Bloomsbury Way Bus Lane

[Peacock Butterfly]

Hello all.

I've just received a PCN for marginally entering a Camden Council bus lane on my motorbike in Bloomsbury Way,London.This street has 3 lanes of traffic.There is a bus lane on the left (lane 1) with bus lane signs and a diagonal taper.The middle lane (lane2) is for cars etc.The lane on the right (lane 3) is an oncoming bus lane;this is the lane I (slightly) strayed into when overtaking traffic in lane 2.From the point of view of someone in lane 2 there's no diagonal taper for the lane 3 bus lane,and the bus lane sign at the start (from my point of view) is on the left side of the road. Also the "BUS LANE" markings on the tarmac are upside down until the point beyond where I entered the bus lane.At that point the tarmac has the words "BUS LANE" inverted and non-inverted.

I may have strayed into this bus lane several times before and since,so it would be very good news if I had good grounds to appeal against this PCN ( and possibly future ones).

Any help would be much appreciated.

[green_and_mean]

The road markings are bound to be upside down they are for traffic going the other way all that is required on your side is a sign on the roadside stating the otherway is a contraflow bus lane.

[Peacock Butterfly]

I was thinking of appealing by arguing the following:the words "BUS LANE" are shown both inverted and non-inverted in the bus lane;an inverted "BUS LANE" is not a permitted variant that appears in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002;therefore the bus lane is not enforceable.

[marctt]

I received 3 similar PCNs and successfully appealed

 

Interestingly when I appealed to Camden, the appeals were processed by 3 different staff and one allowed my appeal and 2 rejected my appeals.

 

I escalated to PATAS who allowed my appeals due to inadequate signage for the restriction

 

The adjudicator decided that:

 

"With regard to the signage however I refer to the Traffic Signs Manual 2008. Paragraph 15-7 which illustrates the signage recommended for a contra-flow bus lane. Diagram 960 signs should be positioned at the entrance to the lane 'located at the beginning of the road and after every junction'. The diagram 15-7 indicates 2 signs, one on the left hand side and the other on the central refuge. It is difficult to distinguish between diagram 15-7 and the design of the junction in this case. There is a Diagram 960 sign on the left hand side but that is some distance beyond the entrance to the road.

 

Although compliance with the Signs Manual is not compulsory it is made clear (paragraph 1.1) that failure may lead to enforcement difficulties. I am satisfied in this case that the signage referred to above is not adequate and in those circumstances this Penalty Charge Notice was not properly issued. These appeals are therefore allowed without further consideration of the points made by the Appellant in relation to the Traffic Management Order."

 

I also contested that as local buses could not lawfully travel eastbound in the lane it could not constitute using a route restricted to certain vehicles (local buses only). As the adjudicator allowed the appeal on the matter of signage he did not go on to consider the route point!

 

Finally, I also established that Camden did not have a valid certification for the camera location