Is it just me or has the traffic been particularly bad this week? I’ve done a couple of trips City to Ealing and Streatham to City via Greenwich - they were just hot, sweaty, relentless filtering and if I was sat in one of those cars I would have been contemplating my societal worth.
I tried out a few new bus lanes too… Maybe we should share knowledge and publish those which don’t attract tickets… 
Dave
Well going towards town on the Uxbridge road between Acton & Shepherds bush there is a camera covering the bus lane, so try to avoid that one.
Saying that though I think some buses actually have cameras on them.
Going along the Bayswater road between Lancaster gate and Oxford Street. is usable, however the bus lane running down Park Lane is NOT.
The one on Haymarket is usable, as is the Cockspur Square.
(funnily enough all along the route from home to work to boro mkt. 
)
I witnessed a way round this last year. Heading down past Goldsmiths college towrds Peckham, a young guy on a twist & go passed me in the bus lane, I could see the cameras - & couldn’t belive what he was doing.
Thinking he was a bit dumb, I observed him slide back on his seat putting his feet on the back pegs & deftly slipping his leg around the back of his bike so as his foot covered his reg plate.
So it’s true then, necessity is the mother of invention.
I heard recently that ‘all’ of the vehicles wheels have to be in the lane and for a peiod longer than 20secs… not sure if that is correct as it was 2nd-hand from a guy who’s mate works for the council, who… blah… blah… blah…
Anyone know if this is correct?
When I did my Bike safe with the Met recently I am asked them this and they said if you go in, you can be nicked.
I heard something similar from some chap in London MAG who claimed regular dialog with TFL. They don’t prosecute cars who just impinge on the bus lane - all yer wheels have to be in. So for bikes I wonder if a wheelie will do…?He also said, for TFL routes only, bikes won’t get prosecuted for being in the first third (away from the pavement).But for all the routes I use from Streatham Hill to City
(1) Kings Avenue to Clapham North and A24 to Elephant
(2) A23 to Elephant
(3) south circular and Dulwich or Herne Hill via Walworth Road to Elephant
then Southwark or London Bridgethere are only 2 places where I’ve got a ticket
(1) Norwood Road, going north, at Herne Hill as you approach the 5 way junction lights
(2) King’s Avenue, going north, just after the schoolQueuing police don’t seem too bothered either, except I think its probably best to go outside on spotting one and not appear provocative.
Loving the one-wheeled option!!!
The 20second or 1/3 furthest from the pavement rule is of interest though as when you have to go on the inside as there is a traffic island for instance on the outside, then dipping in and out to pass the odd vehicle who is in the way is where I would probably come into contention on this rule.
Oct 07 is when the findings of the ‘Powered Two Wheelers in bus lanes’ study will be reported (catchy title huh? I understand ‘Bikes v Buses’ came a close 2nd when the study was officially named back in 2004 :D) so we’ll get a clearer ruling then I guess…?
Maybe its because all the kids are back to school?
You’re right - I didn’t know they were still working on this - here’s the link (ikncluding the result of the 2004 study) http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/finesandregulations/963.aspx
I know someone on a police bike got caught by the Norwood Road bus lane camera. The difference was that lambeth council enforce that one on behalf of TFL.(1) Norwood Road, going north, at Herne Hill as you approach the 5 way junction lights
Yep - I think I’ve been done twice by that one. Its a CCTV camera with a human operator (or that’s what the ticket said).So police can get done in bus lanes too??
I’d have thought so, Broady has been done for speeding.
I don’t think coppers would get away with flip plates on their bikes 
Generally exempt if the vehicles are marked. In this case the operator missed the tell tale hi vis jacket with police written on the back! Like evryone, they can appeal but they generally get squashed.
So if the police are exempt when they come flying down the road on blue and two and your driving your cages dont move over for them, because when you do move into a bvus lane you seem to get a ticket well i did when drinving a car or lorry 
On the other hand when i was riding down a bus lane beginning of this year a coppper pulled me over and decided he was gonna try and do me i told him go and get stuffed as the taxation of the bike is a bicycle and bicyces are allowed in bus lanes, he soon got the hump and drove off
Hi Ginger - I don’t know you you, but have you got fat fingers, or are you pi55ed??!?! :hehe:
I do know him.
Both of course. 
Re-reading I can see my own fingers were a bit fat…I like Ginger’s logic though, vehicles of taxation class bicycle being allowed in bus lanes… what in law refutes that?
The Act(s) of Parliament for taxation of vehicles is unconnected to the Act(s) of Parliament covering Bus lanes and is unconnected to the Act(s) of Parliament covering individual Toll crossings etc etc etc.
They really are all different entities. Ginger’s post is wishful thinking, sadly.
remember one thing though folks, if you ride in the bus lane there is a very good chance that taxi’s and other motorists who get bored in their lane may want to “nip” into the bus lane to make progress. Problem is most of the time they (sometimes) look in their left hand mirror but are looking for busses but not bikes. I know this sounds strange but it a bit like bikers crashing on corners because of target fixation. People will see (or not see) what they expect. Riding in the bus lanes (even when it is allowed) should be undertaken with extereme caution.
Equally so when crossing a side road as people on your right will turn in on you as they are turning into it and those turning out of it to join the road you are on will see the bus lane - since there is no bus in it! - as ‘space’ to line -up for their assault on the main road… :crazy:
