Southbound A10 bus lane at Tottenham Hale

Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.

Dan B

Disengaged member
There's a section of the A10 near Tottenham Hale where the main road is northbound only with a contraflow bus lane, and other southbound traffic must go round three sides of a square, keeping in the right two lanes of a four lane road which sees *cough* reasonable speeds

It's the only bus lane I know of with no cycle markings: does anyone know if it's supposed to be a cycle lane too? Going round the loop is a bit scary even for a reasonably fast cyclist.
 

zimzum42

Legendary Member
Just go down the bus lane, no one is going to give a shoot....
 

Origamist

Legendary Member
Are there any blue bus lane signs? They should indicate if cyclists can use the bus lane, hours of operation etc.
 

CotterPin

Senior Member
Location
London
This is one of the few bus lanes where cyclists are not permitted. I used to co-ordinate the local LCC group in Haringey and we fought long and hard on this but TfL wouldn't budge - cyclists would slow their buses! As a compromise there were plans for an on-pavement cycle track on the western side of the road but I don't recall whether that was progressed and I think we had concerns about access.

We would also have liked to see the removal of the entire gyratory.

I have cycled down the bus lane but from my memory (I haven't been in that area in a while) there is a bus stop half way down so you may find yourself stuck behind a bus loading up and there is no space to overtake.
 

Twanger

Über Member
Back in the day (when I was doing my first stint of cycle commuting in London in the 80s) contraflow bus lanes were categorically out of bounds to cyclists. Has this changed?
 

Origamist

Legendary Member
Twanger said:
Back in the day (when I was doing my first stint of cycle commuting in London in the 80s) contraflow bus lanes were categorically out of bounds to cyclists. Has this changed?

Yes, but there are exceptions.
 

zimzum42

Legendary Member
I don't reckon any copper is going to waste his/her time stopping you for this, it's so irrelevant...
 

Origamist

Legendary Member
zimzum42 said:
I don't reckon any copper is going to waste his/her time stopping you for this, it's so irrelevant...

I don't reckon most coppers will know if a bike can use the aforementioned bus lane or not...

If you come a cropper though, things might be different.
 

blazed

220lb+
The way i see it a bus and bicycle are basically the same thing so just use the bus lanes.
 

AnotherEye

Well-Known Member
Location
North London
CotterPin said:
As a compromise there were plans for an on-pavement cycle track on the western side of the road but I don't recall whether that was progressed and I think we had concerns about access.
I live nearby and I can confirm that no cycle track has been added.
I know all the local backstreets; if the poster sends precise details of journey I may be able to recommend another route.

Gerry
 

toontra

Veteran
Location
London
I use the bus lane regularly, basically because the one-way system southbound is used as a 3-lane race track by many motorists and can be dangerous.

As CotterPin says, there are bus stops by Tescos which you often get held up at, but even so it is the quicker and safer option. I've only once had a bus try and cut me up (and swear at me). The trick is to give way to the buses and try and not get in their way - that way no-one is really bothered about the legality.
 

zimzum42

Legendary Member
It's a pretty stupid decision not to allow bikes into that bus lane, I would not feel bad ignoring the sign....
 
OP
OP
D

Dan B

Disengaged member
CotterPin said:
This is one of the few bus lanes where cyclists are not permitted. I used to co-ordinate the local LCC group in Haringey and we fought long and hard on this but TfL wouldn't budge - cyclists would slow their buses!
How lame is that? Buses slow their buses ...
CotterPin said:
We would also have liked to see the removal of the entire gyratory.
I think Boris has promised that, or at least a return to two-way working
AnotherEye said:
I live nearby and I can confirm that no cycle track has been added.
I know all the local backstreets; if the poster sends precise details of journey I may be able to recommend another route.
The journey is very simple: A10 from Great Cambridge roundabout (A406) to Shoreditch. It's not the nicest road I've ever cycled, but for the most part I can more or less keep up with traffic and at least it's on average downhill (or feels like it) in that direction.
toontra said:
This particular bus lane does have no-cycling signs.

Google Streetview of entrance to bus lane
Can't see that on this machine (broken Flash installation) but I'll take your word for it.

So, yeah, I'll probably carry on using the bus lane because it's not quite as exciting as going round the gyratory in the dark, but I was stuck between two buses (the one in front was taking on passengers) when I came that way on Tuesday night, which did prompted the thought of whether the drivers were going to get angry with me. And if anyone wants to accuse me of bringing cycling into disrepute by not obeying the law here, erm erm, very sorry but nuts to you
 
Top Bottom