3 Penalty Points ?

[sproggy]

Half the time I use those cycle boxes, the other half of the time they're occupied by a car (usually large and German, often with the driver talking on a non-hands-free phone). Cyclists generally stop in front of the box (i.e. over both solid lines) if they stop at all..... Sounds like bad luck, Geoff, being caught - it won't stop me using them because as someone else pointed out I consider it safer to be in front of the first car/van/truck in the queue where the driver can see me than beside somewhere out of sight.

Bikes in cycle boxes I don't see as a safety issue. Bicycles jumping lights is an issue but the police don't do anything because there's no licence to endorse with a cyclist.

[Duggers]

Here an interesting article on the city of london plice website

http://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/community/stoplines.html

It says;
"When a vehicle approaches an advanced stop line system and the traffic lights at the junction change from green to amber, the vehicle must stop before the first stop line (closest to your vehicle). Unless the vehicle is either on the stop line or so close to the stop line that it would be unsafe to stop prior to the first stop line, then the vehicle may cross the first stop line but must stop before the second stop line"

It comes down to their and our definition of unsafe.[/url]

[tripe]

went past Poultry this morning and there they were ticketing bikes again for going in the green box. God smiled on me this time as the only thing that prevented me from going into the box was the bike in front, poor sod.

Time to start behaving



i wouldn't mind seeing the boys in blue target the cyclists for their charming interpretation of the rules of the road, personal favourite being the pedestrian crossing by the Serpentine, had a "polite" conversation with a cyclist there recently who was upset that I didn't afford him the same courtesy as a pedestrian. It was only when I suggested that license holders on bicycles should receive points etc for their infractions that he got the point!

Tripe

[Ade B]

Had an impromptu meeting in South Ken and Chelsea this morning, kept out of the boxes unlike every other vehicle in without exception every single green box. Think I saw two push bikes using them (but it was after rush hour).

Is this a City police thing?

My contact at TFL hasn't got back to me...

I'm all for cyclists having their life made easier, but it seems so petty to prosecute motorcyclists for such a minor infringment - the law is the law but surely it is also safer for motorcyclists to use the green box...

It seems like with bus lanes and parking bays, they powers that be don't want to acknowledge 2 wheeled transport should be encouraged as its better for all.

As far as I am aware there is only 2 bus lanes in London open to Motorbikes - one along the Streatham, Brixton road (A23?) and the M4 bus lane...

Should have dropped by Tripe, but I forgot in my hurry to make a 12 o'clock in Kentish Town.

Ade.

[Yogi Bear]

This sounds like someone has made a complaint to the Police or been involved in a bump in this situation and they have to be seen to do something about it.

It may be a short lived purge or maybe some boss is a Cyclist and has got it in for bikes Filtering to the front and occupying the green box...

Stay out of the green Box for a while...

Ali

[tripe]

Ade,
Sorry yoou didn't call in, give me a call next time and I'll make sure the coffee is ready,

Henry

[Rods]

Solid white lines are big no, no, i.e. compulsory

Sorry that's what I meant!

[Rods]

Oh, and while I'm on the subject...car drivers will leave a mile when passing a cyclist

Sadly I wish this was the case. I have been knocked off and had more near misses on my pedal bike than on my motorcycle. There was a study recently published by a Bristol Uni Lecturer, which put forward evidence that cars gave cyclists NOT wearing a helmet more room than cyclists wearing a helmet. A case of it being safer not to wear a helmet perhaps?

If I don't think there is space for a car to overtake me, I will (shoulder check first obviously!!), move toward the centre of the lane to discourage them from pushing past me, leaving me in the gutter. As for cycle lanes - don't get me started - half of them end exactly where you need them, and the ones on pavements are an accident waiting to happen.

[BockingBandit]

Firstly: It is a City Police intiative.. so square mile only for now,.. though the rules apply nationwide.
Secondly: Yes, It was Poultry where i got 'done' and they were there this morning. (I was the first. but 6 other City Sprint Riders now have an additional 3 points).
Thirdly: Barking Road, E16 Inbound,.. the 'Cycle Box' says 'Cycles and Solo Motorcycles', ... unfortunately, you have to be inside the box to read it.
Fourthly: Bethnal Green Road In Bound, a 'Cycle Box' with solid line surround, but no entry point for cycles (normally a side lane that enters the box close to the kerb), .. this obviously is an easy catch for the law as nothing can legally enter such a box
Fifthly: Clocked a police car in the cycle box on Bethnal green Road this morning, tapped on his window at the next set of lights,.. I smilingly warned him that he was liable for 3 points, .. he laughed and said that he had no intention of letting any 'Tosser Probationers' from City Police tell him what he could or could not do.

Ah well,.. another Rant over.