Bus lane transit NZ

[bikerboy]

" ..it's like make it up as you go.."

I hate to be cynical mate, but what was your first clue?

[Redstar]

~usually I would give up at this point but I am inspired by your cynasism and the desire to overcome it.
there is plenty of time to sort this and one day we will ride this Bus lane and thats I am encouraged by Ricks letter and will keep chipping away.
Cheers

[Marmoot]

Was stuck in a jam in North M'way yesterday in my cage. As I was concentrating on not hitting the bumper in front of me, a bike zipped by at around 40kph merely centimetres on my left.
.........
....


Now I understand why you are not supposed to lanesplit on the left hand side of the vehicle in your lane in the motorway at all! I can't spare enough time checking mirrors (especially left) when I am concentrating on stop-n-go-n-stop-n-go.

If I had been drifting even a little bit to the left, the consequences would've been very undesirable.........

Either take the jam off the m'way, or let the bikes use the bus lane and highway shoulders!!!!


P.S.
IMHO driving a car will make you a safer rider. You'll know what problems we face when driving a car, and how huge blindspot we have.

P.P.S.
I miss my bike........2 weeks to go.......

[Redstar]

In case your wondering whats happening with the Bus Lane?
firstly it is stalled while transit NZ and NSCC work out where to get the additional 70million underestimated costs and meanwhile Paul Swain has been fired for refusing to answer my letter despite the fact I now have a letter from his office saying I will get one. Rick Barker is a true Biker but seems to be unable to get action.
Will I give up? no f#####g chance i will keep on trucking we will ride that lane,
I might join BRONZ?

[Lou Girardin]

The new Minister of Gridlock, sorry, Transport is Pete Hodgson. Don't hold your breath waiting for him to do anything to assist car/bike users. He's been captured by the Greens. Kyoto protocol, fart tax, etc.
On second thoughts, with Labour running scared, we should hit them hard with our wish list.
Lou

[Redstar]

HEY
I got a very nice letter from Pete. and first he apolised for the tardy response to my letters to PS. and then went on to restate the position that HOVS (high occupancy vechicles) 3 plus will be permitted to use the bus lane but only until the masses change to Buses then they too will be offski
he sort of admitted that Bike had been forgotten in the equation but made a final commitment to consider bikes as part of any future transport planning.
thats better than nothing I guess
Anyway the next step for me is two fold.
1.To suggest a little trial for Bikes and see if that flys
2.To hand my buldging file over to BRONZ who may be able to pursue it further.
If we finally ride the Bus Lane I'll be a legend right and you'll all say "All hale the Redstar" or that was a waste of time
If anyone wants my file let me know

[Skyryder]

And staying with the original topic...
What about the special "B" traffic light, as for example in Symonds Street? Does this mean "Bus only" or does it mean "any vehicle entitled to use the green bus lane?" Can I cross the intersection with impunity on this signal??

The B stands for Bus. And no you can not cross with impunity. You are deemed to be running a red light.

Skyryrder

[Skyryder]

Phase 2 right .. sorted thanks mum..
there is going to be a petition.. we need 64,000 signatures to it so that is every biker in NZ plus there extended families and friends. watch this space...

Before you go down this road go to your local bus company and ask if you can sit in the bus drivers seat to see just how much rear view vision bus drivers have. You will be surprised how little this is. In truth you may not even be seen because of the wide blind spot. So OK you ride and give the bus a wide berth and now you are in front, but hey wait a minite there is a problem up ahead and you have to slow down, heavy traffic in the next lane, everbodys in hurry, and you have no where to go. So the driver for whatever reason is a bit slow in applying the brakes, its wet or there is sun in his eyes, God I could write a book on reasons that the driver may not be able to stop in time. Hell the bus driver may even be at fault. Are you going to get "less injured" because of driver liability.

I drive buses for a living. I also ride. Take this from one who knows both sides. I would not ride in a bus lane for any reason. It is just too bloody dangerous.

Skyryder

[FROSTY:Me]

um just a question here --arent those bus lanes painted in a green paint?
wouldnt that be darn slippery on a damp day?

[Posh Tourer :P]

I ride in bus lanes occasionally, and I also use the B light at symonds street. I figured, if I was a bus lane user, I could use all the benefits of the bus lane. I use bus lanes when there are no busses in them, mostly, or when the busses are stopped at lights (see above). If I have to pass a bus stopped at a bus stop, I will pull out into the normal traffic lane. I have had some issues with people turning right across traffic and across the bus lane, not seeing me. I would be *extremely* cautious about this point, and look out for areas where the traffic has left a gap for turning cars. It would be *very* easy to T-bone someone in this situation. A bus lane is not necessarily safe to go 60 in.

As for the green paint, it is different to road marking paint, as it is not as thick, and there is still some of the chipseal contours left. I have not had to brake hard on it, but I think it will be more slippery than normal road surface, but less so than road markings.

[Big Dog]

I only use the green when there are no busses in sight in either lane AND traffic is tragically slow.

When approaching traffic lights I change into the standard lane as even if you make it through unchecked there a re a few intersections out there that have a bus lane going in but none coming out!

[Big Dog]

As for the green paint, it is different to road marking paint, as it is not as thick, and there is still some of the chipseal contours left. I have not had to brake hard on it, but I think it will be more slippery than normal road surface, but less so than road markings.

There is also sand in it. I think it is called shell grip. My tyres protest noisily but don't feel unsettled at braking points that would see me in a skid on normal 50kmph seal. A bit like how your tyres make differeent noises on the motorway than on the city streets at the same speed.

But in the end it is just like any other surface. It was made by a human to standards set down by a human and exposed to conditions said human did not take into account.

On any surface feel it out listen to your bike and you intuition and make your own decision, don't just blindly heed mine or anyone else on this forums advice about your safety. Listen, consider, test then accept or reject based on your findings.

[DarkDream]

If it puts more bikes on the road then yeah definately give them hell

[Redstar]

Before you go down this road go to your local bus company and ask if you can sit in the bus drivers seat to see just how much rear view vision bus drivers have. You will be surprised how little this is. In truth you may not even be seen because of the wide blind spot. So OK you ride and give the bus a wide berth and now you are in front, but hey wait a minite there is a problem up ahead and you have to slow down, heavy traffic in the next lane, everbodys in hurry, and you have no where to go. So the driver for whatever reason is a bit slow in applying the brakes, its wet or there is sun in his eyes, God I could write a book on reasons that the driver may not be able to stop in time. Hell the bus driver may even be at fault. Are you going to get "less injured" because of driver liability.

I drive buses for a living. I also ride. Take this from one who knows both sides. I would not ride in a bus lane for any reason. It is just too bloody dangerous.
Skyryder

Um? well its good to get an alternative perspective on this from a bus driver,biker
I kind of assumed it would be fine to share the lane as the Onewa bus lane works fine and I always give quarter to 8 tonnes or whatever they weigh. One thing I would not want to do is make the Bus Drivers life any harder, so I'll take your comments on consideration. I did say in my earlier suggestion that this useage be restricted to full licence above 150cc as a could see the ''L" plated moped/scooter rider as a hazard to the flow of Buses. But I would still take my chances with a Bus as better than the current situation of lane spliting motorway gridlock. You seem also to assume that to a great extent we (Bikers) are not defensive or in control of or destiny? sure accidents happen but usually only when two bad drivers meet at the same time? I think if the planning had considered Bikes originally (which on the admittion of as departments it did not) then the lane might have been designed wider to accomodate both. but the turf is broken and the plans set in concrete If my crusade does no more than raise the profile of our collective needs then it will not have been in vain.)
Realistically this cause is probably a lost one? but thanks again for your input

[Big Dog]

Realistically this cause is probably a lost one? but thanks again for your input

Perhaps not if fuel prices stay where they are for to long.