Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Really SPD, we can't cross the bus lane if we decide not to go 99?
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July 24, 2013 at 3:54 am #794366
wsn00bParticipantThere is a big difference between:
A) cruising in the bus lane : where you should ticket the folks without impunity.
B) and, changing your mind due to an accident caused traffic jam, last minute personal route change decision, collision avoidance, allowing emergency vehicles to pass). Making quick scoot across the bus lane (when no bus is present) on the eastern slope should be ok in my mind – can’t find the exact law. The bus lane is a single solid stripe and not a double white stripe (like restricted HOV lanes on the freeway) . Yes if you hold up a bus in a non-emergency situation getting a ticket is fine.
West Seattle bridge and its lane markings are not a marvel of traffic engineering as is apparent to almost every driver. Some leeway is required for the disruptive bus lane.
TLDR: When not cruising in the bus lane, there should be some leeway.
July 24, 2013 at 5:08 am #794367
dhgParticipantI would prefer we all respect the solid white line and not cross it but it seems insane to top the crest and find the line to 99 is not moving but now I’m supposed to creep forward for the next 30 minutes until I reach Seneca?
If one can make it to the driving lanes to the left without hindering a bus then no harm no foul.
July 24, 2013 at 12:20 pm #794368
mark47nParticipantWhile traffic markings may seem arbitrary I have to presume that thought when into why they are that way by folks who know more about it than me. Also, I don’t recall seeing complaints about it until someone gets busted by the cops. It’s a big double thickness white line. Like it or not, you don’t get to cross it and all of us know it.
July 24, 2013 at 4:24 pm #794369
todd_ParticipantI agree Mark.
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It may seem like a pain to wait in the 99 north lane but the left lane that goes to I 5 north is, IMO, historically a longer wait and more congested so it doesn’t make sense to try to get out of the 99 north lane to cut over to the I 5 north lane, no matter where the merge is legal or illegal. In fact, at the time I am commuting, the 99 north lane has looked a lot better than in years/decades past.
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WSB covered an accident earlier this year caused by someone changing lanes from 99 north across the bus lane. People were injured, inconvenienced, and property damaged and it made getting out of WS a 1.5 hour ordeal vs the usual 30 – 45 minutes.
July 24, 2013 at 9:58 pm #794370
dhgParticipantYou think that’s bad, that’s nothin’. I know someone who got hit and nearly killed taking a left turn! Left turns are really really dangerous and should be banned. Driving over the speed of 20 mph is really really dangerous and should be banned. It is painfully obvious that people just don’t know how to drive and shouldn’t be allowed.
July 24, 2013 at 10:22 pm #794371
kgdlgParticipantI carefully looked at this issue this morning as I was heading towards I-5. It is totally and completely possible to gauge the 99 commute prior to the crest of the bridge, which is actually quite far onto the bridge.
I suspect that cars cutting across the dedicated bus lane are quite disruptive and dangerous, as for the buses to run efficiently they need to get up to about 30 or 35 mph. Having a car sitting in the bus lane waiting to merge, or crossing on a whim could cause some serious danger…
July 25, 2013 at 12:17 am #794372
WFMemberif SDOT moved the striping about 100′ to the east just past the crest you could see traffic and make informed decisions
July 25, 2013 at 12:21 am #794373
WFMemberdhg in europe it is much harder to get a license. and it amazing that the state does not require people to obtain additional licensing to drive a 40′ motor-home but do need to get one to operate a motorcycle
July 25, 2013 at 2:54 am #794374
JoBParticipantI am in the if you cross a solid white line and a policeman sees you, you are likely to get a ticket category…
sorry
July 25, 2013 at 3:43 am #794375
seaopgalParticipantSo, what if the two left lanes are backed up, but the lane to 99 is flowing … do you get to cross the bus lane in that direction? And then perhaps cross back over to the 1st / 4th Ave lane? The bus lane calms traffic by limiting lane changes as well as expediting transit. I’m sorry the OP got a ticket, but it is reasonable.
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