Bus Lanes

reece

Apologies if this is an old thread - but checked the last 5 pages and haven't seen anything.

Any idea when we can ride (legally:)) in the bus lanes? There was agreement about it way back but seemed to get brushed under the covers - Dublin council objecting to it for some (merging issue ) reason

Fabio

As you know the Guards don't really mind if you do it. Ain't fully legal yet though afaik.

Definately not legal here in Cork anyway!

mikemac

It's not legal.

But drive saftely and sensibly in a buslane and the gardai won't bother you.
If you are in Dublin and you would have witnessed Operation Freeflow with lambs trainee gardai on streets corners around the city.
They'll let you off so they are taking instructions from their superiors

Now if you are racing and acting the muppet down a buslane you might get pulled and you might even deserve it. But have some commen sense and you'll never have an issue.

Oh, protective wear will help you too, drive your bike in a tracksuit like the local skangers will attract attention :P

reece

yeah, noticed the guards turn a blind eye - they're pretty cool about it. (have had a motor cycle garda escort a few times dropping in behind them ). One time even noticed a motorcycle cop sitting in the traffic at heuston station - in bound, while we all buzzed by in the bus lane. Just had 1 or 2 incidents with taxis (in the year that I've been commuting) driving up my a$$ in the lane as if to say - "You shouldn't be in there"

topper75

reece wrote: »

taxis driving up my a$$ in the lane as if to say - "You shouldn't be in there"

Bus lane has got nothing to do with that!:D

mikemac

reece wrote: »

Just had 1 or 2 incidents with taxis (in the year that I've been commuting) driving up my a$$ in the lane as if to say - "You shouldn't be in there"

Taxi's are not supposed to be in the bus lane unless they have a fare or on their way to a fare. It's pretty impossible to prove they are not on their way to a fare but sure if you get in an argument remind them of this!

I've had taxi drivers driving me along the North quays of Dublin and ranting about the car in front of us. They shut when you remind them many parts of the buslane deactivate (if that's the correct term!) at 10am-12pm and then in the evening.

Only 1 or two incidents? :eek: I've a motorbike and I cycle and I've have more incidents then that in a week!

reece

mikemac wrote: »

Only 1 or two incidents? :eek: I've a motorbike and I cycle and I've have more incidents then that in a week!

1 or 2 F U incidents . Generally let alot of the other stuff pass. Funny incident couple of weeks ago coming off heuston heading down north quay. Big black car pulls into bus lane behind me. Check it out in the mirror just incase it's plain clothes cops. Taxi driver pulls in behind car and starts beeping him. Then I notice the car behind me is chauffeur driven - with Biffo (Brian Cowen) in the back seat.

thehomeofDob

Yeah I remember Operation Freeflow, seeing a Guard on every corner and junction in town. First few times I'd pop outta the bus lane, then I stopped bothering. My instructor got pulled in a bus lane - while he had two students out with him none the less :P But as he rightly put it, if the safer option is the bus lane, use it. It's far easier to get squished in backed up traffic than it is to mosey along the bus lane.

Just don't act the maggot or we'll all get thrown out!

Lilliput69

if its a route u use regularly, have a look, some bus lanes are only between certain hrs

thehomeofDob

True, the majority of bus lanes are Monday - Saturday 7am- 7pm. There are only a few that are 24/7 and a few that are different hours. So Sundays generally grand.

Victor

And please don't pass cyclists at speed and allow a separation distance of about 1.5m.

robinph

The only vehicles that I ever have an issue with driving too close behind me when going down the bus lane is the Bus Eireann coaches. Taxis/ Dublin Bus/ other coaches/ Garda/ cyclists never seem to care, but whenever I see a Bus Eireann marked coach about I do my best to avoid it wherever possible.