Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Bus Gate

Last week I had the misfortune of having to drive through Harrow (NW London). At one point there was a road narrowing thing, 2 bollards in the centre of the road with "Bus Gate" painted in the road, no gate or barrier. As I was in the SUV and the gap either side of this "gate" was pretty narrow I drove through the centre. I should point out that this was at around 5 in the morning so doubtful there were any buses running then. I'd also been up all night at the hospital with step-son who had managed to seriously damage his knee and didn't see any warning signs before I went through the gap. A few days later I got a £65 fine for driving in a bus lane! I went back to check and the signs are not at all obvious.
I'd never come across one of these bus gates before (I was born and bred in London) so hadn't realised what it meant. It seems I'm not alone, a quick google search highlights that a great many people have been caught by these , the signs are not at all clear, and unless you've re-read the highway code recently you probably wouldn't know what a light blue circle with a white single decker bus means anyway?
They are legal but are a big money maker for local councils, one reportedly earning over £400,000 already!
You have been warned.

Thanks for the warning Steve, I had never heard of them.

I got caught in a normal one in London in the Sport one dark and very wet night, but it was a hand up job so no arguments.

Is this like Watergate?

Bus gates are around in Sheffield and some are not well marked. They bring in loads of money.....

There is a bus lane off a roundabout in Llanelli that catches a lot out. It isa multi exit roundabout (6 if I remember) quite busy so keeping an eye on traffic means exit signs could be missed.
A few weeks ago I was coming out of Cardiff and thought I had been caught out by a buslane. Luckily nothing in the post. It was dark, poor lighting, road markings worn. I suspect itis a time of day restriction only and I was past the end time.
My first ever speeding ticket was Cardiff too, many years ago. On a 40mph roadthet droppedto 30 for a short distance. I was unfamiliar with the roadand didn’t see the 30 sign as there were several other signs there...sensory overload! Luckily I was within the simple points/fine speed criteria not automatic court appearance. I often think could I contest it due to the numberof signs etc.

Prohibition signs are supposed to have a red outer circle.

There is a bus gate in Chelmsford causing mayhem and income, its situated close to a roundabout, is poorly signed and unless you are very local it will catch you out.
All it really needs is a no entry sign with an except for busses tag and it will work, however 37,000 fines in less than a year, common sense says the signage is inadequate and its an easy income stream, or is that too cynical?

https://www.essexlive.news/news/essex-news/chelmsford-duke-street-bus-gate-1845974

I thought they were Thompson guns and black Fedoras.

Turned into a bus lane on the king's way in Swansea a couple of years ago,took the first exit never had the letter... lucky day. The whole thing has just been dug up after two fatalities.last week the contractor went bust, so now no bus lane, only a pile of rubble.