Cycling in bus lanes - is it ok?

stevedb55

Can anyone tell me if it is illegal to cycle in a bus lane, I have a fairly short stretch of bus lane (about 500yds) on my commute and not sure if I can legally keep to the left side of the bus lane. I feel very exposed if I try to use the lefthand side of the lane next to bus lane as you get cars passing on one side and buses on the other.

Wrath Rob

Most of the time it is 100% legal to cycle in a bus lane. There are some exceptions but they are normally clearly marked. If in doubt check the blue bus lane signs which will show the hours of operation and which vehicles are allowed in it. Normally its buses, cycles and taxis but motorbikes are starting to be allowed in.

ansbaradigeidfran

Highway Code wrote:

65

Bus Lanes. Most bus lanes may be used by cyclists as indicated on signs. Watch out for people getting on or off a bus. Be very careful when overtaking a bus or leaving a bus lane as you will be entering a busier traffic flow. Do not pass between the kerb and a bus when it is at a stop.

So, in summary, maybe.

fonty1978

For what it's worth all the bus lanes on my commute clearly depict that between the hours of 7am-5pm, only cycles, taxis and buses may enter the bus lane.

Always found it funny though that the most vulnerable road user is put together with one of the largest [though i think through these lanes bus drivers are well used to cyclists IMHO] :?

always_tyred

You can cycle on most bus lanes. Don't be afraid to take the entire lane if it would be dangerous for a bus to overtake. A 500m stretch would be a good example of this, because the chances are that at the end of the bus lane, the bus will have to slow to filter back in, or stop - both of which can be pinch points for cyclists.

biondino

To be honest I'd be happy cycling in any bus lane (unless you specifically see a sign saying it's buses only) since no-one's going to punish you if you make a mistake. The one time to be careful is when the bus lane has a barrier in it to stop the buses - the south side of Hammersmith Bridge, for example, sometimes has a liftable barrier which I almost crashed into the first time I noticed it :shock:

ride_whenever

and i'm right in thinking that the signs with red circles round them are things that are excluded, so if your not on them then you're allowed.

Jeremy Parker

ride_whenever wrote:

and i'm right in thinking that the signs with red circles round them are things that are excluded, so if your not on them then you're allowed.

They don't have signs like that for just lanes, only for separate roadways - a bike path is a roadway on which vehicles with motors are excluded, for example

Signs for particlar lanes on a road just tell you what kind of traffic is allowed.

Usually (but not always) bikes are allowed into with flow bus lanes, but not counterflow lanes

Jeremy Parker

AndyManc

Cycling in bus lanes - is it ok?


Only if you are painted red and have Cliff Richard sat on your head singing 'Summer Holiday' . :roll:

hondafanatic

AndyManc wrote:

Cycling in bus lanes - is it ok?


Only if you are painted red and have Cliff Richard sat on your head singing 'Summer Holiday' . :roll:

Shit....he was singing 'Livin Doll'...god damn it. I don't think anyone noticed though.

nwallace

ride_whenever wrote:

and i'm right in thinking that the signs with red circles round them are things that are excluded, so if your not on them then you're allowed.

Not quite.

A white circle with a red border means no vehicles, which includes pedal cycles, unless there is an exceptions plate which will detail what is allowed.

A white circle with a red border containing .a motorbike jumping over a car does not mean Eddie Kid is banned, it means all motorised vehicles are banned unless there is an exceptions plate below it

For a bus lane there shouldn't be a red disc as already stated as they are on the same carriageway as the rest of the road. When sighting a bus lane you are interested in the blue rectangle which will state what is allowed to use the lane. e.g. Local Buses (pictogram with Local written in it), Taxi (written) and cycle (pictogram)

Nick6891

all the bus lanes i know are for buses and cyclists only at all times, apart from the guided bus lanes, there for buses only obviously lol