View Full Version : London Driving - Can I use ALL bus lanes?
I can't work out which ones I'm allowed to use or is it all of them?
No. As a rule the only one that you can use are RED ROUTE bus lanes, and these are marked on the blue bus lane boards
SoulKiss
12-05-09, 09:48 AM
I can't work out which ones I'm allowed to use or is it all of them?
Nope, you need to look at EVERY sign at the start of the Bus Lane, for example, coming up the A24 you are allowed in the 1st 3 bus lane sections then prohibited, so its yet ANOTHER thing you need to watch apart from the road.....
Basically if its on a Red Route then it should be ok (TfL controlled, hence under Boris's control).
If its just yellow lines, then thats Local Authority controlled, so not usuall Biker Friendly.
timwilky
12-05-09, 09:54 AM
ok, that is even more confusing for a non londoner, wtf is a red route or yellow line?
The only yellow round here is to tell parkers they are ok to ignore parking restrictions as that is where they dump cages
As if riding a bike you are not used to and commuting into Central London isn't enough to contend with.......I thought all of them were game on. No wonder I was the only bike in them last night through Jamaica Road - Rotherhithe. Whoooops!
Red Routes are roads that have red lines near the kerbs. These are operated by Transport for London. Most of "their" bus lanes are open to motorbikes but check the bus lane signs. If theres no bike on the sign don't use it unless its outside the bus lane times.
Yellow lines are run by the local council militia.
Ch00
No wonder I was the only bike in them last night through Jamaica Road - Rotherhithe. Whoooops!
I thought that was ok now, will check it out later.
Ch00
Spiderman
12-05-09, 10:46 AM
Be vigilant cos event tho i ride in london everyday and have done for years now i still got caught out by this alst week and had a nice £60 fine drop on my doormat for riding in a section of bus lane thats no longer than about 30meters :roll:
i'm appealing it so wish me luck :)
Theres a bit like that near the roundabout by Walworth Road. Seems silly and pointless but hey thats TFL for you!!
Ch00
SoulKiss
12-05-09, 10:55 AM
As if riding a bike you are not used to and commuting into Central London isn't enough to contend with.......I thought all of them were game on. No wonder I was the only bike in them last night through Jamaica Road - Rotherhithe. Whoooops!
Doesn't mean you were in the wrong - most part-time bus lanes are empty even out of hours of operation - people see the BUS LANE paint and assume that is always a bus lane - the penalty for getting the hours wrong is way too high.
I rode from Oval to Streatham the other day outwith the A23 bus lane times and was the only vehicle (other than buses) in them, despite the lanes being available to all traffic.
Part-time Bus Lanes ADD to congestion in my opinion, Buses cant use them during commuting time because they are filled with cycles and then when they are not in operation they STILL take up 50% of the available road space and leave it unusable due to fear of fines/the fact that a part time lane can go from part-time to full-time just by crossing a junction.
As if riding a bike you are not used to and commuting into Central London isn't enough to contend with.......I thought all of them were game on. No wonder I was the only bike in them last night through Jamaica Road - Rotherhithe. Whoooops!Na, them ones are ok.
Remember a lot of them have specific times too, so even if they are not red routes out side peak hours you can use them as you feel. Most have the following -
7-10am 4-7pm
7am-7pm
Anytime
Most other people seem to forget so you get a nice open bit of journey, just watch out for the random person who just realised the same as you and suddenly pulls in though.
Ceri JC
12-05-09, 01:19 PM
Nope, you need to look at EVERY sign at the start of the Bus Lane, for example, coming up the A24 you are allowed in the 1st 3 bus lane sections then prohibited, so its yet ANOTHER thing you need to watch apart from the road.....
+1. Biggest nuisance is where you cross a junction and suddenly motorbikes just disappear from the permitted vehicles part of the sign, even though you're still effectively in the same lane. Also watch out for bendy buses forcing you into bus lanes you're not allowed to use when their front and back end hem you in when they are in the wrong lane then turn left. :rolleyes:
sod it I'm getting the train tomorrow! Actually ignore that, that would cost me £15+ per day.......it's costing me about a pound at the moment.
How much is a day travelcard on oyster?
SoulKiss
12-05-09, 02:05 PM
sod it I'm getting the train tomorrow! Actually ignore that, that would cost me £15+ per day.......it's costing me about a pound at the moment.
How much is a day travelcard on oyster?
Alternative route for you if the Blackwall/A13 is too painful....
A2 over Blackheath, all the way to Elephant and Castle then over London Bridge, hang a right and you get to Liverpool St
Biker Biggles
12-05-09, 02:29 PM
When they had a "consultation"on bikes in bus lanes I said that the rules should be clear and consistant and the same everywhere.
Fat chance of it happening though.:(
How much is a day travelcard on oyster?
Significantly more than a pound. Varies depending on where you go and what time, cheapest is £4.60 for zone 2-6 off peak, up to £15.70 for zones 1-9 peak (it's more if you go to watford junction).
Just follow the signs on the bus lanes, you'll be fine.
MT
sod it I'm getting the train tomorrow! Actually ignore that, that would cost me £15+ per day.......it's costing me about a pound at the moment.
How much is a day travelcard on oyster?Why? Its not that difficult. after a week, youll know where the lanes are. My current ride to work includes a 400 yard(if that) stretch of bus lane that i can use officaily. I still ride down the outside as most of the bus lanes at the time i commute are full of busses anyway. Its costs you more than a £1 a day to ride your bike in, thats for sure.
I had to go to dartford last night. I came down the A13 and across the Dartford bridge and it took me 35 mins from Moorgate to, baiscally, Dartford rail station.
-Ralph-
12-05-09, 07:55 PM
Be vigilant cos event tho i ride in london everyday and have done for years now i still got caught out by this alst week and had a nice £60 fine drop on my doormat for riding in a section of bus lane thats no longer than about 30meters :roll:
i'm appealing it so wish me luck :)
Good Luck!
How did you get caught? Do they have some over zealous arseh0le who likes his job just a wee bit too much, sitting watching CCTV?
I check every bus lane sign before I go into them, I'm that paranoid!
rictus01
12-05-09, 08:24 PM
Hmmmmm bus lanes, whilst I can see the obvious benefits, I'm kind of reluctent, Oh I use them, but only when I've actually seen a sight with either the motorbike on it or the times, and then a greater degree of caution as you ride closer to the Left cutting the margin for drivers coming out of side roads; as well as people turning Left from the traffic to your right and not expecting or looking for you there.
Given the choice I prefer to travel to the right of slow or stationary traffic if possible even when there is a free bus lane available most of the time, nice to have the choice though, without the added danger I'd use them more I suppose.
Cheers Mark.
yorkie_chris
12-05-09, 08:28 PM
That London seems like a right pain in the rse.
rictus01
12-05-09, 08:39 PM
That London seems like a right pain in the rse.
Only if you don't enjoy the challange mate.....................:cool:
Different skill set, but skill set none the less.
Cheers Mark
Spiderman
12-05-09, 08:45 PM
Good Luck!
How did you get caught? Do they have some over zealous arseh0le who likes his job just a wee bit too much, sitting watching CCTV?
Thanks Ralph :)
And sadly then employ a veritable army of them whose sole job is to watch for these kind of things and send you fines in the post.
I'm awaiting their images to get posted to me and when i have them i'll post em up here....cos you will laugh at how short the section of bus lane actualy is and how terrible my crime was!
-Ralph-
12-05-09, 08:53 PM
And sadly then employ a veritable army of them whose sole job is to watch for these kind of things and send you fines in the post
I hope these are people with zero career prospects and hence no other choice... I couldn't do a job where it was my responsibility to make other peoples lives miserable. I think traffic wardens and the like must just enjoy it, otherwise why wouldn't you just get another job?
yorkie_chris
12-05-09, 09:16 PM
One more for the league table.
I think scamera van operators are at the top of it at the minute. Can't really think of anyone who'd complain about one of those catching fire. Most of my mates would find it somewhat of a lark.
I had to go to dartford last night. I came down the A13 and across the Dartford bridge and it took me 35 mins from Moorgate to, baiscally, Dartford rail station.
Yeah I got home from Liverpool Street last night via Blackwall in 30 mins which wasn't too bad straight down the A13. The bus lanes are quite clearly marked, but it is annoying having to concentrate on one more thing.
It is getting easier, but it is still mor difficult than my daily commute, seemingly I get off the A2 just as things start to get really "Interesting".
I don't reckon it is costing me more than £1 or £2 a day at the moment. I am using a courtesy bike will the CBR is being sorted, so the wear and tear isn't mine otherwise I would definitely be on a train, my bike is to shiny to be chivved up by some scooter **** parking his bike up next to mine in the smallest of bays.
Ceri JC
13-05-09, 08:38 AM
Only if you don't enjoy the challange mate.....................:cool:
Different skill set, but skill set none the less.
Cheers Mark
+1. Everyone should do it at least once, it's definately a "biking experience". Not many places in the UK you can undertake a bus at 50 in a 30 as you go past two coppers and they don't even turn their heads. ;)
SoulKiss
13-05-09, 08:47 AM
+1. Everyone should do it at least once, it's definately a "biking experience". Not many places in the UK you can undertake a bus at 50 in a 30 as you go past two coppers and they don't even turn their heads. ;)
Well its only 50 Miles from the AR09 site to London ........................... :)
muffles
13-05-09, 02:32 PM
Nope, you need to look at EVERY sign at the start of the Bus Lane, for example, coming up the A24 you are allowed in the 1st 3 bus lane sections then prohibited, so its yet ANOTHER thing you need to watch apart from the road.....
Which bit of the A24 ? Just so I can watch out...
As if riding a bike you are not used to and commuting into Central London isn't enough to contend with.......I thought all of them were game on. No wonder I was the only bike in them last night through Jamaica Road - Rotherhithe. Whoooops!
That road's fine, I go through Rotherhithe to the tunnel every day.
I thought you already commuted by bike mate? Have you moved jobs recently or something?
SoulKiss
13-05-09, 02:37 PM
Which bit of the A24 ? Just so I can watch out...
Erm, some bit of it :)
I actually meant the A23 (I thought the A23 became the A3 and headed up to London Bridge......but it seems THATS the A24 :p)
Bit I am talking about is where it turns towards Waterloo, its ok for bikes up until Kennington Lane, then its a no-go
I thought you already commuted by bike mate? Have you moved jobs recently or something?
I do mate, just not the hardcore central london bit, I get off at greenwich before all the "FUN" starts.
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