“Couldn't agree with you more.

I personally don't think the bus stops would be a good idea on the main roads. The school kids would certainly end up in danger, let alone two stationary buses impeding traffic flow on a far busier road.
Also I can not condone someone parking in a deliberately difficult manner although I have not seen this first hand. Also in this instance when I photographed the situation it was not that particular persons vehicle that was parked there.
What does not help is that because the bus stop and route is poorly thought out. Apart from possible visitors parking, there's nothing stopping a resident having a skip put down etc which would cause the same problem.
It's a frustrating situation because I've no doubt the residents and the drivers could have probably come up with a better solution themselves.
I certainly don't want to point the blame at an individual or the bus drivers. The problems caused seem fairly inevitable due to the poorly thought out route which I'm sure the drivers dislike as do the residents.”

“Alex, I agree that the Bus Stop may not be placed in the ideal position for the local residents, and maybe if as originally suggested, when the school is redesigned, the 'STOP' will be placed inside its boundaries, then this MAY solve some of the problems. However even if this was so, the buses would still need to use Lacey Drive to access the school, as there is no other suitable alternative for buses of this size, wether single or double deck.

I imagine that due to the numbers of students that go to that school, Bus Stops on the main Coulsdon Road are unsuitable due to the size of the pavements and the dangers of fast moving traffic. Given the behaviour of the students I would suggest that this would be a highly dangerous move to all concerned.

As stated earlier in this thread, the driver in question ADMITS to parking his car on a regular basis in such a position that although not illegally parked causes an obstruction so as to hinder buses. (This is not a one off situation due to a car of a relative)

If as you say some drivers just drive over the grass/flower bed when the car is not there, then I have sympathy with your problems, and I would be unable to defend those drivers, as I am fully aware that, with care it is possible to make that turn without mounting the kerb/grass. however that is said as long as the car is not parked in a position to hinder the turn.

Problems occur when trying to decide whose responsibility it is with the positioning of the stop, Croydon Council control the road (and pavements), but TfL control the bus stop and its positioning in conference with the local highways authority (Croydon Council), the phrase @one does not know what the other is doing' is probably quite apt, however all that said it is NOT the fault of the DRIVERS as to where the stop is placed, they have absolutly no control on that issue.

Maybe its time to stop blaming the drivers and look at higher authorities. The original story does no good for relations between the drivers and local residents, (just look at the very 1st comment on the story), MOST of the drivers do their very best I'm sure, don't just castigate them its a hard enough job as it is.

If the drivers and the residents worked together to solve the problem then maybe things would be better, and a start to this would just be to get the Car moved, if it can then be proved that there are still problems then maybe the council/TfL would look at alternatives, however the cheapest option for them at present would be to just paint yellow lines either side of the triangle, and enforce draconian parking regulations which as you said are not to anybodies advantage, least of all the mainly responsible local residents.”

“0 out of 10 in being correct with the car I am referring too.
The person you are talking about and whom I'm sure you have pictures of is not the car I am referring too. The car I am referring to is the one that has been moved now and not belonging to the person you are talking about.
THAT CAR was NOT parked their deliberately, hence why it was moved as soon as was able.
With all this debating about a particular person somewhat detracts from the actual issue. Which is that the buses drive over an area they shouldn't, it destroys the look of the area and isn't necessary. It's not acceptable. If a car is parked there, regardless of who it is and it's legally doing so, then the buses need to accomodate for that. Not just simply take the easiest route!
It's simple, drive on the road not over whatever is in the way!!”

“Alex:

10 out of 10 for effort, but now the true story has come out.

I know the name of the resident who has been orchestrating this by their obstructive parking, even though it is now the "in-laws" car which is road legal, taxed etc. :)

I have been a victim of their false calls to 999, they need to find a hobby or something.

You are not the only person in Old Coulsdon with a camera, maybe I need to take a few snaps of the car deliberately parked to cause obstruction? And then send the pics to TFL so they can get to the bottom of the TRUE PROBLEM. (and we know who that is, don't we?)”

“Just to get things clear though. The car that is being accused of being there deliberately is actually not parked there on purpose.
Having spoken to the owner of said vehicle it was actually parked there by an in law and they had no means to move it. It was not there on purpose by any means.
Also the referring to of the bus drivers as 'lazy' does not apply to all bus drivers, This does not happen daily but has ocurred regularly for the past couple of years. The island has been driven over when there aren't cars there so it is the laziness of those particular drivers in those instances.
To resolve the problem the council need too move the bus stop. It shouldn't have been placed there in the first place. But it wouldn't be such a problem if this kind of things didn't happen.
By the way, I am aware of the contents of the highway code. I am aware of the laws referring to junctions. I am also aware that this is not a conventional junction.
This does not detract away from the fact that it's not acceptable to destroy areas such as the one above when there are simpler solutions. Regardless of parking concerns.”