That's not a bus stop -- it's a loading zone. The bus stop is to the right of the pole.

Does the bus have a hard time pulling into and out of the stop due to the proximity of the loading zone? That is definitely an issue to be addressed.

You're right, boblothrope - I had always assumed otherwise. The "No Parking" sign doesn't indicate a loading zone, though -- it simply says "No Parking," and there are *always* vans or trucks parked there. Some easy revenue for the city, I suspect.

The sign at the other end of the zone has a "loading zone" plate below it, with a right arrow.

They are parked in a loading zone, not a bus stop. Granted, they are parked, not in the process of loading, but I guess that's a different issue.