Points for riding down bus lane?

[Sparks!]

Can you get points on your licence for riding down a bus lane or is it just yet another fine?


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Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

[priller]

Just a fine, its not an endorsable offence.

[Demonic69]

I've always gotten away with it if the bus lane is for cyclists too as it says I'm a cyclist on my Tax disc
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Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.

[Danny]

Have they actually accepted that excuse after you've been caught Dean?

[T.C]

It depends on whether the regulations are under a local regulation or under the road traffic regulations act.

Some local authorities apply the regs using national legislation, others bring in their own regs so under a national regulation it will be in effect failing to conform to an obligatory traffic sign = 3 points and a £60 fine, under the local regs it will be a £30 fine non endorsable.

Your local library will have a copy of all the regulations in force within your area and they will tell you which regulation applies.
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It is better to arrive 30 seconds late in this world, than 30 years early in the next

[Sparks!]

I used a bus lane for like the first time ever yesterday on my way home from work, the traffic was jammed for like, miles and was stationary. The lanes are too narrow to safely filter so I jumped in an empty bus lane and skipped the whole jam. I rode down the bus lane at a slowish speed so wasn't taking the piss or anything and wasn't causing a danger and was certainly not slowing any buses down so I just wondered what the chances of being done for it were.

I can't see why bikes can't use the bus lanes anyway, it's a joke in my opinion, but then so is 99% of UK road laws and government in general, thanks for the advice though.
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Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

[T.C]

There is a review currently being carried out to see whether motorcycles should be allowed to use bus lanes as a right, but the jury is out at the moment.

Bristol and reading have had an ongoing trial for a few years now, and there have been a significant number of accidents within these bus lanes, but the main causes at the moment are still somewhat unclear. It will probably be another 12 months before a decision is made although some local authorities are looking at allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes under a local regulation order.
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It is better to arrive 30 seconds late in this world, than 30 years early in the next

[headlamp]

There are two bus lanes in London where they are trialing whether motorbikes can use bus lanes, one in South London and the other is the Finchley Road in North London which I use regularly. You can also use the M4 bus lane on your bike.

I too was wondering if motorcyclists can get off fines on the technicality their tax class is bicycle. I guess it depends on the definition of bicycle!
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Using a mobile phone while driving a car should be made a capital offence!

[Major_Grooves]

Somebody on the forum, I can't remember who, recently got points for riding in a bus lane.
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[T.C]

[Kickstart]

[T.C]

[Sparks!]

Personally I think if we let cars into bus lanes then it'd just be yet another jammed lane of uselessness and the problem won't change, it'll just get worse with buses stuck in traffic, bikes will have even more trouble filtering and emergency services won't have a chance.

I think allowing bus lanes purely for buses, motorcycles and emergency services is the way forward.

But then I also think that push cyclists and old people in their mobility scooters should pay road tax (well why not? they use the roads, they even have their own lane for cyclists! all for free) so not everyone would agree with the bus lane thing
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Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

[Kickstart]

[Beechy]

Just out of interest, how much do buses have to pay road tax each year?
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Just face it, some days you're the pigeon and others the statue...
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[Bendy]

I just wrote a really long post and BCF ate it.

Jist of which:

Manually operated cameras in buses so drivers take photos when vehicle in front is actually causing a problem. Free use of bus lane for all with bus having right of way - ie. get the hell out of it's way or get fined.

I have to balance how great a bike-only bus lane is against how pissed off I get with them when I'm in the car.

[Irdawood the 2nd]

I just got my licence back for going down a bus lane. It was a £60 fine and 3 points on my licence

[Kickstart]

[Demonic69]

I've gotten away with it twice so far.
I know I'm supposed to be on "Motor Bicycle" but as it clearly said "Bicycle" on my tax disc they let me go.
One was in absolute stitches
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Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.

[PsychoHippy]

I glad I live where I do, all the bus lanes around Bath, Bristol and Swindon (not that I go there) are motorcycle lanes too
Still, it doesn't help that they don't place (or enforce) double yellows in them, so it's hardly worth the effort!
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I spend all my money on bikes and beer, the rest I simply waste!

[Bendy]

Well I'm £50 lighter for reducing congestion the other week.

[eve]

I have been doing the knowledge of london for over 3 years and have just got my first penalty charge for driving my italjet scoter in a bus lane in the city. It was on a saturday and i thought i had read the signs on old st right. However there was a 200 yard bit of bus lane which was different time on a saturday then any where else and after seeing it again i believe it to be very misleading.

If you can dont drive in them. Its just cost me £50. My road tax is only £15 for the year.

Hoped ive helped. Take care out there.

Eve
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Eve

[nealski]

Some local councils are stupid. In my town, "the oldest recorded town", Colchester, All the Bus Lanes also allow motorcycles - which is nice as it means by journey home is about 2 mins shorter

They cause no traffic and as said before, do not damage the roads.

Neal
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Nealski
- Dealing with the SSDD

[tgabber]

Just got my first penalty this morning for riding in a bus lane (see Avatar...)

First time in around 10 years of riding in London and always using bus lanes when I felt that road/traffic conditions meant that it was the safest way to make progress. An accident free record so far...

The ironic thing about this particular ticket is that it's timed at
18:51 and the lane in only in force until 19:00

I'll pay up, but think I'll have a whinge at the Mayor's office in the process, hopefully they'll decide their trial of allowing motorcycles in certain lanes is a success and will make it Londonwide soon.

The one plus point is that in doing a net search for somewhere to have a whine, I came across this site which seems to be filled by a nice bunch of people...


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"It's all about dislocating expectation"
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[ZZ-Rse]

Don't know where on earth the number nine came from for average number of people on a bus, could you link a reputable source?

A fair few of the bus lanes in and around Birmingham are also designated for use by bikes.