Some of our successes

In early 2007 we advised Transport for London that many of their bus lanes were not marked in accordance with the regulations set out by the department of transport. We have pointed out that they are, in our opinion, not legally allowed to enforce bus lanes that are not marked and signed correctly. They did not respond. Eventually we complained to the local government ombudsman but again they would not respond. Finally in November 2007 Transport for London wrote to the ombudsman confirming that we were right and that their “senior route manager for the central London area has now inspected these four sites and advised me that the road markings do not comply with the regulations"  The rules clearly state that the thick white line which denotes the bus lane must stop at least 10 metres short of a minor junction and 30 metres short of a major junction. In many instances the bus lane continues right to a junction with no set back and on occasion doesn’t even have a break in it. In his draft determination the local government ombudsman upheld our complaint and asked TFL to survey all of their bus lanes and report their findings to the adjudicator and us and to pay us £100 compensation for they delay in dealing with the matter. However TFL resisted the request to survey their bus lanes and without referring back to us the adjudicator withdrew his request.! We have still not seen the £100 though! TFL did erase the sections of bus lanes that we advised them should not be there. On one section alone in Knightsbridge they subsequently advised us that they had issued over 2,200 penalty charge notices before the line was errased! Tthey did not refund the motorists. 

Camden council have also confirmed to us that their bus lane in Rosslyn Hill London NW3 was incorrectly marked and signed but that they will not refund motorists who have been fined for entering this incorrectly marked bus lane!

We were instrumental in having Camden council set up a scrutiny panel into parking which resulted in many changes in the way that they carry out their enforcement.

We have addressed a scrutany panel set up by Westminster council and attended various parking forums and summits. We have met with TFL and the shadow roads minister.

We have made submissions to government committees and lobbied MP’s in Westminster.

Our highlighting of problems with unfair parking enforcement around Lords cricket ground when matches are being played and in Knightsbridge over bank holidays has led to the end of such enforcement.

Our campaign against dangerous moped enforcement of parking offences in Westminster has led to the stopping of all daytime enforcement by moped based drivers.

We attend meetings of the London motorist’s action group whose other high profile members include the actor Tom Conti.

We even took out an advertisement in the local press at the time of the last local elections reminding residents of the unfair enforcement policies of Camden council. After 30 years in power Labour lost control of Camden council.

In  the year ended April 05 31,124 penalty charge notices for bus lane and parking contraventions were issued in just one road in Lambeth. Many local authorities generally regarded as poor and inefficient suddenly have extremely efficient parking and bus lane enforcement. Often bus lanes are poorly marked and  the cctv operators are all too quick to issue tickets.

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Did you know that in the year ending 2005 transport for London spent £20m on installing CCTV camera’s and projected that they would receive £23m in fines. Now that’s a good investment!