Bus Lanes in London

[Sphere]

Do any London riders happen to know whether the rules for whether bikes are allowed to use bus lanes in London depend only on borough? i.e. if I tell you the borough you can tell me YES or NO?  Or is it more complicated than that, and some borough contains both types of bus lane?

 

I know how to read the blue signs (which are at times obscured by tree foliage). But it would be handy to know which the offending boroughs are where I might get a fine... then when nowhere near these boroughs I can ride easy and confidently use any bus lane even if I didn't catch the sign 30 yards back!

Edited December 18, 2021 by Sphere

[bonio]

I haven't ridden in London for a few years, but back then it was borough by borough. I've read somewhere that now it's more complicated, but as I read it on the internet (perhaps here or perhaps on reddit - too senile to remember), that's just about as good no information at all.

[Bender]

We don't have consistency across one council up here, some you can, some you can't, no rhyme or reason to them

[TimR]

8 hours ago, Sphere said:

Do any London riders happen to know whether the rules for whether bikes are allowed to use bus lanes in London depend only on borough? i.e. if I tell you the borough you can tell me YES or NO?  Or is it more complicated than that, and some borough contains both types of bus lane?

 

I know how to read the blue signs (which are at times obscured by tree foliage). But it would be handy to know which the offending boroughs are where I might get a fine... then when nowhere near these boroughs I can ride easy and confidently use any bus lane even if I didn't catch the sign 30 yards back!

https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/red-routes/rules-of-red-routes/bus-lanes/motorcycles-in-bus-lanes

[TimR]

Or do as on here and request the information 

https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/boroughs-and-communities/bus-lane-database

[Fish]

Some boroughs are better than others, but ping up an area and I'll have a go for you.

[onesea]

13 hours ago, TimR said:

https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/red-routes/rules-of-red-routes/bus-lanes/motorcycles-in-bus-lanes

As someone who hast been tomLondon by bike for a few years, they look a nightmare.
 You can then you cannot, certainly doesn’t seem to of improved.

[Bender]

Looked at central and looks like a mare, some  roads, yes, no, yes, yes no, no ffs

 

Could be expensive if you miss signs, I'm sure camera won't miss you. 

[S-Westerly]

Bristol is much the same - some bus lanes you can use but others you can't.  No bloody logic to it.

[Fish]

Most major cities are now a nightmare of yes/no for bus lanes.

[Liveware Problem]

11 hours ago, S-Westerly said:

Bristol is much the same - some bus lanes you can use but others you can't.  No bloody logic to it.

 

Reading is similar, and to add to the confusion there are some signposted only for Buses/Taxis/Bicycles but that you can use on a motorbike.. although maybe only because the council haven't put cameras on them (or only front-facing ones?)

Edited December 20, 2021 by Liveware Problem