New safety camera's generating automatic fines for driving in bus lanes.

Zebbedee

A lot of bikers feel safer in bus lanes and most of the guards don't seem to object but I doubt if an automatically generated fine system for vehicles photographed in bus lanes will be particularly sympathetic towards bikers.

Being trialed quite shortly in Dublin and Cork apparently.

Watch out for the new cameras lads.

Del2005

I really must get around to fixing the loose bolt holding my tax disc.

spockety

Are you sure they face the rear of the vehicle? Usually cameras face the front of a vehicle to capture an image of the face of the driver as evidence, as well as reducing the risk of the driver avoiding being caught by changing behaviour after passing the camera they've just seen.

steinbock123

ID doesn’t really matter - if it goes to court the Gardai are only interested in prosecuting the registered owner of the vehicle, if they can’t identify the actual driver.

spockety

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122033281#Comment_122033281

Are you sure about that? I think they'd have to at least make an effort to identify the driver to ensure penalty points are applied correctly. This is the case with mobile speed cameras, what leads you to believe there'll be a different approach with bus lane enforcement cameras?

Seth Brundle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122033391#Comment_122033391

For speeding, the notification is sent to the registered owner. They have the option of admitting to the offence and accepting fine and points, disputing it and going to court or nominating another driver

goblin59

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122033546#Comment_122033546

I got that in the UK, speeding ticket went to the registered address of the bike and it got passed onto me. The variable motorway speed limit caught me!

With these enforcement cameras, I can see a huge protest from the courier riders in particular if they are told to keep out of the bus lane! Absolutely stupid to tell Motorbikes and mopeds that they can no longer use the lane when they don't even block it up, were up the front and gone in seconds before the bus has even released their brake!

Breezin

I thought this might be a problem. Common sense will go out the window once automation comes in. What's MAG Ireland (or whoever is the current biker rep group) saying about it?

High time motorcycle access to bus lanes was regularised. Or do they want us all driving cars instead?

Seth Brundle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122033955#Comment_122033955

High time motorcycle access to bus lanes was regularised.

Given the law would need to change to enable it, has any attempt been made by MAG or any other lobby group to our politicians for this?

WestWicklow1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122033955#Comment_122033955

Given that the latest news item at https://www.magireland.org/news/ is for their 2019 AGM I doubt MAG Ireland is interested or indeed still in existence!!

GBX

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122034253#Comment_122034253

Yeah, their facebork page is gone. And their Twitter page is inactive since 2020.

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122034146#Comment_122034146

MAG had it as a policy for years and it's never got anywhere.

Considering the legislation to make escooters and bicycles which can do <25km/h without pedalling legal was approved in 2023 and still not enacted there's feck all chance that the opening of bus lanes to motorbikes will happen, the Irish government don't like motorbikes.

gipi

For info, MAG are now called the Irish Motorcycle Association.

Link to their FB page

https://www.facebook.com/motorcycling.ie

I highly doubt they will have cameras on both directions, i.e it will only be a front facing camera so won't be able to read a bike reg anyway

Cienciano

It's all about bicycles now, I doubt motorcycles would be allowed to use them officially. But i reckon the powers that be will will happily let it slide with forward facing cameras.

Thelonious Monk

Anti car fanatic here but I've had a motorbike in the past and they 100% should be allowed in bus lanes as they don't slow buses down or cause congestion. I actually thought they were allowed in bus lanes!

Hotblack Desiato

Between this and the ongoing 'reconfiguration' of many urban roads to make lanes narrower, etc, we are literally being squeezed off the roads

And the authorities are very happy to see that happen. Fewer motorcyclists the better as far as they're concerned.

There's absolutely no point commuting by motorcycle if you can't filter or use a bus lane.

Detritus70

Maybe it's because I'm German, but when I filter through traffic, briefly use a bus lane and other "creative" interpretations of the rules of the road and I get done for it, I have to put my hands up and say "fair enough".

Even if I thought "but it should be different, this isn't right", but it is the way it is and that's currently the way it is.

I would never think "I should be able to break the rules because it suits me".

Hotblack Desiato

The rules are stupid. Filtering is legal BTW but narrowing traffic lanes to make space for bicycle lanes, and wider cars, are making it increasingly difficult.

LollipopJimmy

I did Garda Bikesafe a few years ago and was told to ride in the bus lane, in fact on the assessment ride you will be marked down for not using it. The caveat was don't speed in it and use it cautiously. A wee while back I was in the buslane and there was a Garda pulling cars for using it, I got a nod and a wave.

My only issues are when I'm in the car then subsequently forget I'm in the car and use the friggin buslane which I have done a couple of times.

Padre_Pio

Im sure the system can filter out bike number plates from the rest of traffic if needed.

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122081750#Comment_122081750

It won't be needed as the camera will be enforcing the law. The law needs to be changed.

Breezin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122062562#Comment_122062562

I find that the biggest impediment to filtering is not anyone making lanes narrower, but the crazy trend, given everything else that's going on in transport, to make cars fatter for the vanity of drivers.

martco

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122081706#Comment_122081706

ditto

everyone on that Garda thing had the same question about "the glorious mysteries of the buslane" lol

we were told that's where they wanted us to be when filtering, safety safety safety, unless I was mixing it up stupidly with buses riding badly or taking the piss with speed undertaking etc I'd not get in any bother…as it has proven to be. I reckon its their "discretion" thing at play there and just plain common sense, I have plenty of faith anyway that in our case (bikers) they have our best interests at heart and don't want to be scraping anyone off tarmac ever

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122121451#Comment_122121451

The Gardaí don't care about us using the bus lanes once we aren't taking the p1ss, as it's safer for us to be there. Bureaucrats are implementing the bus lane cameras and they don't like bikes so they'll fine us for being in them if they use rear facing cameras.

LollipopJimmy

My bloody tax disc keeps slipping and falling onto my reg

Zebbedee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122122254#Comment_122122254

That's something I make sure never happens.

I got pulled over by the guards recently for filtering past a line of traffic up to traffic lights. Garda car was at the top of the queue at the lights.

Even though I was driving very sedately he took extreme exception to it and pulled me over. He went berserk saying he was going to do me for dangerous driving including points on my license for crossing a continuous white line. He also said I'd better not have my number plate obscured with the tax disc as he walked to the back of the bike.

Luckily It wasn't. He then checked everything else including lights and tyre tread depth.

He was in a right foul mood when he couldn't find anything else to do me for and I ate a sufficient amount of humble pie for him to go away without him issuing me a fine for supposedly crossing the continuous white line.

Incidently I didn't cross any continuous white line as it was a broken white line but I didn't argue the point with him as he was in a fouler.

So lads, I'd think twice before letting tax discs obscure the reg plate.

D3V!L

I had an interview with a Garda at my kitchen table regarding a serious accident I was involved in. It was recorded and I was told that I wouldn't be prosecuted for driving in a bus lane on a bike.

Seth Brundle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122170339#Comment_122170339

Eh? Serious?

D3V!L

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122171145#Comment_122171145

Yes, on going legal case that started strangely a year ago tomorrow. When it's all done and dusted I'll post the footage here with details.

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122170339#Comment_122170339

Big difference between the Gardai not sending a file to the DPP to prosecute you for a €80 fine and an automated system that sends out fines when you are caught breaking the law.

Everyone knows that the Gardai don't mind motorcycles in bus lanes once they aren't taking the p1ss. The cameras will be installed by people who don't like motorcycles, why else are they ignored in all talk of reducing congestion, and if they are installed to take the rear plate bikes will get fined.

bladespin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122171642#Comment_122171642

All traffic law prosecutions have to go through the gardai, the Superintendent has the final say on all notices (as it is with GoSafe etc).

Breezin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122171642#Comment_122171642

Precisely this. Most likely RSA or the like.

Concerns of motorcyclists will be marginalised as per usual. Think cheese wire road barriers.

PCeeeee

Off topic maybe but IS there a TD that rides?

mgbgt1978

Oh Jesus. So many answers…….So many chances of a Ban 😁

Oscar_Madison

You’ll be longing for this lowfi moment in time in the not too distant future; motorbikes in bus lanes is chicken feed in mass camera surrvelience - Certain shops in the UK are now using AI facial recognition software no less the police on the street - be it vans or mounted cameras wearing police - in an instant they’ll be notified of who you are and all about you. A matter of time before the software follows you around town, waiting on you to slip up with a forgotten indicator or whatnot -bang- fine and penalty points -😀 it’s all ahead of us

Mad_Lad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122195443#Comment_122195443

I remember watching some youtube videos of the AI surveillance the Chinese are using on the People, insane. We're lightyears behind, thankfullyu !