The M4 bus lane?

Question

Mentioned this in another answer, but as I hate it so much, I thought I'd ask a question about it!

Has anyone ever seen a bus, in the M4 bus lane?

I have travelled past it hundreds of times, at different times of day, and on different days of the week. And have yet to ever see a bus. The occasional coach, minibus and taxi uses it, but the level of traffic on it is not significant enough to justify its existence (in my opinion).

Whereas the level of traffic in the other two lanes, which are often queued, now thats another matter. Wouldnt a 3rd lane be rather handy to drive in at that point?

Now I dont ever drive down the M4 at rush hour, so maybe there's a few buses around then. But that still surely cannot justify having it as a bus lane 24/7.

Rant over! Your comments please!

Answer 1

Glad to see I'm not the only one suffering as a result of stupid and pointless lane alterations-sounds like another waste of money and paint!

Here in Coventry we have a recently altered section of road where they have turned the last 10 metres of a dual carriageway into a bus lane, this forces all traffic approaching the roundabout into the right hand lane.

Not a problem really - but when everyone gets used to it, they all get in the right hand lane from the very start of the road as they are too afraid of going down the left lane and noone letting them in.

This then causes all the traffic in the right hand lane to go ALL the way back and onto the previous roundabout causing traffic approaching there, to queue back in ALL directions so the buses can't even get onto the road in the first place!!

Keep up the good work all you traffic planners of the local councils - most of which probably don't live near, and therefore drive on the roads they alter, supposedly for the best!!

Answer 2

I use the M4 2-3 a week all I see is the occasional coach but most of the time it is taxis the bus lane is a waste of motorway space