ASL vehicle offender

Photo em and fill em out

http://london.mybikelane.com/

What a waste of time, couldn't you just not let it get to you and just ride?

^ repped

Sorry for any vitriol there, I sat in a car for about an hour this morning for a service, it did my HEAD in. Why anyone, who had a choice, would bother driving every day completely escapes me. I feel sorry for them.

this ^^

you're right every thing is a waste of time. lets just give up now and go ride and get taken down. lets not try to make anything better lets just put up with shit and pretend it tastes good.

^ no need to be so nihilistic - I think what Ed is saying is perfectly correct - if you let everything get to you (and started an accompanying blog) you would have no energy left for the important things in life....like and etc.

Ed's the one who started this bloody thread!

Did he? I didn't look. I like to be as ill informed as possible when repping posts.....I might rep him again for being superbly contrary!

Hah, I started it a year and a half ago, not 10 minutes ago.

Happy to says I'm not really bothered by it, the ASL are poorly design either way.

The majority of ASL's and Bike lanes are shit. Instead of complaining about people misusing them (which is inevitable given the way most are located/designed), complain about getting a decent cycle aware road network sorted.

amen

Oliver, I have to comment on this bit of your post right here:

To me, the most important one is the interesting question whether it is even possible to have two STOP! lines in such close proximity to one another, or whether the concept of a stop line itself doesn't make that impossible.

In the States, there is a fat white line where cars are supposed to stop. Just beyond that is the line that indicates ped xing, like such:

It is illegal to stop beyond the first white line, but the second line also looks like a "stop" line, b/c it is the same color. I have no statistics on how often people get ticketed for going beyond the first line. People do it ALL THE TIME, though!

On a similar, yet unrelated note: why the hell are ALL the lines on the road in this country the same color? Wait, I take that back, I've seen red ones and yellow ones. But I have no idea what the yellow means. In the States, a yellow line indicates something you shouldn't cross (middle of the road, edge of the road, i.e., you're not allowed to park on the side of the road in this spot), and only white between lanes moving in the same direction. Dashed lines mean you can cross over the line, solid mean you can't. Double solid is a point you're never allowed to cross (200 yards before certain intersections, or overtake, on two lane), and solid on one side, dashed on the other indicates when you can overtake. It is so clear! So simple! None of this white lines everywhere nonsense. I've almost gotten into trouble before because I can't tell what's going on, for instance there will be two lanes on one side of the road and one on the other. Ugh!

Jayloo, this should be useful for you, especially on the yellow/red line;

http://www.safermotoring.co.uk/RoadMarkings.html

Yellow Lines

There are various types of yellow lines marked on the road or on the edge of the pavement or kerb that indicate waiting restrictions. They are usually used when there is a need to restrict parking to help keep traffic flowing and consistent, and to prevent people being obstructed by other vehicles on public highways.

Double yellow lines tell us that there is no waiting at any time. However, there are usually exceptions and if there are, they will be indicated by plates attached to lamp posts nearby to tell motorists what the actual restrictions are. They can vary from council to council.
Single yellow lines tend to be less restrictive. Plates attached to lamp posts will tell you the exact restrictions and you may find that you are able to park there as long as you are not doing so at a restricted time.
Loading restrictions are also indicated by yellow markings on the kerbs and again by plates on the lamp posts.

Red Lines

Seen less than the other colours, red lines ban all stopping, parking and loading. Double red lines apply at all times and single red lines apply usually during the working day. There are exceptions and they are indicated where they apply.

In the States, there is a fat white line where cars are supposed to stop. Just beyond that is the line that indicates ped xing, like such:

It is illegal to stop beyond the first white line, but the second line also looks like a "stop" line, b/c it is the same color. I have no statistics on how often people get ticketed for going beyond the first line. People do it ALL THE TIME, though!

Funny, isn't it? Stick another line in close proximity and all of a sudden the first line doesn't seem that important to people, as there's at least something they can follow--regardless, it seems from your example, what the lines' official functions are.

On a similar, yet unrelated note: why the hell are ALL the lines on the road in this country the same color? Wait, I take that back, I've seen red ones and yellow ones. But I have no idea what the yellow means.

Hm, might I humbly suggest you read the Highway Code? ;P

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/index.htm

This section will answer your questions:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_070563.pdf

Funny, isn't it? Stick another line in close proximity and all of a sudden the first line doesn't seem that important to people, as there's at least something they can follow--regardless, it seems from your example, what the lines' official functions are.

It is annoying. I wonder if different colored lines would help. But then, the ASL are usually a different color and that doesn't seem to help.

Hm, might I humbly suggest you read the Highway Code? ;P

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/index.htm

This section will answer your questions:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_070563.pdf

Oy. I'd rather just take a driving course! I was so glad it was offered in high school; I took it as a summer school course. If we did it at school and passed we didn't have to take the proficiency exam on the day of, just the written one. I still had to take that...twice? I think only twice.

Jayloo, this should be useful for you, especially on the yellow/red line;

http://www.safermotoring.co.uk/RoadMarkings.html

Yellow Lines

There are various types of yellow lines marked on the road or on the edge of the pavement or kerb that indicate waiting restrictions. They are usually used when there is a need to restrict parking to help keep traffic flowing and consistent, and to prevent people being obstructed by other vehicles on public highways.

Double yellow lines tell us that there is no waiting at any time. However, there are usually exceptions and if there are, they will be indicated by plates attached to lamp posts nearby to tell motorists what the actual restrictions are. They can vary from council to council.
Single yellow lines tend to be less restrictive. Plates attached to lamp posts will tell you the exact restrictions and you may find that you are able to park there as long as you are not doing so at a restricted time.
Loading restrictions are also indicated by yellow markings on the kerbs and again by plates on the lamp posts.

Red Lines

Seen less than the other colours, red lines ban all stopping, parking and loading. Double red lines apply at all times and single red lines apply usually during the working day. There are exceptions and they are indicated where they apply.

Thanks Ed, that does help, whereas Oliver's, with just the pictures but no attached links to the explanations, just confused me more. ; )

Ah, typical, didn't see that Ed had posted. True, there were no explanations of the specific white lines in my link, but there were explanations of both red and yellow lines:

Waiting restrictions
Waiting restrictions indicated by yellow lines apply to the carriageway, pavement and verge. You may stop to load or unload (unless there are also loading restrictions as described below) or while passengers board or alight. Double yellow lines mean no waiting at any time, unless there are signs that specifically indicate seasonal restrictions. The times at which the restrictions apply for other road markings are shown on nearby plates or on entry signs to controlled parking zones. If no days are shown on the signs, the restrictions are in force every day including Sundays and Bank Holidays. White bay markings and upright signs (see below) indicate where parking is allowed.

** Red Route stopping controls**
Red lines are used on some roads instead of yellow lines. In London the double and single red lines used on Red Routes indicate that stopping to park, load/unload or to board and alight from a vehicle (except for a licensed taxi or if you hold a Blue Badge) is prohibited. The red lines apply to the carriageway, pavement and verge. The times that the red line prohibitions apply are shown on nearby signs, but the double red line ALWAYS means no stopping at any time. On Red Routes you may stop to park, load/unload in specially marked boxes and adjacent signs specify the times and purposes and duration allowed. A box MARKED IN RED indicates that it may only be available for the purpose specified for part of the day (eg between busy peak periods). A box MARKED IN WHITE means that it is available throughout the day.

RED AND SINGLE YELLOW LINES CAN ONLY GIVE A GUIDE TO THE RESTRICTIONS AND CONTROLS IN FORCE AND SIGNS, NEARBY OR AT A ZONE ENTRY, MUST BE CONSULTED.
Admittedly rather technical. ;)

I don't want to have to consult a guide, I want to know what the lines mean automatically! Call me picky... ; )

Cycle infrastructure/ASLs condition cyclists to hog the left and think I MUST get to the front irrespective of road conditions like: how long has the light been red for, Are there any left indicating vehicles that joined the queue before me.
If folk just waited in line (driver position) there'd be less agg between factions.

What MG said. Even if there is an ASL I'll happily wait behind a car or two as long as I'll get the next green. Unfortunately this is a completely pointless gesture if others sail past and plonk themselves at the front of the queue, holding everyone else up.

I'll concur too, waiting behind a car is perfectly fine, even if it's 3 cars length.

On my ride to work this morning I was going up Holland Park Avenue, traffic was OK, as I got to one set of lights with an ASL there was a black VW Passat Minicab that had stopped halfway into in the ASL area in the right hand lane (2 lanes in each direction). Lights went green, and me / him / other traffic proceed to the next red light. At this light he was fully in the ASL area, and seemed to be rocking back and forwards - seemed to be either trying to race cyclists next to him (I was trackstanding and so were others), or he had poor clutch control. Anyway, after much revving / rocking the lights went green, we then all proceed onto Notting Hill Gate. At the next red light by The Gate Cinema he was fully in the ASL area again. I pulled in front of him and shouted 'That's a nice bike' at him. He wound down his windon and asked me to repeat what I said, which I did. The lights went green, we (me, him, other cyclists and motor vehicles) proceeded. At the next red light he stopped in the correct place, not in the ASL.

I was amazed by this - I gave him a big thumbs up and shouted 'cheers mate' at him. He actually smiled back at me.

Hopefully he learned his lesson, and now knows the error of his ways. Or he could get back in his car tommorow and be a complete wanker. Part of me is thinking that if we could all do this, and also stop some cyclists from driving like twats, the roads would be so much better.

Ride safe, Rich.

It could be that I have the incorrect attitude towards the ASL box but I always use it, and when I do I place myself in the middle of the lane. If a driver plants his car in the box after the light has turned red I make a point of placing the back wheel a few mm away from their bumper.

All of this is dependent on the situation running up to the traffic light - if there's little or no space to get by and I feel the need to ride in the primary position the I'd stay where I was in the queue of traffic unless I felt threatened by the driver behind. Being who I am unless I'm at the traffic lights with a boy racer I always pull off before other traffic and faster. This is probably what gives me the confidence to go to the front of the traffic.

I think safety on the road is partly due to attitude. I do not go out there to piss off other people, I only act in the way that I do for my own and others' safety. I could possibly improve my patience but without riding with a cycle trainer watching me and reporting on my riding I feel that my riding is the safest out of the people I know.

^ sorry fella but your thinking / post is full of contradictions.

Cyclists using ASLs annoy me. They slow the motorbikes/cars down that I'm planning on drafting off the line. Can't you see I'm training?! OMG you inconsiderate so and so's! Huff and puff etc.