Request ID: FOI-2477-2122 Date published: 16 February 2022
You asked
Follow-up to FOI-2386-2122: I have reviewed the information you have sent to me.
From my reading of GLA 2009 No.246, looking specifically at item 22 between Butcher Row and Lukin Street the only vehicles which could use the bus lane were buses, dial-a-ride buses, taxis and pedal cycles.
However, looking at the street view images, the road signage itself suggests that the bus lane could be used by motorcycles.
Could you please advise what signs are in place for road users and whether these show which vehicles can use the bus lane and when the signs were last changed to reflect GLA 2020 no.0456
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-2477-2122
Thank you for your further request of 31st January 2022 asking for information about the bus lane on Commercial Road, E1.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Specifically you aksed:
“From my reading of GLA 2009 No.246, looking specifically at item 22 between Butcher Row and Lukin Street the only vehicles which could use the bus lane were buses, dial-a-ride buses, taxis and pedal cycles. However, looking at the street view images, the road signage itself suggests that the bus lane could be used by motorcycles. Could you please advise what signs are in place for road users and whether these show which vehicles can use the bus lane and when the signs were last changed to reflect GLA 2020 no.0456”.
Currently, between Butcher Row and Lukin Street (i.e. westbound) on Commercial Road, there are 10 signs that relate to the bus lane. These are installed after every side road, plus an additional repeater between Butcher Row and Boulcott Street. The signs indicate the vehicles permitted to use the bus lane – buses, pedal cycles, solo motorcycles and taxis, and the hours of operation. Note that the attached General Variation Order added “Solo Motorcycles” to the list of vehicles allowed to use most of our bus lanes (including between Butcher Row and Lukin Street). This Order came into force on the 23rd of January 2012 and the signs would have been changed around that time to reflect this.
The signs were last changed (by using stickers to cover the previous versions) between the 13th and 19th of September 2020. We are aware that some of these stickers may have fallen off or have been removed. According to Google street view, in 2021 seven of the signs show the correct “At all times” wording. However, the following three signs show the old times of “Mon-Sat 7am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm”: 1.repeater sign between Butcher Row and Boulcott Street; 2. sign between Pitsea Street and Albert Gardens, and; 3. sign between Albert Gardens and Albert Gardens.
If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me.
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Yours sincerely,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
