Paging those that drive in Hounslow (might apply elsewhere)

Can I confirm my understanding of this bit of road?

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.4843...7i16384!8i8192

Is this unusual (to me at least) road layout simply to allow cars to pass busses at the bus stop?

I went through it late on Friday night and, because the signage wasn't overly clear went straight through the "bus" bit. The car following me went to the right and negotiated the chicane.

Parked within sight of it, every car and van that came through while I was sat there slowed and went through the chicane rather than straight on.

When there's no bus, why don't people sail straight through? Is it that it's often sufficiently busy that you can get caught at the give way? Or is it forbidden to go straight unless you are a bus and I should expect a fine?

Looks like it .
Is it actually a bus lane ?
If not, and it’s merely a stopping place for the bus , it’s pretty well thought out .
I’d assume the bus would need to indicate to leave that area?
Plus, if you did get a fine , I’d suggest your appeal would be favourably looked on if the sineage isn’t clear

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Don’t know the area personally, but looking at the street map there is a clear no entry sign for motor vehicles except buses. Enforcement camera situated there too further up. Suspect there will be a fine applied.

Edited - used street view to go up and down. The sign looks to be missing from the post in the direction you posted. It’s evident in the opposite carriageway. Confusing for sure. Don’t think the camera relates to the bus stops though on reflection.

You’ll be fine. No road signs and no cameras.

This is how they are signed when they don’t want you to drive in the bus lane. They also have cameras monitoring to enforce the fines.

They are added to ensure only cars and buses can travel the road and trucks can’t.

This example is Cox Lane, Chessington which is also like Hounslow enforced by TfL.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...0b52a36985.jpg

And the other lane as seen from the other side.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...0c3f436a2e.jpg

I know that specific bit of road quite well.

Your understanding is correct, the left hand bit is for buses only and other vehicles should negotiate the awkward chicane.

When I was younger I often went straight on as it is easier.

These days, there may be cameras I am not sure. But tbh I think you will get away with it.

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Originally Posted by Boss13

These days, there may be cameras I am not sure. But tbh I think you will get away with it.

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Unless it is clearly signed a bus lane, it is not a bus lane.

TfL are ruthless. There is no getting away with it. You have either contravened a bus lane and you will be fined, or you haven’t.

No chance of prosecuting without appropriate signage, and even if they tried no chance it would get past an appeal ombudsman.

The lane is merely there to keep the traffic flowing when a bus stops. If it was there to prevent trucks turning into the road as per the Cox Lane example above, it would be littered with signs. And there would have to be an alternative turn off for the truck.

The other big clue is nothing comes up when you google Cranford Lane Hounslow Bus Lane.

Try that on Cox Lane Chessington Bus Lane on Google and you get a different response.

I’m confident there is signage there. In the Google maps above I think the bus is covering it.

Next time I pass I will check out of interest.

Edit: or it could be cars being sheep and taking the chicane without reason I suppose!

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Originally Posted by Boss13

I’m confident there is signage there. In the Google maps above I think the bus is covering it.

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Sign has to be before the bus lane as per Cox Lane example above.

The bus is blocking nothing, otherwise that would be a significant point of appeal, and the fact that the road sign does not conform to national standards.

No need to scare the guy any further.

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Originally Posted by noTAGlove

No need to scare the guy any further.

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Obviously not my intention.

Here is the sign on the other side on maps.

In maps the sign on the side shown is missing although the post is there. Is that sign there today or not, who knows.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...b24536bb43.jpg

Sounds like I can sleep safe in my bed :-)

Thanks all!

- - - Updated - - -

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Originally Posted by Boss13

Obviously not my intention.

Here is the sign on the other side on maps.

In maps the sign on the side shown is missing although the post is there. Is that sign there today or not, who knows.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...b24536bb43.jpg

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There was no sign on the post on Friday, just a light at the top of it.

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Originally Posted by thegoat

Looks like it .
Is it actually a bus lane ?
If not, and it’s merely a stopping place for the bus , it’s pretty well thought out .
I’d assume the bus would need to indicate to leave that area?

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There are also give way markings.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Boss13

Obviously not my intention.

Here is the sign on the other side on maps.

In maps the sign on the side shown is missing although the post is there. Is that sign there today or not, who knows.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...b24536bb43.jpg

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Move one frame further on Google and you see the same bus stop as the bus pulls away. No signs to be seen.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...74ed012fb4.jpg

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Originally Posted by noTAGlove

Move one frame further on Google and you see the same bus stop as the bus pulls away. No signs to be seen.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...74ed012fb4.jpg

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That was two years ago?

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Originally Posted by Onelasttime

That was two years ago?

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See post #10. Op said there wasn't a sign.

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Originally Posted by Gyp

Parked within sight of it, every car and van that came through while I was sat there slowed and went through the chicane rather than straight on.

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I used to work in Edinburgh a lot, and would get a taxi from the airport to the centre and back again most weeks.

Along the way way (Corstorphine Road????) there was a long section where the inside lane was a time limited bus/taxi lane. I don't think that I ever saw a private car in that lane, even when it was perfectly OK to be there.

Sometimes motorists either don't understand the restrictions, or are just creatures of habit.

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Originally Posted by PhilipK

I used to work in Edinburgh a lot, and would get a taxi from the airport to the centre and back again most weeks.

Along the way way (Corstorphine Road????) there was a long section where the inside lane was a time limited bus/taxi lane. I don't think that I ever saw a private car in that lane, even when it was perfectly OK to be there.

Sometimes motorists either don't understand the restrictions, or are just creatures of habit.

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There’s one near us and same thing. If a car did use it would likely antagonise others, thinking they were trying to gain an advantage.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PhilipK

I used to work in Edinburgh a lot, and would get a taxi from the airport to the centre and back again most weeks.

Along the way way (Corstorphine Road????) there was a long section where the inside lane was a time limited bus/taxi lane. I don't think that I ever saw a private car in that lane, even when it was perfectly OK to be there.

Sometimes motorists either don't understand the restrictions, or are just creatures of habit.

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Even with time limited bus lanes I think people would rather not “take the risk” these days because of cameras. Hard wire your brain to never drive in a bus lane and you’ll avoid that time when your brain is in idle and you accidentally drive in one during the time it’s active.

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Originally Posted by Christian

Even with time limited bus lanes I think people would rather not “take the risk” these days because of cameras. Hard wire your brain to never drive in a bus lane and you’ll avoid that time when your brain is in idle and you accidentally drive in one during the time it’s active.

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More likely they don’t understand the signage on the bus lanes.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Christian

Even with time limited bus lanes I think people would rather not “take the risk” these days because of cameras. Hard wire your brain to never drive in a bus lane and you’ll avoid that time when your brain is in idle and you accidentally drive in one during the time it’s active.

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I think that’s spot on, it’s not worth the risk these days.

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Originally Posted by Kingstepper

There’s one near us and same thing. If a car did use it would likely antagonise others, thinking they were trying to gain an advantage.

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Same by us, but the reason I never use it during permitted hours is that further up there are usually parked cars so you end up getting stuck, while no one on the outside lane lets you out. Probably for the reason you described above.

They tend to use these as a way of slowing down cars that are overtaking a parked bus on a busy road. Idea is to make it safer for those trying to cross after they get off the bus.

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Originally Posted by thegreatdogwood

They tend to use these as a way of slowing down cars that are overtaking a parked bus on a busy road. Idea is to make it safer for those trying to cross after they get off the bus.

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Ah, makes total sense. Hadn’t thought about that.