Should buses always drive in the bus lane

Trampas

As the above or can they drive in the normal traffic lane if it is empty?

Uriel.

Trampas wrote: »

As the above or can they drive in the normal traffic lane if it is empty?

They are not compelled to using the bus lane

Marcusm

Uriel. wrote: »

They are not compelled to using the bus lane

Really? Every driver is compelled, at the cost of a penalty point offence, to drive in the left most lane available. Hadn't realised there was an exclusion for bus drivers.

AltAccount

I would have thought the solid white line would mean they have to stay in the lane, but TBH it's probably a pretty silly law to enforce.

Jimbob 83

Bus lane is provided for the loading/unloading of passengers, not as a "look at me im special lane"

AltAccount

Jimbob 83 wrote: »

Bus lane is provided for the loading/unloading of passengers, not as a "look at me im special lane"

Surely they're to allow the buses and taxis to travel faster than the other traffic thereby making it a more desirable form of transport?

Mycroft H

Jimbob 83 wrote: »

Bus lane is provided for the loading/unloading of passengers, not as a "look at me im special lane"

That really isn't their only reason. They are there to facilitate the easy movement of Buses, taxis and bicycles.

Eoin

Marcusm wrote: »

Really? Every driver is compelled, at the cost of a penalty point offence, to drive in the left most lane available. Hadn't realised there was an exclusion for bus drivers.

It'd be a bit silly if all car drivers were compelled to use the bus lane after 7 or on Sundays, if they were to apply the normal rules in that way.

**Timbuk2**

Eoin wrote: »

It'd be a bit silly if all car drivers were compelled to use the bus lane after 7 or on Sundays, if they were to apply the normal rules in that way.

If the bus lane isn't active, then you should use it for normal driving. To overtake traffic, move out to the right, overtake, and move back into the bus lane.

Keep left unless overtaking or road markings/signs dictate otherwise.

Eoin

I'm aware of the theory (hence my post), it's just not always all that practical in reality.

**Timbuk2**

Eoin wrote: »

I'm aware of the theory (hence my post), it's just not always all that practical in reality.

Well unless the bus lane is full of parked cars, I don't see why not!

A lot of people don't know this though, meaning they sit in the outside ("normal") lane - if everyone followed the rule it would work better.

Eoin

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

Well unless the bus lane is full of parked cars, I don't see why not!

Because the solid white line sections can be unbroken for long sections, and they don't tend to give a decent distance before junctions where you can change lanes.

Which means you're not able to move into what is normally the left hand driving line if there are buses stopping all the time / slow moving traffic / traffic pulling in and out of garages or estates / traffic turning left etc.

Marcusm

Eoin wrote: »

Because the solid white line sections can be unbroken for long sections, and they don't tend to give a decent distance before junctions where you can change lanes.

Which means you're not able to move into what is normally the left hand driving line if there are buses stopping all the time / slow moving traffic / traffic pulling in and out of garages or estates / traffic turning left etc.

If you have a look at the ROTR you'll note that the prohibition is on crossing a continuous white line down the centre of a road. That's not the line that demarcates a bus lane. When the bus lane is not in operation, there is no prohibition on crossing in and out of it.

CiniO

To follow bus lane you should be familiar with road layout, as quite often bus lane might lead into other direction than remaining lanes.
I remember once when entering DUblin from M4 where motorway ends and 80 km/h limit starts , I followed bus lane which eventually lead me out of n4, even though i wanted to follow n4 towards Dublin. When i realized it's leading me off the main road, it was already too late to change lanes.
I had few similar cases like that later as well