Guided bus lane

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

I am not greatly in favour of ambulance chasing but if you were injured or traumatised in any way or otherwise had costs beyond what your car insurance covered then there is a clear case for a claim here if the HSE thinks there is a health and safety failing.

Martin C

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

The H&S concern seems to be about pedestrians and cyclists getting run over, not people driving into car traps. H&S should not be getting involved in damage to property

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Look East announced to day on the lunch time news that the Cambridge Guided Bus Lane is being temporarily closed to address safety matters after two recent deaths.

Martin P

[Bill DawesParticipant @billdawes]

Just noticed your posting by chance Martin, assume you live in area, terrible news about two deaths, do you know any more detail. Fortunately my wife and I were just shaken up by this totally unexpected incident, (as well as damage which must have been over £1k) can't imagine the deaths were to do with car trap but bearing in mind we had only just pulled away from traffic lights so just a few mph, assume it would have been more serious with damage and possible injury at higher speed.

Bill D.

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Bill,

I live in Bedfordshire and we have the same Local news as Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire, see attached Bereaved family relieved over Cambridge busway closure – BBC News

Martin P

[george baker 1Participant @georgebaker1]

Hi

sad for the family & friends, but I'm not sure how a cyclist would be riding on a busway. Was the busway an area of mixed access? Why would people be walking along it? In Manchester I often see cyclists riding along tramways (& pavements), they seem to think it is their right to do so. Cyclists (& scooter riders) ride as if pedestrians should get out of their way.

I understand how the OP drove on the busway, strange town, paying attention to find a carpark entrance, misses signage, faced with the choice of reversing along a one way street — I'm sure I have only not made these mistakes by luck.

George

[Tony Pratt 1Participant @tonypratt1]

I can't see that guided busways are any more dangerous to pedestrians & cyclists than ordinary roads, if you get in the way of a vehicle/bus you are likely to get squashed.

Tony

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Tony Pratt 1 on 29/12/2021 15:10:37:

I can't see that guided busways are any more dangerous to pedestrians & cyclists than ordinary roads, if you get in the way of a vehicle/bus you are likely to get squashed.

Tony

Exactly so.

Reading the account and looking at a photo of the scene of the cyclist fatality, it appears the Cambridge bus lane is separated from a cycling/pedestrian trackway by a kerb. The cyclist died after his front wheel hit the kerb as he tried to overtake a group of pedestrians and he fell in front of a bus. The driver was well under the speed limit, but couldn't stop fast enough to avoid driving over the cyclist.

Difficult to know what the answer is. The guided bus lane is arguably already safer than an ordinary road because it's difficult for guided buses to escape into the pedestrian section, which is only on one side. Otherwise, the bus lane isn't particularly different from the many thousands of miles of pavements we have running alongside most British roads. I don't think the answer is to put barriers alongside every pavement or to ban cars! Pedestrians and cyclists are kept away from dual-carriageways and motorways, but not really practical on lesser roads other than at black spots.

Dave

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Having several times ridden on buses along the St Ives to Cambridge busway, pedestrians and cyclists have their own dedicated path aloingside, so should have no reason to get involved with a bus.

Where the busway crosses public roads, there are traffic lights, so again, if the signs are obeyed, there should be no interaction with other road users.

Howard

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