Please help, bus lane tickets

DettaWalker

Hi,

we were caught numerous times in a bus lane that we didn't realize existed (we just exchanged contract on a new house and signed up our 4 year old for his school start at the new school. As a result we drop him off in the morning at a different part of town we're not very familiar with).
Imagine our shock when we discovered a letter in the post today about a bus lane violation on our way to school, realizing we've been going down that route numerous times already (adding up to a lot of charges).

The bus lane in question is a limited time one (75 minutes a day) and we never realized it was one:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.4426198,-1.0069845,3a,75y,70.83h,78.92t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sIEwbyYXO0Pfeozgf8cgE5Q!2e0

It only applies for a 5 meter stretch according to this:

http://www.reading-travelinfo.co.uk/media/90123/bl_tro_southcote_lane_2010.pdf

Yes - there are signs clearly stating there is something about buses, taxis & motorbikes for 75 minutes - but I swear to god, I did not see them when I drove there, neither did my other half (we both committed the offense). I'm used to lovely markings of bus lanes on the road that make it fool proof - not seeing anything there has really caught me off-guard and it feels like a money grabbing council needs more of my hard earned money other than just the tax we pay...!

Is there any chance we can fight this? And if so, how? As you can imagine we are not swamped with money right now after buying our first house...

Any help is much appreciated.

JustinR1979

Is clearly signed Shame about positioning, you want to be looking for kids at the crossing/island, not up at the signs.

DettaWalker

that is the irony.... not only are you watching out for kids in that area - there is an alternative route to go back to southcote lane. But as it goes right past the school (with lots of small children running around!!!!) I usually just turn around in the side road to go back the same road I have come from.

deanos

bit crafty being on a roundabout

DettaWalker

not just that - you come down the other way completely fine, but if you want to do a u turn on the round about (i.e. going completely 360 degrees round, all of a sudden its not ok to enter anymore).

topdaddy_2

JustinR1979 wrote: »

Is clearly signed Shame about positioning, you want to be looking for kids at the crossing/island, not up at the signs.

Does that not mean the exit is not in use during the pescribed times? Thats how i read it.

JustinR1979

topdaddy wrote: »

Does that not mean the exit is not in use during the pescribed times? Thats how i read it.

Well it's telling you at that time it's a bus lane (so you don't drive in them when in use).
Considering the location and layout, they can't really add any more, coming off a roundabout it's too much to take in.
If you're new to that road, are you supposed to read the times, look at your clock, and then alter your course all whilst navigating a small roundabout at a time when children are running around everywhere?
Is asking for an accident for me, if indeed these signs are the first warning you get.
A big red NO ENTRY sign with times on it would be clearer and more noticeable.
This is just as a drivers view, no expert in all this signage

Car_54

The signs seem pretty clear.

However, the Road Signs Manual does indicate that there should be road markings at the beginning of a bus-only street (BTW it isn't a bus lane). While that isn't law, it does define best practice and it might be worth an argument on that basis.

The reference is Chapter 3, para 15.32 at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/223943/traffic-signs-manual-chapter-03.pdf

Iceweasel

DettaWalker wrote: »

Yes - there are signs clearly stating there is something about buses, taxis & motorbikes for 75 minutes - but I swear to god, I did not see them when I drove

I don't really see that there is much you can do here.

Saying you didn't see those signs is a pretty damning admission of not being aware of your surroundings.

You still haven't looked at them properly - they do not have anything about motorcycles that I can see.

They do say 'something about' - but as drivers we are supposed to know exactly what a blue sign with a white border means.

ampersand

You would do well to seek further advice on pepipoo.

Related thread here:
http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=91956
and
http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=76364

They like to see screen shots of your penalty notice.

Good luck.

JustinR1979

Iceweasel wrote: »

but as drivers we are supposed to know exactly what a blue sign with a white border means.

Indeed, but you also have to read the time, check the time, watch for children, watch for other cars, kids on bikes, and change course all on a small roundabout with a load of stressed school mum drivers - who are the scariest drivers you could wish to meet, ever!