Bus Lanes

There I was happily instructing my pupil with driving lessons in Kingston-Upon-Thames when we were both rudely awakened by a couple of blasts from the horn of a motorcyclist.

I had just advised my pupil a moment earlier she could use the approaching bus lane because it was outside its operating hours. The motorcyclist decided we should be admonished for our positioning and as he passed, shouted, “you shouldn’t use the bus lane.” The time was 2.00pm in the afternoon and the times stated quite clearly on the blue road sign at the beginning of the bus lane that it operated as a bus lane between 4.00pm and 7.00pm. The motorcyclist was clearly in the wrong but was gone in a moment and his error could not be pointed out to him. He carried on blissfully unaware of his mistake and no doubt will be telling off other road users with his interpretation of the rules of the road. If he must be judge and jury then “get it right!!”

This happens all the time – no, not the blast of the horn, but the misinterpretation of bus lanes. The problem is, drivers just don’t look at the times and for fear of being fined, avoid bus lanes all together. “Don’t use the bus lane - £120.00 fine” sticks clearly in one’s mind.

The blue rectangular sign clearly states the times the bus lane is operating and which vehicles can use it. Sometimes though it is positioned after the beginning of the bus lane and if a car driver is unfamiliar with the area could enter a bus lane in error before seeing the sign. It is an incentive to avoid the bus lanes even outside their times of operation if you can't see the restrictions. The road surface of the bus lane is textured more coarsely and is pink/red in colour. This is also designed to discourage bus lane use at all times.

The most dangerous aspect though is, if you do use a bus lane legally outside its operating times, other road users will not expect you to be there. I have experienced the driver turning left from the right lane (avoiding using the bus lane) and cutting right across my path, totally unaware of my presence. No doubt many a motorcyclist has come unstuck in this way. Another risk is when are car stops in the right lane pending turning right. The following cars then cut into the bus lane to pass and if they haven’t checked their mirrors properly anybody in the bus lane is going to be cut up – or worse!

Drivers incorrectly positioned in the right lane when the bus lane is outside its times view drivers in the left lane as opportunistic and trying to gain ground, though in some cases this is true. I have frequently seen the aggressive driver flying along the bus lane to undertake vehicles in the right hand lane. They have realised the bus lane is inoperative and taken advantage of the other road users following each other sheep-like in the right lane.

So, look at the times. They vary depending on the demands of the route. Sometimes they operate in the morning only. Others are just Monday to Friday and between 4.00pm and 7.00pm as stated earlier. Some blue sign restrictions are 7.00am to 7.00pm or “at any time” – which means never! If you do use the bus lane legally do be aware others may not be aware of your presence and could drive into your path.