red route, chargeable if not.
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