Who plans bus lanes?

Le_Dieux

Apologies if this is in the wrong forum - Mods feel free to move to wherever:

I am self employed and drive a lot all over Dublin. I have often wondered who in their wisdom plans these bus lanes? N32 from M50 to the Malahide Road - bus lane both sides but am struggling to find a bus that goes up and/or down this road. Road from Lucan to Jobstown - after crossing over the N7, yet another bus lane with no bus route running there ( as far as I am aware).

And then this: For me, a bus lane is planned with the intention of getting a bus from A to B in the quickest safest time possible, no? Well, coming up the quays from the 02, there is now a bus lane from the Samuel Beckett bridge to the bridge outside the IFSC building ( apologies can't find a name for it only the its the bridge bringng traffic over the Liffey from Custom House Quay onto George's Quay). The busses are now forced into the bus lane, all other traffic has to use one lane, then when the traffic approaches the bridge, it's chaos as one mode of transport is trying to criss-cross with the other, resulting in much longer delays for both forms of transport.

Whoever planned this needs their head examined. Sorry, rant over!

Rich11

Le_Dieux wrote: »

I am self employed and drive a lot all over Dublin. I have often wondered who in their wisdom plans these bus lanes? N32 from M50 to the Malahide Road - bus lane both sides but am struggling to find a bus that goes up and/or down this road.

Live down the road from there, its not a bus lane anymore, there is no sign at the side of the road!


So when i am using the N32 i just zip up it and beat the traffic:D

LXFlyer

The N32 was used by AerDART which is no more.

The road from Lucan to Jobstown will be served by route 166 in due course - the 151 currently uses some of it as does the 25a/25b.

John Mason

There are signs all over the N32 saying bus lane not in operation,:rolleyes:

Le_Dieux

irishbird wrote: »

There are signs all over the N32 saying bus lane not in operation,:rolleyes:

Don't wish to get into an argument, but one says no sign at the side of the road, other says signs all over the N32 ( personally, I haven't seen them, and the marking is still there).

But the point of my argument is about the road up to that bridge below Butt Bridge - it's laid out that the busses & taxis have the iniside lane, other vehicular traffic has the outside lane. On turning over the bridge, practically every single bus has to turn right, while at the same time, a good % of the other traffic wants to turn left, thus causing snarl ups.

I really do not see the point or the advantage in having that bus lane at all. All I see now is a line of traffic cued up trying to negotiate the bridge.

Used to be a breeze, but now no more:-((

LXFlyer

Le_Dieux wrote: »

Don't wish to get into an argument, but one says no sign at the side of the road, other says signs all over the N32 ( personally, I haven't seen them, and the marking is still there).

But the point of my argument is about the road up to that bridge below Butt Bridge - it's laid out that the busses & taxis have the iniside lane, other vehicular traffic has the outside lane. On turning over the bridge, practically every single bus has to turn right, while at the same time, a good % of the other traffic wants to turn left, thus causing snarl ups.

I really do not see the point or the advantage in having that bus lane at all. All I see now is a line of traffic cued up trying to negotiate the bridge.

Used to be a breeze, but now no more:-((

I think you mean Matt Talbot Bridge?

The buses will only be there until Marlborough Street bridge is built - they will then reroute via Talbot Street.

tricky D

Le_Dieux wrote: »

Don't wish to get into an argument, but one says no sign at the side of the road, other says signs all over the N32 ( personally, I haven't seen them, and the marking is still there).

It is perfectly clear that all lanes are available on that stretch.

Le_Dieux wrote: »

But the point of my argument is about the road up to that bridge below Butt Bridge - it's laid out that the busses & taxis have the iniside lane, other vehicular traffic has the outside lane. On turning over the bridge, practically every single bus has to turn right, while at the same time, a good % of the other traffic wants to turn left, thus causing snarl ups.

I really do not see the point or the advantage in having that bus lane at all. All I see now is a line of traffic cued up trying to negotiate the bridge.

Used to be a breeze, but now no more:-((

Haven't seen a significant snarl up on that bridge yet.

AlekSmart

lxflyer wrote: »

I think you mean Matt Talbot Bridge?

The buses will only be there until Marlborough Street bridge is built - they will then reroute via Talbot Street.

I notice (as one does) that many Buses,and particularly coaches are coming out of the North Wall Bus Lane early,and assuming the outer lane in order to position somewhat safer for the Right Turn onto Georges Quay.

I'm assuming that providing a Bus-Prioritized Advanced Green phase at Matt Talbot/North Quay was found to be impossible or perhaps worse ?

This facility has operated very successfully on the N11 Stillorgan QBC for many years now,although it's no longer as important since the Stillorgan Village detour was eliminated.

The situation at Matt Talbot mirrors the somewhat contradictory situation at the O Connell St Northbound /Parnell St junction.

Northbound bus traffic here has a Bus Lane all the way to the top of OCS,however the vast majority of Busdrivers will position to the outer (general) lane as it allows a direct right-turn into Parnell Square West.

However some of us do adhere to the Bus Lane principle and take a tight left turn off OCS then make a rather cramped lane-change before turning right onto PSW.

Again,somewhat better solved by the advanced Bus Green signal phase than by encouraging over-manouvering in such a confined stretch of roadway.

Sadly few if any appear interested in these things,with super-agencies such as the RSA,NRA and the NTA the most hands-off of the lot....until the inevitable serious accident occurs....:(

Bazzer2

Le_Dieux wrote: »

Road from Lucan to Jobstown - after crossing over the N7, yet another bus lane with no bus route running there ( as far as I am aware).

The bus lane on this road (called the Outer Ring Road) is not used continuously by one bus route, but is used in portions by:

25a/b between Lucan Road and Penny Hill.
151 between Foxborough and Grange Castle.
69 between Green Isle Road and Kingswood.
27, 56a and 76/a between Fettercairn and Blessington Road.

snickerpuss

Rich11 wrote: »

So when i am using the N32 i just zip up it and beat the traffic:D

The bus lanes on the N32 have been out of use for a long time, though the signs saying this have fallen off/were taken off the lampposts a long time ago. Although there are no bus lane signs it does still say it on the actual road.

Also careful driving up the bus lane, I used to work on the N32 and saw and know loads of people pulled over for undertaking! Gardai are always on this road, often in unmarked cars.

Jay D

I've long felt that N32 was a complete load of bollox. I've never noticed signs to say there was no bus lane although I would be lying if i said i never used it anyway regardless. I used to hate when people wouldn't trun onto it from Clonsaugh and just wait for seemingly endless traffic. Annoying, even when a sign was erected there saying use bus lane when turning or something to that effect. Don't use it very often these days but used to use it a lot and even now if it's not a bus lane it was absolutely ridiculous it got the go ahead, from what appears to have been only ever one bus route.

That SB bridge as well, it's very badly done. it all of a sudden switches to a bus lane from nowhere, all on one bridge. Like you said it causes a lot of frustration for drivers, particularly those unfamiliar with it.

CIE

snickerpuss wrote: »

Also careful driving up the bus lane, I used to work on the N32 and saw and know loads of people pulled over for undertaking

Wow...

Le_Dieux

Jay D wrote: »

I've long felt that N32 was a complete load of bollox. I've never noticed signs to say there was no bus lane although I would be lying if i said i never used it anyway regardless. I used to hate when people wouldn't trun onto it from Clonsaugh and just wait for seemingly endless traffic. Annoying, even when a sign was erected there saying use bus lane when turning or something to that effect. Don't use it very often these days but used to use it a lot and even now if it's not a bus lane it was absolutely ridiculous it got the go ahead, from what appears to have been only ever one bus route.

That SB bridge as well, it's very badly done. it all of a sudden switches to a bus lane from nowhere, all on one bridge. Like you said it causes a lot of frustration for drivers, particularly those unfamiliar with it.

Speaking of the Samuel Beckett bridge, am I right in saying the bus lane is only on the side heading north, and that NO bus route crosses from south to north?

Thanks Snickerpuss for the heads up on the unmarked cop cars there - been going too fast to notice them

Victor

The councils are responsible for the camel* that are bus lanes. The detailed design and implementation of bus lanes in the Greater Dublin Region has been mostly done by the Quality Bus Network Office, which was a Dublin City Council office working on behalf of the other councils. The QBNO has now moved to the NTA.


* A camel is a horse designed by committee.

CIE

Victor wrote: »

The councils are responsible for the camel* that are bus lanes. The detailed design and implementation of bus lanes in the Greater Dublin Region has been mostly done by the Quality Bus Network Office, which was a Dublin City Council office working on behalf of the other councils. The QBNO has now moved to the NTA.

* A camel is a horse designed by committee.

So basically, the decision-making has gone from smaller bureaucracies to larger ones. I wonder do they measure buses' power output in camelpower...?

Cookie_Monster

Victor wrote: »

* A camel is a horse designed by committee.

don't committees usually make things worse rather than better?

L1011

Le_Dieux wrote: »

Don't wish to get into an argument, but one says no sign at the side of the road, other says signs all over the N32 ( personally, I haven't seen them, and the marking is still there).

There are some (most have fallen off as said) signs stating the bus lane is not in operation; there are absolutely no bus lane signs anywhere and for the most part the markings in the lane have worn off. Its fairly obvious to all but the casual driver that no bus lane exists.

Davy

MYOB wrote: »

There are some (most have fallen off as said) signs stating the bus lane is not in operation; there are absolutely no bus lane signs anywhere and for the most part the markings in the lane have worn off. Its fairly obvious to all but the casual driver that no bus lane exists.

I thought all had blown off at this stage. I think it is now 4 years not a bus lane. It was changed for operation free flow and never put back into an operation.

golden rule:

No blue sign = not a bus lane

jim-mcdee

I think if the bus lane is not in use there they should mark the road out as a two lane dual carrigeway. Why have a marked bus lane and a 60kph limit when i used it a few weeks ago i was doing 60k and loads of cars were undertaking me in the bus lane doing 100+kph. its only a matter of time before someone is killed. pure madness.

markpb

jim-mcdee wrote: »

I think if the bus lane is not in use there they should mark the road out as a two lane dual carrigeway. Why have a marked bus lane and a 60kph limit when i used it a few weeks ago i was doing 60k and loads of cars were undertaking me in the bus lane doing 100+kph. its only a matter of time before someone is killed. pure madness.

It's residential area with pedestrian crossings and right turns so 100kph probably isn't safe/recommended. I agree the bus lane markings should be removed and the road changed to 2 + 2 though.

Run_to_da_hills

Bus lanes in Ireland are "anti motorcycle".

Because of the fact that we have backward legislation prohibiting motorcycles from using these lanes it encourages bikers to ride along traffic mediums facing oncoming traffic and also weave in and out of traffic. Many roads have been made narrow to accommodate bus lanes and this has made the problem even worse for bikers filtering through rush hour traffic.

In the UK motorcycle riding is permitted on bus lanes to disencourage the above. When was the last time you saw a motorcycle holding up a bus in traffic? As for cyclists using bus lanes they should keep to the left.

Bazzer2

One of the biggest wastes of bus lane paint is the one along the entire Chapelizod Bypass. It's marked for the exact width of a bus only and doesn't include any extra width needed to take account of protruding mirrors, or natural sway when the bus is in motion.

At normal speed, buses have to use the regular traffic lane. If there is a traffic tailback in the regular lane, the bus is forced into the bus lane but can then only travel at about half-normal speed.

jameverywhere

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

. . . As for cyclists using bus lanes they should keep to the left.

Except for when buses try to pass so close they almost hit you in the head with their mirrors, or taximen keep trying to push you into the gutter. Then you take the middle of the lane.

Tarabuses

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Bus lanes in Ireland are "anti motorcycle".

Because of the fact that we have backward legislation prohibiting motorcycles from using these lanes it encourages bikers to ride along traffic mediums facing oncoming traffic and also weave in and out of traffic. Many roads have been made narrow to accommodate bus lanes and this has made the problem even worse for bikers filtering through rush hour traffic.

In the UK motorcycle riding is permitted on bus lanes to disencourage the above. When was the last time you saw a motorcycle holding up a bus in traffic? As for cyclists using bus lanes they should keep to the left.

Someone should tell the motorcyclists. I regularly see them driving in bus lanes and cycle lanes.