Council nets ?60k in Lordship Lane fines - Cash Cow

[dulwichbloke]

I think that little white car with the camera on a pole sits outside The Cheese Block pointing its camera at the junction opposite just up the road. I noticed that people turning left into the side street tend to start their turn (when they are in the right lane - the left being the bus lane) a few yards before the actual side street and they presumably then get a ticket for moving momentarily into/across the bus lane. They are not actually driving along the bus lane but crossing diagonally over it rather than at right angles when they get level to the side street. I have never seen a bus in the lane at the particular point and I doubt whether they could ever go in it just there because of the position of cars parked on LL near to that junction. From what I could make out it looks like a complete con. I have no sympathy for motorists that choose to break the law or park where they shouldn't or who drive along bus lanes, but it looked to me like people were being targeted (and presumably fined) for doing something that (1) they didn't even realise they were doing wrong and (ii) was in a real sense trivial and neither dangerous or anti-social/obstructive.

[edhistory]

.

[LadyDeliah]

You could appeal that because the markings are unclear.

Oh actually I think it's just the picture that's unclear (initially viewed on iPhone).

[unlurked]

dulwichbloke Wrote:

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

> like people were being targeted (and presumably

> fined) for doing something that (1) they didn't

> even realise they were doing wrong and (ii) was in

> a real sense trivial and neither dangerous or

> anti-social/obstructive.

Ignorance is no defence in law. Highway Code is a requirement. Bus lanes have broken lines for turning at such junctions. What you described sounds like corner cutters and so law breakers. Bus lane abuse holds up hundreds of people.

[sandyman]

that picture by Edhistory must have been taken during hours when its ok to drive/park briefly in bus lanes otherwise the silver parked car is about to get ticketed too, but Dulwichbloke still has a point.

[dulwichbloke]

I have. 'Unlurked' - I agree with some of the bl**ding obvious which you just stated, but not the last part. What is in the picture (and what I saw several times with my own eyes) could never rationally or properly be described as bus lane 'abuse'! THe vehicles were in no way blocking or obstructing anything (buses or anything else) or driving dangerously. The reason that white car spends so much time at that spot is because it is a cash cow - drivers clearly don't think they are doing anything wrong so they are easy prey.

If you don't quite understand what I am (perhaps inelegantly) describing, go and take a look some time - you will see what I mean and you will probably see the little white car! I bet if the Council disclosed the proportion of tickets given at that precise spot it would be a disproportionate number of the overall tickets in the ED area.

Oh, and for the record, I have never been nicked there so have no axe to grind and I am a daily cyclist not a car commuter. I just hate to see the Council cynically ripping people off for doing something so trivial or without even realising they were doing wrong. It sucks! Saying the Highway Code must be obeyed doesn't for excuse taking advantage of a situation such as this.

[unlurked]

dulwichbloke Wrote:

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

> I have. 'Unlurked' - I agree with some of the

> bl**ding obvious which you just stated, but not

> the last part. What is in the picture (and what I

> saw several times with my own eyes) could never

> rationally or properly be described as bus lane

> 'abuse'! THe vehicles were in no way blocking or

> obstructing anything (buses or anything else) or

> driving dangerously. The reason that white car

> spends so much time at that spot is because it is

> a cash cow - drivers clearly don't think they are

> doing anything wrong so they are easy prey.

>

> If you don't quite understand what I am (perhaps

> inelegantly) describing, go and take a look some

> time - you will see what I mean and you will

> probably see the little white car! I bet if the

> Council disclosed the proportion of tickets given

> at that precise spot it would be a

> disproportionate number of the overall tickets in

> the ED area.

>

> Oh, and for the record, I have never been nicked

> there so have no axe to grind and I am a daily

> cyclist not a car commuter. I just hate to see

> the Council cynically ripping people off for doing

> something so trivial or without even realising

> they were doing wrong. It sucks! Saying the

> Highway Code must be obeyed doesn't for excuse

> taking advantage of a situation such as this.

Doh! Lets see, where would the best place to locate a traffic enforcement camera car be? I know, somewhere where drivers keep breaking the law. It's bleeding obvious.

One corner cutter will lead to two etc etc and the bus lane will be blocked.

[James Barber]

I FOI'd for a list of the bus lane offences on Lordship Lane for last 12 months by date and time. Please see attached.

Shows 621 people given bus lanes tickets on Lordship Lane of whom 3 given after 10am. Amazingly one in the evening - I hope they appealed and didnt pay. On reflection I should have asked for that. Guess the argument for all bar one would be the car was parked in the bus lane before 10am but it takes a few moments to issue a ticket.

So is the bus lane clear?

Is it necessary?

[unlurked]

The bus lane is absolutely necessary otherwise may as well not have buses running down LL due to the amount of time it would take.

[dulwichbloke]

Unlurked. You obviously haven't seen the spot I was referring to which is why you appear to have no idea what you are talking about. Suggest you go and have a look then form an opinion. If 50 people 'cut' the corner the lane would not be blocked.

[unlurked]

I know exactly where it is. Wouldnt matter if i didnt. Law breakers are being fined for breaking the law. Despite what you think. End of.