Are you allowed to cyle in bus lanes?

[jocelyn]

Silly question maybe as I see so many people doing it - but just working out my new route to work via bike and wondered whether it's ok to use the bus lanes?? Don't want to get totally ridiculed along old kent road by scary buses!

[Marmora Man]

I've always done so - but sometimes you need to be brave and take up a lot of space - don't let yourself be squeezed into the kerb.

[jocelyn]

Haha had a horrific experience on Brixton Hill the other day so am learning "bike" rules instead of "car" rules now. I actually now believe you are better off by bike!!

[Pierre]

In answer to your question: almost without exception, yes.

Even in the rare bus lanes in which you're not allowed to cycle, you can usually still get away with it (turnings, shortcuts, etc.).

Certainly on the Old Kent Road, just use the bus lanes. They're generally safer.

As with most London cycling, the key is cycling assertively. If you don't think the vehicle behind you has space to pass, ride in the middle of the lane. They have no choice but to notice you and they're certainly unlikely to try and overtake unless they're very stupid or impatient. If you pull out to the right, the vehicle behind may try and pass you on the inside, your left; if you pull over to the left, the vehicle behind may try and overtake you, on the right, and may try and force you into the kerb if they run out of space.

I'm not advocating being deliberately difficult, but I do suggest you cycle assertively. The motorcyclists' mantra is "dominant and defensive", I'm told...

: P

[ChavWivaLawDegree]

Oooer

[fractionater]

....and soon us Motorbikers will be allowed in all bus lanes.

They've been trialing it for some time now in Streatham.

[Torben Pieknik]

fractionater Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> ....and soon us Motorbikers will be allowed in all

> bus lanes.

>

> They've been trialing it for some time now in

> Streatham.

Only if Boris or Paddick get in.

[nutty]

Yes - a strong point in their favour. Ken has made a hash of making this simple decision.

[Torben Pieknik]

As a cyclist (and a car driver) I couldn't disagree more. On my cycle ride to work it seems that most motorcyclists don't realise they are not allowed to use them anyway.

[citizenED]

Agree with Pierre - the trick about cycling is to be assertive - a CWA; Cyclist With Attitude.

There were some experiments with Motorcylists using bus lanes recently but not heard how the went.

[bignumber5]

I'll try to keep some perspective about this, but GRRRRRRRR: rant coming up...

I've ridden a motorbike in London for years, and I don't use bus lanes (as implied we all do by TP) because I'm not supposed to. Rules of the road, you see. Now, dear cyclists, lets talk lanes, pavements, running red lights... Assertive cycling is easily progressed thru into general road menace, who the rules don't apply to, and who not only act like they are the only one who has any rights on the road but also get all high and mighty about being healthy, zero carbon etc. GRRRR!

I haven't got a motorbike at the moment, so I'm on public transport. As a lifelong clausrophobic, this isn't a particularly comfortable experience, but I refuse to join the ranks of the London holier-than-thou cyclists. And that cyclists continue to bang on about how everyone else on the road needs to be more obedient and more considerate towards cyclists just takes the piss.

(sorry, not much perspective kept in the end, but this is a topic that really gets my blood up)

[blinder999]

> (sorry, not much perspective kept in the end, but

> this is a topic that really gets my blood up)

as a cyclist, a motorcyclist, car driver, and a bus user, I would really like you to give cycling a try before you rant about this yet again.

[Torben Pieknik]

I said most not all and was giving my experience of cycling to work every day.

Pretty much all road users seem to behave pretty well to me. But there are certain actions which each group do which at best break the law, at worst are potentially lethal to themselves or others. Cyclists jumping red lights and riding on pavements, pedestrians stepping into the road without looking, car drivers speeding and not realing how vulnerable motorcyclists and cyclists are, motorcyclist speeding and using ASLs and bus lanes.

I don't cycle because I want to "join the ranks of the London holier-than-thou cyclists". I cycle because it's quicker and I don't have to go to the gym.

[bignumber5]

as a cyclist, a motorcyclist, car driver, and a bus user, I would really like you to give cycling a try before you rant about this yet again.

You assume I haven't?

Did for a year, many years back before all the congestion charging/CO2 emissions business. Wasn't very fit at the time so arriving everywhere exhausted and drenched in sweat was not ideal. But eventually stopped because of feeling intimidated by hardcore cyclists shouting at me when I was at the front of the q at the lights so that they could buzz thru and run the red.

[blinder999]

> Did for a year, many years back before all the

> congestion charging/CO2 emissions business. Wasn't

> very fit at the time so arriving everywhere

> exhausted and drenched in sweat was not ideal. But

> eventually stopped because of feeling intimidated

> by hardcore cyclists shouting at me when I was at

> the front of the q at the lights so that they

> could buzz thru and run the red.

I'm very surprised - perhaps depends on where or when you're riding.

I've cycled to and from Central London for about seven years (rush hour only), and although I have seen many cyclists ride past me through red lights, I can honestly say that I've never been intimidated or shouted at by any of them.

[Asset]

Agreed. There is usually ample space to let those choosing to go through red lights through and I have never been shouted at for not doing it.

In re. motorbikes, I have on many occasions been shaken by a motorbike zooming very close past me in the bus lane as they undertake cars.

[dave]

In a purely anecdotal/straw poll way, I think that generally (not always, particularly when there's a straight bit of road with no speed camera) motorcyclists are among the most considerate and best drivers on the road. However, they need to be differentiated from the scooter maniacs who are high on confidence and low on common sense.

As someone who cycles and tries not to break any of the rules of the road (but who has been known on occasion to go through a changing light or to hop over the tiny little bit of footpath at the end of Deptford High St) I do find the behaviour of the militant tendency of really aggressive cyclists (cycling down the pavement, straight through red lights etc) makes me want to shout at them. I don't though. So far. And I try not to preach at people about the benefits of cycling. Though I do complain about the state of the roads to anyone who'll listen.

Bus drivers in this town are mental. Full stop. They treat everyone equally badly. Not sure I would be any better if I spent my working life driving around London in something resembling a big barge, though.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

For my pennorthworth, motorcyclists are neither considerate or the best drivers. Most seem to have a death wish. And the tit who struck off my wing mirror at Camberwell Green and didn't stop certainly was not considerate.

[martinchiversfanclub]

I like going down Champion Hill in the bus lane and the sensors pick you up, which in turn changes the traffic light to red and the bus lane traffic light to green. I should imagine the language in the waiting cars is rather choice.

[mlteenie]

AFAIK, traffic light sensors react to car headlights, so that at night a red light can turn to green to flow the traffic thru. I have seen motorists flashing to activate them.

As a driver/motorcyclist/pedestrian/bus user/train user/pushchair pusher but mainly a CYCLIST, I don't think motorcycles should be in bus lanes. Coming down Brixton Hill is pretty scary/dangerous as m/c's undertake traffic, but overtake bicycles.

I don't find buses too bad. I agree 100% that ASSERTIVENESS is the key. Other (highway code-ignoring) cyclists are the worst threat IMO.

[bignumber5]

On motorbikes in bus lanes, I'd have to say i don't think they should - the lane isn't wide enough for a bike and a bus together, which means a bike will hold up a bus if they can't get out of the bus lane once in it (bound to happen if a bike gets stuck between 2 buses, pretty likely during rush hour). Defeats the point of a bus lane.