Went in bus/taxi cycle lane - fine

maman

On your final point @facade , checking on Google maps for a route to Solent University (which is on a bus gate), the suggested route takes you to a back entrance to avoid a penalty. So, yes, up to date satnav is one solution.

I drive in Southampton regularly so am familiar with the traffic restrictions but I wouldn't drive into another large, unfamiliar city unless I had need of my car. I tend to use park and ride or the train as city centre parking is usually expensive. If it was really necessary then I'd check the route beforehand.

born_again

A up to date sat nave is only as good as council is in reporting any changes to road layout bus lanes etc.

Personally forget sat nav, & concentrate on keeping eyes on the road & signs.

Mildly_Miffed

Satnav is GUIDANCE ONLY.

It is secondary to what you see out of the windscreen and - this will come as a shock to some - it can be ignored… You don't HAVE to do what it tells you. It will cope.

Signage and roadmarkings and other traffic come way before the idiot-lantern, even if you have stuck the thing right in your sightline.

(And, yes, they really ARE trying to prioritise public transport over you and your car, and make it harder for you. That's exactly what they're doing. And quite right too…)
https://www.southampton.gov.uk/travel-transport/getting-around-southampton/getting-around/public-transport/southampton-weekend-park-ride/

So, OP, where was this bus lane?

kimwp

As others have said, you need to look at the signs and road markings - whether driving somewhere familiar or unfamiliar.

Goudy

Bus lanes are a sore point with me.

In London you can ride a motor scooter/bike in a TFL ran bus lane but not in a council ran bus lane.

But there are plenty of roads/bus lanes that turn from TFL to Council and back to TFL.

For example, Westminster Bridge Road goes from TFL on the bridge to Council just as you past under Waterloo railway (Walrus pub) and back to TFL at Morley street to St Georges Circus. It's all one road, Westminster Bridge Road but it changes depending on where you are on it.

My Mrs recently disputed one and won, though in a car this time. The bus lane sign was and still is at the f**king end of the bus lane!

27 Heygate St. - Google Maps

The bus lane starts by the red warning triangle, there is no bus lane sign there or further back along this road.

The bus lane sign and the sign telling you it is monitored by a camara is 10 metres past the end of the bus lane, (150 metres further down the road from where the bus lane starts).

I'm still waiting back for a FOI request regarding how many that camera has caught.

ididgetwhereiamtoday

I think councils should be banned from issuing a fine for first offenders. Educate first by giving a warning and warning that you will be fined next time you do it.
it’s profiteering, plain and simple

It’s like these rediculous new Red Zones so the councils don’t have to paint double yellow lines.

oldernonethewiser

Educate first by putting up appropriate signs.

Mildly_Miffed

You demonstrated your familiarity with the Highway Code when you passed your driving test - isn't that "education" enough?

Be very careful before saying "but that was decades ago, and it's changed since", because it's ENTIRELY YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to keep up to date with changes. You don't even need to buy the book any more.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code

(Oh, and the first bus lanes were introduced in 1962, nearly two-thirds of a century ago, and the first bus gates in 1964…)

maman

It seems unlikely that @textbook will be back to explain where and how he strayed into a bus lane.

I'm guessing that he went into one of the city centre bus gates in Southampton which are for buses, some taxis and bikes only. These have large signs and when they were installed there was a period of grace where motorists were informed of their error but not fined.

Of course, that wouldn't help a visitor to the city but all motorists are expected to read road signs. 🤔

born_again

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82167325#Comment_82167325

Never seen a bus lane with out a sign. Also a great big fat white line & Bus Lane written on the road.