Bus lanes - who can cannot use them?

Laviski

Googled and real information on what qualifies using bus lanes isnt really clear.

are motorbikes allowed to use them?

Taxis are allowed.

Buses are allowed.

but mini buses? I'm sure the 18seater transit would qualify but what about the 7 and 9 seater variations.

ThatFellaJohn

Laviski wrote: »

Googled and real information on what qualifies using bus lanes isnt really clear.

are motorbikes allowed to use them?

Taxis are allowed.

Buses are allowed.

but mini buses? I'm sure the 18seater transit would qualify but what about the 7 and 9 seater variations.

Motorbikes use them and the cops turn a blind eye majority of the time!

I am fairly sure i have never seen a mini bus rocking the QBC

monument

Quick answer:

Buses carrying 9 or more people; bicycles, taxis in service, and marked cars carrying government ministers.

Contra-flow bus lanes are only allowed to be used by buses and bicycles.


Slightly longer answer:

Primary vehicles which bus lanes are for are large public service vehicles (ie "vehicles used for the carriage of more than eight passengers for hire and reward" -- aka buses) or a pedal cycles (bicycles).

Secondary users included: Taxis or a wheelchair accessible taxis which are "being used in the course of business" and Government vehicles used by ministers and others (ie "a member of the Government, a Minister of State who regularly attends meetings of the Government, the Attorney General or the Ceann Comhairle, in the course of his or her duties as such").

The emergency services are also exempted from the ban on general traffic using bus lanes.


The main law:

S.I. No. 332/2012 - Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2012.

Bus Lanes

32. (1)(a) A bus lane shall be indicated by means of traffic sign number RUS 028 or traffic sign number RUS 029 used in association with traffic sign number RRM 024.

(b) A contra-flow bus lane shall be indicated by means of traffic sign number RUS 030 used in association with traffic sign number RRM 024.

(2) A person shall not enter a bus lane with a vehicle other than a large public service vehicle or a pedal cycle during the period of operation of the bus lane indicated on an information plate.

(3) A person shall not enter a contra-flow bus lane with a vehicle other than a large public service vehicle or a pedal cycle.

(4) A person shall not enter a bus-only street with a vehicle other than a large public service vehicle or a pedal cycle except for the purpose of access.

(5)(a) Sub-articles (2) and (3) do not apply to a vehicle crossing a with-flow bus lane or a contra-flow bus lane solely for the purpose—

(i) of entering or leaving premises or property adjacent to such a bus lane, or

(ii) of entering or leaving a road inset adjacent to such a bus lane in order to load or unload goods.

(b) Sub-article (2) does not apply to—

(i) a taxi or a wheelchair accessible taxi which is being used in the course of business, or

(ii) a vehicle authorised and identified in accordance with sub-article (6), being driven by a driver authorised under that sub-article, in which is being carried, a member of the Government, a Minister of State who regularly attends meetings of the Government, the Attorney General or the Ceann Comhairle, in the course of his or her duties as such.

(6) The Minister may—

(a) authorise vehicles and drivers for the purposes of the exemption from this article contained in sub-article (5)(b)(ii), and

(b) specify the form of identification to be attached to the windscreen of a vehicle to which that exemption applies.

(7) Vehicles and drivers authorised under the Road Traffic (Bus Lanes) (Exemption) Regulations 2011 ( S.I. No. 527 of 2011 ) shall be deemed to be authorised under sub-article (6).”,

Arbiter of Good Taste

Interesting enough I believe that the Gardaí are not allowed to use except in emergency situations (ie something that requires flashing lights). Funnily enough they don't seem to adhere to that.....

A friend of mine once was rear ended by a squad car pulling out of the taxi lane. The boll*x of a driver tried to blame her. It was pointed out to the garda by his superior when she rang to complain that he had no right to be driving in the bus lane in the first place and was, thus, in the wrong.

Laviski

monument wrote: »

Quick answer:

Buses carrying 9 or more people; bicycles, taxis in service, and marked cars carrying government ministers.

Contra-flow bus lanes are only allowed to be used by buses and bicycles.


Slightly longer answer:

Primary vehicles which bus lanes are for are large public service vehicles (ie "vehicles used for the carriage of more than eight passengers for hire and reward" -- aka buses) or a pedal cycles (bicycles).

Secondary users included: Taxis or a wheelchair accessible taxis which are "being used in the course of business" and Government vehicles used by ministers and others (ie "a member of the Government, a Minister of State who regularly attends meetings of the Government, the Attorney General or the Ceann Comhairle, in the course of his or her duties as such").

The emergency services are also exempted from the ban on general traffic using bus lanes.


The main law:

S.I. No. 332/2012 - Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2012.

thanks for the definitive answer!

Mikros

Arbiter of Good Taste wrote: »

Interesting enough I believe that the Gardaí are not allowed to use except in emergency situations (ie something that requires flashing lights). Funnily enough they don't seem to adhere to that.....

Gardai are exempt from most provisions of the Road Traffic Act when on duty - including the use of bus lanes. There is no requirement for it to be an emergency situation.

Lmklad

Arbiter of Good Taste wrote: »

Interesting enough I believe that the Gardaí are not allowed to use except in emergency situations (ie something that requires flashing lights). Funnily enough they don't seem to adhere to that.....

A friend of mine once was rear ended by a squad car pulling out of the taxi lane. The boll*x of a driver tried to blame her. It was pointed out to the garda by his superior when she rang to complain that he had no right to be driving in the bus lane in the first place and was, thus, in the wrong.

The Guard was wrong because it was a rear-ender not because of a bus lane.

Macy0161

ThatFellaJohn wrote: »

Motorbikes use them and the cops turn a blind eye majority of the time!

They never bother their hole with CD plated cars either.

Lmklad

Macy0161 wrote: »

They never bother their hole with CD plated cars either.

CD = Corps Diplomatique

Pretend you're a South African diplomat and says "diplomatic immunity" in a funky accent

Macy0161

Lmklad wrote: »

CD = Corps Diplomatique

Pretend you're a South African diplomat and says "diplomatic immunity" in a funky accent

I know what it means but I didn't see diplomats in the list of exemptions quoted!

Mr.Frame

Or those drivers who think they can use the bus lane by simply turning on their indicator to show they are going to take the next turn left..............about 300 yards down the road.

Del2005

Macy0161 wrote: »

I know what it means but I didn't see diplomats in the list of exemptions quoted!

Why should they waste their time stopping someone that they can't do anything to? Diplomatic immunity has it's downsides, not just on simple things like driving in bus lanes, when diplomats ignore local laws.

slimjimmc

Macy0161 wrote: »

I know what it means but I didn't see diplomats in the list of exemptions quoted!

That's probably because they have certain immunities under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations which was enacted by the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act

E.g. Article 31

1. A diplomatic agent shall enjoy immunity from the criminal jurisdiction of the receiving State. He shall also enjoy immunity from its civil and administrative jurisdiction, except in the case of:

foggy_lad

slimjimmc wrote: »

That's probably because they have certain immunities under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations which was enacted by the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act

E.g. Article 31

They can be expelled for sh1tting on our laws and statutes? Might cause a major diplomatic incident but why should we allow anyone abuse our laws?

Del2005

foggy_lad wrote: »

They can be expelled for sh1tting on our laws and statutes? Might cause a major diplomatic incident but why should we allow anyone abuse our laws?

Not wanting to derail a thread about bus lanes. Some diplomats have broken much more serious laws and haven't been expelled, treating domestic workers from their own country as near slaves, driving in a bus lane will never be used as a reason to expel.

markad1

What about the cash in transit vans, they are always driving in them?

markpb

markad1 wrote: »

What about the cash in transit vans, they are always driving in them?

They're not allowed to drive in them but I'd imagine the guards are being pragmatic. A CIT van stuck in traffic is not only a bigger target but also wasting the time of the guards, detectives and army who might be escorting them.

markad1

markpb wrote: »

They're not allowed to drive in them but I'd imagine the guards are being pragmatic. A CIT van stuck in traffic is not only a bigger target but also wasting the time of the guards, detectives and army who might be escorting them.

under escort I agree but on its own without an escort?

stop

a taxi or a wheelchair accessible taxi which is being used in the course of business,

Does that mean a taxi with a passenger or a taxi available for hire?

corktina

Lmklad wrote: »

CD = Corps Diplomatique

Pretend you're a South African diplomat and says "diplomatic immunity" in a funky accent

driving a 97 Corsa might give the game away though

ted1

Laviski wrote: »

Googled and real information on what qualifies using bus lanes isnt really clear.

are motorbikes allowed to use them?

Taxis are allowed.

Buses are allowed.

but mini buses? I'm sure the 18seater transit would qualify but what about the 7 and 9 seater variations.

..

ted1

corktina wrote: »

driving a 97 Corsa might give the game away though

no, embassy staff can use them as well.

KTRIC

corktina wrote: »

driving a 97 Corsa might give the game away though

Not really, I've seen some old "CD" reg cars in the past.

Oh and I drive in the bus lane cos I'm a bad ass biker :cool:

jack presley

ted1 wrote: »

only Taxis that have a fare in them can use bus lanes. so empty taxis are not allowed

That's not true. Read the earlier posts about 'in the course if business'. You don't have to have a fare to be working. You could be for hire, on the way to pick up a fare etc.

ted1

yep:
http://www.nationaltransport.ie/taxi-and-bus-licensing/taxi/operating-an-spsv/bus-lanes/

Bus Lanes

The Road Traffic Regulations 1997 permit taxis in the course of business to use normal (with-flow) bus lanes.

When Can a Taxi Use a Bus Lane?

A taxi can use a normal (with-flow) bus lane only while it is operating as an SPSV – carrying a passenger, on the way to pick up a pre-booked customer, or plying for hire. Taxis must not use bus lanes if they are not operating as an SPSV – for example, driving home at the end of a shift, travelling on personal business, or transporting only goods and not passengers.

Taxis are not allowed to use contra-flow bus lanes (in which traffic travels in the opposite direction to the traffic beside it) under any circumstances.

Hackneys and limousines are not permitted to use bus lanes

Mrs OBumble

monument wrote: »

Quick answer:

Buses carrying 9 or more people; bicycles, taxis in service, and marked cars carrying government ministers.

Contra-flow bus lanes are only allowed to be used by buses and bicycles.


Slightly longer answer:

Primary vehicles which bus lanes are for are large public service vehicles (ie "vehicles used for the carriage of more than eight passengers for hire and reward" -- aka buses) or a pedal cycles (bicycles).

I'm thinkig that the slightly longer answer implies that the shorter answer should be:

Buses able to carry 9 or more people...

Is that right? I'd be a bit annoyed if my bus had to go in the crawl lane just 'cos it didn't have enough passengers.

Spook_ie

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

I'm thinkig that the slightly longer answer implies that the shorter answer should be:

Is that right? I'd be a bit annoyed if my bus had to go in the crawl lane just 'cos it didn't have enough passengers.

Probably, but an easier legal definition would be vehicles requiring a D or D1 license