Scooters in cycle lanes?

shoulder_of_orion

I had a go at a Scooter driver the other day, I had seen him driving up the cycle lane over Vauxhall bridge then he stopped in the ASL at Oval.

"You should stop back there [motions to correct position] and you're not allowed to drive in cycle lanes"

"Oh, I thought I'd read you could"

"No, you can't. They're for cycles only. Same with this area."

5 mins later, after I had gone ahead of him. I am stopped at the lights in another ASL. He drives straight into it to talk to me:

"I'm not listening to you, I saw you undertake a car back there. You should practise what you preach."

Light goes green. He speeds off.

I had been in the cycle lane....

Headhuunter

The police never, ever enforce cycle lanes or ASL as far as I can tell and it seems that moped and motorbike riders therefore are beinning to assume that they are allowed into them.

Roougers

They are a fast rising menace in the same mould as the White Van driver.

I found that in London the policies were very misleading, with different things or more worringly 'proposals' coming out all the time. Its amazing how many dullards pick up a London Lite, see that there is a new 'proposal' and take it as red.

Scooters are an unusual sight up here in Aberdeen, reserved maily to librarians and Drug Couriers

Porgy

Not related to bus lanes, but annoying scooter moments. I was approaching a very large roundabout in Ilford this morning and in front of me a teenager on a scooter weaving in and out of the gaps in the traffic and waving to his mates stopped to look at his phone. I managed to squeeze past him to get through the ample space ahead - past two stationery cars, and then stop just behind a large van (not wanting to go up the inside of it). Scooter suddenly behind me - I could hear the engine. Traffic moved off and so did I. Scooter starts beeping me. I ignore it as I know I'm in correct lane and doing nothing wrong. Car to my right in wrong lane suddenly wants to turn left in front of me - woman driver looks distraut as I appear to be in her way - what with me being in the right lane and everything. Don't know why she couldn't just turn left behind me. Scooter still beeping - I come to a halt - woman trying to egde in front of me. Scooter undertakes and hurls a load of abuse at me - while not looking where he's going. Didn;t see where the woman driving the car went. By now, still outwardly calm, but shaking, I continue to my exit, indicate and turn left.

When were 15 year olds allowed to drive scooters!!

rally200

Of course they can go in ASLs

Mods go "anyway, anyhow, any where they please"


on reflection a Pete Townsned reference isn't going to win any friends these days

snellgrove

Bloody scooters & mopeds!!

Yes, why do they feel they belong to the same class of vehicle as us lot??

I keep noticing them parked on pavements, in pedestrian areas and even in bloody bike-hoop / locks, no doubt not locked up though!

I'm always so tempted to move the sodding things out.

Bike-hoops are for locking bicycles up to. Your f**king scooter has a stand, so use it!!!

FFS.

Dudu

Il Principe wrote:

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?

In most cases, yes. Exceptions are certain red routes in London and a few other roads in other towns.

Of motorcyclists, scooter riders, in my experience, are the worst, most dithering, most dangerous, least skilled and most unpredictable riders.

Headhuunter

Dudu wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

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?

In most cases, yes. Exceptions are certain red routes in London and a few other roads in other towns.

Of motorcyclists, scooter riders, in my experience, are the worst, most dithering, most dangerous, least skilled and most unpredictable riders.

Definitely, especially the ones that go about with L plates on delivering pizzas and takeaways etc. People go on about buses, esp bendy buses, but I have to say that buses are the very, very least of my worries on the road. I donlt think I have ever had any probs with buses.

Aren't you allowed to ride a scooter up to a certain engine size without a license?

Dudu

Headhuunter wrote:

Dudu wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

People go on about buses, esp bendy buses, but I have to say that buses are the very, very least of my worries on the road. I donlt think I have ever had any probs with buses.

+1

il_principe

Headhuunter wrote:

Aren't you allowed to ride a scooter up to a certain engine size without a license?

Yes, depending on when your license was issued.

always_tyred

Dudu wrote:

Headhuunter wrote:

Dudu wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

People go on about buses, esp bendy buses, but I have to say that buses are the very, very least of my worries on the road. I donlt think I have ever had any probs with buses.

+1

-10
Drive off, pull out, indicate right, stop indicating to pull in again. What cyclist?

Porgy

Headhuunter wrote:

[I donlt think I have ever had any probs with buses.

Well, consider yourself a very fortunate person.

Dudu

Always Tyred wrote:

Dudu wrote:

Headhuunter wrote:

Dudu wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

People go on about buses, esp bendy buses, but I have to say that buses are the very, very least of my worries on the road. I donlt think I have ever had any probs with buses.

+1

-10
Drive off, pull out, indicate right, stop indicating to pull in again. What cyclist?

Not in my experience. And aren't you supposed to anticipate that a public transport vehicle will pick up the public at the allotted place so that it can transport them? They do have those "Let the bus go first" signs on the back, and they have some legal support, if you refer to your HC.

Dudu

Porgy wrote:

Headhuunter wrote:

[I donlt think I have ever had any probs with buses.

Well, consider yourself a very fortunate person.

Buses do what you expect buses to do, unlike most other motorised road users. No nasty surprises there.

Clever Pun

Il Principe wrote:

Headhuunter wrote:

Aren't you allowed to ride a scooter up to a certain engine size without a license?

Yes, depending on when your license was issued.

you require a CBT to ride any sort of scooter on the road. A cbt will allow up to 125 size anything more requires a theory and full test.

but like with any sort of driving/cycling you don't really learn till you're out there for a while

Porgy

Dudu wrote:

Porgy wrote:

Headhuunter wrote:

[I donlt think I have ever had any probs with buses.

Well, consider yourself a very fortunate person.

Buses do what you expect buses to do, unlike most other motorised road users. No nasty surprises there.

except for the odd one or two who try to run you off the road or go into the back of you when you stop at a red light, or race to get ahead of you and then cut you up sharply so you can't go anywhere, or the ones that RLJ and try to run you down and then the driver gets out to kick your bike when you complain, etc.

Dudu

Porgy wrote:

Dudu wrote:

Porgy wrote:

Headhuunter wrote:

[I donlt think I have ever had any probs with buses.

Well, consider yourself a very fortunate person.

Buses do what you expect buses to do, unlike most other motorised road users. No nasty surprises there.

except for the odd one or two who try to run you off the road or go into the back of you when you stop at a red light, or refuse to stop at a red light and try to run you down and then the driver gets out to kick your bike when you complain, etc.

Gosh, which bit of London do you cycle in. I don't get that on my commute, and that involves Mitcham.

Porgy

Dudu wrote:

Porgy wrote:

Dudu wrote:

Porgy wrote:

Headhuunter wrote:

[I donlt think I have ever had any probs with buses.

Well, consider yourself a very fortunate person.

Buses do what you expect buses to do, unlike most other motorised road users. No nasty surprises there.

except for the odd one or two who try to run you off the road or go into the back of you when you stop at a red light, or refuse to stop at a red light and try to run you down and then the driver gets out to kick your bike when you complain, etc.

Gosh, which bit of London do you cycle in. I don't get that on my commute, and that involves Mitcham.

It's not my commute anymore - but it was Camberwell, Victoria, Baker street, Hyde Park Corner, etc.

I must admit drivers seem a lot better on my current commute, some even give way to me when i didn't want or expect it. :shock: . Maybe it's individual companies that don;t train their drivers properly or recruit psychotic loonies.

FrankM

If you passed a driving car test for a car before 1 February 2001, you are automatically entitled to ride a moped without L-plates and without taking CBT (a moped for these purposes is a motorcycle with less than 50cc and restricted to 50 kmh).

Dudu

Porgy wrote:

Dudu wrote:

Porgy wrote:

Dudu wrote:

Porgy wrote:

Headhuunter wrote:

[I donlt think I have ever had any probs with buses.

Well, consider yourself a very fortunate person.

Buses do what you expect buses to do, unlike most other motorised road users. No nasty surprises there.

except for the odd one or two who try to run you off the road or go into the back of you when you stop at a red light, or refuse to stop at a red light and try to run you down and then the driver gets out to kick your bike when you complain, etc.

Gosh, which bit of London do you cycle in. I don't get that on my commute, and that involves Mitcham.

It's not my commute anymore - but it was Camberwell, Victoria, Baker street, Hyde Park Corner, etc.

I must admit drivers seem a lot better on my current commute, some even give way to me when i didn't want or expect it. :shock: . Maybe it's individual companies that don;t train their drivers properly or recruit psychotic loonies.

I'm Nine Elms-Clapham Old Town-Tooting Common-Mitcham-Rose Hill-Sutton.

Porgy

Dudu wrote:

I'm Nine Elms-Clapham Old Town-Tooting Common-Mitcham-Rose Hill-Sutton.

I used to commute Colliers wood - Tooting - Clapham - Nine Elms and have cycled through Mitcham many times, must admit I can't think of any particularly bad bus moments going through those areas.

blu3cat

Porgy wrote:

Dudu wrote:

I'm Nine Elms-Clapham Old Town-Tooting Common-Mitcham-Rose Hill-Sutton.

I used to commute Colliers wood - Tooting - Clapham - Nine Elms and have cycled through Mitcham many times, must admit I can't think of any particularly bad bus moments going through those areas.

It seems that the loonies are mobile, I've been nearly run over and generally abused by bus drivers in Colliers Wood / Tooting a couple of times, although hmmmm maybe it was something I said / gesticulated about their driving?

Porgy

Porgy wrote:

Dudu wrote:

Porgy wrote:

Dudu wrote:

Porgy wrote:

Headhuunter wrote:

[I donlt think I have ever had any probs with buses.

Well, consider yourself a very fortunate person.

Buses do what you expect buses to do, unlike most other motorised road users. No nasty surprises there.

except for the odd one or two who try to run you off the road or go into the back of you when you stop at a red light, or refuse to stop at a red light and try to run you down and then the driver gets out to kick your bike when you complain, etc.

Gosh, which bit of London do you cycle in. I don't get that on my commute, and that involves Mitcham.

It's not my commute anymore - but it was Camberwell, Victoria, Baker street, Hyde Park Corner, etc.

Well, had to go to Victoria for a work related appointment this morning. Join the road at the lights. Lights change - I move - bendy bus behind me toots his horn...presumably so that he can get closer to the van in front fo me. When he gets a chance he passes me and then pulls back in front of me really tightly forcing me to brake hard.

I pass him up the road, just before Hyde Park Corner...and take the lane. He overtakes sharply on Park Lane and pulls in really tight and makes me brake (no 2).

I overtake him just before Marble Arch - he'd stopped. He pulls out while I'm passing him in a different lane. I move right into third lane and he keeps pulling out and finally james me intot he side of the road where I couldn't move.

I finally pass him again on Oxford St and call him a f****** c*** - my temper really gone now. He wags his finger and starts shouting and waggling his head about, only I can't hear what he's saying cos he hasn't opened his window.

then further up the road I'm at lights waiting to go. Just as the red goes to orange the bus behind me beeps. Instead of going look back at bus driver and shrug. Then I go in my own damn good time!!

cjcp

Scooters don't like it when you say, "Come on, little Scoot Scoot" in the sort of tone you use when you're trying to coax a lost cat out from under your car.

Porgy

cjcp wrote:

Scooters don't like it when you say, "Come on, little Scoot Scoot" in the sort of tone you use when you're trying to coax a lost cat out from under your car.

I'm so glad I'm not doing that HPC, Victoria, Vauxhall commute anymore. I had to do it today as a one off and there are hundreds of the little feckers, all heading back to trendy, edgy Brixton, or upmarket Cla'ham, Balham, Tooting....all pushing their way through the traffic, oh soo nippy, and straight into the ASL in front of the cyclists!

And all of them utter tossers!

roger_merriman

Dudu wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

Dudu wrote:

Headhuunter wrote:

Dudu wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

People go on about buses, esp bendy buses, but I have to say that buses are the very, very least of my worries on the road. I donlt think I have ever had any probs with buses.

+1

-10
Drive off, pull out, indicate right, stop indicating to pull in again. What cyclist?

Not in my experience. And aren't you supposed to anticipate that a public transport vehicle will pick up the public at the allotted place so that it can transport them? They do have those "Let the bus go first" signs on the back, and they have some legal support, if you refer to your HC.

HC isn't law it's mostly best practice (bar when it says you must) I used to if possible let a bus out, since moving to london I've stopped that as it does one no favours in the tight streets around here, compounded by buses not pulling into the stop fully.

the buses sometimes get stuck inching past each other for quite some time on some of the more narrow roads, none of which encrouges one to let a bus out.

fossyant

Can't say it bothers me, but I'm not in London's rat cage.

We don't have that many motorbikes and scooters, and most seem fine, don't mind sharing the ASL's. Just the shame of riding a scooter makes me laugh...takes them an age to get to 30........

gtvlusso

Hmmm - I see this allot in Brizzle.

Scooters in cycle lanes and sometimes motorbikes. usually I can keep up with them or barge my way through - I did knock one guy off on Filton Hill (yes, I was climbing a hill, caught him as he tried tp undertake a huge lorry, that was also in the cycle lane by some margin, - I decided that I was not gonna slow down and barged through him.

I have seen motorcyclists use them too - which is simply unforgivable - they should be filtering on the right as taught on the current test. If they are not confident enough to be ther - get off the motorbike and walk.

See allot of scooters without "L" plates too - which either suggests that allot of people have full motorbike licences and chose a scooter (unlikely, with the expense of the full test and hassle!) - or that they simply have not completed the basic training and written test, just went out and bought a scooter and prey they don't get caught.

Whichever way - I will catch you and chastise you...then laugh!

chuckcork

Dudu wrote:

Of motorcyclists, scooter riders, in my experience, are the worst, most dithering, most dangerous, least skilled and most unpredictable riders.

But think on the bright side, at least the combination of minimal or non-existent training coupled with no road sense and the resultant process of Darwinian selection can have a positive feedback element by guaranteeing a supply of donor organs (assuming they're not too squashed).