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       #Post#: 16111--------------------------------------------------
       Tower Hamlets 33C - route restricted to buses and cycles, Monier
       Road, London E3
   DIR By: mishty
       Date: February 23, 2024, 5:31 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Hi all,
       (I've reposted this due to display issues which may have made it
       unreadable for some)
       I received a PCN for a 33C contravention - using a route
       restricted to buses and cycles.
       This junction was unfamiliar to me, and somehow I missed the
       sign. I think it's because the collection of signs and backdrop
       caused confusion.
       Do you think I can challenge with the following points, or
       should I just accept the 'half price' charge if you don't think
       the below is likely to be accepted? I'd be grateful for your
       suggestions or alternate wording that might help.
       * PCN says the charge "£-130.00"
       * The 'bus only' sign is mounted higher than all other signs at
       the junction, including the matching one on the other side of
       the road (section 2.4.1 of Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 1 seems
       to indicate they should match, if I understood correctly?). The
       sign is mounted 3.1m from the ground when the others are 2.4m
       * On approach the sign is against a heavily background, with the
       letters of 'Carlton' written down the chimney, which makes it
       hard to process when scanning.
       * My eyes caught and processed the 20mph sign and I believe I
       would have caught and processed the 'bus only' sign if it were
       next to or mounted together with the 20mph sign (the signs are
       1.2m apart, in addition to the height variance mentioned above).
       * I would have had the knowledge up front if there was an
       advanced warning sign ahead of reaching the junction, which
       there was not.
       I did realise when I saw another sign on the bridge a few metres
       after I had entered the restricted area, and turned back, but I
       think this counts for nothing!
       Here's the PCN:
       Page 1:
  HTML https://i.imgur.com/yYnPfpx.jpeg
       Page 2:
  HTML https://i.imgur.com/ofHaT7b.jpeg
       Page 3:
  HTML https://i.imgur.com/z3girkT.jpeg
       Page 4:
  HTML https://i.imgur.com/6GXvEfj.jpeg
       Page 5:
  HTML https://i.imgur.com/aZUeXwt.jpeg
       Page 6:
  HTML https://i.imgur.com/xwksySF.jpeg
       It's a new restriction, previously there was no entry across the
       bridge, and here is the traffic management order I found on the
       web:
  HTML https://drive.google.com/file/d/10BF6Zn5CbjJEpSvaFUoPkcRlxfHflVr0/view?usp=sharing
       Google Maps hasn't been updated yet, but here is a video of me
       driving through.
  HTML https://drive.google.com/file/d/1043wH5JX44i5Plp-WI6WLjmc79ayR_qv/view?usp=sharing
       Thanks!
       #Post#: 17242--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Tower Hamlets 33C - route restricted to buses and cycles,
       Monier Road, London E3
   DIR By: ivanleo
       Date: March 13, 2024, 6:57 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [member=1279]mishty[/member] the signs look clear as day, but
       the PCN amount is still at £65 which implies you've made a
       representation and the council has issued a rejection reoffering
       the discount.
       This being the case, please show us what you sent, and the
       notice of rejection in full.
       Also what you've found is not a traffic order, it's a notice
       telling you the traffic order has been made. However as this
       sign doesn't need a traffic order at all, the traffic order
       would be of limited assistance in any event.
       #Post#: 17254--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Tower Hamlets 33C - route restricted to buses and cycles,
       Monier Road, London E3
   DIR By: mishty
       Date: March 14, 2024, 5:10 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Many thanks [member=1]cp8759[/member] for your reply.
       I did made representations based on my thinking above and am
       awaiting a response from the council. I'll post back here once
       something comes through
       #Post#: 17263--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Tower Hamlets 33C - route restricted to buses and cycles,
       Monier Road, London E3
   DIR By: ivanleo
       Date: March 14, 2024, 12:59 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Well they've obviously issued a reply as the discount has been
       extended, I'd suggest you contact the council and see if they
       can email you a copy.
       #Post#: 17281--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Tower Hamlets 33C - route restricted to buses and cycles,
       Monier Road, London E3
   DIR By: mishty
       Date: March 15, 2024, 4:50 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Thanks, I just gave them a call to confirm the status - they
       said it's on 'hold' at the moment - which could explain the date
       showing as being extended. They haven't reached a decision or
       issued anything else just yet. Will update when I hear and will
       check periodically just in case something goes missing in the
       post...
       #Post#: 17293--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Tower Hamlets 33C - route restricted to buses and cycles,
       Monier Road, London E3
   DIR By: Hippocrates
       Date: March 15, 2024, 7:32 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: mishty link ---
       >
       > Many thanks [member=1]cp8759[/member] for your reply.
       > I did made representations based on my thinking..........
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       Please show them.
       #Post#: 17301--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Tower Hamlets 33C - route restricted to buses and cycles,
       Monier Road, London E3
   DIR By: mishty
       Date: March 15, 2024, 9:40 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Sure, [member=24]Hippocrates[/member]
       Dear Sir/Madam,
       I wish to challenge the PCN on the below grounds.
       A: Error in PCN:
       1) The amount of the PCN does not make sense when read in
       conjunction with Regulation 5 and 7 of the The Road User
       Charging Schemes (Penalty Charges, Adjudication and Enforcement)
       (England) Regulations 2013. The PCN says the charge "£-130.00"
       (note the minus figure, which indicates a negative transfer of
       funds)
       B Inadequacy of signage:
       1) The 'bus only' sign is mounted higher than all other signs
       at the junction, including the matching one on the other side of
       the road (section 2.4.1 of Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 1
       requires matching heights for duplicated signs). The sign is
       mounted 3.1m from the ground when the others are 2.4m. The
       purpose of the elevated height in this particular sign relative
       to the rest appears to me to be to allow the enforcement camera
       an unobstructed view of this section of road to produce the
       three evidence pictures.
       C Signs require thoughtful placement to ensure effective
       communication with road users:
       C1) On approach the sign is against a heavily background, where
       the significantly prominent letters of 'CARLTON' are written
       down the chimney from the driver's viewpoint, which makes it
       hard to process .
       C2) Existing prominent 20mph signs are significantly spaced
       apart from the new road restriction signs and I would have
       caught and processed the 'bus only' sign if it were next to or
       if only the junction design was updated to have them mounted
       together with the 20mph sign. The signs are 1.2m apart
       unnecessarily causing a driver to really scan hard to be able to
       process all of the signs here.
       C3) Whilst not mandatory, I note there is no advanced warning
       sign ahead of reaching the junction, which would have supported
       my decision making process in advance and avoid the confusion
       caused by the above sign placement and positioning issues.
       Therefore, in light of the above, please cancel the PCN.
       #Post#: 17319--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Tower Hamlets 33C - route restricted to buses and cycles,
       Monier Road, London E3
   DIR By: Hippocrates
       Date: March 15, 2024, 2:53 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       And the rejection letter if any please.
       #Post#: 17321--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Tower Hamlets 33C - route restricted to buses and cycles,
       Monier Road, London E3
   DIR By: mishty
       Date: March 15, 2024, 3:51 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Hi [member=24]Hippocrates[/member], the council are still
       considering my representations and have placed the PCN on hold
       for now - I will post back when I hear their response, whichever
       way it goes. Thanks
       #Post#: 17998--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Tower Hamlets 33C - route restricted to buses and cycles,
       Monier Road, London E3
   DIR By: mishty
       Date: March 21, 2024, 4:08 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Hello,
       I received a rejection letter, shown in the images below.
       I thought my point about the amount figure displaying
       incorrectly on the PCN and about the mismatch in the sign
       heights would convince them to cancel, though the wording in TSM
       says 'should' and not 'must' I think they decided not to.
       Do you think there's any grounds in this or with the rejection
       letter which would make it worth going to appeal?
       Thanks
       Chapter 1 of the Traffic Signs Manual
       "
       2.4 Duplication of regulatory signs
       2.4.1. Terminal signs indicating the start of a restriction,
       requirement, prohibition or speed limit
       should not necessarily be duplicated on each side of the
       carriageway. Provisions that previously
       required signs to be paired have been removed from TSRGD.
       Designers should actively
       consider this flexibility in order to reduce environmental
       impact, but care should be taken to
       ensure that, where a single sign is used, it is clearly visible
       to all relevant road users, and does
       not give rise to issues relating to road safety or enforcement.
       There remains a duty on traffic
       authorities to place such signs as they consider will give
       adequate guidance of a regulatory
       measure. Where it is necessary to place two signs they should
       match in terms of design,
       illumination, height and, wherever possible, be aligned with one
       another on either side of the
       road.
       "
       "
       1.2 Definitions
       1.2.1. In the Manual, the word “must” is used to indicate a
       legal requirement of the Traffic Signs
       Regulations and General Directions (or other legislation) that
       must be complied with. The word
       “should” indicates a course of action that is recommended and
       represents good practice. The
       word “may” generally indicates a permissible action, or an
       option that requires consideration
       depending on the circumstances.
       "
  HTML https://i.imgur.com/OkFzNSi.jpeg
  HTML https://i.imgur.com/PFt2HaN.jpeg
  HTML https://i.imgur.com/A3SneKe.jpeg
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