See, that whole addison lee thing didn't have a knock on effect or owt...

[Melonfish]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-18083592

bit smarter then the addison lee lot mind protesting rather then just breaking the law.
still, doesn't bode particularly well...
pete

 

[BSRU]

They complain it is discriminatory but then it is meant to be discriminatory, just a lot of hot air.

 

[Hawk]

If AL win their case, then TfL and others will surely just move to allow only buses and cycles in the lanes? It's the only sensible choice they could make.

 

[jonny jeez]

If AL win their case, then TfL and others will surely just move to allow only buses and cycles in the lanes? It's the only sensible choice they could make.

and motorcycles....

 

[SavageHoutkop]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-18083592
bit smarter then the addison lee lot mind protesting rather then just breaking the law.

Went past our offices hooting their little hooters off...
If memory serves they have done this before as well to protest the same thing before the whole Addison Lee thing kicked off.

 

[downfader]

Discriminating is, as BSRU says, used - the aids the traffic flow. If there were no buslanes then the buses just get locked in traffic and go no where (as happens a few times a year in Southampton when roadworks close them down).

Ofcourse, if First, Velvet, Greyhound etc.. worked towards monorail systems (that rise above the road and only descend back down to street level for picking up and dropping off).. then they would save a fortune in fuel (electric powered), cut down journey times and increase efficiency (no traffic to navigate through), and their carbon footprint would see them beat National targets for businesses here in the UK.

 

[gaz]

and motorcycles....

As a man who has a motorcycle... is that actually in play yet? I still see a few bus lanes which apparently don't allow motorcycles.
I thought it came into play at the start of the year.

 

[jefmcg]

As a man who has a motorcycle... is that actually in play yet? I still see a few bus lanes which apparently don't allow motorcycles.
I thought it came into play at the start of the year.

Motorcycles have been in bus lanes since January '09. There was an 18 month trial, then another trial then it became permanent. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/redroutes/10151.aspx

There are some bus lanes that ban cycles, motorcycles and taxis (I sneakily use one occasionally approaching Piccadilly Circus), but AFAIK, all other bus lanes have been usable by motorcycles for more than three years.

And by extension, cycle lanes too ... or that's what most motorcyclists think.

 

[fossyant]

Funny thing is, bus lanes are crap in Manchester - they aren't very good at all so I have no idea why Private Hire drivers are getting worked up. They are a complete afterthought up this way, and maybe run for a few hundred yards near junctions.

 

[jonny jeez]

(I sneakily use one occasionally approaching Piccadilly Circus).

really they BAN cycles?!...I've not even looked to see if i can cycle in a bus lane...I just do. maybe I should look out.

but yes, some lanes (or frustratingly sections of lanes) are not open to motorcycles, even since the trial was completed and motorcycles were awarded access into bus lanes full time.

without sounding like a winging motorbiker...this is terrifically dangerous to motorcycles as they have to literally read every single blue sign along a stretch of road (and dont tell me we all do anyhow, these aren't large clear warning/instruction signs and are often hidden by the bus in the lane until the very last moment) and then hop in and out of the lane which cause huge confusion and conflict with motorists and cyclists. A simple solution would be coloured lanes....its obvoius then where you can and cant ride

I get in and out of the bus lane three times on the way from the old kent road to waterloo bridge (2 miles or so?)

And to make matters worse. the majority of busses carry signs telling motorcyclists that they will be fined if they ride in bus lanes.

totally confusing to new motorcyclists

 

[Dan B]

really they BAN cycles?!...I've not even looked to see if i can cycle in a bus lane...I just do.

With-traffic lanes are almost always open o cyclists. Contraflow bus lanes (shaftesbury ave approaching picaddilly, bloomsbury way, tottenham hale) often aren't

http://cyclechat.net/threads/contraflow-bus-lane-on-bloomsbury-way-bans-cyclists-london.57805/

 

[astrocan]

And to make matters worse. the majority of busses carry signs telling motorcyclists that they will be fined if they ride in bus lanes.

totally confusing to new motorcyclists

I wonder if they are trying to get bikers (or anyone else) to either concentrate on what is going on or play safe. I don't think it makes much difference to the rest of us.

I really like the bus lanes on the A23 just South of Croydon which are restricted to busses and HGV's.
No idea why they do it but it is BRILLIANT.
The car drivers HATE it.

 

[Fab Foodie]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-18083592

bit smarter then the addison lee lot mind protesting rather then just breaking the law.
still, doesn't bode particularly well...
pete

We should have organised a critical mass of cyclists to ride even more slowly in front of their demonstration ....

 

[captain nemo1701]

And by extension, cycle lanes too ... or that's what most motorcyclists think.

Quite a few bikers here in Bristol seem to 'confuse' thinner cycle lanes with bus lanes when they're trying to get into that cylist-box thing at the end of junctions. I think it's known as the Motorbike Head Start Box

 

[gaz]

Motorcycles have been in bus lanes since January '09. There was an 18 month trial, then another trial then it became permanent. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/redroutes/10151.aspx

There are some bus lanes that ban cycles, motorcycles and taxis (I sneakily use one occasionally approaching Piccadilly Circus), but AFAIK, all other bus lanes have been usable by motorcycles for more than three years.

And by extension, cycle lanes too ... or that's what most motorcyclists think.

The trial ended in 2011 and it was declared that motorcyclists would be allowed to use all bus lanes in London at the end of 2011.