Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Rant – Cars on the bridge who drive in the ‘bus only’ lane
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September 2, 2009 at 4:53 pm #676061
JanSParticipantso, by your sticking to the law, I should hang in the “far right lane” going over the bridge until my “exit”. That would mean that I hang in the lane going to N99, and at the last minute cut over through the bus only lane to get to the lane that takes me to Beacon Hill. And there-in lies a problem..making me yet another driver having to use the bus only lane illegally, which is the OP’s complaint. On the highway I understand what you’re saying, but the bridge has lanes going to specific places, and in rush hour one needs to get in that lane, stay there, and keep traffic moving..Geez….silliness..
September 2, 2009 at 5:27 pm #676062
johnnyblegsMemberHomer – I wish every major artillery had a bus only lane. Can you imagine all of 99 during rush hour if there was a bus lane? Everyone would want to ride the bus and zip past the commuters stuck in their car
JanS – You’re absolutely correct.
Beachdrivegirl & CMP – Are you two serious?! “slower traffic keep right” pretty much applies to freeway traffic. Do you keep right while driving down every road? I don’t think so. The WS bridge is not a freeway. The “slower traffic keep right” law does not apply to the bridge. Too many variables…
1) The far right lane is an exit only lane to 99
2) The lane to the left is a ‘bus only’ lane. Not a passing lane as many use it for.
3) The lane to the left of that is the merge lane to 1st ave exit & the through lane to beacon hill & I-5 S.
4) The far left lane is exit only to I-5 N.
If you’re pissed at other drivers for going slow on the bridge and not moving over for you, take a deep breath, slow down and ask yourself why you’re in such a hurry.
September 2, 2009 at 5:58 pm #676063
beachdrivegirlParticipantHomer-see my rant about the bus lane. I am contacting SDOT to recommend a change. I would love it if I could have your support too!
Sorry, Jan, I don’t find my recommendation silly. And I am surprised that you do considering you have had no problems pushing the law on others in other threads.
And to others. Yes, I am serious. If you are going to preach to other to follow the law then you should lead by example. Here is the LAW where it says slower vehicles keep right except to pass.
“On a road with two lanes traveling in opposite directions,you must drive on the right side of the road except when you are legally passing another vehicle.”
September 2, 2009 at 6:36 pm #676064
flowerpetalMemberBeachdrivegirl, what you are quoting is not the law, that book is the drivers guide; sometimes referred to as the rules of the road.
And if you read the next page from where you were taking your quote you will see that the rule for this situation is for Jan to use the middle lane.
If you want to quote law, you can find the WAC here: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/
September 2, 2009 at 6:37 pm #676065
johnnyblegsMemberBut the law also states to adjust to the flow of traffic, to keep pace with the other vehicles on the road. This applies very much so to the bridge where every lane has it’s designated destination (post 27), unlike most roads. The law of keeping right is difficult to the point of non existent on the bridge. If it was followed to the ‘T’ the bridge would be a cluster &%$!
September 2, 2009 at 6:44 pm #676066
andreaParticipantOK, this is utter foolishness. There is no way I am going to stay in the far right 99N exit lane of the bridge if I am heading to I-5N out of West Seattle. It’s not practical, safe, or necessary. I guarantee you, as the wife of a police officer, there is no way in the world you would ever be ticketed or pulled over for being in the far left lane going over th bridge at a normal and safe speed. But you can and will be ticketed if you cross over 3 lane of traffic (including the aforementioned bus only lane) from the far right to the far left at the last minute.
September 2, 2009 at 6:48 pm #676067
flowerpetalMemberAmen. The right place to be is in the middle lane.
September 2, 2009 at 6:58 pm #676068
swimcatMemberNo one ever said if you were heading to NB I-5 that you should stay in the far right lane that exits to NB 99 until you need to merge over. Why are people wasting their time arguing over this? I think the bottom line is be aware of the speed other drivers are going and do what they are doing (which is hopefully going at or slightly above the speed limit). Let’s lose the self-righteous attitudes and just try to do what is best for everyone while we’re out on the road.
September 2, 2009 at 7:09 pm #676069
bluebirdMemberThe bridge would be considered two lanes of traffic, with an additional bus only lane, and an exit to the viaduct (or 1st, or the southbound freeway). No one is suggesting you drive in the exit lane and then at the last moment fly across 3 lanes to get onto the freeway. Please. The far right in this circumstance would be the right lane of the two full lanes. The left lane is always reserved for passing.
Edit: and even though you are likely to never get ticketed for this, you could. BTW, WS bridge is considered the WS freeway by the state isn’t it? Even google maps calls it Seattle Freeway.
September 2, 2009 at 7:26 pm #676070
JanSParticipantbluebird..if you notice the bridge signs, they no longer refer to the WS “Freeway” in reality. This was a big thing at one point because people felt that if it was a freeway, the 45mph limit was wrong and they were going 55-60 mph (actually, some still are). So the state changed the designation, said it is a bridge, not a freeway. The maps have never caught up, I believe.
Andrea, you’re a breath of fresh air :)
m…when BDG suggested that we should be in the far right lane, unless we were passing, the far right lane on the bridge is the one that takes you to N99. I totally agree with you that the middle lane is where I should be.
I’m just glad that I live AND work in WS, and don’t have to put up with the commuter traffic on a regular basis.
Now, everyone have a wonderful, sunny day, and drive carefully..you may be fine, but that other guy..well, ya never know…
September 2, 2009 at 7:32 pm #676071
JanSParticipantI do have a question for people. When merging, like when going from the onramp from Avalon/Admiral to the middle lane, what should one expect from people already in that lane. When I first moved to Seattle, my now ex-hubby explained over and over, that the “rule of thumb” was let every other car in, and that keeps traffic moving. Example..you let a car into your lane, the next person let’s a car in, etc. Not two or three cars, just one, as in taking turns. Is that how everyone does it? or is it just whatever, a somewhat” free for all”?
September 2, 2009 at 7:40 pm #676072
bluebirdMemberJanS, the name of it is referred to as the West Seattle Bridge, and in fact WSB featured the resolution to change the name. It is still legally a freeway.
https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/williamsbridge.pdf
The point is, everyone was jumping on BDG and CMP for saying stay to the right, when the middle lane everyone is arguing about IS the right lane and the lane I’m guessing they were referring to.
September 2, 2009 at 7:49 pm #676073
swimcatMemberJanS- good question. I view merge points as a zipper. In order to function properly, it needs to go every other car. That is why when a lane is ending on the freeway (i.e EB I-90 at the Mt.Baker tunnel entrance), I go to the very end of that left lane to merge. If you merge too early, you back everyone up behind you and totally stunt the traffic flow.
September 2, 2009 at 8:01 pm #676074
beachdrivegirlParticipantJan, most people, allow every other car in. However some dont.
M-Be careful doing what you are doing. My husband got a ticket for doing exactly that.
September 2, 2009 at 8:27 pm #676075
JanSParticipantBDG..sorry your hubby got caught. The ones that really get me are the ones in the middle lane at the Western Ave. exit on N99, when there’s a long line of traffic in that lane. Then they stop with their signals on blocking that lane going into the tunnel..guess there are a lot of things out there that need to be improved, huh.
September 2, 2009 at 8:58 pm #676076
JulieMemberThe “when to merge” question is that with which Tom Vanderbilt begins Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do http://books.google.com/books?id=_5KJG2rD8rEC&lpg=PP1&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q=&f=false (I recommended this book in another thread: https://westseattleblog.com/blog/forum/topic.php?id=5848).
It’s an interesting discussion!
September 2, 2009 at 10:12 pm #676077
WSratsinacageMemberThis area has been a CF for years and ofcourse has been discussed here before. I know I am bringing no new info to the table but just want to add that I feel that 270 degree turn that the right lane takes when it turns into 99 N requires people to slow down so much that it backs up the volume in the right lane all the way up and back over the hill. This just adds to the merge problem for those trying to get over to the main lines and those trying to get over to the far right 99 N only lane. There is also an onramp at the bottom of the hill which comes up from Spokane which allows people to get to 99 N. This short merge adds to the carnage.
Not sure what we can do about it but it frustrates me too. Basically the bridge was not designed to handle the volume or not designed very well.. I mean can you believe that there used to be a higher speed limit, no center divider, and a on ramp (on the westbound side) with a very short dangerous merge (which is now closed because someone died)!? Hopefully the “re-do” that is going on now will make traffic flow be better.
September 2, 2009 at 10:27 pm #676078
flowerpetalMemberJulie, thanks for reminding me who it was that recommended that book. I reserved it immediately upon reading what you had to say about it.
Its way far away from anything I would have predictably read and not too nerdy for the layperson.
Thanks again.
September 2, 2009 at 10:47 pm #676079
swimcatMemberBDG- I’m confused as to why your husband got a ticket? Is there something illegal about using a lane until it ends? I could understand getting a ticket for doing this where a lane DOES NOT END, like the NB 99/Western Ave situation mentioned by JanS (that spot drives me crazy as I see it happen almost every morning).
September 2, 2009 at 11:22 pm #676080
beachdrivegirlParticipantIt was a couple of years ago and i believe that the ticket was given b/c if your lane is ending and it was clearly marked before hand then the driver (you) has to yield to other vehicles. It is not mandatory that any vehicle lets you in.
September 3, 2009 at 12:27 am #676081
HammertreeMemberWouldn’t it make more sense to allow first avenue exiters to use the bus only lane also.
September 3, 2009 at 5:50 pm #676082
HomerParticipantHi Beachdrivegirl…I would DEFINITELY support your request to turn this into a carpool/bus lane!!! In fact, I already have but don’t think I got anywhere…see the response here that I got from Reiner Blanco with SDOT (reiner.blanco@seattle.gov):
Thank you for writing to the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) regarding traffic congestion on the West Seattle Bridge. SDOT shares your concerns with wanting our street system to operate safely and efficiently for carpools as well as buses.
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> SDOT installed the bus-only lanes eastbound on the West Seattle Bridge to provide a benefit for commuters willing to travel by bus. SDOT understands that this condition may not be as desirable for other drivers and carpoolers. The suggestion you made would provide less of a benefit to buses because it would allow additional traffic into what is currently an exclusive bus lane. This has the potential to result in additional delay for buses. We are trying to improve how the roadways within the city operate and to provide transportation choices to people.
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> With construction of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, it is likely that there will be significantly more buses using the West Seattle Bridge bus lane. Some of these buses will be Metro’s new “RapidRide bus rapid transit” buses. As a result, I expect that you the bus lane will appear to be better utilized in the future. Keeping the bus lane available exclusively to buses will become even more important than it is today.
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> That said, we want to ensure that the West Seattle Bridge is utilized as efficiently as possible, and I will ask the team that is working on maintaining traffic flow during Alaskan Way Viaduct construction to consider your suggestion.
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> There are currently several projects being studied which will benefit travelers between West Seattle and Downtown. Additionally, we are about to begin construction on improvements to the Spokane Street Viaduct which will dramatically improve traffic flow and safety.
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> We appreciate you bringing your concerns to our attention. We value the contribution that citizens bring to transportation issues. If you have any further thoughts or concerns, please contact me directly at (206) 615-1911 or via e-mail at reiner.blanco@seattle.gov.
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> Sincerely,
>
> Reiner Blanco, P.E.
> Senior Civil Engineer and Arterial Street Operations Supervisor
> Seattle Department of Transportation
>
September 4, 2009 at 12:46 am #676083
johnnyblegsMemberWow, what a clear & thorough response from the SDOT. I partially agree with the reasons. Opening the lane to all traffic in non-rush, say 10am-3pm & 7pm-6am kind of makes sense as well. Just as they should be for I-5
September 4, 2009 at 4:11 pm #676084
HomerParticipantYeah, but the real problem isn’t during non-rush hour times…then, there is no need for anyone to use this lane. Sure, you could open it up to all during this time, no harm done, but the real issue is during rush hour. Would we rather it sit empty except for the occasional bus, or use it and keep it moving with more frequent carpooler’s and buses? The amount of carpoolers wouldn’t affect the bus traffic in this lane because as good as Seattle is about carpooling, still, not too many people do it. On the other hand, just getting a few more cars out of the general purpose lanes could/would greatly free up the general purpose lanes. Seems like a win-win to me but not to SDOT. Hmmmmm….
September 4, 2009 at 5:14 pm #676085
JustSarahParticipantBut we’re not talking about the “occasional” bus during rush hour – there are buses transporting us commuters downtown constantly during rush hour – I’d estimate at least 20 buses/hour use the lane. And I appreciate that SDOT has kept this lane as “bus only” as an incentive for those of us who can, choose to, or have to take the bus into work.
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