Bus lane signs

[omitchell]

I was pulled over yesterday in a bus lane, circa 8:00pm, and the blue sign clearly stated 7am - 7pm, when i was pulled over i was told this was for parking restrictions and not for when you could drive down it, and it was a permanent bus lane, who was correct here?

[Flat in Fifth]

take a look at following signs from Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002

diagram 961

Quite clear from that diagram that the times refer to times of operation of bus lane.

One thing I find, especially in London, is that the operation hours of bus lanes can vary as you go from one borough to another.

So you go from 7am-7pm operation to 24 hour operation, and then back again to something else. Yet in effect you have been driving down the same road the A1234 or whatever. Such a dogs dinner is not helpful towards road safety.

FiF

>> Edited by Flat in Fifth on Friday 1st July 10:30

[puggit]

There's a section in Chiswick where you can drive down the bus lane during certain hours, then you can't, then you can again on the next stretch...

Go figure

[omitchell]

this was a bus lane through cambridge of no more than half a mile long with no junctions or breaks except for a set of pedestrian crossing traffic lights, thanks for the respones FIF and Puggit

[docjan]

Drive down there and look for every blue sign, it should be labelled or they're talking crap.

[Pigeon]

omitchell said:

I was pulled over yesterday in a bus lane, circa 8:00pm, and the blue sign clearly stated 7am - 7pm, when i was pulled over i was told this was for parking restrictions and not for when you could drive down it, and it was a permanent bus lane, who was correct here?

You were right.

I was in a mate's car when he was pulled over in just the same situation. Copper (young, not traffic) says "we're not allowed to use the bus lanes, so I'm damn sure you're not". Mate points to sign "Bus lane 7am-7pm" (it was 8pm). Copper retires with egg on face.

[tvrgit]

TSRGD

bus lane signs are blue with white letters and must specify hours of operation (even if all day). The sign has to be displayed at the start of the bus lane, and at breaks (apart from at minor junctions).

Parking restrictions are yellow with black letters, unless it's a red route or clearway which are signed differently.

Bus lanes do not automatically prohibit parking, either within or outside their hours of operation, unless there is a parking restriction order as well. You would be open to be nicked, though, while you were moving i9n the bus lane before or after you were parked.