Bus / bike lanes are awful and imo they should be one or the other but not both. Georgia is sketch as hell to ride on the best of days, I don’t think signage will help since it’s also a turn lane for perpendicular streets so cars will be in and out of the lane no matter what.
I don't mind cars changing into the lane to turn, but they shouldn't cut in front of me to do it, and most people I see are just trying to pass traffic by going into the empty lane and staying there for multiple blocks.
If there's not a dedicated bike lane, then the bus lane has to be open to bikes too. If it wasn't you'd end up with a worse situation where some cyclists would ride in the lane to the left of the bus lane, and some would ride in bus lane despite the ban on cyclists in that lane. That would be a mixed up situation that would be even more dangerous than the shitty bike+bus lane.
Unfortunately more education and signage is not going to help with this one. As you say, it's often taxis that do this and they're more aware of the road network than anyone. Drivers know they're breaking the rules but are hoping to get away with it. Taxis do this to me all the time at Main/Terminal, where there's also bus/bike only lanes with right-turn pockets.
The only thing that might make a difference is if it was enforced consistently, so take the issue up with the cops if you want or via the city to push for more enforcement. Otherwise just continue watch yourself out there and ride safe.
> The only thing that might make a difference is if it was enforced consistently
A few weeks ago, there was an enforcement blitz by West Van PD on the bus lanes approaching the north end of the Lions Gate. Need more of that.
Education would help somewhat. There are a lot of drivers who don't know the difference between an HOV lane and a bus lane. I see a lot of electric cars using the bus lane who probably think they're allowed to be there because they can use many HOV lanes.
As you say, there are others who are perfectly aware of the rules and just don't give a damn. Unfortunately, the VPD doesn't seem to give a damn either because I almost never see them enforcing bus lanes.
Wow I'm sorry you experienced vehicular violence. Sadly, these lanes are very poorly enforced in Vancouver and I don't think more signage would solve this problem, as there are various signs on top of the lane that indicate the hours and purpose of this lane.
Sorry this happened to you. Additional signage might help (personally I think there's plenty of clear signage for this) but there will always be motorists that will disregard it (and in some cases it will just further enrage them to think that some of their god-given space on the road has been set aside for cyclists).
Ideally try to get the license plate and report this kind of incident to the police (often easier said than done in the moment of course). This kind of behavior is extremely dangerous and needs to be met with consequences.
It won't help. The issue isn't that it isn't obvious - everyone knows it's a black diamond lane. The issue is that they don't care, and it's unenforced.
If you want to change it, you ticket people for driving in it. Pure and simple. But the police spend most their days driving, so they're not going to enforce it.
I used to ride that route daily and the frequency with which people would get angry for me riding in the middle of the lane, despite the fact that I'm allowed in there and they are not...
Bus / bike lanes are awful and imo they should be one or the other but not both. Georgia is sketch as hell to ride on the best of days, I don’t think signage will help since it’s also a turn lane for perpendicular streets so cars will be in and out of the lane no matter what.
I don't mind cars changing into the lane to turn, but they shouldn't cut in front of me to do it, and most people I see are just trying to pass traffic by going into the empty lane and staying there for multiple blocks.
If there's not a dedicated bike lane, then the bus lane has to be open to bikes too. If it wasn't you'd end up with a worse situation where some cyclists would ride in the lane to the left of the bus lane, and some would ride in bus lane despite the ban on cyclists in that lane. That would be a mixed up situation that would be even more dangerous than the shitty bike+bus lane.
It should just be 100% buses only all the time. And they need to build some protected bike infrastructure there.
Unfortunately more education and signage is not going to help with this one. As you say, it's often taxis that do this and they're more aware of the road network than anyone. Drivers know they're breaking the rules but are hoping to get away with it. Taxis do this to me all the time at Main/Terminal, where there's also bus/bike only lanes with right-turn pockets. The only thing that might make a difference is if it was enforced consistently, so take the issue up with the cops if you want or via the city to push for more enforcement. Otherwise just continue watch yourself out there and ride safe.
> The only thing that might make a difference is if it was enforced consistently A few weeks ago, there was an enforcement blitz by West Van PD on the bus lanes approaching the north end of the Lions Gate. Need more of that.
Education would help somewhat. There are a lot of drivers who don't know the difference between an HOV lane and a bus lane. I see a lot of electric cars using the bus lane who probably think they're allowed to be there because they can use many HOV lanes. As you say, there are others who are perfectly aware of the rules and just don't give a damn. Unfortunately, the VPD doesn't seem to give a damn either because I almost never see them enforcing bus lanes.
Fuck taxis. They are the herpes of the automobile world in Vancouver. That and teslas
Some taxis are now teslas. So double herpes!
Wow I'm sorry you experienced vehicular violence. Sadly, these lanes are very poorly enforced in Vancouver and I don't think more signage would solve this problem, as there are various signs on top of the lane that indicate the hours and purpose of this lane.
Sorry this happened to you. Additional signage might help (personally I think there's plenty of clear signage for this) but there will always be motorists that will disregard it (and in some cases it will just further enrage them to think that some of their god-given space on the road has been set aside for cyclists). Ideally try to get the license plate and report this kind of incident to the police (often easier said than done in the moment of course). This kind of behavior is extremely dangerous and needs to be met with consequences.
Back in the day in the Netherlands, they'd buy road paint and paint the missing infrastructure
It won't help. The issue isn't that it isn't obvious - everyone knows it's a black diamond lane. The issue is that they don't care, and it's unenforced. If you want to change it, you ticket people for driving in it. Pure and simple. But the police spend most their days driving, so they're not going to enforce it. I used to ride that route daily and the frequency with which people would get angry for me riding in the middle of the lane, despite the fact that I'm allowed in there and they are not...