Back in the commuting game

[Joe]

Just had my first week back commuting after two years of living too close to my workplace. Feels good

It's 14 miles each way which is just about the perfect distance.

I'm having a slight issue with this bit of road however (hope this link works!)

http://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&h...d=pJLPvnZhXrteM3v-lt1eiA&cbp=12,5.45,,0,10.93

There's a pavement based cycle path, which whilst not the worst by any means, I won't use as it's slower and more dangerous than the road. Then there's the bus lane which I've yet to see a bus in, followed by a lane each way for other traffic.

I've been riding in the northbound lane but due to it being quite narrow, and the opposite lane often busy I've had a couple of cars tailgating/reving and one bib me so far. The fact that I'm in the lane despite the empty bus lane and cycle path seems to really frustrate following drivers. The sign saying "cyclists use cycleway" probably doesn't help.

What would you recommend? Just carry on and ignore? Or use the bus lane? Am I right in thinking it's illegal to ride in a bus lane that doesn't have a specific exemption for cyclists?

 

[ianrauk]

Carry on and ignore anyone that beeps at you. Don't allow yourself to be bullied into the gutter. Keep to your line. It's a broken white line so cars will just have to wait until it is safe to overtake you.

Sorry, just had another look at the map.
Use the bus lane northbound definitely. Southbound as above.

 

[Arch]

I think you're right about the bus lane without specific exemption - but I wonder how strictly it would be enforced. I can sort of see why motorists get annoyed - yes, you've every right to be there, but they probably assume you are allowed in the bus lane. In your situation, I suspect I'd use the pavement path (depending on how bad it is), or the bus lane, unless I got pulled up for it...

And what do you mean "too close to work?". I'm 1.5 miles from work, and commute by bike - generally I do a bit extra to make it 5 miles each way....

 

[Joe]

By too close I mean about a 30 second walk! (Was living in hospital residences).

I agree that I shouldn't be bullied into the gutter but that wide bus lane is awful tempting...

 

[ianrauk]

By too close I mean about a 30 second walk! (Was living in hospital residences).

I agree that I shouldn't be bullied into the gutter but that wide bus lane is awful tempting...

use the bus lane... have you seen any signs to the contrary that you can't?

 

[Arch]

By too close I mean about a 30 second walk! (Was living in hospital residences).

I agree that I shouldn't be bullied into the gutter but that wide bus lane is awful tempting...

Ok, that is pretty close...

I didn't cycle when I was 0.5 miles from Uni - it was quicker to walk, taking into account locking and unlocking the bike, and the one-way system. But now I make time to do the extra miles...

You could always write to the council to check the status of the bus lane. Be sure to point out the DoT advice that cyclists wishing to travel at 30kph/18mph or more should use the road, not a shared use path, in case they think the bike path is the be-all and end-all of it.

 

[ianrauk]

In Catford in SE London there is a bus lane which forbids cyclists. Here More cyclists use it then not as it means a detour of a gyratory. I have never seen a cyclist stopped for using it.

 

[MacB]

I'd use the bus lane as well, I'm happy to ride in primary etc but no point stressing others when there's an alternative.

Pavement cycle paths can be a real pain in the bum, I avoid them due to the debris, poorly placed signposts and the fact they can be so slow. But it can really get drivers het up, I was yelled at by the passenger in a B&Q lorry today. They had to slow for me at a pinchpoint and he felt I should of been on the shared use pavement. I would of explained the error of his opinion but they weren't slowing, just a bit of casual abuse.

 

[gaz]

In Catford in SE London there is a bus lane which forbids cyclists. Here More cyclists use it then not as it means a detour of a gyratory. I have never seen a cyclist stopped for using it.

I've never even seen a bus in that bus lane!

 

[Joe]

I'm happy to ride in primary etc but no point stressing others when there's an alternative.

That's my attitude, however I don't like to break the rules either!

In this case, assuming I'm not allowed to ride in the bus lane, I think it's worth breaking them for an easy life. Especially as I've yet to see a bus in the lane at that time of the morning!

I definitely won't use the cycle path as it crosses several driveways and a couple of side streets, and I average 18-20mph.

 

[ianrauk]

ok here is the sign at the beginning of the bus lane.
It does not say that bikes are excluded from the lane.
Being Blue it's an information sign. So it is in fact 'Recommending' that you use the cycleway, it's not an order that you have to use the Cycleway.

 

[Joe]

ok here is the sign at the beginning of the bus lane.
It does not say that bikes are excluded from the lane.
Being Blue it's an information sign. So it is in fact 'Recommending' that you use the cycleway, it's not an order that you have to use the Cycleway.

Yeah I'm well aware that the cycle lane is not compulsory, I pointed it out as I'm not sure many motorists are!

But I was under the impression that a bus lane is for buses only, unless otherwise stated. Hence you often have bikes painted on the road in them etc. Could be wrong though

 

[davefb]

I'd use the bus lane as well, I'm happy to ride in primary etc but no point stressing others when there's an alternative.

Pavement cycle paths can be a real pain in the bum, I avoid them due to the debris, poorly placed signposts and the fact they can be so slow. But it can really get drivers het up, I was yelled at by the passenger in a B&Q lorry today. They had to slow for me at a pinchpoint and he felt I should of been on the shared use pavement. I would of explained the error of his opinion but they weren't slowing, just a bit of casual abuse.

in town centers, i really feel that cycle lanes should be mixed into the pavement ( so i can cut thru the nice pedestrian bits,, not go slow thru one way systems ),, but those stupid 'pavement' ones that stop at t-junctions are insane.. much better/safer surely to have a wider road !

 

[400bhp]

Use the bus lane.

It's the common sense approach.

 

[crumpetman]

I use a bus lane for a couple of hundred metres as it is almost always devoid of buses and it has it's set of traffic lights at the end which go green before the ones for the other two lanes of normal traffic which means that it is usually safer and faster that trying to filter through traffic.

However, it never occurred to me that I cannot use the bus lane if there is not a picture of a bicycle or a sign permitting use. I must admit I just took it for granted that bicycles can use bus lanes!