Driving in Cardiff
 

More than 3,500 fines have been issued in a single month for drivers using bus lanes in Cardiff.

Cardiff council handed out a total of 3,544 penalty notices during December 2014 - the first month the scheme was introduced.

A total of £12,950 has already been paid to the authority after 370 offenders paid the £35 charge.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-s...wales-30856265

So that's a potential £124,040 if no-one fights the fine or goes to court IN ONE MONTH! And they are about to start fining drivers who don't use the yellow box junctions properly!

Maybe they should do something about the buses that don't use the bus lanes 'cos they're full of cyclists!

Re: Driving in Cardiff
 

Buses aren't obligated to use bus lanes, motorists are obligated not to use some of them. Obey the law and you don't get fined - simple.

Re: Driving in Cardiff
 

I wish they would re-continue and expand with the clampdown and fine on cyclists using pavements that they had in the Splott area last year. Also fine them for ignoring red lights, especially at junctions where there are pedestrian crossings.

I would also like to see the red light cameras on junctions extended to the bus lanes, I have often seen busses go through red lights after other traffic has stopped on the Newport Road/Colchester Avenue junction.

Lets have all types of road users treated equal.

Additonally I would like to see bus lanes scrapped where they are not big enough to fit busses into, this would cut down on accident in dangerous locations where busses encroach on an adjacent lane. In these instances the law of phycics makes it clear that there is not enough room for a bus lane but the council out one there anyway.

Re: Driving in Cardiff
 

But the thread is about driving not cycling. Don't break the law and you won't get fined.

Re: Driving in Cardiff
 

Good.

Re: Driving in Cardiff
 

I hate driving in Cardiffs one way system and yes there is a problem with people using the bus lanes. If i goto Cardiff i now go by train and uses the busses there and a number of times almost been involved in accidents where cars are in bus lanes.

Re: Driving in Cardiff
 

Can't be worse than Brighton where the Greens sacrificed half the road capacity to bus lanes and have gridlocked the city 24/7 as a result. Now they're complaining about the pollution from all the stationary traffic.:rolleyes:

Re: Driving in Cardiff
 

Otherwise straight roads in Cardiff have become chicanes and slaloms around the bus lanes that appear and disappear all over the place. In dark, wet conditions it's almost impossible to spot the road markings at all, especially for visitors.

On the A48, the hard shoulder on one long stretch has been designated a bus lane primarily to and from a Park and Ride location on the outskirts, but also for other buses and taxis on their way in or out of the city. The speed limit was also dropped from 70mph to 50mph along a big chunk too... to allow buses to merge easier!

Re: Driving in Cardiff
 

It is astounding how many people seem to struggle with the concept that if you can't get out of the box you shouldn't go into it. People seem to see red when the traffic lights go green and just have to get through.

Re: Driving in Cardiff
 

Barring the turning right exception ;)

Re: Driving in Cardiff
 

I'd like to see cyclists have compulsory third party insurance - if they insist on riding on the pavement to the detriment of pedestrians, and also on the road without lights, then they need to be insured for third party at least

Re: Driving in Cardiff
 

So a few bad apples means every cyclist should be penalised?

How about everyone who drives should at their own expense compulsorily undertake an advanced driving course and test to ensure they have the skills to share road space with other significantly more vulnerable road users?

And to learn how to keep their arses out of bus lanes and off yellow boxes.

Re: Driving in Cardiff
 

For many the reason they cycle is because they don't need to pass tests or buy insurance and tax if you start adding those conditions to cycling then many will stop cycling and buy cars adding to congestion .Whichever way you look at it cyclists do prevent a hell of a lot of congestion

Re: Driving in Cardiff
 

Would it apply to kids on bikes too? Good luck with that.

Re: Driving in Cardiff
 

Why not, everyone seems happy to apply that rule to car drivers.

---------- Post added at 15:36 ---------- Previous post was at 15:34 ----------

They also cause it.
Many times in Nottingham I have seen queues of traffic because the vehicle at the front doesnt have room to get past a cyclist (without knocking them off).

Re: Driving in Cardiff
 

You think that vehicle insurance is a universal requirement because there are a few bad drivers :erm:?

You think cyclists are responsible for road traffic congestion not the overwhelming volume of motorised traffic :erm:?

I agree and I'm also impressed. Our previous discussion wasn't wasted then?

Re: Driving in Cardiff
 

Absolutely not ,i still think that some inner city cyclists need to be more aware but forcing them to have insurance and pass tests would be counter productive and also largely unenforceable.Having said that some form of incentive to take proficiency tests for those inner city cyclists may be advantageous .

Re: Driving in Cardiff
 

all for enforcing the highway code but a lot of markings in cardiff are hard to see , are confusing and as for the box junctions often imposible to see the exit or if its going to be free

Re: Driving in Cardiff
 

Fair enough. Inner-City cycling is inherently dangerous even for those who are proficient but I agree it can do no harm to raise standards.

Kids are the biggest worry. Getting your first bike is a wonderful thing but the roads are just not safe enough for them and that is very sad.

I feel something more radical that cycle lanes is needed; I'd like to see cycle-only routes with certain roads permanently closed to motorised users, residents excepted (and main routes closed to cycles). Kids could then use bikes safely, get healthier and lose weight and a lot of 2/4 wheeled angst could be avoided!