Bus lane width and RLJ

[Origamist]

"Green Light for Red Light jumping on Lethal London Road":

http://realcycling.blogspot.com/2010/01/green-light-for-red-light-jumping-on.html

I know this contraflow bus lane and it is narrow and lots of routes use it. The width means you can't share the lane comfortably with buses.

I take the centre of the lane and have never had a problem. That said, I imagine slower cyclists who did this would get beeped or tailgated from time to time and cyclists who ride in the gutter will suffer from very close passes.

I'd rather see the phasing changed to help cyclists or bus drivers being given training re: not attempting overtakes on this short stretch.

 

[marinyork]

If it is contraflow/1 lane exemption as I think it looks like there should be no overtaking due to width, no ifs no buts, no anything. There should be no overtaking in bus lanes anyway unless you are a motorbike or cyclist performing the move.

 

[Origamist]

If it is contraflow/1 lane exemption as I think it looks like there should be no overtaking due to width, no ifs no buts, no anything. There should be no overtaking in bus lanes anyway unless you are a motorbike or cyclist performing the move.

Can a bus legally overtake a cyclist if the vehicle does not straddle the unbroken line in a contraflow bus lane? Or is this proscribed too?

Some bus lanes have cyle lanes within them - overtaking happens here all the time. It's the same with wider bus lanes (4m +).

 

[marinyork]

I'll go into it later but those ones aren't 4m are they?

I'm just making the point that cyclists again seem to be focusing on the RLJing when another group of users is doing something very bad. Not perceived safety or whatever, something they shouldn't actually be doing. So the local cyclists should really be focusing on getting the bus drivers having points endorsements.

 

[Origamist]

I'll go into it later but those ones aren't 4m are they?

Thanks

The width of the lane fluctuates a bit but it is around 3.1-3.4m - far too narrow to overtake a cyclist.

I'm just making the point that cyclists again seem to be focusing on the RLJing when another group of users is doing something very bad. Not perceived safety or whatever, something they shouldn't actually be doing. So the local cyclists should really be focusing on getting the bus drivers having points endorsements.

To be fair to the blogger, he had complanied to TFL about what happended, but I agree with you that his anger is misplaced.

 

[BentMikey]

I'd agree with taking the lane, perhaps even the 2/3rds position. The RLJing is a red herring.

Anyone ride this one regularly with a camera? That and associated complaints would be a much better way of dealing with the problem, IMO.

 

[Origamist]

I think BenB goes up that way, but he's still out of action.

If Wiggle start to stock the GoPro HD anytime soon, I'll film it.

 

[BentMikey]

Maybe we can do a loop around the E&C RAB to film it on the 26th? Mind, you can follow it on streetmaps here.

Although what I meant was really for regular riders to film bus incidents here over the next few months. Sort of a campaign really.