Bus Lane Operating Times Pcn's

[cemeterybird]

Hi - was horrified to receive a Penalty Charge Notice for driving in a bus lane this week. It was for a short journey to my local post office which I tend to do two or three times a week and have never had trouble before.

I tend to go to the post office between 3 and 4pm and the PCN was for 3.24pm and have always assumed that the bus lane was 'Peak Time' operational (ie 6am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm). I was straddling the bus lane approaching a left hand turn. So I wasn't blatently sneaking down to avoid traffic jams, the traffic was very light - I genuinely didn't think I was doing any wrong and indeed do this short journey regularly.

It seems that where I was 'snapped' it is a very short piece of road, and although this is a main road into our city centre, this 200-300 yard stretch of road, unlike the rest, which is peak time, is 24 hours!

So I am wondering if this has been changed recently because, if not, why have I not been 'snapped' before, doing the same wrongdoing? I cannot seem to be able to find the information I need, despite searching my local council website and emailing them. It seems they have been guilty of doing this before (do links work on here?):

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/82-000-tickets-issued-Bristol-bus-lane-changes/story-13646091-detail/story.html#axzz2LFeUgD9F

I have, of course, two weeks to appeal but am not sure how to go about it.
Any advice gratefully received.

[pdq1]

I am always wary about driving in bus lanes especially in London. I make sure the operating hours on the blue signs are not the hours I travel. However these can vary depending in which area you are and I notice many motorists avoid the bus lanes like the plaque even though they are allowed in them.

[Maydup]

To start with i think you need to check exactly what times the bus lane is in operation. If you use it 2 or 3 imes a week, then the place place to go for information is at the site. Read the notice, rather than assume the times, as it might be that they have changed or the restrictions are different on different days etc.

If it tunrs out that you were using it at the worng time then there is no point in appealing, just be pleased that you haven't been "snapped" before. If you were outside the times then appeal as there is a fault on the camera.

[vodkancoke]

Here in Edinburgh, and also in Glasgow, the bus lane times vary. Some here are 7am-7pm, some are 6.30am-9.30am 4pm-7pm etc. Are there any visible signs telling you what times they are in operation? If the time you were snapped is outwith those times, then you have a case to appeal.

[cemeterybird]

I am in Bristol and I guess, because this is a journey I do regularly, I have just been guilty of ignorance? It is less than 1/4 of a mile from my home. I go to the PO, do a U turn (depending on traffic of course - if not I take the next side street up and go round the block) and just go home.... so because I have done the same thing dozens of times, makes me wonder if their criteria has changed, unbeknown to me. I have to go to the PO again this afternoon, so I think I will ask the postmaster if he knows anything, because it is right across the road from this shop.

[vodkancoke]

There should be visible signs showing you the bus lane operation times. Why not just look at those?

[Mamyalynne]

Yes cb - the first thing to do is to establish if there has been a recent change in hours of restrictions, then need to work on whether they were flagged up properly and take it from there.

[cemeterybird]

I did go check the signs and yes, it does say 24 hours but what I am questioning, is how long that sign has been there? They say ignorance is no sign of defence in the eyes of the law and I realise I have little grounds for appeal and maybe I have just been lucky in not being snapped before but I am just so angry and getting a fine for something I genuinely thought was ok!! More angry at myself really :(

[vodkancoke]

Oops sorry, I didn't realise there may have been a change in the operation times. Ignore me! lol

[mazie]

If it's only 1/4 of a mile away cemeterybird wouldn't it be easier and cheaper to Walk?

[vodkancoke]

Why not write to them and appeal it anyway and explain it's a journey you do often. You never know, you may be lucky :) Good luck.

[Maydup]

It might be worth looking on google maps to see what the sign says. The date of the map is given at the bottom of the screen and this woud give you an indication of what it was then at least.

[cemeterybird]

Lol Mazie you're probably right - but I am a pensioner, it is uphill and I am usually laden down with packages (but would be downhill on the way home when my arms are empty:).
One thing I realised last week, when I received the PCN I was soooo angry I did some spring cleaning - washing my nets and cleaning my windows!!! Maybe I ought to get angry more often! I might have a cleaner house!!!

[mazie]

So am I cemeterybird, I walk about a mile to my local ASDA most days..Downhill going, uphill coming back. I bought myself a small shopping trolley and sold the car. Much better off and a lot fitter. Good luck with the fine x

[cemeterybird]

Thanks Maydup! Excellent idea and have done so and realised I haven't a leg to stand on..... although Peak time only, 100 yards further up the road, the signs on the opposite side from my PO say Anytime and the Google image date saying June 2012 puts me bang to rights! I suppose I can only be thankful I haven't been snapped before! Maybe they have only just introduced the cameras..... in which case I will be on tenderhooks for the next week 'cus the date on the PCN is 6th Feb and I may have done the same thing on any day between then and the 14th when I rec'd this one.
Vodkancoke I may just write a grovelling letter but I don't think it'll do any good :(
Mazie - I get where you're coming from - yes I would be fitter if I gave up my car (and probably richer too) but I am not quite ready yet to give up my independence in favour of a shopping trolley!!! Although officially a pensioner, I am going down fighting and kicking all the way lol.

[SirOracle]

Hi Cemetarybird.You may not have been "caught" by a fixed camera,as here in Edinburgh buses have cameras to catch motorists who are using the Greenways illegally.