Hi all,
On 15th April I was snapped in a bus lane in Hammersmith (London). I admit to this, of course, it was me on the bike.
On 2nd May I had to go to hospital, and was the next day informed from home that a PCN had arrived for me. As I felt unable to deal with it properly at the time I sent an email to LBHF (London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham) requesting an extension of the grace period. I got an automatic reply. I phoned the number on the PCN and was reassured that as my email had been received, the PCN was automatically on hold until a reply was sent. Until now, there has been no reply so I assume it's still on hold.
Nearly all of London's bus lanes now permit motorcycles as well as buses and taxis and I've been sort of taking this for granted. Suddenly here is a confusing sign, showing a bus lane in the middle of the road, that I was trying to decipher and I missed the fact that there was no motorcycle icon shown. In no time I was past the sign and in the bus lane, which of course I assumed was open to motorcycles.
Apart from the fact that I can think of no convincing reason to exclude motorcycles from bus lanes, which suggests that this exclusion may simply be a money-making scheme which works by catching bikers out, I am fully resigned to paying the fine.
Unless there is a reason to challenge? Can anyone suggest whether I have any grounds?
Many thanks
Peter