Official watchdog raises concerns over controversial bus gate signs
Council officials are to take yet another look at the signs around Bath's controversial bus gate after an official watchdog raised new questions about them.
Bath and North East Somerset Council has long had to defend its restricted bus lane in the city centre because numerous motorists have complained that warning signs are not clear or big enough.
But now the Traffic Penalty Tribunal has again added its voice to the argument, with an adjudicator saying that still more needs to be done to warn drivers that the bus gate is there.
The issue was raised after a volunteer who transports elderly people to hospital appointments in the city was given a fixed penalty notice for driving in the bus lane from outside the Guildhall on High Street, towards Broad Street.
Graham Jones, from Rudloe in Corsham, initially appealed to the council after the incident in April, but had his request rejected.
So he paid the £60 fine, but after reading an article in the Chronicle about a driver winning a similar case, he went to the tribunal.
Adjudicator Stephen Knapp not only upheld Mr Jones's appeal, but also went further to say that the signs around that end of the bus gate were still not clear enough even now.
He said: "Although not relevant to my decision in this case, I am aware that as well as renewing the carriageway markings, the council has now put up a second sign on the build-out which is intended to give advanced warning of the restriction.
"My preliminary view would be that this sign does not help make the extent of the restriction substantially clearer because it is difficult to see the beginning of the restriction from the point when the driver passes it, and there is considerable distraction because the carriageway narrows at the light-controlled pedestrian crossing."
Mr Jones, who is a Corsham Link scheme driver and was taking a patient to the Mineral Water Hospital at the time of the incident, said he had not realised he was breaking the law.
The 65-year-old retired construction industry manager, said he had no idea that cars were not allowed to go through the bus gate between 10am and 6pm.
He said: "I very rarely take a car into Bath, I always go on the bus and when I do it is between 8.30am and 9.45am, when cars are allowed through the bus gate.
"So when I was driving that way I didn't even give it a thought."
A council spokesman said it always cancelled tickets when an appeal was upheld by the adjudicator, and that it would now be looking at ways to improve the signs in High Street.
He said: "The adjudicator's preliminary findings on the High Street indicated that, despite being approved by the Department for Transport, signage on the High Street did not meet the necessary requirements and we are considering what steps to take in order to rectify this situation."
50 Comments
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by Ian27
Friday, October 28 2011, 1:41PM
“The signage is still pretty poor tbf.”
by bathrick
Friday, October 28 2011, 9:49AM
“Its all well and good saying the bus lane has been painted a different colour, when if you are as observant as you make out you are you will know there are many instances where the road surface has been painted a different colour yet cars can drive on them. As an example London Road has a section of road painted the same colour as the bus lane near the pedestrian crossing near Grosvenor Place.”
by DaveF_Walcot
Thursday, October 27 2011, 7:37PM
“There are multiple signs in different locations, each clearly explaining their meaning. There's 'BUS LANE' write in big letters on the ground. They've even painted the road a different colour for you. Try working out why you got it wrong. (Clue: it's nothing to do with the signs).
The bus-gate is a superb piece of infrastructure that makes it much more pleasant to wander around the centre. I'll be glad when the next phase is implemented.”
by McFrank
Wednesday, October 26 2011, 10:21PM
“All I know is this ....The bus gate is a very stupid idea along with the rest of Bath's road systems. Bath is a nightmare for a lot of locals let alone the poor suckers that visit!”
by mrmeldrew
Wednesday, October 26 2011, 9:16PM
“@rottendog
What on earth are you whittering on about???
Back up your claims that you type?”
by rottidog
Wednesday, October 26 2011, 2:51PM
“Well Mr Nemo/Meldrew instead of telling us why don't you ask them? I would venture to suggest that "residents" would not be an easy group to define so the sign should not be used - what about residents' deliveries, families, etc? Where would you draw the line and how would you enforce it?”
by bathrick
Wednesday, October 26 2011, 2:49PM
“DaveF_Walcot I live across the border in Melksham and rarely take a car into Bath. As I have already said when the signs are obstructed by other vehicles and the Bus Lane sign is covered by other traffic how are we to know it is a Bus Lane. Although according to you I am a 'Stupid Driver' and not the council for getting it wrong! As we all know hundreds of 'Stupid' visitors to Bath have also fallen foul at this Bus Gate”
by Mr_Nemo
Wednesday, October 26 2011, 11:34AM
“I happened to visit Avoncliff this week. Near the end of what is a dead-end road are prominent NO ENTRY signs. Now, as the section of road beyond them is clearly two-way, according to the info kindly provided by rottidog that is an incorrect usage. Below each sign is a smaller sign saying "Residents Only". That also appears to contradict the regulations for exception signs, especially as it does not say "Except for...." anyway!
So - are Wiltshire Council also using illegal signs, or have they found an answer to a problem that BANES have not?????”
by DaveF_Walcot
Tuesday, October 25 2011, 10:12PM
“@bathrick Assuming your a resident of Bath, based on your chosen nick-name, can you explain how you *didn't* know of the existence of the bus-gate in April; considering the length of time it's been in existence?”
by airhellair
Tuesday, October 25 2011, 8:48PM
“No matter what signs you install, there will always be some... Reading some of these posts, there may be many in Bath. It's not surprising.
http://tinyurl.com/66cy8kq”