Undertaking in a bus lane

[Fidge]

It is okay (legally) to undertake in a bus + motorcycle lane, right?

I always feel a bit weird undertaking when there isn't a lot of traffic but they are accelerating slowly and I want to be doing 50 asap and get to the end of the road before them.

[DrSnoosnoo]

It's just overtaking on the inside. If you're doing the speed limit, and the other lane isn't, live it up, motorbikes win yaaayyyy.

But be wary of cars coming through that line of traffic and not looking for you in the bus lane.
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[andyscooter]

as long as it is a bike lane and it is a 50 limit then yes

if there isn't much traffic its a risk I wouldn't take though
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[ScaredyCat]

In that situation it's just like another lane as far as you or buses are concerned.

You're not undertaking at all, it's passing on the left.
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[barrkel]

The entire purpose of bus lanes is to let buses undertake other traffic. Don't slow down the buses.
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[Baffler186]

Either I'm the most hooligan out of all of you, or I'm misinterpreting the scenario. If it's a 40 limit and my bus lane is clear, and the cars to my right are slow or stopped, I'll still do 30 - 40mph. ok, if they're stopped then I might slow to 30 and keep my eyes peeled for taxis jumping in, and I'll slow right down for any intersecting junctions, but other than that it's "make progress" time.

Caveat; I do not live in London
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[hellkat]

Bus lanes are fair game, long as there's a motorcycle sign.

I just get cautious about the cars turning into (or out of) side streets not spotting you roaring down the bus lane.

Mind you, those buses: bloody nuisance they are, when they stop on ya all suddenly like




... plus let's not forget that not all of them are for buses all the time, always worth checking the hours to see when you can use them in your car - cos lots of ignorant people just stay right out of them, even in timezones when they are allowed in there. Infuriating: makes traffic worse.
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[Amber Phoenix]

Yep, agree with all the above. If your under the speed limit and bus lane is open to you, it's all fair game. However be super wary in bus lanes in built up areas and cities. I've had some super close calls down on Commercial Road and Mile End Road in London.

People suddenly turning left across you. Oncoming traffic sneaking through gaps in the stationary traffic to turn right across you. Cars veering into bus lane to go around someone turning right. Peds stepping out through stationary traffic into your path. Peds crossing road behind the stopped bus your filtering by. People pulling out of side streets blocking the bus lane to push their way through. Idiots trying to undertake all across a junction where the bus lanes temporarily stops and starts. Never mind all the cyclists, taxies and buses you share the lane with.

Keep your wits about you, especially when the lane to your right is stationary or travelling very slowly. Keep it slow, watch for gaps, crawl through any pedestrian crossings (regardless of green lights), be wary of what's obscured by big vans/trucks/buses etc.

Gawd, that makes me sound so much like Mr Cautious...
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[hellkat]

[Pigeon]

Most bus lanes have solid white lines (also very wide usually). So presumably you should only enter / exit the bus lane at correct points, not simply dart in / dart out as you wish.

I'm not saying you are, just asking for peoples advice

[Fidge]

[wodge]

Pigeon just got in there with the solid white line separating the bus lane..

Doesn't a solid white line separating lanes (i.e. a bus lane and the main carriageway) make them a separate piece of roadway according to the highway code? Passing on the inside is then legal...
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[Teflon-Mike]

I'm sure there's laws against it; I think you have to use a registered funeral parlor, I'm told its a grave matter.
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[Fidge]

but passing between the bus lane and main carrigeway is illegal right?
using it like an overtaking lane but on the inside (if there are only two cars on the carrigeway side by side both at 40 mph

edit: and motorcycles are allowed to use the lane as well but as there were only two cars on the carrigeway you thought you would stay on it instead of using the bus lane, not knowing the one car would block the carrigeway.

[mentalboy]