Olympic Games Lanes

I have to say the Embankment is quite nice at the moment, I would say 1 in 3 sets traffic lights have been turned off. I had a great ride Shepherds Bush last night and the night before - traffic hasn't been bad at all, if anything it's been quiet..

..too quiet.

Went down Embankment tonight and it's waaay nicer than usual thanks to all the bus stops being suspended!

It looked like you can't turn right onto Whitehall from Parliament Sq going towards Trafalgar Square...is this right?

LCC's Ashok Sinha wrote to TfL Streets Chief Operatiing Officer yesterday to highlight some of the dangerous layouts at junctions near the Olympic Routes. Southwark Bridge north was one of those junctions. Also mentioned were the crossings to Tower Bridge, Westminster Bridge, Parliament sq to Whitehall, Bow flyover etc etc.

We suggested urgent remedial action was needed at these points. Ashok also wrote "The safe movement of cycle users appears not to have been considered at several locations.
"We share the concern of those writing to us that this may lead to unnecessary collisions at a time when London is at the centre of the world’s attention and seeking to make headlines through Olympic successes. We also note that the use of roads by both commuters and Olympic traffic may be disrupted should collisions occur as a consequence of poorly laid out temporary traffic schemes."

Since then we have heard of a cyclist breaking his elbow and wrist after hitting the build out at the north end of Whitehall and the Rider Down list has a report of a crash on Upper Thames Street.

ah, good to know that they don't care about people being injured but are worried about the disruption such a
collision could create.

Went down Embankment tonight and it's waaay nicer than usual thanks to all the bus stops being suspended!

It looked like you can't turn right onto Whitehall from Parliament Sq going towards Trafalgar Square...is this right?

I rode through them while the game lane was operational - nobody bat an eyes.

I may have snuck into the Games Lane at times too ; )

Serious q - if you have Olympic Accreditation can you use the lanes on your bike?

That was the most pleasant journey I have had to work in a very long time.
All the lights were green, some of the lights had actually been removed and there was no traffic on the road. I think I stopped once from Finchley to Victoria in under half an hour :$

Just one Lambo all that way, then?

I may have snuck into the Games Lane at times too ; )

Serious q - if you have Olympic Accreditation can you use the lanes on your bike?

you would probably lose it if they find out you cycle

My commute was the clearest I've ever seen it.. Lewisham, OKR to Lambeth.. Like a ghost town..

yeah I have to admit both yesterday and today were great commutes. I travel down from Euston to Bermondsey via the likes of Holborn, Bank and London bridge, at every stage there was a discernible drop in the number of cars and so far the predicted mass horde of new cyclists has not materialized.....yet.

Funnily enough I popped into the Evans to replace my rear tyre (the branch at London Bridge), while speaking to the guy behind the till about the Olympic traffic and our respective commutes he said that throughout the last fortnight the amount of people coming in to purchase cheap bikes (£200-300) stating that they simply want a rig for the duration of the Olympics has been huge, so the predicted hordes are bound to make an appearance at some point.

more "news" from some one..

"I can however assure you that the Police only enforce the M4 the rest is done by Tfl and local councils. The fact that bikes can use lanes on the nearside but not the offside would tend to indicate they are just trying it on bikes are not going to get fined. The games lanes are civil contraventions the same as parking tickets and are dealt with in the same way its not a criminal offence or fine its a 'penalty charge' and as such a cyclist cannot be given one as there is no legislation to do so. LOCOG have used the Olympic Act to modify the legislation used for bus lanes to include olympic lanes that means the penalty goes to the registered keeper by post after getting details from the DVLA. Bikes are not registered therefore ANPR cannot be used nor can the legislation."

The games lanes are civil contraventions the same as parking tickets and are dealt with in the same way its not a criminal offence or fine its a 'penalty charge' and as such a cyclist cannot be given one as there is no legislation to do so.

You very much be given a Penalty Charge as a cyclist, for such offences as:

The list of *fixed penalty offences *includes (note that this isn’t a full list, just some interesting bits):

[]Cycling on a footpath (HA 1835 s.72)
[]Disobeying traffic lights and signs (RTA s. 36)
[]Disobeying directions from police or traffic officers (including directions to stop) (RTA ss. 35, 163(2))
[]Carrying more than one person on a bike on a road (unless the bike is specially adapted for the purpose). Giving “lifts” in this way is an offence for both the person riding and the person being carried, and it seems that both can be given a fixed penalty notice. (RTA s. 24)
[]Breach of the rules relating to pedestrian crossings (for examples, see my previous post). (RTRA s. 25(5))
[]Breach of the rules about lights and reflectors (RTA s.42; RVLR r. 18(1), Sch 1 table 3)
[*]Leaving your bike in a dangerous position on the road (RTA s. 22)

from http://ukcyclerules.com/2010/09/10/when-can-you-be-given-a-fixed-penalty-notice/

A Penalty Charge Notice is most definitely NOT the same as a Fixed Penalty Notice.

These are both proscribed terms, and may not be used interchangeably.

Best ever commute to work for me this morning. I was at work 40 mins early. I think it probably took about 20 mins or something. No red lights, no traffic. Unbelievable

Best ever commute to work for me this morning. I was at work 40 mins early. I think it probably took about 20 mins or something. No red lights, no traffic. Unbelievable

Calm before the storm perhaps?

more "news" from some one..

"I can however assure you that the Police only enforce the M4 the rest is done by Tfl and local councils... Bikes are not registered therefore ANPR cannot be used nor can the legislation."

A Penalty Charge Notice is most definitely NOT the same as a Fixed Penalty Notice.

These are both proscribed terms, and may not be used interchangeably.

Given that these both suggest that one can ride on the lanes fearlessly, I will take them as being fact. What is one to reply to a G4S monkey trying it on, or should one simply ride off?

A Penalty Charge Notice is most definitely NOT the same as a Fixed Penalty Notice.

These are both proscribed terms, and may not be used interchangeably.

pwned

Well I've learnt something!

A Penalty Charge Notice is most definitely NOT the same as a Fixed Penalty Notice.

These are both proscribed terms, and may not be used interchangeably.

So TW2, are you saying there is no legislation for cyclists, or you havn't seen any? It wouldn't surprise me if TFL negelcted to include cycling in there thoughts at any point, let alone penalty fares...

A Penalty Charge Notice is most definitely NOT the same as a Fixed Penalty Notice.

These are both proscribed terms, and may not be used interchangeably.

I'm getting really sick of all this football talk.

simply ride off?
G4S monkeys have no authority to stop or detain you.

G4S / army goons / any goon (as do you and I) have limited powers of arrest under section 24 PACE, but these are only for indictable offenses for which there is clear knowledge, not just suspicion.

Bus lane / games lane offenses, particularly civil ones, are not indictable.

I'm getting really sick of all this football talk.
No, you're podiuming.

Well I've learnt something!

So TW2, are you saying there is no legislation for cyclists, or you havn't seen any? It wouldn't surprise me if TFL negelcted to include cycling in there thoughts at any point, let alone penalty fares...
TfL do not have the ability / authority / power to include anyone or anything.

Their authority is prescribed by (among others, but in particular relating to traffic lanes etc...) the Road Traffic Act and Traffic Management Act.

The Games Act mentioned authorised vehicles, of which the bicycle is not, but does not grant any additional authority to TfL to issues PCNs to cyclists.

I'm not a lawyer though, and I am aware that the Police still have authority to prosecute (or choose to issues FPNs) for traffic offenses, but I cannot remember if this applies to highways managed by TfL / Local Councils in this capacity.

Next up - medical advice.

I have a pain in my left foot- can this be resolved with a Fixed Penalty Notice?

I'm not a lawyer though, and I am aware that the Police still have authority to prosecute (or choose to issues FPNs) for traffic offenses, but I cannot remember if this applies to highways managed by TfL / Local Councils in this capacity.

Next up - medical advice.

http://www.patrol-uk.info/site/scripts/documents.php?categoryID=2

This would suggest that even where a local authority has adopted traffic enforcement, the police can still choose to issue FPN.

Are you any good with bunions?

http://www.patrol-uk.info/site/scripts/documents.php?categoryID=2

This would suggest that even where a local authority has adopted traffic enforcement, the police can still choose to issue FPN.
I think you're right there.

And if a plod tries to stop you, you should stop.

Even plastic plod in London has the authority to stop you.

Are you any good with bunions?
You need to talk to Scoble.

Went down Embankment tonight and it's waaay nicer than usual thanks to all the bus stops being suspended!

It looked like you can't turn right onto Whitehall from Parliament Sq going towards Trafalgar Square...is this right?

Got there last night to find a policeman directing traffic over the bridge instead. a bunch of cyclists sat waiting patiently at the front of the lane to turn right.

PoPo: If you want to turn right you're going to have to get off and walk.

Cue about 30 cyclists get off, walk across the road, get back on their bikes and carry on!

Was a bit silly really.