London TfL bus lanes to be 24 x 7

The study of British and Irish roads - their construction, numbering, history, mapping, past and future official roads proposals and general roads musings.

There is a separate forum for Street Furniture (traffic lights, street lights, road signs etc).

Registered users get access to other forums including discussions about other forms of transport, driving, fantasy roads and wishlists, and roads quizzes.

Moderator: Site Management Team

User avatar
Truvelo
Member
Posts: 17501
Joined: Wed May 29, 2002 21:10
Location: Staffordshire
Contact:

Re: London TfL bus lanes to be 24 x 7

Post by Truvelo »

someone wrote: Sun Sep 27, 2020 11:48
Scratchwood wrote: Mon Sep 21, 2020 12:26 This bus lane sign for example on the A406 is very clear, 7am to 7pm only. Hence the lorry using it (presumably outside the hours :D )

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.6154443 ... 384!8i8192
The sun is low in the east, and given the number of parked cars, a summer morning before 7am is quite possible. So I wondered if a little farther ahead there may be billboard with a clock. A completely pointless exercise, but a puzzle to pass a few minutes.

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.6122827 ... 384!8i8192
Here's something else of interest from the same vantage point as the bus lane. This is an earlier view and take a look at the windows on one of the houses. This has got to be more effective than triple glazing at keeping out traffic noise :laugh:
https://goo.gl/maps/HkURx5urENh7B3T37
How would you like your grade separations, Sir?
Big and complex.
Scratchwood
Member
Posts: 517
Joined: Tue Jul 08, 2008 21:44
Location: London

Re: London TfL bus lanes to be 24 x 7

Post by Scratchwood »

BigBazz wrote: Sun Sep 27, 2020 08:52
Scratchwood wrote: Mon Sep 21, 2020 12:26 This bus lane sign for example on the A406 is very clear, 7am to 7pm only.
Having driven along that stretch this morning, I can confirm that the signage has now been updated to "at any time".
That initially caught me out last night, as there was no prewarning that the bus lane rules had been changed. I quickly moved out of course when I saw the new signs
User avatar
Bryn666
Elected Committee Member
Posts: 35923
Joined: Thu Jun 20, 2002 20:54
Contact:

Re: London TfL bus lanes to be 24 x 7

Post by Bryn666 »

Scratchwood wrote: Mon Sep 28, 2020 16:54
BigBazz wrote: Sun Sep 27, 2020 08:52
Scratchwood wrote: Mon Sep 21, 2020 12:26 This bus lane sign for example on the A406 is very clear, 7am to 7pm only.
Having driven along that stretch this morning, I can confirm that the signage has now been updated to "at any time".
That initially caught me out last night, as there was no prewarning that the bus lane rules had been changed. I quickly moved out of course when I saw the new signs
My dad seems to have found Capital Gold on DAB in his van, so every time I've driven it I've been bombarded with radio adverts that the bus lanes were changing. I suspect TfL have had posters up at bus stops in shelters as well.

As you pointed out, once you noticed the sign you moved out of the lane. Drivers should observe signs even if the route is familiar because changes do happen and it's entirely incumbent on you as a road user to be aware of them, highway engineers are not obliged to hold your hand after all.
Bryn
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.

Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
Scratchwood
Member
Posts: 517
Joined: Tue Jul 08, 2008 21:44
Location: London

Re: London TfL bus lanes to be 24 x 7

Post by Scratchwood »

Bryn666 wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2020 09:24
Scratchwood wrote: Mon Sep 28, 2020 16:54
BigBazz wrote: Sun Sep 27, 2020 08:52
Having driven along that stretch this morning, I can confirm that the signage has now been updated to "at any time".
That initially caught me out last night, as there was no prewarning that the bus lane rules had been changed. I quickly moved out of course when I saw the new signs
My dad seems to have found Capital Gold on DAB in his van, so every time I've driven it I've been bombarded with radio adverts that the bus lanes were changing. I suspect TfL have had posters up at bus stops in shelters as well.

As you pointed out, once you noticed the sign you moved out of the lane. Drivers should observe signs even if the route is familiar because changes do happen and it's entirely incumbent on you as a road user to be aware of them, highway engineers are not obliged to hold your hand after all.
On the other hand, when junctions are changed, even if it's a minor bit of repainting or traffic light rephasing, advisory signs are usually installed to let people know in advance.

As a regular bus user, it's often loading bays which are far more disruptive to traffic flows anyway, and they won't be abolished. A bus lane becomes pointless if a delivery lorry is blocking it
User avatar
Bryn666
Elected Committee Member
Posts: 35923
Joined: Thu Jun 20, 2002 20:54
Contact:

Re: London TfL bus lanes to be 24 x 7

Post by Bryn666 »

Scratchwood wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2020 12:00
Bryn666 wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2020 09:24
Scratchwood wrote: Mon Sep 28, 2020 16:54

That initially caught me out last night, as there was no prewarning that the bus lane rules had been changed. I quickly moved out of course when I saw the new signs
My dad seems to have found Capital Gold on DAB in his van, so every time I've driven it I've been bombarded with radio adverts that the bus lanes were changing. I suspect TfL have had posters up at bus stops in shelters as well.

As you pointed out, once you noticed the sign you moved out of the lane. Drivers should observe signs even if the route is familiar because changes do happen and it's entirely incumbent on you as a road user to be aware of them, highway engineers are not obliged to hold your hand after all.
On the other hand, when junctions are changed, even if it's a minor bit of repainting or traffic light rephasing, advisory signs are usually installed to let people know in advance.

As a regular bus user, it's often loading bays which are far more disruptive to traffic flows anyway, and they won't be abolished. A bus lane becomes pointless if a delivery lorry is blocking it
Those of us with a signs background hate "New Road Layout Ahead" signs for one simple reason:

If you're local, you'll have seen the road change. If you're not local, you won't know what the old layout was anyway. They're just pointless clutter.
Bryn
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.

Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
User avatar
the cheesecake man
Member
Posts: 2480
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 13:21
Location: Sheffield

Re: London TfL bus lanes to be 24 x 7

Post by the cheesecake man »

Bryn666 wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2020 12:44 Those of us with a signs background hate "New Road Layout Ahead" signs for one simple reason:

If you're local, you'll have seen the road change. If you're not local, you won't know what the old layout was anyway. They're just pointless clutter.
Yes but there's a third possibility that you use the junction occasionally so it's familiar but you haven't seen the change happening. In these situations I find the warning useful.

For example this junction changed from this to this so being warned it had changed since my previous visit was helpful.
User avatar
Bryn666
Elected Committee Member
Posts: 35923
Joined: Thu Jun 20, 2002 20:54
Contact:

Re: London TfL bus lanes to be 24 x 7

Post by Bryn666 »

the cheesecake man wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2020 13:17
Bryn666 wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2020 12:44 Those of us with a signs background hate "New Road Layout Ahead" signs for one simple reason:

If you're local, you'll have seen the road change. If you're not local, you won't know what the old layout was anyway. They're just pointless clutter.
Yes but there's a third possibility that you use the junction occasionally so it's familiar but you haven't seen the change happening. In these situations I find the warning useful.

For example this junction changed from this to this so being warned it had changed since my previous visit was helpful.
Yes but how long do you want a "New x" sign to be up for? It's not a new layout if it's been there for more than 3 months. Your eyes are the best weapon to find out what the road layout is, don't rely on a tiny red sign that is meaningless.
Bryn
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.

Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
Herned
Member
Posts: 1372
Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2017 09:15

Re: London TfL bus lanes to be 24 x 7

Post by Herned »

Bryn666 wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2020 12:44 If you're local, you'll have seen the road change. If you're not local, you won't know what the old layout was anyway. They're just pointless clutter.
There are also people who know the road but don't use it very often, so the sign is useful for them. Admittedly not a very large proportion of road users
Piatkow
Member
Posts: 2175
Joined: Thu Apr 10, 2014 13:59

Re: London TfL bus lanes to be 24 x 7

Post by Piatkow »

Herned wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2020 15:42
Bryn666 wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2020 12:44 If you're local, you'll have seen the road change. If you're not local, you won't know what the old layout was anyway. They're just pointless clutter.
There are also people who know the road but don't use it very often, so the sign is useful for them. Admittedly not a very large proportion of road users
I would put it on the same level as a bus or train operator putting new timetables in the display cases without announcing that they were changing.

You can make as many smug little posts as you like saying that people should carefully study every piece of street furniture every morning as they drive to work just in case something has changed overnight but the truth is that they learn the route and get on with driving.
doebag
Member
Posts: 2312
Joined: Thu May 05, 2005 11:47
Location: Wisbech, Cambs

Re: London TfL bus lanes to be 24 x 7

Post by doebag »

The truth is you should drive to what you see, not what you saw two months ago.

As long as the signs are clear and correct, a plea of ‘it wasn’t like that last month’ would not hold water in court.
AutomaticBeloved
Member
Posts: 154
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2013 11:18

Re: London TfL bus lanes to be 24 x 7

Post by AutomaticBeloved »

Maybe some temp signs saying Bus Lanes now 24/7 for the first month, with any enforcement for the first couple of months being a warning letter?
User avatar
Bryn666
Elected Committee Member
Posts: 35923
Joined: Thu Jun 20, 2002 20:54
Contact:

Re: London TfL bus lanes to be 24 x 7

Post by Bryn666 »

Piatkow wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2020 16:06
Herned wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2020 15:42
Bryn666 wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2020 12:44 If you're local, you'll have seen the road change. If you're not local, you won't know what the old layout was anyway. They're just pointless clutter.
There are also people who know the road but don't use it very often, so the sign is useful for them. Admittedly not a very large proportion of road users
I would put it on the same level as a bus or train operator putting new timetables in the display cases without announcing that they were changing.

You can make as many smug little posts as you like saying that people should carefully study every piece of street furniture every morning as they drive to work just in case something has changed overnight but the truth is that they learn the route and get on with driving.
Part of driving IS studying "every piece of street furniture" that conveys a message to you.

Worrying to see that people on SABRE are happy to admit to careless or even dangerous driving. Roll on mandatory re-testing.
Bryn
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.

Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
someone
Member
Posts: 512
Joined: Mon Apr 24, 2017 10:46
Location: London

Re: London TfL bus lanes to be 24 x 7

Post by someone »

In most cases the only place you can locate extra signage is in the bus lanes themselves. And if people are already ignoring the changed bus lanes signs, how likely are they to look at signs saying to look at the signs?

Besides which, the empty space created by placing one line of text in the centre of a panel that previously held two lines does stand out. I have still only made limited trips outside since lockdown began, not as a road user (vehicle issues), yet and they have jumped out at me even though I have made no conscious effort to look at them.
Herned
Member
Posts: 1372
Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2017 09:15

Re: London TfL bus lanes to be 24 x 7

Post by Herned »

Bryn666 wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2020 17:08 Part of driving IS studying "every piece of street furniture" that conveys a message to you.

Worrying to see that people on SABRE are happy to admit to careless or even dangerous driving. Roll on mandatory re-testing.
There are places such as where gyratories have been removed in London where you need to be on the other side of the road for some directions compared to the previous layout. Some advanced warning that things have changed is useful, and not at all careless
User avatar
Bryn666
Elected Committee Member
Posts: 35923
Joined: Thu Jun 20, 2002 20:54
Contact:

Re: London TfL bus lanes to be 24 x 7

Post by Bryn666 »

Herned wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2020 20:23
Bryn666 wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2020 17:08 Part of driving IS studying "every piece of street furniture" that conveys a message to you.

Worrying to see that people on SABRE are happy to admit to careless or even dangerous driving. Roll on mandatory re-testing.
There are places such as where gyratories have been removed in London where you need to be on the other side of the road for some directions compared to the previous layout. Some advanced warning that things have changed is useful, and not at all careless
You mean the advance direction signs and road markings then, not a poxy "new road layout ahead" sign?
Bryn
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.

Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
Herned
Member
Posts: 1372
Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2017 09:15

Re: London TfL bus lanes to be 24 x 7

Post by Herned »

Bryn666 wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2020 20:42 You mean the advance direction signs and road markings then, not a poxy "new road layout ahead" sign?
Yes in an ideal world, but they tend to be non-existent in towns
User avatar
Bryn666
Elected Committee Member
Posts: 35923
Joined: Thu Jun 20, 2002 20:54
Contact:

Re: London TfL bus lanes to be 24 x 7

Post by Bryn666 »

Herned wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2020 20:49
Bryn666 wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2020 20:42 You mean the advance direction signs and road markings then, not a poxy "new road layout ahead" sign?
Yes in an ideal world, but they tend to be non-existent in towns
I've been round several of London's revised junctions and not had any major issue with the signposting. The real problem here is people pretending driving on auto-pilot is acceptable when it is not. Even the road you live on should never be driven on auto-pilot, this is why the majority of road collisions occur within a driver's local area because frankly complacency kills.

I am unapologetic about how much "I didn't know the road changed" infuriates me. It's bad driving pure and simple.
Bryn
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.

Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
Herned
Member
Posts: 1372
Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2017 09:15

Re: London TfL bus lanes to be 24 x 7

Post by Herned »

Bryn666 wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2020 20:58 ...because frankly complacency kills.
Agreed, which is why putting up bright red signs warning people seems to me eminently sensible. Because people are complacent, and it is surely better to try and mitigate that unavoidable fact than wish it away
Scratchwood
Member
Posts: 517
Joined: Tue Jul 08, 2008 21:44
Location: London

Re: London TfL bus lanes to be 24 x 7

Post by Scratchwood »

the cheesecake man wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2020 13:17
Bryn666 wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2020 12:44 Those of us with a signs background hate "New Road Layout Ahead" signs for one simple reason:

If you're local, you'll have seen the road change. If you're not local, you won't know what the old layout was anyway. They're just pointless clutter.
Yes but there's a third possibility that you use the junction occasionally so it's familiar but you haven't seen the change happening. In these situations I find the warning useful.

For example this junction changed from this to this so being warned it had changed since my previous visit was helpful.
Exactly.

Yes drivers should read every sign. But drivers also need to be concentrating on road traffic, cyclists and pedestrians, hence a bit of advance warning is very helpful, to let them know to pay extra attention to the upcoming signage.
User avatar
Bryn666
Elected Committee Member
Posts: 35923
Joined: Thu Jun 20, 2002 20:54
Contact:

Re: London TfL bus lanes to be 24 x 7

Post by Bryn666 »

Herned wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2020 23:32
Bryn666 wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2020 20:58 ...because frankly complacency kills.
Agreed, which is why putting up bright red signs warning people seems to me eminently sensible. Because people are complacent, and it is surely better to try and mitigate that unavoidable fact than wish it away
But that red sign doesn't tell you anything. It just tells you there's a changed layout ahead so you still need to read the road and other signs anyway.

And if the sign is there for 18 years as many are then it isn't a new layout so it is actually a distraction and you'll ignore every other one you see on that basis.

I don't know why anyone thinks these signs help, there's zero evidence they do and given their presence hasn't stopped things like the Belisha Beacons in Cambridge being demolished on the bike roundabout the day it opened I maintain that they are useless.

Do you really need a warning sign to tell you there's a sign ahead? That's basically what you're asking.
Bryn
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.

Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
Post Reply