Why all of a sudden are bus lanes being renamed no car lanes?
And what does this mean exactly? Can any vehicle other than a car use one? Where I live the only drivers that seem to use them are bus (obviously) and taxi drivers - but most taxis are cars!
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Oh, it's probably just 'Overt Political Correctness' by some red council who want to demonise normaility.
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No Car lanes can be used by anthing that isn't a private motor car, so, taxis, vans, motorbikes, cycles, buses, minibuses etc. can all use the lane. Some of the more switched on councils even open them to all traffic outside of peak hours, I know this as I was in one at 12:30am when a taxi hit me from behind, he tried to say I shouldn't be there, I had to point out the 7am-7pm sign. ;-)
IMO if the council have to stick these stupid things in then I would rather they were No Car lanes than Bus Lanes as it helps ease congestion a bit more.
Of course the best thing to ease the congestion would just be not to have them in the first place, but that's another discussion. :-)
Blue
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Some of the more switched on councils even open them to all traffic outside of peak hours, I know this as I was in one at 12:30am when a taxi hit me from behind, he tried to say I shouldn't be there, I had to point out the 7am-7pm sign.
I enjoy these lanes and one near me that is 7am-10am.
This allows "undertaking" all the sheep who cannot read and are stationary in the "other lane"
There is a risk of road rage especially when at the end of the bus lane the leading sheep does not look in their mirror and without any signal swings into "my lane".
Once again it is worrying that so many cannot read signs and therefore are not driving on the left.
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I like this arrangement though. When you think about it, many aspects of today's society are geared towards protecting the stupid and feckless, to the detriment of those with brains. But here is one way in which the intelligent (who bother to read things) get one over on the morons (who follow each other like sheep and have to wait in the queue).
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I was under the impression that 'Taxi' only extended to council run cabs and not to private hire cars - anyone know if this is the case?
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I do about 8 miles in London, plenty of bus lanes.
Each with their own operating times, and smallish signs set 50 or 100 yards into the lane.
So: is this lane 0700-1900 like the last one, is it 0700-1000, or is it 0800-1000, or 24 hour?
Needs larger signs BEFORE THE LANE STARTS, are you listening, Transport for London.
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Hear hear. Desperate problem. And the risk of getting caught by a camera if you get it wrong!
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Having read this post, I though, where is the vehicle I'm driving described as a "car" ? and could I get away with driving in a no car lane by denying that my vehicle is actually a car ?. I looked on the V5 and it is described as a 4 door saloon, so far so good, but further down I noticed the taxation class, it's a "petrol CAR", so that's put paid to that idea. When did the taxation class change from PLG (private and light goods) and do taxis have a different taxation class to "petrol car" (or diesel).
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The petrol car taxation class came in when our dear chancellor decided to tax cars based on emissions. So cars registered from 1st march 2001 are taxed on an emissions basis and classed as petrol car diesel car or alternative fuel car. This has the wonderful effect that two identical cars eg VW Golf 1.4 will pay different tax £110 per year if registered before 1/3/2001 and £125 if registered after despite the fact that the older car (all other things being equal) will probably produce slightly more co2 due to wear etc.
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So a 4-wheel drive SUV, which isn't a "car", can use one on the school run?
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Mine's not a car either - its a cabriolet. So it's ok to use in no-car lanes then?
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Let's not let this degenerate into a "who can reclassify their car" thread. SUV, Cabriolet (and Sportwagon) are not legal classifications in the UK, as well you know.
Now back to the topic please.
ND
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At your command ND, what about this.
I used to drive an Astra panel van, but used it as a car. Never used for any commercial purpose. Where would that stand? Does the use of the vehicle matter, or just the classification? For that matter, as I remember nothing on the log book stated anything for classification other than PLG.
I'm trying to remember now whether it was Astra or Astravan on the V5 though....
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Those classifications in full, for those who are interested.
Private/Light Goods Vehicles (private vehicles, light vans, cars, taxis etc.) registered before 1st March 2001
Private Vehicles (cars,taxis) registered on or after 1st March 2001
Light Goods Vehicles (non-passenger vehicles e.g. light vans, vans with side windows, box vans, etc) registered on or after 1st March 2001)
Euro 4 Light Goods Vehicles registered on or after 1st March 2003
Motorcycles
Buses
Trade Licences
General Haulage
Recovery Vehicles
Private HGV
Rigid and Articulated goods Vehicles
Now please back to the subject in hand.
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I think the point that needs making is that it really doesn't matter about the classification of the vehicle on the logbook, there are certain vehicles that will attract plod's eye if being used in a No Car lane, and there are vehicles that won't.
If you're driving a panel van, or a private hire car then you don't really need to worry about the finer details as you aren't going to get stopped in the first place! Well, not in newcastle anyway. :-)
If ever in doubt, just look at what the locals do...
Blue
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I was allowed to drive my Alfa 156 in the "no car" lane as it was, in fact, a dog.
Mattster
Boycott shoddy build and reliability.
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