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Forum Guru
 
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Last Login: 24th September 2009 10:49
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| So i have been doing a bit of reading on the old googleometer and found that they have been considering and trialing the use of bus lanes for bikes. Did this ever go ahead? If so it will make getting around Leeds alot easier on L Plates! Thanks Rich
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: 21st May 2009 15:43
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Still a massive grey area I'm afraid. Some cities have allowed it, but the majority haven't. Check with your local council before trying it as you could end up with a fine!
Yamaha FZS 600 Fazer ... in gold! Ride safe, and look out for the Rainbow of Death! There're only 3 kinds of people in the world, those who can count, and those that can't. Roses are red, Violets are Blue, I'm a schizophrenic ..... and so am I! Take pity on the man who invented the drawing board, when he screwed up, he had nothing to fall back on. Stuff everything, I've always got my bike.
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: 16th May 2010 15:09
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| I seem to recall it being piloted in Bristol quite successfully. But in the true spirit of modern Britain, more cities fitted cameras to catch (and fine) people using bus lanes than actually allowed them to be used by bikes. Of course, that does promote the attitude that if you're somewhere where they can't be bothered to enforce it (ie by fitting cameras), it must be fair game. Worth checking what the rules are in your area - not all bus lanes are necessarily subject to blanket bans for other vehicles and almost all have restricted hours of service. These should be displayed on plates at the start of the lane (0730 - 1800, unfortunately, is quite common). We have a lot of cycle lanes around here and most of them are advisory rather than mandatory (broken white line rather than solid). That means vehicles are allowed to use them if their route is otherwise barred: as far as I can tell that means bikes can legally use them for filtering, subject to the usual guidance given in the Highway Code. Never seen a test case prosecuted, anyway, so I'd be happy to argue the toss with a traffic cop if it came to that (might even point out that it says "Bicycle" quite clearly on my tax disc and V5, as well). Filtering through traffic is best done on the outside, though. It gives you a lot more options than being crowded into the gutter and a much clearer view of what is going on in all the carriageways and junctions. It might seem suicidal at first, but you soon get used to the roadcraft of it - and it works more or less everywhere, without having to worry if you're about to be clobbered for £120 for violating some CCTV controlled system you didn't even know existed.
>> ex silens nox noctis <<
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Forum Guru
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Last Login: 24th September 2009 10:49
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| Blimey, hard work eh? I'll contact the local council and ask. Doesn't seem too hopeful. The reason why i ask is that in Leeds to get any where near the city centre (where i work) you either have to go on the ring road (which is a A(m) road, not good for 125 learners!), or round a really really long winded one way system full of prats! There is a direct route, but this is reserved for busses and taxis! i hope they pull the proverbial finger out! Thanks Rich
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: 1st October 2010 17:26
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| It was being trialed in London too, but I don't think they've let it continue.
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Forum Guru
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Last Login: 24th September 2009 10:49
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| Right, so i have emailed the local councils Transport Department asking wether or not it has gone ahead, or will go ahead. If i get a reply i will post it here. Ta, Rich
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: 23rd August 2010 20:19
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The bikes in bus lanes issue is one of the defining features of Ken Livingstone's rule as London Commissar to me. They did an expensive pilot study, lasting 2 years I think, on the safety of allowing bikes in bus lanes, particularly as if affected pedestrians and the greenie's favourite, pedal bikes. The pilot was terminated just before it ended, with no announcements, and the research findings were buried.
However, a summary of the evidence gathered was leaked to the press. Unsurprisingly, it showed that where motorcycles were allowed in bus lanes, there was no negative effect on cycle casualties and in some areas cycle casualties actually went down. In all cases, motorcycle casualties went down by a large margin. Most people involved seem to think that the research was not heading in the direction that City Hall wanted it to, and that is why it was pulled. Typical ZanuLabor approach - decide the outcome, and then design the research to support it :-)
When these facts were put to representatives of City Hall, the answer was that the research findings were inconclusive as they were incompete - as they would be when you pulled the research, you muppets.
A lot of cities were waiting on London's approach before they took the plunge themselves, so that idea seems to be on the back burner for a while. Let's hope Boris has a more realistic and bike-friendly approach. He's quite willing to get rid of al the bendy buses, after all.
--
2003 ST1300 Pan Euro
1995 Yam XT600E
http://goingfastgettingnowhere.blogspot.com/
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: 23rd August 2010 20:19
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Just to add - I learned to ride in Leeds and went all over on the bike when lived there. You could get anywhere on a bike in those days! Things must have changed a lot. (Mind, the inner ring road was mad even then.)
First ride ever! Picked the C90 up from Watson Cairns in Lower Briggate, and straight into the rush hour traffic - up Briggate, through Sheepscar and back home up Chapeltown Road. No training, no nothing, just a Centurion helmet and PVC gloves. I must have been mad!
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2003 ST1300 Pan Euro
1995 Yam XT600E
http://goingfastgettingnowhere.blogspot.com/
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: 16th May 2010 15:09
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| Mr Black Dog, how've you been keeping? And what's with the sold Ducati? Like the "ZanuLabour" description - may have to borrow that one!
>> ex silens nox noctis <<
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: 21st November 2010 21:17
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Mr. BD, good to see you from me as well. Duke gone and looking for a cruiser? Should have kept Duke and got Mrs. BD out and about on 125, passed test and on her own Duke!= 2 back packs and two ruck sacks plus throw overs for as many shoes as she wanted to take on her bike LOL
Don't slide unless you mean too.Be sure, ride safe and enjoy 
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