Using Bus lanes in Edinburgh

On Friday 12th, at around 12 noon, I was heading out of Edinburgh on Queensferry Road, rising up the hill towards Blackhall and there was a line of traffic all the way back to the start of the bus lane. As the sign says the bus lane is only operational from 07:30 to 09:30 and 16:00 to 18:30 I used the bus lane, when some A***hole in a black 4x4 came out of his drive, not even a side street, and almost hit me broadside because he never expected anyone to be in the bus lane. He was then shouting and swearing at me for being in the wrong (except I wasn't).

Has it become normal for Edinburgh residents to just keep out of the bus lanes all the time rather than obey the road signs?

The advice given to me when the greenways were introduced was just keep out of them all the time and you'll be fine. This was on a helpline. It seems the message is still going strong, loads of times i've legally driven past lines of cars keeping out of bus lane.

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Originally Posted by Killiehibbie

The advice given to me when the greenways were introduced was just keep out of them all the time and you'll be fine. This was on a helpline. It seems the message is still going strong, loads of times i've legally driven past lines of cars keeping out of bus lane.

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You will fail your driving test if you stay out of a bus lane that you're entitled to be in.

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by Golden Fleece

On Friday 12th, at around 12 noon, I was heading out of Edinburgh on Queensferry Road, rising up the hill towards Blackhall and there was a line of traffic all the way back to the start of the bus lane. As the sign says the bus lane is only operational from 07:30 to 09:30 and 16:00 to 18:30 I used the bus lane, when some A***hole in a black 4x4 came out of his drive, not even a side street, and almost hit me broadside because he never expected anyone to be in the bus lane. He was then shouting and swearing at me for being in the wrong (except I wasn't).

Has it become normal for Edinburgh residents to just keep out of the bus lanes all the time rather than obey the road signs?

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Yes, but don't tell anyone or it will take me longer to get along the West Approach Rd at half 9 in the morning. :wink:

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Originally Posted by CropleyWasGod

You will fail your driving test if you stay out of a bus lane that you're entitled to be in.

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

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This is what I was told when learning to drive in Sighthill, Edinburgh. I now live in Falkirk and the bus lane here is kind of a copycat one. People seem to stay out of it altogether.

Still, as far as the OP is concerned, just because someone THINKS a road or a lane will be clear doesn't mean that it is. They actually have a responsibility to look where they are going - same as every other driver.

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Originally Posted by Golden Fleece

On Friday 12th, at around 12 noon, I was heading out of Edinburgh on Queensferry Road, rising up the hill towards Blackhall and there was a line of traffic all the way back to the start of the bus lane. As the sign says the bus lane is only operational from 07:30 to 09:30 and 16:00 to 18:30 I used the bus lane, when some A***hole in a black 4x4 came out of his drive, not even a side street, and almost hit me broadside because he never expected anyone to be in the bus lane. He was then shouting and swearing at me for being in the wrong (except I wasn't).

Has it become normal for Edinburgh residents to just keep out of the bus lanes all the time rather than obey the road signs?

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Even if you were using them illegally he would still be at fault as he's joining a flow of traffic. Would he have used that defence if you were driving a bus or a black taxi?

As for the bus lanes, I've come to the conclusion that people are either thick, they can't read or both. It takes two seconds to read and digest the information on these signs.

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Originally Posted by Golden Fleece

On Friday 12th, at around 12 noon, I was heading out of Edinburgh on Queensferry Road, rising up the hill towards Blackhall and there was a line of traffic all the way back to the start of the bus lane. As the sign says the bus lane is only operational from 07:30 to 09:30 and 16:00 to 18:30 I used the bus lane, when some A***hole in a black 4x4 came out of his drive, not even a side street, and almost hit me broadside because he never expected anyone to be in the bus lane. He was then shouting and swearing at me for being in the wrong (except I wasn't).

Has it become normal for Edinburgh residents to just keep out of the bus lanes all the time rather than obey the road signs?

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Definitely the case - it's become habitual over the years for a lot of drivers to stay out, even if allowed.

As mentioned above, it goes against you in your test if you don't use the greenways when you are allowed to. I remember sitting my test and I had to drive on the bus lane at Inglis Green Road as it was within permitted hours, bizarre because other cars were avoiding it but it was a markdown if you didn't use it.

I think a lot of people avoid them because people park in them when they're not in operation. Then if you try to get out to get round a parked car, no-one lets you in because they think you shouldn't be in that lane.

The one on Glasgow Road is the one that annoys me the most. People constantly drive along in the outside lane at 30mph, forcing you to either drive along behind them at 10mph below the speed limit or undertake them.

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Originally Posted by lord bunberry

The one on Glasgow Road is the one that annoys me the most. People constantly drive along in the outside lane at 30mph, forcing you to either drive along behind them at 10mph below the speed limit or undertake them.

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I often skoot up the inside lane at 40, undertaking these strange people. Is it ok for me to do this though in the eyes of the law??

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Originally Posted by Victor Park

I often skoot up the inside lane at 40, undertaking these strange people. Is it ok for me to do this though in the eyes of the law??

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From Highway Code - 268
Do not overtake on the left or move to a lane on your left to overtake. In congested conditions, where adjacent lanes of traffic are moving at similar speeds, traffic in left-hand lanes may sometimes be moving faster than traffic to the right. In these conditions, you may keep up with the traffic in your lane even if this means passing traffic in the lane to your right. Do not weave in and out of lanes to overtake. -

The greenways were set times normally about 7:30 to 6:30 mon to friday (sat in some places as well). This was changed last year to what it is now. Most, if not all are mon to friday and only between usually rush hour times.
It is as though people in edinburgh cant adjust to change and just continue to do what they have always done. It usually means quicker driving for me as I know how to read signs :greengrin

As for the Op, as stated legally or not the driver is in the wrong. It is still an operational lane and traffic could be coming down at any time.

And the driving test thing i failed a 'mock' test which I still dispute to this day.I was driving down Willowbrae road in the right lane as I knew we were heading straight over at the junction. The greenways were drivable at the time, but it is a left turn only onto london road at the end. A car undertook me as presumably was turning left and the instructer said i would have failed my test for that :confused: I said but I dont want to be in that lane as im going straight on, but he said it didnt matter as I should be using the greenways and the factr i was undertook means its an auto fail. Sure the guy was talking pish

I think most people stay out of them due to the solid white line on the outside of the bus lane.
If I am aware a bus lane is coming up I will drive in it between the allowed hours. However , if I hadn't noticed it before hand I would not cross the solid white line to join it (within reason)

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Originally Posted by Hibee87

The greenways were set times normally about 7:30 to 6:30 mon to friday (sat in some places as well). This was changed last year to what it is now. Most, if not all are mon to friday and only between usually rush hour times.
It is as though people in edinburgh cant adjust to change and just continue to do what they have always done. It usually means quicker driving for me as I know how to read signs :greengrin

As for the Op, as stated legally or not the driver is in the wrong. It is still an operational lane and traffic could be coming down at any time.

And the driving test thing i failed a 'mock' test which I still dispute to this day.I was driving down Willowbrae road in the right lane as I knew we were heading straight over at the junction. The greenways were drivable at the time, but it is a left turn only onto london road at the end. A car undertook me as presumably was turning left and the instructer said i would have failed my test for that :confused: I said but I dont want to be in that lane as im going straight on, but he said it didnt matter as I should be using the greenways and the factr i was undertook means its an auto fail. Sure the guy was talking pish

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I would be on the side of your teacher there.

A trick is always to put yourself in the head of a stranger to the road. They don't know that the end of the road is "left-only", and won't until they see any signs or road markings; therefore, if they obey the HC, they will stay in the left lane. You, though, are using your local knowledge.... and, although understandable and practical, is technically wrong.

As for the bus lanes, many of them have been rush-hour only for years.

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Originally Posted by CropleyWasGod

I would be on the side of your teacher there.

A trick is always to put yourself in the head of a stranger to the road. They don't know that the end of the road is "left-only", and won't until they see any signs or road markings; therefore, if they obey the HC, they will stay in the left lane. You, though, are using your local knowledge.... and, although understandable and practical, is technically wrong.

As for the bus lanes, many of them have been rush-hour only for years.

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Maybe im thinking it was the Saturday that was removed form most, if not all GW :confused: defo changed summit last year :agree:

And I suppose, I never thought of it that way tbh still passed my test with 3 minors a few weeks after :thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by Hibee87

Maybe im thinking it was the Saturday that was removed form most, if not all GW :confused: defo changed summit last year :agree:

And I suppose, I never thought of it that way tbh still passed my test with 3 minors a few weeks after :thumbsup:

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Many were changed last year to rush-hour only, which is what you're probably thinking of. However, there were a lot that had been like that for years, like I say. It was a smart move, of course, but slowed me down as i used to zip up them a lot outside rush-hour :)

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Originally Posted by Victor Park

I often skoot up the inside lane at 40, undertaking these strange people. Is it ok for me to do this though in the eyes of the law??

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I think you're OK as long as you're not changing lane to do so. If you start in the bus lane and continue all the way along at the 40mph speed limit, then you should be fine.

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Originally Posted by Gatecrasher

From Highway Code - 268
Do not overtake on the left or move to a lane on your left to overtake. In congested conditions, where adjacent lanes of traffic are moving at similar speeds, traffic in left-hand lanes may sometimes be moving faster than traffic to the right. In these conditions, you may keep up with the traffic in your lane even if this means passing traffic in the lane to your right. Do not weave in and out of lanes to overtake. -

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Originally Posted by lord bunberry

I think you're OK as long as you're not changing lane to do so. If you start in the bus lane and continue all the way along at the 40mph speed limit, then you should be fine.

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Think I'll just keep doing it then :greengrin

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Originally Posted by sleeping giant

I think most people stay out of them due to the solid white line on the outside of the bus lane.
If I am aware a bus lane is coming up I will drive in it between the allowed hours. However , if I hadn't noticed it before hand I would not cross the solid white line to join it (within reason)

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The solid white line rule rules,

I was always told not to cross a solid white line except in an emergency or something like the road was blocked. But that was before bus lanes.

Does this rule apply to bus lanes?

The council were keen to paint the damn things in the first place. Maybe they should get their finger out and make them broken lines.

I'll see your bus lanes/solid white lines and I'll raise you a roundabout!

Travelling South on Balgreen Road, you come to a rounadbout. When allowed, I drive in the "bus lane" and as you approach the roundabout and go left to Stevenson Road the bus lane has a solid white line going left also.
Years ago, I'd stop or give way at that roundabout to traffic coming from the Gorgie Road end. Once I had a van driver sounding his horn but I gave way until clear to go. That was until I was instructed to treat the white line as a solid brick wall and there is no need to give way to traffic already on the roundabout as they have they're own lane.
This instruction didn't agree with me at first as many drivers coming from the Gorgie Road direction will still expect you to stop and even if they didn't there's no guarantee they will stay in their own lane.
This was taught to me by an ex Traffic Cop who was assessing my driving for my work. Again, like others above have said, in a test scenario I'd fail if I stopped for no reason.
As the Google Pic shows, there's no give way markings in the bus lane so you don't need to stop.
Anybody else here care to admit to stopping at this phantom junction???

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Originally Posted by speedy_gonzales

I'll see your bus lanes/solid white lines and I'll raise you a roundabout!

Travelling South on Balgreen Road, you come to a rounadbout. When allowed, I drive in the "bus lane" and as you approach the roundabout and go left to Stevenson Road the bus lane has a solid white line going left also.
Years ago, I'd stop or give way at that roundabout to traffic coming from the Gorgie Road end. Once I had a van driver sounding his horn but I gave way until clear to go. That was until I was instructed to treat the white line as a solid brick wall and there is no need to give way to traffic already on the roundabout as they have they're own lane.
This instruction didn't agree with me at first as many drivers coming from the Gorgie Road direction will still expect you to stop and even if they didn't there's no guarantee they will stay in their own lane.
This was taught to me by an ex Traffic Cop who was assessing my driving for my work. Again, like others above have said, in a test scenario I'd fail if I stopped for no reason.
As the Google Pic shows, there's no give way markings in the bus lane so you don't need to stop.
Anybody else here care to admit to stopping at this phantom junction???

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I think a lot of people would, as your brain is used to seeing and recognising the roundabout, and automatically giving way to those already on the roundabout. It does sometimes feel a bit disconcerting as you're relying on the person already on the roundabout to remain in the limits of their lane (which seems to be less and less these days).

Queen Street / York Place always pisses me off with people parking in the bus lanes. Slows it right down.

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Originally Posted by speedy_gonzales

I'll see your bus lanes/solid white lines and I'll raise you a roundabout!

Travelling South on Balgreen Road, you come to a rounadbout. When allowed, I drive in the "bus lane" and as you approach the roundabout and go left to Stevenson Road the bus lane has a solid white line going left also.
Years ago, I'd stop or give way at that roundabout to traffic coming from the Gorgie Road end. Once I had a van driver sounding his horn but I gave way until clear to go. That was until I was instructed to treat the white line as a solid brick wall and there is no need to give way to traffic already on the roundabout as they have they're own lane.
This instruction didn't agree with me at first as many drivers coming from the Gorgie Road direction will still expect you to stop and even if they didn't there's no guarantee they will stay in their own lane.
This was taught to me by an ex Traffic Cop who was assessing my driving for my work. Again, like others above have said, in a test scenario I'd fail if I stopped for no reason.
As the Google Pic shows, there's no give way markings in the bus lane so you don't need to stop.
Anybody else here care to admit to stopping at this phantom junction???

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I use that roundabout fairly often, if bus lanes are off I stick to the bus lane and proceed with caution rather than stop. Question reminds me of something the Sunday Post used to have when I was a kid. I think it was called "who's to blame" and there would be a drawing of the position of cars in a car accident and a sentence or two on what happened, then the police would give their opinion of who was at fault. The one thing I've always remembered from it was the number of times that the person who stuck to the rules of the road was held partly accountable because of their lack of caution or attention.

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Originally Posted by speedy_gonzales

I'll see your bus lanes/solid white lines and I'll raise you a roundabout!

Travelling South on Balgreen Road, you come to a rounadbout. When allowed, I drive in the "bus lane" and as you approach the roundabout and go left to Stevenson Road the bus lane has a solid white line going left also.
Years ago, I'd stop or give way at that roundabout to traffic coming from the Gorgie Road end. Once I had a van driver sounding his horn but I gave way until clear to go. That was until I was instructed to treat the white line as a solid brick wall and there is no need to give way to traffic already on the roundabout as they have they're own lane.
This instruction didn't agree with me at first as many drivers coming from the Gorgie Road direction will still expect you to stop and even if they didn't there's no guarantee they will stay in their own lane.
This was taught to me by an ex Traffic Cop who was assessing my driving for my work. Again, like others above have said, in a test scenario I'd fail if I stopped for no reason.
As the Google Pic shows, there's no give way markings in the bus lane so you don't need to stop.
Anybody else here care to admit to stopping at this phantom junction???

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You get a similar situation if you use the bus lane at the end of Inglis Green Road at Slateford Road. You definitely have right of way in both scenarios, but that's little consolation if some idiot crosses the solid white line and hits you!
My motto is look out for the unexpected and expect it! [emoji3]

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Originally Posted by Thief

You get a similar situation if you use the bus lane at the end of Inglis Green Road at Slateford Road. You definitely have right of way in both scenarios, but that's little consolation if some idiot crosses the solid white line and hits you!
My motto is look out for the unexpected and expect it! [emoji3]

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The bus lane at the end of Inglis Green Road is in operation 24 hours a day. It's the only one that's like that as far as I know.

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Originally Posted by lord bunberry

The bus lane at the end of Inglis Green Road is in operation 24 hours a day. It's the only one that's like that as far as I know.

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Didn't know that [emoji106]
Should probably added that I drive black cab [emoji6]
Still don't just sail through it incase someone intends moving into the bus lane early due to the queue at the traffic light filter at the 2nd bridge.

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Originally Posted by Victor Park

I often skoot up the inside lane at 40, undertaking these strange people. Is it ok for me to do this though in the eyes of the law??

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Well buses do it all the time when the bus lanes are in operation so can't see how it could be a problem...and now that motorbikes can use the bus lanes I do it on my bike all the time, never had a problem yet apart from the odd car driver who cannae wait in the blocked lane and pull into the bus lane without looking!

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Originally Posted by Thief

Didn't know that [emoji106]
Should probably added that I drive black cab [emoji6]
Still don't just sail through it incase someone intends moving into the bus lane early due to the queue at the traffic light filter at the 2nd bridge.

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I drive a cab as well, that's when I noticed it.

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Originally Posted by Thief

You get a similar situation if you use the bus lane at the end of Inglis Green Road at Slateford Road. You definitely have right of way in both scenarios, but that's little consolation if some idiot crosses the solid white line and hits you!
My motto is look out for the unexpected and expect it! [emoji3]

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I use that junction in my car every night but, unlike so many other cars, I always turn left at the lights and stay out the filter bus lane. As soon as I turn left I go into the bus lane on Lanark Road (legally, as its not in operation) and loads of times I've had cabs and even PHC's (ah Ken!)ramming on their brakes and beeping their horns as they think they either have right of way at that junction or they think I'm doing something wrong by being in a bus lane. That bus lane on Inglis green road is so cabs and buses can avoid the lights and then join the traffic when it's safe...but so many people think it's so they can just steam out onto Lanark Road in a seamless manoeuvre.

I'm pretty sure I'm right. :-/

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Originally Posted by Pete

I use that junction in my car every night but, unlike so many other cars, I always turn left at the lights and stay out the filter bus lane. As soon as I turn left I go into the bus lane on Lanark Road (legally, as its not in operation) and loads of times I've had cabs and even PHC's (ah Ken!)ramming on their brakes and beeping their horns as they think they either have right of way at that junction or they think I'm doing something wrong by being in a bus lane. That bus lane on Inglis green road is so cabs and buses can avoid the lights and then join the traffic when it's safe...but so many people think it's so they can just steam out onto Lanark Road in a seamless manoeuvre.

I'm pretty sure I'm right. :-/

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I normally steam right out, that's why my cab looks like it's had more hits than the Beatles :greengrin