Not driving a bus? Then stay out of these lanes

Frustrated volunteers took to a busy downtown intersection during Thursday's afternoon rush hour to remind car drivers to stay out of the bus lanes.

The bus stop on Fifth Avenue and Olive Way is like a hive around this time. There are a dozen bus routes that make a stop here. This is a bus-only lane, but sometimes it gets clogged with cars.

“There’s not a lot of mechanisms right now to keep cars out of those lane," said Meg Wade, with the climate group 350 Seattle.

She and half a dozen volunteers were waving red flags or holding up signs to draw car drivers’ attention.

“We’re out here to help those drivers who aren’t yet accustomed to that to become more aware that, 'Oh, there’s a lane here and I need to be moving out of it,'" she said.

Volunteers plan to continue these reminders until they stick. So far, the bus drivers have shown their appreciation with an enthusiastic wave.