Queues extending into bus lane.

[technogogo]

Here is a tricky situation created by a bus lane. Many many drivers enter the bus lane to join the back of a queue of cars waiting at traffic lights. This is tricky to explain. So here's a picture:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&a...

The point in question is for traffic heading west along the main road.

Now, the road layout is now slightly different to that shown in the satellite photo. The roundabout has been replaced by traffic lights in a T junction. But its close enough to illustrate the issue. Where the white zig zag lines finish you have a bus stop very soon after. Much sooner than in the photo. So going west there is the zig-zags, then the junction with Curzon Road, then the bus stop. Then a three car gap. Then the stop line for the new traffic lights. You can fit in about six cars queueing at the new traffic lights before the rear of the queue is at the point where the one lane forks into two. At the end of the bus lane.

The problem is that drivers clip the end of the bus lane to join the queue. As more drivers join the queue more and more of the bus lane is covered by cars. Now, I come along, need to be in the left hand lane and don't want to drive in a bus lane. So I have to stay in the right hand lane, pass the end of the queue to the left, then sit in the right hand lane, with left indicator on, at the end of the bus lane. People think I am trying to push in. Well, its true, I am! But I'm doing it right. Aren't I?

I think the zig-zags cause the confusion because they don't have the usual solid white line. So sadly around 95% of drivers simply assume the bus lane has already ended.

So… whats the best approach? Play by the rules, stay out of the bus lane then try and insert into traffic coming along the bus lane? Or simply do what everyone else does which is illegal but seems to be less likely to cause offence and/or loss of paint?

[7db]

I think you're doing it more or less right. Do bear in mind that if they are established in that lane -- even if transgressing the bus lane rules -- they have priority over you if you are manoeuvring into lane. If there is scant traffic beware the fast mover coming up the inside in a hurry. That's the biggest risk of a collision.

Otherwise in slow moving traffic, I find the best option is to leave a good space ahead, and indicate left when next to a vehicle, aiming for the space behind. The space ahead gives you wiggle room to speed / slow and indicating when alongside / slightly ahead of the chap in front makes it easy for the guy behind to see that you are zip-merging rather than shoving your way in.

If he fails to yield, then don't shove. :-)