Transit-only lanes and right-of-way

[Bruce]

Just curious to see how they're implemented in various cities.

Here in Seattle, we have a few variations, including full-on red paint on lanes to peak-only lanes that revert to on-street parking.

We also just opened a new transit lane on Westlake Avenue where buses and streetcars get priority. The only problem is what was painted on it:



[Also, could y'all please keep the anti-transit ranting/rhetoric to a minimum in this thread. Just want to talk about design, not poltics.]

[Duke87]

New York City's typical method: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8411444,-73.9045382,3a,75y,214.95h,72.49t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s9GMY6ILLi2B2JGvPospaiA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

The paint is rather prone to fading, though, which leaves you with lanes that look like this: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8618459,-73.8928655,3a,55.9y,137.92h,73.66t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1smFen822-MK3WSVzjSuxbpg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

The first example is a bus only lane 24/7. The second is reserved for buses only from 7AM-7PM Mon-Fri and fair game for all traffic other times. Here's a typical overhead sign describing the latter condition: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8614612,-73.8910458,3a,48.9y,136.24h,90.96t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1snu_l0dg_pPrloNUSl9y8Nw!2e0!5s20140701T000000!7i13312!8i6656
It is legal to use the bus lane as a right turn lane but once you enter the lane you must make the next possible right turn.

There is photo enforcement against unauthorized bus lane use, although delivery drivers are known to park in them anyway if it is the only convenient place to do so and write the ticket off as the cost of doing business.

[Bruce]

Makes me wonder how our brand-new bus lanes will hold up compared to New York's. Hopefully the paint doesn't fade.


Pacific Street bus lane by SounderBruce, on Flickr

Interesting that NYC adds paints to their peak-only lanes. We don't do that and I would very much like to see it, as unenforced violations are rampant and slow down buses by a lot (critical since we have no regional rail system that reaches where the majority of these buses are headed).

Even worse is when company shuttles (like those used by Microsoft) use the lanes. While it says "bus only", it's only for public transit vehicles:


Microsoft Connector breaking traffic law in U District by SounderBruce, on Flickr

Not to mention how much "care" is put into making sure the infrastructure looks good:


Crooked bus lane sign by SounderBruce, on Flickr

[Duke87]

Even worse is when company shuttles (like those used by Microsoft) use the lanes. While it says "bus only", it's only for public transit vehicles

The signs are improperly worded then. It should say "Sound Transit buses only" if that specifically is what it means. The vehicle depicted in your photo certainly looks like a "bus" to me and if the operator got a ticket for being in that lane I'd seriously hope they take it to court.

Consider this NYC example, where the sign says do not enter "except MTA buses", thus excluding non-transit buses.

Unless the signs explicitly say otherwise, charter buses and other non-transit buses are allowed to use bus lanes here.

[Bruce]

Even worse is when company shuttles (like those used by Microsoft) use the lanes. While it says "bus only", it's only for public transit vehicles

The signs are improperly worded then. It should say "Sound Transit buses only" if that specifically is what it means. The vehicle depicted in your photo certainly looks like a "bus" to me and if the operator got a ticket for being in that lane I'd seriously hope they take it to court.

Consider this NYC example, where the sign says do not enter "except MTA buses", thus excluding non-transit buses.

Unless the signs explicitly say otherwise, charter buses and other non-transit buses are allowed to use bus lanes here.

Well, according to the police it's only for transit vehicles and vanpools. The problem is adding "Sound Transit, King County Metro, and Community Transit buses and vanpools" to the signs, which no one would read anyway.

The Duck Tour vehicles here (the ones that killed a few people in September) were caught illegally using the lanes and it was spelled out that the lanes are for public transit vehicles only.

[MisterSG1]

Just a question Bruce, did you start this thread as a sort of attack against me, because a few threads down exists a very similar topic that I stared.

[jeffandnicole]

Even worse is when company shuttles (like those used by Microsoft) use the lanes. While it says "bus only", it's only for public transit vehicles

The signs are improperly worded then. It should say "Sound Transit buses only" if that specifically is what it means. The vehicle depicted in your photo certainly looks like a "bus" to me and if the operator got a ticket for being in that lane I'd seriously hope they take it to court.

Consider this NYC example, where the sign says do not enter "except MTA buses", thus excluding non-transit buses.

Unless the signs explicitly say otherwise, charter buses and other non-transit buses are allowed to use bus lanes here.

Well, according to the police it's only for transit vehicles and vanpools. The problem is adding "Sound Transit, King County Metro, and Community Transit buses and vanpools" to the signs, which no one would read anyway.

The Duck Tour vehicles here (the ones that killed a few people in September) were caught illegally using the lanes and it was spelled out that the lanes are for public transit vehicles only.

Are you sure about that?  According to the law, it certainly appears private transportation vehicles are permitted to use that lane: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.61.165

Using the police as your sole reference that company shuttles aren't permitted in the bus lane isn't generally a good source, especially when it's written in the newspaper. You always have to consider that the reporter didn't actually quote the person verbatim.  Anyone who's ever spoken to a reporter knows that they're going to take just a portion of what they said.  And in that story about the Ducks, the cop's real point is that the Ducks boat shouldn't have been in that lane.  He's not going to sit there and recite the enter law including every permitted use and exception.

As far as that crooked sign goes, that's just being picky.  We have threads on these forums of sign issues all over the country...and world.  Taking a picture of a single sign that's missing a bolt has nothing to do with lack of care about the infrastructure.  Hell, you posted a picture which includes a properly mounted sign...what didn't you comment about that?   And things can fail at any time.  I could spill something, run to get a towel, and in the meantime someone takes and posts a picture of an unsightly mess that they can describe as being there "all the time" just to make someone or something look bad.

[Bruce]

Even worse is when company shuttles (like those used by Microsoft) use the lanes. While it says "bus only", it's only for public transit vehicles

The signs are improperly worded then. It should say "Sound Transit buses only" if that specifically is what it means. The vehicle depicted in your photo certainly looks like a "bus" to me and if the operator got a ticket for being in that lane I'd seriously hope they take it to court.

Consider this NYC example, where the sign says do not enter "except MTA buses", thus excluding non-transit buses.

Unless the signs explicitly say otherwise, charter buses and other non-transit buses are allowed to use bus lanes here.

Well, according to the police it's only for transit vehicles and vanpools. The problem is adding "Sound Transit, King County Metro, and Community Transit buses and vanpools" to the signs, which no one would read anyway.

The Duck Tour vehicles here (the ones that killed a few people in September) were caught illegally using the lanes and it was spelled out that the lanes are for public transit vehicles only.

Are you sure about that?  According to the law, it certainly appears private transportation vehicles are permitted to use that lane: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.61.165

Using the police as your sole reference that company shuttles aren't permitted in the bus lane isn't generally a good source, especially when it's written in the newspaper. You always have to consider that the reporter didn't actually quote the person verbatim.  Anyone who's ever spoken to a reporter knows that they're going to take just a portion of what they said.  And in that story about the Ducks, the cop's real point is that the Ducks boat shouldn't have been in that lane.  He's not going to sit there and recite the enter law including every permitted use and exception.

As far as that crooked sign goes, that's just being picky.  We have threads on these forums of sign issues all over the country...and world.  Taking a picture of a single sign that's missing a bolt has nothing to do with lack of care about the infrastructure.  Hell, you posted a picture which includes a properly mounted sign...what didn't you comment about that?   And things can fail at any time.  I could spill something, run to get a towel, and in the meantime someone takes and posts a picture of an unsightly mess that they can describe as being there "all the time" just to make someone or something look bad.

That law is for HOV lanes, which we have plenty of. The state does not govern over bus-only lanes (which are a city-level issue and are governed by this section of the municipal code and this definition of what constitutes a transit coach). No private carriers allowed, period.

And the crooked sign was a jokey kind of post to highlight how neglected some transit advocates feel these lanes are. They are unenforced for the most part (with rare, rare exceptions that are usually announced ahead of time [e.g. last month's]), which irritates bus riders.

Just a question Bruce, did you start this thread as a sort of attack against me, because a few threads down exists a very similar topic that I stared.

Not really. If I recall, your beef is mostly with transit inefficiency and bike lanes. This thread is solely for the design and integration of transit lanes, which are growing in popularity and adoption, into existing and new roadways.

[jeffandnicole]

That law is for HOV lanes, which we have plenty of. The state does not govern over bus-only lanes (which are a city-level issue and are governed by this section of the municipal code and this definition of what constitutes a transit coach). No private carriers allowed, period.

I'm going to say that I think no one would actually try to force a bus used to transport people to and from work from using those bus lanes.  I would seriously doubt a driver has been ticketed for using those lanes.  I would seriously doubt Seattle would intentionally have excluded such a large bus/van network, forcing them into the congested car lanes.  And/or, an 'off the books' agreement was reached allowing those buses to use the bus lanes.

[Bruce]

That law is for HOV lanes, which we have plenty of. The state does not govern over bus-only lanes (which are a city-level issue and are governed by this section of the municipal code and this definition of what constitutes a transit coach). No private carriers allowed, period.

I'm going to say that I think no one would actually try to force a bus used to transport people to and from work from using those bus lanes.  I would seriously doubt a driver has been ticketed for using those lanes.  I would seriously doubt Seattle would intentionally have excluded such a large bus/van network, forcing them into the congested car lanes.  And/or, an 'off the books' agreement was reached allowing those buses to use the bus lanes.

Considering how the news clip I linked has a quote from the Seattle PD about the lanes being explicitly only for public transit, then I doubt there's any kind of agreement. It's still illegal, even if unenforced.

Not to mention that these shuttles, while doing their part in combating congestion, are not open to the public and thus should not benefit from public lanes like this. If someone headed to Microsoft wanted to use the bus lanes, they'd board one of the public buses going there instead.

[mrsman]

That law is for HOV lanes, which we have plenty of. The state does not govern over bus-only lanes (which are a city-level issue and are governed by this section of the municipal code and this definition of what constitutes a transit coach). No private carriers allowed, period.

I'm going to say that I think no one would actually try to force a bus used to transport people to and from work from using those bus lanes.  I would seriously doubt a driver has been ticketed for using those lanes.  I would seriously doubt Seattle would intentionally have excluded such a large bus/van network, forcing them into the congested car lanes.  And/or, an 'off the books' agreement was reached allowing those buses to use the bus lanes.

Considering how the news clip I linked has a quote from the Seattle PD about the lanes being explicitly only for public transit, then I doubt there's any kind of agreement. It's still illegal, even if unenforced.

Not to mention that these shuttles, while doing their part in combating congestion, are not open to the public and thus should not benefit from public lanes like this. If someone headed to Microsoft wanted to use the bus lanes, they'd board one of the public buses going there instead.

Chicago has a similar problem with private buses using the transit only lanes that were recently constructed in the Loop.

IMO, the private buses should be allowed to travel on those lanes, assuming they have at least 4 passengers on board, and as long as they do not stop to pick up passengers and block the lane as a result.  These private shuttles tend to have more people per stop than transit buses and could seriously gum up the works of having a good transit lane.  BUt a moving shuttle likely will not cause big delays and will also encourage more people to not use their cars.

[JMoses24]

I need to get some photos in Cincinnati soon. They are doing a "burn in" on the new streetcar, and there are now some "transit only" lanes on downtown streets.

[ET21]

Chicago just established the Loop Link, where a bus only lane encircles the business district with new stations and ped access. 

On I-55 between I-355 and the Dan Ryan (I-90/94) the bus uses the inside shoulder during peak rush hour times.

[mrsman]

That law is for HOV lanes, which we have plenty of. The state does not govern over bus-only lanes (which are a city-level issue and are governed by this section of the municipal code and this definition of what constitutes a transit coach). No private carriers allowed, period.

I'm going to say that I think no one would actually try to force a bus used to transport people to and from work from using those bus lanes.  I would seriously doubt a driver has been ticketed for using those lanes.  I would seriously doubt Seattle would intentionally have excluded such a large bus/van network, forcing them into the congested car lanes.  And/or, an 'off the books' agreement was reached allowing those buses to use the bus lanes.

Considering how the news clip I linked has a quote from the Seattle PD about the lanes being explicitly only for public transit, then I doubt there's any kind of agreement. It's still illegal, even if unenforced.

Not to mention that these shuttles, while doing their part in combating congestion, are not open to the public and thus should not benefit from public lanes like this. If someone headed to Microsoft wanted to use the bus lanes, they'd board one of the public buses going there instead.

Chicago has a similar problem with private buses using the transit only lanes that were recently constructed in the Loop.

IMO, the private buses should be allowed to travel on those lanes, assuming they have at least 4 passengers on board, and as long as they do not stop to pick up passengers and block the lane as a result.  These private shuttles tend to have more people per stop than transit buses and could seriously gum up the works of having a good transit lane.  BUt a moving shuttle likely will not cause big delays and will also encourage more people to not use their cars.

San Francisco has bus/taxi lanes throughout the city where buses and taxis can use.  In these lanes it is perfectly legal for non-transit buses to use the lanes.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

I don't believe Minnesota has any explicit transit-only lanes on shared roads (there is one dedicated road that only buses are allowed to use), but there's a part of York Avenue in Edina that is bus/right turn only.

[kphoger]

I don't believe Minnesota has any explicit transit-only lanes on shared roads (there is one dedicated road that only buses are allowed to use), but there's a part of York Avenue in Edina that is bus/right turn only.

There are still highways in Minnesota that allow buses on the shoulder, though, right?