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Have a PCN for a bus lane infringement heading south between Charles Street and Brancaster Road. Is this bit buses only? I had just picked up some customers and trying to find my way out of Central Manchester at the time but honestly have no recollection of seeing any restrictions. The photo that they sent was poor but there is only one lane so not a lane error as such.
Maybe this stretch is buses only? Can anyone confirm please?
Street view suggests between 6am and 9pm it's a restricted route unless you are exempt.
Unfortunately yes it!
Yeah big no no on that bit of road. Did you not wonder why you had the road to yourself? 🤣
I know this road very well and yes its restricted. Clutching at straws now but if you were turning left from Charles St onto Oxford Road the sign showing it as a bus-gate on the opposite side of the road is at a 45degree angle and to my mind could just as easily be perceived as signing the opposite road (Hulme Street, not restricted) as the actual one (restricted) left-turn to Oxford Road.
There are other signs though before you reach the junction so I think you're likely gonna have to cough up.
If it makes you feel any better I see people driving up it during restricted hours most days.
Its been like that for quite a few years now. The entire stretch from the Curry Mile into town is buses and cycle lanes only. I read somewhere its the busiest bus route in Europe
On the plus side, I was working on Oxford Road for a few months just before lockdown, when it had come into force and the traffic-free nature of it makes for a genuinely very pleasant environment. There are plans to roll it out to other main arterial routes. I think the next one is through Cheetham Hill into the Northern Quarter
The whole road is a no-no. Must catch loads of people out though, given the number of cars still on it. You don't have many option's to 'cross it' without falling foul - especially near the 'hospital.
IIRC a few years ago someone put a freedom of information request in to see how much money they were taking in fines per year on that stretch and it was in the millions.
Despite being well aware of it I once got caught out myself when Binnerette number 1 broke her foot and I was rushing and flapping a bit to get her into hospital. I reckon I must have been in 'the zone' for about 40 yards
I was giving a lecture at the hospital last year and strayed onto it by accident. Was expecting one but didn't get a fine. like Binners i was on it for about 20 yards. Looks l had a lucky escape
Well, I've learned something... I thought it was 24 hours... have been avoiding it assuming that.
EDIT: that Uni area feels like a proper campus now, far better than back in my day... reduced traffic and increased bike use is a winner... swapping the Salutation and Jabez for a Brewdog is a sad sign of the times though.
Salutation is still there but owned by MMU now and not really a proper local pub anymore- so, not quite the characterful place that it was.
The quiet roads and bike lanes are great though tbf but still dicey riding through Rusholme, bike lanes or no.
Cheers! My age addled brain meant the Pheonix though. Pies by day, acid house by night.
https://www.mdmarchive.co.uk/tag/6873/Phoenix
Yes with regret I know this part of the fine route very well . The ammount of fines we have to process per month with drivers following sat navs and not the road signs. Its a horrid area and with out sounding cynical done for revenue and nothing more .
Get better sat navs. Or better drivers. Sorry to sound harsh, but there have been signs everywhere, for years, and Google and Apple both route around it. Amateurs getting it wrong is understandable, but professionals...?
Cheers! My age addled brain meant the Pheonix though. Pies by day, acid house by night.
I spent an awful lot of time in the Phoenix for a while. And discovered fairly recently that I could very possibly have offered a spliff to this bloke, while sat on the floor upstairs
Cumberbatch studied in Manchester, where he discovered the city’s legendary party scene. “I was very, very into techno for a long time. That was my bag at uni,” he says. “I went clubbing a lot and all sorts of nonsense ensued. Havok on a Friday was my favourite
Thanks all, can't get clearer than that! Harder to notice in the dark and rain and unfamiliar roads but fair cop.
Fortunately I sent these customers back to their hotel in Ubers for the next two days or i might have racked up a few quid in fines!
Yep also know it well, one of my engineers and my wife both got PCNs on that stretch, very complex and extremely difficult to see in the dark, rain, with pedestrians everywhere. Awful bit of enforcement.
@Kelvin you are right ... its not my money its theirs. You would think being stung once would be a learning curve but some never learn. The whole area is a mess and should be nuked from orbit to be sure .
Salutation is still good - it's been restored by MMU, but forms part of the SU - it's not cheap.
I spent an awful lot of time in the Phoenix for a while. And discovered fairly recently that I could very possibly have offered a spliff to this bloke, while sat on the floor upstairs
I must have crossed paths with him too as I was pretty much an ever-present at Havok from 96 until the Pheonix shut down and it moved to the Music Box. Funnily enough I was at a Havok 28th birthday reunion on Saturday. Cumberbatch clearly didn't know about it as I didn't see him there. 🙂
When I was a teenager (some time ago) The Phoenix was a rock club. As a teenager, of the rock venues, The Phoenix was easiest to get into under age, then a bit older and it was UMIST (but you had to have an NUS card or an invite) and finally Jillys when you came of age...
I'm feeling old now... 😞 Happy days, mind.
Jilly's Rock World... 50p to get in on the quiet (but great) nights.
I must have crossed paths with him too as I was pretty much an ever-present at Havok from 96 until the Pheonix shut down and it moved to the Music Box. Funnily enough I was at a Havok 28th birthday reunion on Saturday.
Ha, nice! I was fairly regular at Havok from late 98 to maybe 2001/2ish? And a Phoenix regular until perhaps 04/05?
How was the reunion? My BiL went to a reunion a few years ago - possibly the 20th birthday. Had a whale of a time...
Jabez for a Brewdog
I thought the uni had bought Jabez and moved into it?
I believe Binners has that tattooed across his chest
Well, I didn’t, but to be honest I feel obliged to now 😂
I'm sure there must be an artful way to cover up the existing 'Binners-Tshirts.com' tattooed on t-shirt.
Jabez for a Brewdog
I thought the uni had bought Jabez and moved into it?
Yep they knocked it down and have built on the site.
Joshua Brookes is still going, I keep meaning to head to a drum and bass night there but keep bottling it. Not sure I'd last much past midnight nowadays 😀
First date with my other half was at Club Trop. Classy… huh.
I still haven't got over the fact they knocked down The Bowling Green pub next to the MRI and closed the McDougal Centre climbing wall. Must say I have trouble navigating the uni area now, it's changed so much.
At least Babylon Pizza still seems to be there.
How was the reunion?
Very good, although I'm kind of hoping they don't have another one as dancing til 4 in the morning to relentless pounding techno is a bit much these days. Might send Mick Beatle a message to get Cumberbatch down for the next one. 😀
DP
I’m kind of hoping they don’t have another one as dancing til 4 in the morning to relentless pounding techno is a bit much these days.
Ha, yes - I can't really imagine doing Havok without being off my box, and I think those days might be behind me! I do still love techno, although I do have to admit the late 90's squat-acid vibe was just a teensy bit one-dimensional now I come to think of it...
If you're still in touch with the guys, I hope they're doing well - I used to see Mick quite often when he worked in the Spin Inn. A good bloke.
Jabez is still standing - been empty for several years but now has scaffolding around it. A return to student alehouse unlikely.
From bus lane infringement to selling spliffs
Just to highlight that you don't sell spliffs in the chillout room of a rave. You offer them freely because you are filled with a boundless love for your fellow humans, between about 11pm and 5am.
Jabez is still standing! My mistake, there's a new building that's taken ages to complete in front of it, I had mistakenly thought it was a much bigger development.
Might go and have a nosy on my way home tonight 😀