Entered into friendly discussion with bus driver who pipped horn to tell me I was in the wrong place at St George's Circus. I don't think I was. Please enlighten me:
I was coming north from the Elephant up the London Road bus lane to turn left and then right onto Waterloo Road. I was right where that bus is above.
I stayed in the bus lane and waited at the traffic lights. I did not move to the cycle lane that in my opinion is intended to take you onto Blackfriars Road.
Bus driver thought I should have gone into that cycle lane on the left, and then turned hard left towards waterloo road. That would be quicker. Now, sometimes I do this, if it works with the lights (and would have this morning) but in my opinion it is less safe - I don't like going into that bike lane much anyway for two reasons:
1) buses start indicating left while still on London Road and either turn at the first bus only route onto Lambeth Road or at the second left that is the bus lane contraflow on Westminster Bridge Road that immediately crosses and turns into Waterloo Road. You can't tell which, and I've seen people do silly things and nearly get squashed by buses taking that first left. (this also applies if you're going direct onto Blackfriars)
2) cyclists following don't expect you to slow down and take a 90 degree left, even if you signal clearly etc.
Obviously the bus driver is wrong because I am allowed to be in the bus lane where she didn't want me to be, but do you think at that junction the road planners actually intend me to be there, or do they intend me to go in in the (to my mind) "blackfriars-straight-on" bike lane? Or did they not think about it?
I do this each morning - yes, you were in the correct place. Usually the ped light is green when the cycle one for Blackfriars bridge lane is also green so if you take the cycle lane and turn hard left you'll be cycling through the pedestrian crossing when peds have the green.
Entered into friendly discussion with bus driver who pipped horn to tell me I was in the wrong place at St George's Circus. I don't think I was. Please enlighten me:
https://goo.gl/maps/EYJy2jVqXAD2
I was coming north from the Elephant up the London Road bus lane to turn left and then right onto Waterloo Road. I was right where that bus is above.
I stayed in the bus lane and waited at the traffic lights. I did not move to the cycle lane that in my opinion is intended to take you onto Blackfriars Road.
Bus driver thought I should have gone into that cycle lane on the left, and then turned hard left towards waterloo road. That would be quicker. Now, sometimes I do this, if it works with the lights (and would have this morning) but in my opinion it is less safe - I don't like going into that bike lane much anyway for two reasons:
1) buses start indicating left while still on London Road and either turn at the first bus only route onto Lambeth Road or at the second left that is the bus lane contraflow on Westminster Bridge Road that immediately crosses and turns into Waterloo Road. You can't tell which, and I've seen people do silly things and nearly get squashed by buses taking that first left. (this also applies if you're going direct onto Blackfriars)
2) cyclists following don't expect you to slow down and take a 90 degree left, even if you signal clearly etc.
Obviously the bus driver is wrong because I am allowed to be in the bus lane where she didn't want me to be, but do you think at that junction the road planners actually intend me to be there, or do they intend me to go in in the (to my mind) "blackfriars-straight-on" bike lane? Or did they not think about it?
5/10 don't know which lane I will take tomorrow.