Scooters in cycle lanes?

il_principe

I was waiting in an ASL at some lights on the way back from RP. Next to me are 2 silver 50cc vespas. One of them turns to the other and says:

Vespa 1: "Are we allowed in these boxes then?"
Vespa 2: "Yes."
Me: "No you're not." They ignore me

Vespa 1: "How about cycle lanes, are we allowed in them?"
Vespa 2: "Yes."
Me: "No you're not! The clue's in the name."

Cue two open mouthed stares.

"Twats" mutters I, lights go green and I beat both the fcukers off the lights.

Question is, was I right about the cycle lane?

toybhoy

I was pretty sure that they can use it.

Although I might be confusing this with the bus lanes. :?

Jamey

Cycle lanes, yes.

Bus lanes (unfortunately) not any more.

DrWorm

It's a mute point anyway because all the green boxes on my way to work always have a mother and 2 kids parked in a massive 4x4 while she drives them the 600yrds to school!

il_principe

Dammit! God knows why; they always get in the sodding way, or get stuck.

Oh well.

lost_in_thought

So, if they're allowed in cycle lanes, are they also allowed in ASLs?

Coriander

They're not allowed in cycle lanes. In London they are allowed in bus lanes on red routes. But the two things are not the same.

il_principe

Coriander wrote:

They're not allowed in cycle lanes. In London they are allowed in bus lanes on red routes. But the two things are not the same.

Ah ha. Good to hear.

DrWorm

My highway code says:

Rule 178 states "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 at amber or red and should avoid blocking the
the way or encroaching on the marked area at other times, eg if the
junction ahead is blocked."

blu3cat

DrWorm wrote:

My highway code says:

Rule 178 states "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 at amber or red and should avoid blocking the
the way or encroaching on the marked area at other times, eg if the
junction ahead is blocked."

Unfortunately seems to be a different Highway Code to the ones most of the drivers / motorcyclists who stop at lights on my route adhere too. :roll:

Jamey

Il Principe wrote:

Good to hear.

Hello? Can anyone hear me? See post three in this thread (and keep in mind that when I say "yes" I'm answering the question you closed your first post with - "was I right...")

Coriander

Jamey wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

Good to hear.

Hello? Can anyone hear me? See post three in this thread.

Sorry, what?

Sorry, old bean, hadn't seen your post.

Jamey

Headhuunter

Exactly Coriander! They're NOT allowed in cycle lanes or ASL boxes, but since Bozo changed the rules in early 09, they have been allowed in bus lanes in London.

It makes no diference though, the police don't enforce ASLs or bike lanes so most motorbikes, mopeds etc etc freely use both. In fact this very morning a whacking great motorbike was in front of me along Cheapside trying to filter up a bike lane next to a queue of traffic until it got to a spot which was slightly too narrow and it just stopped and blocked the cycle lane for all the cyclists (inc me) trying to get through behind it. Bloody annoying.

Not only that but because motorbike exhaust pipes are angled upwards you end up sitting behind them with a face full of fumes til you can get past. I'm afraid if I can, I skip onto the pavement to get round them. 2 wrongs don't make a right but unless the police are willing to start enforcing bike lanes and ASLs I'll skip onto the pavement when I need to get round an ignorant motoribiker/moped rider

NGale

I asked the question when I did my CBT a few years ago. The short answer is no. scooters cannot use cycle lanes or cycle advanced stop areas as they are designated as cycle lanes.

Technically motorists can be cautioned for using them, but then lets be realistic are they? Taxis in Exeter seem to be the worst ones for using the advanced stop area, the amount of times I have complemented a cabbie on his nice four wheel bike when he has tried to bully me out of the advanced stop area. :evil:

spen666

Coriander wrote:

They're not allowed in cycle lanes. In London they are allowed in bus lanes on red routes. But the two things are not the same.

They are only allowed in the bus lanes where the signs show the picture of a motorcycle as well as the usual pics of bus, taxi and pedal cycle

If no picture of a m/cycle then they can't use that bus lane- confusing perhaps

They cannot use cycle lanes

They can only use ASL if specifically permitted and only 1 of these I know of is in Romford Road in Stratford

always_tyred

spen666 wrote:

Coriander wrote:

They're not allowed in cycle lanes. In London they are allowed in bus lanes on red routes. But the two things are not the same.

They are only allowed in the bus lanes where the signs show the picture of a motorcycle as well as the usual pics of bus, taxi and pedal cycle

If no picture of a m/cycle then they can't use that bus lane- confusing perhaps

They cannot use cycle lanes

They can only use ASL if specifically permitted and only 1 of these I know of is in Romford Road in Stratford

Yup. I know that they are the slowest and least stable vehicles not created by Citroen, but they are, in fact, just motorcycles.

spen666

Headhuunter wrote:

Exactly Coriander! They're NOT allowed in cycle lanes or ASL boxes, but since Bozo changed the rules in early 09, they have been allowed in bus lanes in London.

It makes no diference though, the police don't enforce ASLs or bike lanes so most motorbikes, mopeds etc etc freely use both. In fact this very morning a whacking great motorbike was in front of me along Cheapside trying to filter up a bike lane next to a queue of traffic until it got to a spot which was slightly too narrow and it just stopped and blocked the cycle lane for all the cyclists (inc me) trying to get through behind it. Bloody annoying.

Not only that but because motorbike exhaust pipes are angled upwards you end up sitting behind them with a face full of fumes til you can get past. I'm afraid if I can, I skip onto the pavement to get round them.

Then I hope you ride at 2mph in front of them when lights change and generally inconvenience them :twisted:

2 wrongs don't make a right but unless the police are willing to start enforcing bike lanes and ASLs I'll skip onto the pavement when I need to get round an ignorant motoribiker/moped rider

lost_in_thought

Jamey wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

Good to hear.

Hello? Can anyone hear me? See post three in this thread (and keep in mind that when I say "yes" I'm answering the question you closed your first post with - "was I right...")

Sorry Jamey, completely misread your post as saying 'yes, they are allowed in cycle lanes'. :oops:

EDIT:

So are tehy now allowed in ALL london cycle lanes or is it still only red route ones?

spen666

Always Tyred wrote:

spen666 wrote:

Coriander wrote:

They're not allowed in cycle lanes. In London they are allowed in bus lanes on red routes. But the two things are not the same.

They are only allowed in the bus lanes where the signs show the picture of a motorcycle as well as the usual pics of bus, taxi and pedal cycle

If no picture of a m/cycle then they can't use that bus lane- confusing perhaps

They cannot use cycle lanes

They can only use ASL if specifically permitted and only 1 of these I know of is in Romford Road in Stratford

Yup. I know that they are the slowest and least stable vehicles not created by Citroen, but they are, in fact, just motorcycles.

???????????? :?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?:

Not sure what that has to do with what I posted. I didn't think I was suggesting motorcycles are not motorcycles :?: :?: :?: :?:

Coriander

lost_in_thought wrote:

Jamey wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

Good to hear.

Hello? Can anyone hear me? See post three in this thread (and keep in mind that when I say "yes" I'm answering the question you closed your first post with - "was I right...")

Sorry Jamey, completely misread your post as saying 'yes, they are allowed in cycle lanes'. :oops:

EDIT:

So are tehy now allowed in ALL london cycle lanes or is it still only red route ones?

Only red route ones. Not entirely sure of the logic behind that decision.

spen666

lost_in_thought wrote:

Jamey wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

Good to hear.

Hello? Can anyone hear me? See post three in this thread (and keep in mind that when I say "yes" I'm answering the question you closed your first post with - "was I right...")

Sorry Jamey, completely misread your post as saying 'yes, they are allowed in cycle lanes'. :oops:

EDIT:

So are tehy now allowed in ALL london cycle lanes or is it still only red route ones?

They are NOT allowed in any cycle lanes. They are allowed in bus lanes where signs show picture of m/cycle as one of permitted users oof lane, but only in that situation

il_principe

lost_in_thought wrote:

Jamey wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

Good to hear.

Hello? Can anyone hear me? See post three in this thread (and keep in mind that when I say "yes" I'm answering the question you closed your first post with - "was I right...")

Sorry Jamey, completely misread your post as saying 'yes, they are allowed in cycle lanes'. :oops:

Me too, and I asked the question! :oops:

bigmat

Really gets on my wick, I do make an effort to get in front of any motor vehicles in the ASL box and then set off very very slowly when the lights change.

lost_in_thought

spen666 wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

Jamey wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

Good to hear.

Hello? Can anyone hear me? See post three in this thread (and keep in mind that when I say "yes" I'm answering the question you closed your first post with - "was I right...")

Sorry Jamey, completely misread your post as saying 'yes, they are allowed in cycle lanes'. :oops:

EDIT:

So are tehy now allowed in ALL london cycle lanes or is it still only red route ones?

They are NOT allowed in any cycle lanes. They are allowed in bus lanes where signs show picture of m/cycle as one of permitted users oof lane, but only in that situation

Gah, massive fail. My post should have read; 'ALL london BUS lanes'

Jamey

Haha... I think this thread has a touch of the Menchovs

cee

There is a wierd situation in Edinburgh.

The majority of bus lanes only operate during specific hours...i.e. 8am - 6pm monday to friday and a half day on saturday.

Buses, taxis and cycles are allowed to use them during these hours, while all road users can use them outwith these hours.

Edinburgh council seems to have recently rejected the opportunity (??) to allow motorbikes into the bus lanes during peak times.

I had always assumed that Motorbikes are allowed to use them during the peak hours, but it seems not. Of course you would not be able to tell this as loads of motorbikes use them anyway.

Uncle Bernie Love

MatHammond wrote:

Really gets on my wick, I do make an effort to get in front of any motor vehicles in the ASL box and then set off very very slowly when the lights change.

+1

Headhuunter

Uncle Bernie Love wrote:

MatHammond wrote:

Really gets on my wick, I do make an effort to get in front of any motor vehicles in the ASL box and then set off very very slowly when the lights change.

+1

I make an effort to get in front of vehicles in the ASL but I tend to accelerate off fast to illustrate that many cyclists can get away from red lights and accelerate faster than most motor vehicles for the 1st 10-15 metres or so

Agent57

Headhuunter wrote:

I make an effort to get in front of vehicles in the ASL but I tend to accelerate off fast to illustrate that many cyclists can get away from red lights and accelerate faster than most motor vehicles for the 1st 10-15 metres or so

I'm normally too busy trying to clip in to get a quick getaway. Even after more than a year of clipless, locating the pedal with the cleat in one faultless, smooth movement isn't second nature for me. I still sometimes end up trying to pedal without being clipped in, just to get out of the way, whereupon my shoe slides off the pedal and I look a ninny.

spen666

Agent57 wrote:

Headhuunter wrote:

I make an effort to get in front of vehicles in the ASL but I tend to accelerate off fast to illustrate that many cyclists can get away from red lights and accelerate faster than most motor vehicles for the 1st 10-15 metres or so

I'm normally too busy trying to clip in to get a quick getaway. Even after more than a year of clipless, locating the pedal with the cleat in one faultless, smooth movement isn't second nature for me. I still sometimes end up trying to pedal without being clipped in, just to get out of the way, whereupon my shoe slides off the pedal and I look a ninny.

With practice you will be able to be like me and look like a ninny whether you are clipped in or not