Leicester council installs bus lane cameras.

[davieG]

Only Hackney Cabs.

School bus, coach and private hire drivers aren't allowed to use bus lanes but all seem to think they are.

I don't get the cab concession, most of the time they have just one passenger so why give them this priority?

[Head Honcho]

I don't get the cab concession, most of the time they have just one passenger so why give them this priority?

I think it has something to do with the "Hackney" laws.

[OriginalRobboFOX]

The town planners have a lot to answer for. Taking traffic away from High Street has caused congestion around the city elsewhere, especially around St Nicholas' Circle, Vaughan Way, and St Margaret's Way not just through rush hour. The bus lanes are used to alleviate this problem for public transport users but as someone who drives into the city from Rothley everyday it's a complete nightmare.

Not only has the pedestrianisation of large parts of the city centre caused traffic chaos elsewhere it's also cut off lots of shops forcing them to close down. The highways agency obviously wants to protect its budget each year and roadworks 365 days of the year are now commonplace too.

If I was in charge (obv. never gonna happen) I'd perhaps selfishly scrap the bus lanes, why should anyone using public transport have a priority over a road tax, insurance, license paying driver??

And don't get me started on the 'white elephant' that is Birstall Park and Ride!

[Babylon]

The Charles street "bus lane", isn't your run of the mill as you find going down Welford road etc. If they are talking about the area outside the haymarket near all the bus stops NO cars are even supposed to use that stretch of road. It's no entry to cars full stop, and it's flouted all day every day by people who can't be arsed to go the long way round.

[OriginalRobboFOX]

The Charles street "bus lane", isn't your run of the mill as you find going down Welford road etc. If they are talking about the area outside the haymarket near all the bus stops NO cars are even supposed to use that stretch of road. It's no entry to cars full stop, and it's flouted all day every day by people who can't be arsed to go the long way round.

I am one of these that 'can't be. It wasn't so bad before they regenerated and pedestrianised the Odeon/Curve area as you could drive up St George's way and turn right down Queen St into the city. My office is on Charles Street and my car park in Attenborough House, why as a road tax, license and insurance payer should I have to drive a significant distance out of my way (costing more in petrol and time) to get round a complicated one way system often completely back logged with congestion to reach my car park? Public Transport is no good to me as I need a car during the day. Town planners have it all wrong.

[Orkneyfox]

A cautionary tale, sorry if it is a bit long for the older reader:

Thousands of traffic fines issued to drivers in Edinburgh are to be cancelled, it has been confirmed.

The move follows complaints from motorists after five cameras were installed on bus lanes last month.

The two cameras in Willowbrae Road were removed at the weekend after some drivers were fined simply for crossing into the driveways of their homes.

City of Edinburgh Council said anyone caught by either of these cameras will have their fine cancelled or refunded.

A spokesman for the council said a total of 4,301 fines had been issued on the road.

Of these, 2,288 have been paid, 510 have been appealed against and 2,013 have not been paid.

'Workable system'

Residents had complained of receiving daily £60 fines for driving over the bus lane to access their homes.

A review of the cameras was ordered by the council's transport convener, Lesley Hinds, last week.

She said: "The review which has now been completed has shown that two of the five cameras in operation, both situated in Willowbrae Road, were penalising some motorists who were entering the bus lanes with good reason.

"One particular area of concern was when drivers entered a bus lane to slow down in anticipation of a left turn across a bus lane. There was also an issue about drivers entering a bus lane in order to avoid queuing behind a right-turning vehicle.

[Babylon]

I am one of these that 'can't be. It wasn't so bad before they regenerated and pedestrianised the Odeon/Curve area as you could drive up St George's way and turn right down Queen St into the city. My office is on Charles Street and my car park in Attenborough House, why as a road tax, license and insurance payer should I have to drive a significant distance out of my way (costing more in petrol and time) to get round a complicated one way system often completely back logged with congestion to reach my car park? Public Transport is no good to me as I need a car during the day. Town planners have it all wrong.

Well you could say as a road tax user why should I obey any law. Perhaps you don't see the problems it can cause whilst you quickly fly past on your short cut. But as someone who stands there waiting for a bus for some considerable time I see what happens.

You open that area up for anyone and everyone then it will cause absolute chaos, whilst you don't obey the law many other people do and don't drive down that road currently.

Yes town planners have it wrong, but unless they find a suitable place to relocate all the bus stops on that road, there is little that can be done about it at the moment. Because you are essentially driving through a bus station at the moment.

[1964FOX]

I think it has something to do with the "Hackney" laws.

'Hackney' cabs is a much used term for 'public hire' vehicles as oposed to 'private hire' (normal taxis if you like), it's the fact that anyone can hail them and stop them to request a journey that allows them to travel in a bus lane. Mini buses and coaches are allowed in bus lanes also if they are operating on a stage stop route. Quite confusing as it's not the type of vehicle but the purpose it's used for that gives the concession to use the bus lane. In theory some buses can't use a bus lane.

[davieG]

They should never have removed all the bus lay-bys!

[OriginalRobboFOX]

You open that area up for anyone and everyone then it will cause absolute chaos, whilst you don't obey the law many other people do and don't drive down that road currently.

Yes town planners have it wrong, but unless they find a suitable place to relocate all the bus stops on that road, there is little that can be done about it at the moment. Because you are essentially driving through a bus station at the moment.

That area did used to be open up to all and sundry and it was nowhere near as congested as other areas of the city are now (St Nicholas' Circle etc). We have St Margaret's and the Haymarket bus station at the moment. The most sensible thing to happen would be to close both down and develop an all encompassing bus station on Humberstone Gate whilst demolishing redundant Leicester Exhibition Hotel giving easy access in and out of town and stretching the councils regeneration plans.

Instead we have two stations barely running at 50% capacity and bus lanes and one way systems all over the city.

[davieG]

Drivers ignoring "bus only" signs in the city centre will get official warnings from today in the run-up to new fines coming in.

Cameras in Charles Street and Causeway Lane, Leicester, will capture the licence plates of cars entering the restricted roads and send letters to the offending motorists.

[Trumpet]

It really annoys me when I get off the bus and cross over Causeway Lane and see cars driving through. I tend to just cross, hoping they'll beep at me so I could politely remind them that they shouldn't be driving through.

[FoxesAreBlue]

I work in the gym on causeway lane and see no end of cars up there, including today when these cameras are supposed to have been turned on. A lot of cash coming the councils way!!

[whoareyaaa]

this is just another money spinner for the council really. what a load of rubbish we wont be aload to have a shit without someone watching us soon. FTW

[Rincewind]

As long as you don't try and take a dump in the bus lane I think you should be OK.

[FoxesAreBlue]