Bus lane cheaters who helps them?

MorningStar

Hi,

I cycle to work but I often see cars jumping in the bus lanes to avoid the traffic and then be allowed in further down the road. It pisses me off because many of these drivers speed in the bus lane and often ignore cyclists.
This morning one ifdiot nerally hit 3 cyclists as he was pulling out of an entrance as he didn't see us. Then again about five seconds a guy starts to pull into the bus lane again not noticing the cyclists. ANyway he pulled out right behind me so I stayed in the cnetre of the Bus lane and took it easy the rest of the way down but somebody let him into the traffic again.
I know I was being a bit of an idiot but who are the idiots that let these idiots in and out of the bus lanes? I see many people do this regularly. In fact I see the traffic cops let people away with many of the minor traffic offenses that cause most of our problems.

SteM

I see it happen on Pearse Street almost every day and often wonder this myself. Do the people letting the traffic jumpers in front of them not resent the fact they've just sat in traffic for 20 minutes when the person they're allowing in couldn't be bothered? I cycle to and from work but if I was in a car this sort of thing would drive me mad.

cullenswood

I hate that myself aswell. Does anyone know what happens if you are pulled over by a Garda after doing this? Is is just a stern talking to, or is there a fine and penalty points?

PlayaFlow

I Do it all the time- its great - screw you!

as to what happens when ur caught by guards - well i got a 35E fine and a "dont let it happen again" - i was caught once.

and yes i do let people in front of me who do the same - i dont resent this because they are in a hurry obviously. when im in a hurry (eg. late for college) i boot it down the bus lane and every time i indicate in , someone lets me in.

a case of 'you scratch my back , ill scratch yours' ...or even karma if you will.

daymobrew

MorningStar wrote:

This morning one ifdiot nerally hit 3 cyclists as he was pulling out of an entrance as he didn't see us.

Report it to the Gardai: Dangerous driving.
You can make a statement, which will force the Gardai to call the other driver in to make their statement. If nothing else it lets the person know that someone is willing to take action, even if the Traffic Corps doesn't seem to. OTOH, I passed a Garda on a motorbike on Navan Rd a while back. I stopped and asked him to ticket all those parked in the bike lane (one with solid white line) - he said that was exactly the reason he'd stopped

Having said all that, I do note the reg plates of dangerous driving but I've pretty much given up going to the Gardai. It's never convenient and I don't get the impression that they care. I've written to the Garda Commissioner and got a visit from the local Superintendent who encouraged me to report stuff but his staff never seemed so interested when I did.

MorningStar

PlayaFlow wrote:

I Do it all the time- its great - screw you!
...or even karma if you will.

You obviously don't quite get the concept:rolleyes:

Calina

PlayaFlow wrote:

I Do it all the time- its great - screw you!

as to what happens when ur caught by guards - well i got a 35E fine and a "dont let it happen again" - i was caught once.

and yes i do let people in front of me who do the same - i dont resent this because they are in a hurry obviously. when im in a hurry (eg. late for college) i boot it down the bus lane and every time i indicate in , someone lets me in.

a case of 'you scratch my back , ill scratch yours' ...or even karma if you will.

I will never let someone like you back in, tough. I take a dim view of people who think they are too important to adhere to traffic regulations in this way. Unfortunately, guidelines prevent me from saying exactly what I think of your attitude.

Flukey

It's because of this kind of behaviour that the idea that some people advocate of cars holding 4 or passengers being allowed to use bus lanes just shouldn't be allowed. It is hard enough to police them as it is, without giving license to it to be really be abused. You'd effectively get rid of bus lanes as we know them so it would be totally counter-productive.

D'Peoples Voice

Calina wrote:

I will never let someone like you back in, tough. I take a dim view of people who think they are too important to adhere to traffic regulations in this way. Unfortunately, guidelines prevent me from saying exactly what I think of your attitude.

I agree, I feel the same about those in stay in the overtaking lane as you you approach the M50 toll bridge. They know that if they don't have easypass they will have to move into the centre lanes, but they feel if they go up far enough on the easypass lane, they can force themselves between cars in the lane on the left, because people are afraid to be involved in an accident, and therefore give way. What usually happens is that the "obliger/driver allowing them in" has to break hard, and this causes a chain reaction behind them, creating longer delays for those behind.

MorningStar

Calina wrote:

I will never let someone like you back in, tough. I take a dim view of people who think they are too important to adhere to traffic regulations in this way. Unfortunately, guidelines prevent me from saying exactly what I think of your attitude.

By the sounds of it it seems beeping at anybody letting somebody in sounds appropriate. If the only one letting people in are those who also cheat it seems fair and more like karma.

Baz_

PlayaFlow wrote:

Troll of the year!

That's some great trolling Playa, nice!

MrPudding

Baz_ wrote:

That's some great trolling Playa, nice!

He isn't trolling. He actually is a cock.

MrP

markpb

daymobrew wrote:

Report it to the Gardai: Dangerous driving.

I used to do this but can't be bothered anymore. The first few times I was told that they'd "have a word with him". However, the last time the (much younger) guy told me that the best they can do is try to send a car or motorbike ahead to catch him because there's nothing they can do just on the word of a normal citizen.

Seems a bit pointless to me. The guards can't enforce the rule and (as said already) most people don't react when a someone tries to skip in ahead of them. There's absolutely no reason for people not to drive in the bus lane, the changes of getting caught are way too low and the punishment too weak.

That said, I'll still continue to cycle *really* slowly in the middle of the bus lane if I see a regular car coming up behind me :-)

BrianD3

MorningStar wrote:

who are the idiots that let these idiots in and out of the bus lanes?

They're dopes who aren't aware of what's happening around them (poor observation)

A few times I was a passenger with a guy whose favourite hobby was jumping queues coming up to traffic lights by driving up bus lanes and the hard shoulder. He had it down to a fine art, what he would do is skip the queue until the traffic started to move (due to the light ahead turning green) He'd then pick out a driver who was slow moving off and would jump into the gap ahead of him. Worked every time.

The other side of this - one day I was in a queue of traffic coming up to the N4/M50 roundabout and 2 or 3 idiots were trying to pass everyone by driving up the bus lane and cutting in where the bus lane ends. Myself and a couple of other drivers saw this and made life diffciult for them. Held them up long enough for a motorbike cop to come up behind them and give them all tickets

strassenwolf

MorningStar wrote:

Anyway he pulled out right behind me so I stayed in the cnetre of the Bus lane and took it easy the rest of the way down but somebody let him into the traffic again.

This is the correct approach. If you can slow it down to a crawl, there may be a chance that the traffic in the outer lane will start to move quickly again, and your tormentor may then be left stuck behind you.

I can recall several years ago when somebody in a private car in the bus lane beeped at me a couple of times to let them past. I did the slow cycling bit but I was actually in a bad mood about something so I felt it was time to get off my bike and examine an imaginary problem with my chain in order to slow this person up even further. I can't remember now if it worked, but in an odd way it gave me a bit of satisfaction.

I'm a bit more mature now.:D

Not all that much more mature, though, I'm afraid. When driving, my remedy for those people who beep at you when the light goes green is to:
(i) stall the car, or pretend to stall it;
(ii) fiddle around getting it started again;
(iii) wait for the orange signal;
(iv) drive off. If timed properly, this should leave the impatient person waiting for the next green light.

(N.B. I am not advocating this as good driving practice).

HelterSkelter

strassenwolf wrote:

Not all that much more mature, though, I'm afraid. When driving, my remedy for those people who beep at you when the light goes green is to....

If you are paying attention to what's going on around you and move away when the light goes green nobody will beep at you.

telecinesk

Members of the Gardai on or off duty use the buslanes. Theyre best one is when stopped they roll down the window flash the id and shout "job".
Thats who uses it.

Calina

telecinesk wrote:

Members of the Gardai on or off duty use the buslanes. Theyre best one is when stopped they roll down the window flash the id and shout "job".
Thats who uses it.

Yes, but somehow, most of the cars in my locality who do it have Northern regs. I'd be surprised if they were on or off-duty members of the Gardaí

seamus

BrianD3 wrote:

A few times I was a passenger with a guy whose favourite hobby was jumping queues coming up to traffic lights by driving up bus lanes and the hard shoulder. He had it down to a fine art, what he would do is skip the queue until the traffic started to move (due to the light ahead turning green) He'd then pick out a driver who was slow moving off and would jump into the gap ahead of him. Worked every time.

It's a technique you'll find most bikers using too. It's far more dangerous to stop and wait for a gap than to jump in front of the guy with slow reaction times.

I'll never forget the morning I was following two cars up the sliproad onto the N4 (in the bus lane), when a bike cop came barrelling out of the traffic (out of nowhere, scared the **** out of me) in front of the two cars, lights on and stopped them. Then he waved me through

magpie

are bicycles allowed in the bus lane?

MorningStar

HelterSkelter wrote:

If you are paying attention to what's going on around you and move away when the light goes green nobody will beep at you.

I have to agree with this, people should be focusing on the 4 tons of metal they are in control of.

robinph

magpie wrote:

are bicycles allowed in the bus lane?

Bicycles, yes.

Motorbikes, officially no, but thats never give the guards any reason to do anything other than say "You really shouldn't be in the bus lane you know, now get outa here".

HelterSkelter

robinph wrote:

Bicycles, yes.

Motorbikes, officially no, but thats never give the guards any reason to do anything other than say "You really shouldn't be in the bus lane you know, now get outa here".

Can't understand why motorbikes are not allowed in bus lane. Everyone driving a motorbike is taking a car off the road and creating more road space so it should be encouraged. I was stopped for this in my moped days but the cop just gave me a warning.

mountainyman

I am a cyclist and I feel that motorcyclists are a nuisance in the bus lane.

However motorists have no right to complain as motorcyclists are doing them a favour.

Last week I saw a moped user being ticketed in the bus lane at St John of God's on the Stillorganer.

John_C

Moped's can slow down busses if they don't have enough power to keep up speed on a hill.

cal29

magpie wrote:

are bicycles allowed in the bus lane?

They are allowed in some bus lanes but not all

If there is a seperate Bicycle lane provided they are supposed to use that fairview on the way into town is an example

Also they are not allowed into contra flow bus lanes like those along the quays


Not that any of that makes any difference to them

gibo_ie

MorningStar wrote:

ANyway he pulled out right behind me so I stayed in the cnetre of the Bus lane and took it easy the rest of the way down but somebody let him into the traffic again.
I know I was being a bit of an idiot but who are the idiots that let these idiots in and out of the bus lanes?

Agree that it shouldn't be done and i have to admit to doing it myself in some of the stupid bus lanes (like the twenty yard long ones on Dorset street etc..) But i have to say if you did cysle slowly in fornt of me like that i would probably not be too happy, that is way more dangerous than letting someone use the buslane. I would not have any sympathy if you were hit (and i have seen it) or if the guy got out and belted you one. You are not a Garda, you do not police this state, let them do their jobs.

And i bet you never cycle on a footpath either or straight through red lights or pedestrian crossings...ehh?

seamus

mountainyman wrote:

I am a cyclist and I feel that motorcyclists are a nuisance in the bus lane.

Care to elaborate?

Capt'n Midnight

The Ronanstown Garda Station is near the Fonthill Road. Almost every single car turning left into Balgaddy Road uses the 24 hour bus lane. Either the signs should be removed or the law enforced.

cyclopath2001

cal29 wrote:

If there is a seperate Bicycle lane provided they are supposed to use that fairview on the way into town is an example

Do you mean the cycle track with the non-regulation signs & which is covered in an inch of slimey dead leaves? The cycle track that doesn't comply with DTO or legal standards?

Font22

just cause your late for college gives u no right to break the law! i drive to college everyday and i still get there on time without using bus lanes. get out of bed earlier.....i cant stand lazy people like you.
tip for those who want to screw people like him over...... dont go into the bus lane yourself, just turn into it a little to make it too narrow for a car to get through. i did it once and put me in a good mood for the rest of the day. the businessman in question wasnt v pleased to see a young girl in her 20's with the "balls" so to speak, to stop him. i just continued on singing along to the radio!!!

robinph

gibo_ie wrote:

Agree that it shouldn't be done and i have to admit to doing it myself in some of the stupid bus lanes (like the twenty yard long ones on Dorset street etc..) But i have to say if you did cysle slowly in fornt of me like that i would probably not be too happy, that is way more dangerous than letting someone use the buslane. I would not have any sympathy if you were hit (and i have seen it) or if the guy got out and belted you one. You are not a Garda, you do not police this state, let them do their jobs.

The person on two wheels is probably far safer if they ride in the middle of the bus lane in such a situation, rather than moving over to the side. If they go to the side of the bus lane then the car driver is less likely to see them and then think that they can fit through gaps that don't exist and then someone gets killed.

mikemac

Have to agree with HelterSkelter. Motorcyclists should be allowed use buslanes as they free up road space and don't add to traffic and parking problems.

As for the comment about cyclists finding motorcyclists a nusance, all I can say is that at least they pay road tax so they have more right to be on the road than cyclists.
While there are a lot of young idiots on mopeds in Dublin, they don't tend to cycle on footpaths and constantly break red lights.

As an example it's well known that cyclists are meant to dismount and push their bikes across that new bridge on the liffey by the IFSC. Hardly any do it and they just intimidate pedestrians as they race across.

I'm not anti-cyclists by the way and agree with most of the posts here. Just pointing out that every road user group seems to break rules. Cyclists are no exception

TempestSabre

Most people ignore the bus lanes where I live simply because the Guards never enforce them. If they can't be bothered, you can't blame other people for ignoring them aswell. Also a lot of the bus lanes and traffic restrictions are designed to slow traffic, not to ease the throughout. All that achieves is raise people frustration. Its an abuse of the traffic laws. If you push people so far, they stop taking the rules seriously. 24hr bus lanes, where theres no 24hr buses. Cycle and bus lanes which take up 50% of the capacity, but are empty 90% of the time. Its a joke. You see that everywhere in Ireland. In the UK you would be done for having a light out on your car, or holding up progress of other cars. But in Ireland no one takes the law, especially the traffic laws seriously.

SteM

micmclo wrote:

..... all I can say is that at least they pay road tax so they have more right to be on the road than cyclists.

Rubbish. What on earth is road tax? There's no such thing, I think you'll find they pay MOTOR tax. Something cyclists don't have to worry about as they peddle.

micmclo wrote:

I'm not anti-cyclists by the way

Of course you're not.

cyclopath2001

micmclo wrote:

As an example it's well known that cyclists are meant to dismount and push their bikes across that new bridge on the liffey by the IFSC. Hardly any do it and they just intimidate pedestrians as they race across.

What do you mean by well known? Since the 'end-of-cycle track' sign was abolished in the 1997 regulations since the city council often neglects to mark the surface of cycle tracks in accordance with the regulations, it's often to difficult to know where a cycle track ends.

Clearly, from a recent constituency newsletter published by Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Ivor Calally, the use of the bridge by cyclists (i.e. people riding bicycles) was part of the plan:

"New Bridge - The Sean O'Casey bridge has been constructed to provide a new link between the north and south city quays at the IFSC and will be another valuable pedestrian/ cycle link in the city centre."

Perhaps the problem is that the cycling and pedestrian areas of the bridge have not been properly marked? This is a common problem in Dublin.

MorningStar

gibo_ie wrote:

Agree that it shouldn't be done and i have to admit to doing it myself in some of the stupid bus lanes (like the twenty yard long ones on Dorset street etc..) But i have to say if you did cysle slowly in fornt of me like that i would probably not be too happy, that is way more dangerous than letting someone use the buslane. I would not have any sympathy if you were hit (and i have seen it) or if the guy got out and belted you one. You are not a Garda, you do not police this state, let them do their jobs.

And i bet you never cycle on a footpath either or straight through red lights or pedestrian crossings...ehh?

You see what you missed was I had nearly been hit by one car and then ANother car then nealy pulled out into me. This is the car I slowed down so he was a danger to start with . I agree I should probably just left him alone but I didn't. I have had motorists try to thump me a few times and I can tell you that a person who sits in a nice warm car every day is no where as quick as somebody who cycles every day. Everybody who compliant with law breaking supports crime standing your ground is your duty as a citizen to an extent. Be resonposible for your actions and hold others accountable for theirs

gibo_ie wrote:

And i bet you never cycle on a footpath either or straight through red lights or pedestrian crossings...ehh?

As this has been metioned many times before I'll keep it short. Cars do these too and also speed when doing them. Car kill ratio compared to cyclist kill ratio proves the car to be more dangerous and they also pollute.

markpb

TempestSabre wrote:

Cycle and bus lanes which take up 50% of the capacity, but are empty 90% of the time.

In my area (Swords rd/Malahide rd) the main reason bus lanes are empty is because of the one or two cars who lane skipped at the previous junction, can't get back into lane and block the entire bus lane.

Anyway, if a single bus makes use of the bus lane and carries over 100 people, it's probably still more effecient than letting cars use the same lane because most of them will only have one person. In that respect it *is* maximising throughput of people, not vehicles.

fenris

Motorcycles should definitely be allowed into then bus lanes as has been already stated,

every bike in the bus lane is the equivelant of a car not in front of you!
we need to lose that particularly Irish attitude of begrudging the progress of others, if someone trades comfort and protection for speed and manouveribility, then fairplay as long as they do not impinge on others. That is the deal as far as I see it, slip in ahead of me by all means as long as you do not delay me.

As far as cyclists objecting to motorcycles in the bus lane goes, get a bit of consistency, the biggest danger to cyclists (I am one) is themselves, legaly you may be in the right in a collision (being the only road user that can ram a stationary vehicle and still be in the right helps) but being right and busted up is no fun. I speak from experience here



Plan for stupidity, there will always be the 1% when you still get clobbered, but don't go looking for it!

markpb

gibo_ie wrote:

But i have to say if you did cysle slowly in fornt of me like that i would probably not be too happy, that is way more dangerous than letting someone use the buslane...You are not a Garda, you do not police this state, let them do their jobs.

Who said anything about policing the state? We're merely cycling in the bus/cycle lane If that inconveniences you because you're driving in it, then tough.

HelterSkelter

TempestSabre wrote:

24hr bus lanes, where theres no 24hr buses.

That's one that really gets on my nerves!!

MorningStar

HelterSkelter wrote:

That's one that really gets on my nerves!!

I think they made a mistake naming them. They are commutor lanes for buses,taxis and cyclists when there is no additional cycle lane. Busues should be allowed report cars using the lane.

markpb

MorningStar wrote:

Busues should be allowed report cars using the lane.

There was rumour at one stage of the DB's having a front facing security cameras for that very reason. Pity it didn't happen

Zaph0d

MorningStar wrote:

I know I was being a bit of an idiot but who are the idiots that let these idiots in and out of the bus lanes? .

I am the idiot who helps them.

When I'm driving I let people do anything around me. Anytime someone tries something dangerous or illegal, I just give them a wide berth. I don't punish people by driving obstructively or try to teach them lessons.

I've known people who drive who are
senile
emotionally unstable
alcoholic
mentally subnormal

I can't identify these types of drivers from a distance.

I just want to complete my journey without receiving or causing an injury.

On occasion people have a genuine reason for illegal behaviour such as reaching a hospital. I'm not a cop and I can't discern these people.

I have nothing to gain by teaching someone a lesson. My own driving is not perfect, so I'd be better off concentrating on my behaviour rather than someone I can't influence.

HelterSkelter

Zaph0d, if you spent 10 mins queueing in a line of traffic and some arsehole zooms up in the outside lane (which is meant for turning right) and indicates to get in on front of you would you let him in?

squrm

Maybe OT but are taxi's allowed use bus lanes if they're not carrying a fare paying passenger? for some reason its in the back of my mind that they're just treated like normal car's when the light is on & have to stay out.

not that it seems to stop them...........

MorningStar

squrm wrote:

Maybe OT but are taxi's allowed use bus lanes if they're not carrying a fare paying passenger? for some reason its in the back of my mind that they're just treated like normal car's when the light is on & have to stay out.

not that it seems to stop them...........

They are allowed use them going to pick up a fair so that is how they get away with it. I forgot to mention Ambulances are allowed use them too.

Zaph0d

HelterSkelter wrote:

Zaph0d, if you spent 10 mins queueing in a line of traffic and some arsehole zooms up in the outside lane (which is meant for turning right) and indicates to get in on front of you would you let him in?

Yes, particularly if he is aggressive about it for the reasons outlined above. I have a large old car with significant body damage all around so anyone brave enough to try to push past me is welcome.

It's not a good policy in life to behave in a wimpy manner whenever anyone tries something on. You get a repuation for being a pushover. I don't think these rules apply on the road where everyone is a stranger and there are no reputations to maintain. 'Winning' the encounter is no good if someone gets hurt.

I used to ride bikes and my priority was always to avoid collision even at the expense of my pride.

MorningStar

Zaph0d wrote:

Yes, particularly if he is aggressive about it for the reasons outlined above. I have a large old car with significant body damage all around so anyone brave enough to try to push past me is welcome.

It's not a good policy in life to behave in a wimpy manner whenever anyone tries something on. You get a repuation for being a pushover. I don't think these rules apply on the road where everyone is a stranger and there are no reputations to maintain. 'Winning' the encounter is no good if someone gets hurt.

I used to ride bikes and my priority was always to avoid collision even at the expense of my pride.

What about the people who get angry at you for letting in the cheaters. You are avoiding one risk and ignoring the people behind you. I have seen people get very angry at people for letting drivers in. Your wimpy manner is not saving you anything you just displace the anger to the person doing the right thing. Nice to see how just you are

Baz_

MorningStar wrote:

What about the people who get angry at you for letting in the cheaters. You are avoiding one risk and ignoring the people behind you.

Going by his previous posts, which you don't appear to have taken the time to understand, I would say that he doesnt care about the people behind him, as long as he doesn't get caught up in an accident with them.

He believes, and he is 100% correct about it, that on the road all other road users are strangers. He also believes that the only person's actions he is accountable for are his own. He further believes that his own personal safety and that of the people in his immediate vicinity is of paramount and primary importance. If that means letting some dick with a need for speed cut in front of him while he eases off the acceleration, then so be it.

MorningStar wrote:

I have seen people get very angry at people for letting drivers in. Your wimpy manner is not saving you anything you just displace the anger to the person doing the right thing.

Thats their problem.

If people here find they are suffering from road rage or get easily angered by the driving of other people to the extent that the anger starts to dictate what actions you take, then you should really consider going on an anger management course.

Oh, and how you figure blocking someone from joining the main body of traffic to be the right thing is baffling to me. There are any number of reasons why someone might be in the bus lane, most of them bad, but you never can tell, and thats the part of zaphod's whole philosophy which makes the most sense.

MorningStar wrote:

Nice to see how just you are

Ensuring the safety of yourself and the safety of those around you is just about as just as one can be while driving a car on the busy streets. Just because this angers some people does not make it unjust thats a stupid arguement.

<edit>By the way, I fully agree when this happens that it is very annoying, and the selfish little prícks (assuming there was no extenuating circumstances) deserve all they get and more when they get caught. It's when you let that annoyance to impinge on your ability to make safe decisions that causes the real problems rather than the person doing it in the first place.</edit>

Zaph0d

It is unfair because it slows down the people behind me. But I judge there's a lower risk of an accident from someone behind me getting angry in a queue than the risk if I kick my accelerator to try to close a gap in front of me.