Motorbikes in ASLs

The Chingford Skinhead

Has anyone noticed a marked increase in the number of motorbikes / scooters / buzzy pizza boys in ASLs? More critically, has anyone noticed that they tend to sit to the right of the box at a crossroads junction and then turn left in front of you as you are going striaght on?

I've had this four times in the last 4 days. The last two I've actually said to the rider "I'm going straight on, are you?" "MMmmm mmmmm" comes the reply. So I point, I'm going straight on, you're NOT turning left are you? "mmmm Mmmess mi mam" comes the reply. Well I'm going straight on so give me a chance to get by (there's usually a car behind indicating to go left too so I don't want to be stuck still and then in a car / motorbkke sandwich. Biker nods. Lights change, I set off, biker cuts me up!!! FFS this is really getting to me now.

I'm happy to share the ASL as I recognise that they are vulnerable road users to but surely they ought to apply some freeking common sense and courtesy to me as well.

Rant over.

gtvlusso

Whats an ASL?

Kieran_Burns

Assisted Start Lane - the big green box at the the front that only bikes are meant to use

_Brun_

I think it's advanced stop line.

lost_in_thought

I didn't think they were allowed in ASLs - am I wrong?

They annoy me a little coming into ASLs which have bicycles drawn in them, but not as much as cars in ASLs, or indeed buses in ASLs...

wgwarburton

ASL= Advanced Stop Line

It's where the taxis park at the lights, so they arn't held up by less professional road users (at least, that's how you can identify them in Edinburgh).

Cheers,
W.

Jen J

lost_in_thought wrote:

I didn't think they were allowed in ASLs - am I wrong?

They're not...

Jen J

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTr ... /DG_070332

178
Advanced stop lines. Some signal-controlled junctions have advanced stop lines to allow cycles to be positioned ahead of other traffic. Motorists, including motorcyclists, MUST stop at the first white line reached if the lights are amber or red and should avoid blocking the way or encroaching on the marked area at other times, e.g. if the junction ahead is blocked. If your vehicle has proceeded over the first white line at the time that the signal goes red, you MUST stop at the second white line, even if your vehicle is in the marked area. Allow cyclists time and space to move off when the green signal shows.

number 178 - apparently there is a legal reason for them to be there, but they shouldn't *try* to get there...

biondino

They're not allowed in them, but I don't have a problem with them being there. They are almost a further buffer between me and following cars - they make us two-wheelers more noticeable.

Certainly when I rode a moped I would always filter to the front and if there was an ASL there I would use it. I don't think I ever cut anyone up or inconvenienced a cyclist in any way, and I don't think a motorbike has ever cut me up.

Big Red S

I've often wondered whether the majority of cyclists would rather I (with an engine) went into the ASL, or stopped short of it but blocked one of their potential routes into it.

As a cyclist, I'd go with the former, but I'm not *every* cyclist, so I tend to look for some compromise - that way I irritate everyone equally.

The Chingford Skinhead

Sheesh - note to self - spell out all acronyms in future!

biondino wrote:

They're not allowed in them, but I don't have a problem with them being there. They are almost a further buffer between me and following cars - they make us two-wheelers more noticeable.

Certainly when I rode a moped I would always filter to the front and if there was an ASL there I would use it. I don't think I ever cut anyone up or inconvenienced a cyclist in any way, and I don't think a motorbike has ever cut me up.

Then you're a very lucky boy Mr B - the motorcyclists in SW London must be a lot better than those in NE London. Like I said, I've been cut up four times this week by the engined bike being on my right but turning left in front of me. Far from being a buffer between me and the cars behind they made me the meat - or should that be Jelly in a metal sandwich

prj45

The Chingford Skinhead wrote:

Has anyone noticed a marked increase in the number of motorbikes / scooters / buzzy pizza boys in ASLs?

Yes yes yes.

They've just put a new ASL on Embankment just coming up to parliament's Clock Tower when travelling east, that light seriously needed one.

However, it's now just FULL of motorised bikes, and the entrance is always blocked by motorcyclists half going into it (it's illegal to cycle over the first stop line when the light is red, that's why there is an entrance for pushbikes (and legally I can't see why motorbikes can't use this either)).

I don't think it will be long though before they make it legal for motorbikes to use the ASL (I know my local council was talking about trialing it along with motorobikes in bus lanes). I think this might be the reason it's become more acceptable, kinda like putting up the price of fags straight after the budget rather than waiting for midnight.

What I would like to see is a double ASL, with motorbikes right at the front, cyclists behind and car drivers behind that.

I do have one problem though, that being the output of a high performance but badly tuned 1.1. litre engine pointing directly at my face, especially when t**ts sit there revving it to warn pedestrian's not to start crossing.so maybe a double ASL with cyclists, then motorcyclists, then cars, with a seperate light for the first two ASLs (but then my council tax will shoot through the roof).

The Chingford Skinhead

As my original post said, I have no problem with them being in the ASL IF they are on the correct side of the road for the way they want to turn - but generally they are not. They sit on the right to turn left and visa versa!!!!

ansbaradigeidfran

The Chingford Skinhead wrote:

Sheesh - note to self - spell out all acronyms in future!

...

Then you're a very lucky boy Mr B - the motorcyclists in SW London must be a lot better than those in NE London.

Are those acronyms (or initialisations) there? </pedant>

Big Red S

prj45 wrote:

The Chingford Skinhead wrote:

Has anyone noticed a marked
However, it's now just FULL of motorised bikes, and the entrance is always blocked by motorcyclists half going into it (it's illegal to cycle over the first stop line when the light is red, that's why there is an entrance for pushbikes (and legally I can't see why motorbikes can't use this either)).

This is the problem I have on my motorbike - by the time I know there's an ASL, I'm in a position where I've ether got to (at least partially) block access to it for cyclists, or be in it.
I was under the impression the feeders to them were compulsory bike lanes. Even if they're not, you're still only meant to enter them if it's unavoidable.

The Chingford Skinhead wrote:

As my original post said, I have no problem with them being in the ASL IF they are on the correct side of the road for the way they want to turn - but generally they are not. They sit on the right to turn left and visa versa!!!!

Cyclists are bad at this too - nothing quite as bad as pulling away from lights in a straight line only to be cut up by someone wobbling past you from the right hand side to the left completely oblivious to the fact that the rest of the traffic's moving, too.