Aren't Septa buses required to use bus lane? - Page 2 - PhillyBlog

MayfairMeat · #11 (**permalink**) 12-10-2007, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niel

I hate to break it to you all, but a bus *should* have priority over private vehicles on the street - buses carry some 20-40 people each; most cars are carrying at most 4, often fewer. The interests of the many outweigh the interests of the few.

Or the one.

GOP65 · #12 (**permalink**) 12-10-2007, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theLovebelow

Again, I never seen a spot big enough because, I always see a car PARKED in those spots...It makes me want to go make some stickers....

If there isn't a sign posted about not parking there, it's legal to park there. They threw up alot of these painted lines/X's in parts of the NE and the PD/PPA WILL NOT ticket as long as there are no signs stating that parking is prohibited(at least they aren't supposed to). Now there are plenty of these area's open for the bus to pull aside(I see it daily) to let traffic get by while they load/unload passengers but it seems SEPTA instills this ignorance into their drivers to do they best they can to make traffic worse and keep schedules. This was a bit of a concern years ago when they attempted to give SEPTA police the right to issue tickets and it didn't last too long when their cops went crazy and every ticket they attempted to write were being tossed out.

Mixiboi · #13 (**permalink**) 12-11-2007, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by datgirl78

I don't think there is any rule saying bus drivers have to pull over when picking people up to let cars by, but it is common courtesy. A lot of people, including bus drivers, don't have it these days.

Buses are required to pull up to the curb to let people off and on.

But of course that would be in the perfect world where:

A) SVU and couse wouldn't be taking parked half way in the"No parking bus lane."

B) The Bus is already 5 to 10 mins behind schedule thanks to some reason(one being Philly double parkers)

What would really solve all of this would be if SEPTA didn't stop at every street corner. this would open up spaces on some streets so people wouldn't have to illegally park, and it would speed up the bus times.

But you know what happen when they tried....(See Route 52 fight)

Towelie · #14 (**permalink**) 12-11-2007, 09:08 AM

HHHmmm, interesting. Not sure if I learned anything or not. Sounds like the XX's were put there for a "reason". But like most "reasons" in Philly, it just tends to get ignored like red lights and the 5th commandment.

Mixiboi · #15 (**permalink**) 12-11-2007, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Towelie

HHHmmm, interesting. Not sure if I learned anything or not. Sounds like the XX's were put there for a "reason". But like most "reasons" in Philly, it just tends to get ignored like red lights and the 5th commandment.

Yeah, not to say SEPTA is never at fault. But believe me, I've been on the Route 15 Trolley many times and I seen people bluntly block the trolley just so the action benefits them(They gotta cash their check!).

chessimprov · #16 (**permalink**) 01-08-2008, 12:49 AM

I always thought some of the Xs were put on simply to help avoid accidents, as a general rule, you don't want to be parking too close to the corner because it's make it harder for other drivers seeing of pedestrians are waiting by a corner, or depending on the intersection and where you're at, seeing if another car is coming by while you wait to turn.

zur · #17 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niel

I'm not sure if those X's are marked so that buses can *pull over* into them, or if they're simply there to keep cars out. After all, if the bus pulls up to the stop and the door opens and there's a car right next to the bus, you may not be able even to get off the bus. So the no parking may be just to prevent this situation from occurring.

In defense of bus drivers, I will say that if you give your typical private automobile driver an inch, he'll take a mile - if the bus pulls over in the lane, every leadfoot lined up behind him will try to squeak around him before he can pull back out. Now multiply that by every single block on the entire route.

If you were a bus driver, would you want to put up with that?

and the winner is Neil with the correct answer.

ChrissMari · #18 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philly.Man

'Always' and 'never' scenarios are like the Lochness monster. Stop exaggerating.

Look at the box next time. It is not big enough for a bus, at least in center city.

This is simply for people to get on and off and not get killed. if a bus pulls in and can't get back out what about those people on the bus?

Mixiboi · #19 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 05:11 PM

San Francisco has the same issue:

Cameras coming to Bus Lanes

Quote:

Sure, everybody's done it at one point or another, but San Francisco is trying to put the kibosh on traffic-choking illegal bus lane parking with new cameras the city will be mounting on public transport buses -- Big Brother style. The cameras are mounted behind the windshield and bus drivers can use them to automatically photograph offenders. During the trial phase, parking baddies will get off with a warning, but in a month San Fran will start issuing $100 tickets. Better get that shopping done soon!

And they also have the same issue of buses not using the lane. But I'll have pictures up about why the Buses can't uses most bus lanes in this city.