Another bus-lane crackdown on the WS Bridge

Once again today, via Twitter, we heard police were focusing on West Seattle Bridge bus lane violators. Here’s the results, from SPD Blotter:

On June 15th, the Aggressive Drivers Response Team (ADRT) conducted a “Bus Only” lane emphasis patrol on the West Seattle Bridge at the request of West Seattle residents. 

The following citations were issued:

West Seattle Bridge – 45 mph zone
1 at 59 mph
19 Bus Lane violations

Additionally, an ADRT officer issued the following citations today:

3100 block SW Admiral Way – 30 mph zone:
1 at 52 mph
1 at 49 mph
1 at 48 mph
2 at 47 mph
3 at 46 mph
1 at 44 mph

1 Seat Belt

25 Replies to "Another bus-lane crackdown on the WS Bridge"

  • rockergirl5678 June 15, 2011 (10:38 pm)

    What a headache – all this did was distract drivers and cause a traffic jam! I am very frustrated with all the construction going on and the fact that it takes forever for residents to get in and out of west seattle during peak commute times…..would make sense to keep all trucks on the lower level all the way to farthest I-5 on ramps to keep the flow moving better…….also wish vanpools & carpools were allowed to use the bus lane as well.

  • SJ2 June 15, 2011 (11:05 pm)

    I agree – I wish they would open the bus only lane to carpools and van pools. We were considering starting a van pool at my office until we realized they aren’t allowed in the bus only lanes. I was amazed to see so many semi trucks using the bus only lane today, and being pulled over.

  • Alison June 16, 2011 (5:55 am)

    What if they just opened the bus lane to all traffic during peak commute hours? Or would that just make things worse?

  • April June 16, 2011 (6:42 am)

    I am very happy to hear this. Way to go SPD!

  • austin June 16, 2011 (6:57 am)

    If a driver is distracted by the presence of police, that person should not be behind the wheel.

  • JAT June 16, 2011 (8:00 am)

    BUS LANE it couldn’t be more clear. I’m fine with devoting infrastructure to the exclusive use of transit. And when I’m in my car stuck behind the cars in front of me and a bus lane violator blows by, I scribble down their license and report them (which is trickier with the move to 7 digit plates…)

    and as a frequent cyclist let me say that elsewhere in the city where dedicated bus lanes have to share with cyclists it doesn’t work very well…

    (except on 3rd Ave downtown – that works really well.)

  • Amanda June 16, 2011 (8:02 am)

    They are back this morning…

  • Scott June 16, 2011 (8:15 am)

    The Bus lane also need to be re-striped.

  • jno June 16, 2011 (8:38 am)

    Thank you, SPD! As frustrating as traffic is for everyone, it’s even more frustrating to see scofflaws zooming down the bus lane and getting away with it.

  • ben June 16, 2011 (8:42 am)

    i love this. until there’s light rail between west seattle and downtown there should be bus-only lanes the whole way, and police to enforce them.

  • Cowpie June 16, 2011 (8:59 am)

    I don’t kow how I feel about the Bus Lane traffic stops. It made for horrible traffic…think about it. A police officer is at the ebd of the bus lane pulling violators over; that is going to get lookers and slow down traffic. However…I love to see those law breakers get a ticket…love it.

    If the goal is to make money for the City just simply go to the ferry line and ticket all the illegal U-turn drivers. The City could pay for the stadiums with the money we’d get from the ferry users.

  • MJB June 16, 2011 (10:17 am)

    yep! i love seeing these violators pulled over! and i hate being on my crowded bus every day sitting behind some jackass trying to cut into 99 from the bus lane. speaking of, my driver today was awesome, leaning on the horn at the bus lane sitting a-holes.

  • Elizagrace June 16, 2011 (11:05 am)

    I completely agree that ticketing violators in the way to go. Sure it stalls traffic for a bit, so what, it makes a clear point to people breaking the law that it will not be tolerated.
    I would rather sit in extra traffic any day then see a bunch of bus lane cheaters fly by me and sneak in while I wait.

  • KBear June 16, 2011 (11:07 am)

    I think they should impound violators’ cars and make them ride the bus.

  • foy boy June 16, 2011 (11:12 am)

    We need to move on another park an ride in westseattle. You have to sit in traffic just to get to the one we already have. Use one of the empty lots in triangle.

  • miws June 16, 2011 (11:29 am)

    foy boy, what has been METRO’s and the City of Seattle’s responses to the letters/e-mails you have sent them regarding using some of the what’s left of the Huling properties as a Park and Ride?

    .

    Mike

  • workfromhomejohn June 16, 2011 (11:42 am)

    I like to see this, and hope they keep it up. All those folks cutting in line by using the Bus Only lane, or speeding down Admiral are making a conscious choice to try to cut everyone else off. They take a risk, and they pay for it. If they want to pay more than the usual share of the city street and highway funds, I say more power to ’em. Speed away, my friends! Drive in the Bus Only lane! Less for me to pay.

  • Side B June 16, 2011 (12:32 pm)

    As someone who commutes across the bridge daily I have a different perspective. If we are supposed to stay out of the “Bus Only” lane why do I have to follow so many buses going 20 mph in the outside lane each morning? Shouldn’t they be required to stay in the lane reserved for them?

  • Alex June 16, 2011 (12:49 pm)

    Is the fine still just $174? They need to raise it to like $2000, along with all other infractions that demonstrate blatant disregard for others’ rights (e.g. line cutting). That way we could solve our budget woes on the backs of the evil people of the world. If the fine is just $174, and it’s only enforced often enough to catch a daily-offender like once per year, they might as well just keep doing it. Heck, if I were the kind of person with no regard for others, I’d happily pay $174 per year to use the bus lane every day. That’s a great value!

  • Elizagrace June 16, 2011 (2:06 pm)

    19 violators at $174 = $3,306
    19 violators at $2,000 = $38,000
    (plus what they got last week… +51 violations = grand total (hypothetically) at $140,000)

    That is some heavy change in the city pocket. I like it!

  • mickey mouse June 16, 2011 (2:39 pm)

    I wish the SPD would patrol the high bridge and the Spokane viaduct for speeders at 6am everyday. I commute at that time and people are driving FAST and wreckless.

  • PDieter June 16, 2011 (3:36 pm)

    “I commute at that time and people are driving FAST and wreckless.”

    so you would prefer slow and wrecked?

    I just don’t understand the things westseattlites want sometimes.

  • co June 16, 2011 (5:21 pm)

    Very pleased with this.

  • Moose2 June 16, 2011 (9:05 pm)

    Yes, this is so good to hear. There are far too many people who think that the bus lane rules don’t apply to them. This also happens downtown on 3rd Ave in the bus-only sections.

    Any idea how to report the license plates of violators? I would love to report every one I see each day.

  • happy June 16, 2011 (10:12 pm)

    The fine is $124.00. The City gets about $45.00 per ticket that goes into the general fund.

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