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Just to clarify Boris' example of 'success' in Bristol. Allowing motorbikes in bus lanes here was done with no study, no experimentation and no consultation. Motorbikes are private motorised transport and shouldn't be allowed into bus lanes for these reasons:

1. Buses transport many people and thus have a low carbon footprint. Bicycles have virtually no carbon footprint at all. Encouraging motorbikes into bus lanes will undermine efforts to get people either into buses or onto bicycles, which also have an added health/fitness benefit (they are great exercise). To encourage this, bus lanes should be for buses and cycles only.

2. Here in Bristol, the policy of allowing motorbikes into bus lanes to ease congestion has had no effect. We still have bad traffic problems.

3. Motorbikes burn fossil fuels, are noisy and pollute - do you want to encourage this?.

4. Although most bikers are law abiding, do you want to encourage the 'boy racer' element of motorcycling?. I see bikers race each other in Bristol bus lanes. To others, empty space ahead means accelerating as fast as possible. Motorbikes have a high mass to velocity ratio and are much more risky to cyclists.

5. 'Red Asphalt Function Creep'. In Bristol,a lot of bikers ignore the signs and use bus lanes where they are not permitted. They also abuse cycle lanes and the Advance Stop Line at junctions.

- Mark, Bristol

The Mayors action is really inspired. I ride a bicycle for short trips but I frequently use a motorcycle for longer trips across town carrying equipment. I've lost count of the near missed I've had filtering through traffic on a motorcycle. Using the bus lanes is a huge relief but I'm always really careful passing cyclists because I know what it feels like!
I just picked up a £60 fine from Lambeth because I thought this initiative was London wide! For god's sake! lives will definitely be saved by this! why can't every borough get on board, or... as I suspect are they using this confusion as a neat excuse to raise more cash from their bus lane cameras!
Boris is moving in the right direction, however Westminster (a Tory council) now tax mobility by charging motorcycles to park. If the Conservatives can't get their act together in one town, what hope is there for their ability to govern the whole country!

- John Cameron, London / hackney

Why is anybody listening to the cycle lobby?
They are untrained,
They are in disciplined,
They are a menace to pedestrians
They have no insurance
They have no licenses
They do not pay any road tax

For these busybodies to protest about licensed, insured motorcyclists is nothing short of ridiculous.
Wake up people and put this in perspective.


- Patrick, London

I travel to work by bicycle and motorbike in equal measures and am in favour of the move to allow motorcycles into bus lanes. I feel this will further ease the commute of what is still a minority in London.

I feel the woes of any cyclists are unfounded. It is down to the individual to ride in a defensive and alert way regardless of the mode of transport. I regularly see motorcycles ridden in a rapid and inconsiderate manner but conversely see an equal number of cyclists with little regards for their road manners given their vulnerability.

- Alex Brazier, London

What a great idea! But if this pro powered two wheeler policy is to be greeted with enthusiasm, then stop Westminster introducing an illegal and unjustified parking fee for motorcyclists and scooter riders. Please join our campaign to abolish Westminster's money raising scam! Even residents have to pay £150 a year to park their motorcycle/scooter outside their house now, but its cheaper for them to park their car!

- Josef, London

I cycle to work every day from SW to central London. Bus lanes are brilliant for cyclists, but if allowing motorcyclists into bus lanes would reduce the overall level of deaths and injuries then isn't it obvious that is what should happen. Surely fewer deaths and injuries has to be better?

- Stan, London

I'm a motorcyclist, and Boris got my vote based on this pledge, yet, 6 months on, and I'm still waiting to be allowed to ride in the bus lane.... what's going on Boris!?

- Seth, London

Of course motorbikes should be allowed in bus lanes. What the cyclists never seem to appreciate is a lot of the usable road space that was used for safe filtering has been given up for cycle lanes. And I might add these expensive lanes are for cyclists who make no financial contribution to road upkeep unlike road tax paying motorcyclists.
There is common ground between cyclist and motorcyclist in as much as they're both vulnerable to injury through light collision. Cyclist would do well to become less pious and more sympathetic to the motorcyclist plight. After all it the inception of their cycle lanes that lead to a rise in motorcycle injuries.

- Dave Jackson, Corringham, England

I fully agree with the concept of allowing motorbikes and scooters use of bus lanes, why?
1 these vehicles are not normally associated with the contribution to traffic jams or restrictive of traffic flow
2 by removing them from the 'mainstream' areas of congestion, the risk of injury or death must be greatly reduced... as bikes try and filter through jams there is a risk of being crushed by another vehicle
3 drivers of large vehicles with 'blind spots' would be less stressed by unseen scooters etc., as they will be filtered away and into bus lanes
4 m/cycles, scooters are not going to delay buses on their routes
5 and lastly (albeit a little cynically) it would make a refreshing change to see some common sense policies being approved by the people who are elected to represent the people :o)
Incidentally, I ride a bicycle, motorcycle(30+ yrs) and drive a car (29 yrs) and am an HGV driver (20 yrs) so I am not in the slightest bit biased, just experienced the situation from all perspectives.
Thanks for allowing me the opportunity to express my opinion, Pete

- Peter Baker, Southend on Sea, Essex

I think this is a great idea! I ride & drive. Motorcycles do not cause jams, they are not in your way for any amount of time and would certainly not block or hold up a bus lane. This would free up the roads for motorists, mean less weaving for those that do (I do not) and consequently make it safer for motorists and cyclists together. This would certainly help the flow of traffic and may see less accidents as cars and bikes would to some extent be separated. Hooray! Common sense at last! Good on you Boris, well done for all that you have achieved in this short time.

- Leo, London

I voted for Boris because of this. Why do cyclists believe their
lives are any more valuable than mine? Also I have never seen a motorcyclist jump red lights, ride on pavements, and generally ignore the rules of the road.

- Julian, London

As someone who travels to work all year round on my motorcycle, this is great news. I have been using the Finchley Road A41 test strip since it was opened, and have found the safety benefits to be massive. I voted for Boris because he back this idea and bravo to a politician who is sticking to his word, a very rare thing indeed. If cyclists are so worried about safety issues then maybe Boris should look into cyclist all wearing protective gear, like high visibility vests and helmets and gloves.

- Darren, London

I lived in London for a number of years and still work there. In the time that I lived there I rode a mountain bike and a motorbike to work. When I rode a mountain bike I had to take one trip to casualty thanks to a pedestrian walking out in front of me. I avoided them and ended up flying a long way through the air and broke my arm. The pedestrian didn't even notice. People should have to pass a basic proficiency test to walk around London whilst wearing an iPod. I came off my motorbike twice: once thanks to a box van pulling out in front of me and the second time thanks to a car slamming on its anchors for no reason whatsoever (again I managed to miss the car but not a roadworks sign!). In my opinion these are the points of note: car drivers are less aware of the environment around them, bus drivers have taken the fact that they take priority on the road to an extreme, motorcyclists should have to pass their full test within a few months of going on L plates - the difference between the skill of a twist and go learner and a biker are huge - and finally, cyclists should get nicked more often for being the worst traffic offenders out there. I'm sure if you looked at percentages, cyclists would be way in front in terms of breaking the law than any other road users in London.

- Paul, Maidenhead,

Don't know why cyclists are complaining, they spend most of their time on pavements, can we have something done about that please?

- Gary, London, UK

To be honest I don't expect anything good from Boris, but am less than impressed by this. Instead of encouraging cycling, it will just encourage more motorcycles onto the road, more pollution etc. What I'd like to see is an increase in cycle lanes, and as a regular cycler I'd be happy to pay some sort of cycle tax to make it happen; not that I think I should have to!

- C, London

A victory for common sense. The £120 fines were simply a way of extorting money from motorcyclists.

- Kevin, London, England

At last. Some common sense on this issue. Cyclists have nothing to worry about from motorbikes, only from Ken's bendy buses!

- James, London

If anything, cyclists in bus lanes cause congestion. Buses are forced to pull out into traffic to get around slow cyclists and to not allow motorcycles to use bus lanes is a non argument! About time.

- Pete Johnson, London

At long last a Mayor with some common sense. Cyclists needn't worry about motorbikes. We've been using the lanes together for years, albeit "illegally". You have more chance of being run over by a bendy bus. Now there's a plan for Boris... remove the bendy bus next.

- Elmsy, Bromley, Kent

I am glad Boris is putting these plans into action and agree with Andy's comments above. As a biker I commute from Blackheath to Southwark along which almost all the roads I use have bus lanes and every day these bus lanes are populated by a hand full of cyclists and the occasional bus leaving the bikers to filter between two lanes of almost stationary traffic. It's about time we had access to these under used empty lanes.

- David, London

It's hardly a snap decision. Motorbikes have been allowed in Bristol's and reading's bus lanes for almost 10 years. The TfL trial lasted 3 years. How long do you want to spend looking at this?

The simple facts are:
Currently Bus lanes have low occupancy, so when drivers turn left or join a road they won't expect to see a cycle or motorbike in the lane. Increasing the use of this lane will increase people's awareness of both cycles and motorbikes and therefore increase the likelihood of people checking properly before turning. In addition with all the additional cycle lanes added over the last 10 years. Roads have become narrower, making it much more dangerous for motorbikes to filter. It's about time all road users safety was considered rather than the politically correct minority.

- Nigel, London

Whilst living in London I commuted both by motorbike and bicycle. In my experience, as a cyclist the biggest threat was posed by cars followed by buses, both of which act as though you do not exist. In over 2 years of cycling from SW London into the City, however, I never experienced a single incident involving a motorbike. After all they are the one other road user who are only too well aware of how exposed cyclists are. Unfortunately, bad 'drivers' exist in all modes of transport but this should not cloud people's views on what in my opinion is clearly a very sensible idea and is long overdue.

- David Sunter, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

What a great step forward. I can imagine all cyclists are outraged, but most of them will still be able to avoid the bikers by riding on pavements, going the wrong way on one way streets, and jumping red lights, just as they do now. I don't think that the one group of road users who don't pay road tax, insurance and don't have to pass any kind of proficiency test should even have their opinion listened to in this case.

I've always found proper bikers to be the most courteous of road users. However, the bunch of idiots who suddenly acquired scooters when the congestion charge came in are as dangerous and inconsiderate as the cyclists.

- Andy, London

Why not just release the survey into the public domain?

- Marcus, London

This is crazy, dangerous and a big mistake. Motorbikes are already a threat to cyclists - eg, at advanced stop lines. Just try getting into the ASL at Angel during rush hour - the motorcyclists bear down on you and weave round cyclists in a thoughtless and very intimidating manner. This is a way to stop those people who are thinking about cycling from getting on a bike and will put off people who have made a first step but are still nervous. Bus routes are essential to cyclists - especially on the busy major roads around London - and opening them to motorbikes/scooters will only increase the number of cyclists injured or killed on London roads.

- Diane, London

To me this proposal makes a huge backwards step in terms of increasing the number of cyclists on the road, we are trying to encourage cycling but the number one reason listed as to why people don't take up cycling is due to safety and I can't see how this move will attract new people onto the road and into a bike.

- Adam, London

It's already hard enough to make a right turn across traffic where there's a bus lane. Add motorcycles into the bus lanes and you have a recipe for disaster.
It's all very well the motorcyclists pretending they are all knights in shining armour, but they aren't and like cyclists our behaviour is all coloured by the worst offenders, not the invisible, law-abiding practitioners.

- Alex Ball, London, UK

Here in Bristol we only got motorbikes in bus lanes thanks to some 'inside' campaigning by some bikers on the council and precious little consultation with cyclists. Now motorcyclists think that every piece of red asphalt is for the taking - they barge into the Advanced Stop Line at junctions, use cycle lanes as short cuts and ride in speeds in excess of 30mph in bus lanes (it's an empty racetrack for them!). Pity London cyclists have got to put up with them now.

- Mark, Bristol

As a cyclist and a motorcyclist, I just hope that both kinds of road users try to be aware of each others concerns and try to get along in the relatively safe refuge of the bus lanes.

If all road users took their responsibilities for others' safety seriously then it would all be better.

Unfortunately the most cavalier road users in this regard (in my experience) are bus drivers.

- Kevin Mears, Pontypridd, Wales

Excellent news.

Personally I think they could have a dotted line dividing the bus lane into two - the left for cyclists and the right for motorcycles. They could do the same with the green cycle boxes at traffic lights- motorcycles should be allowed in them. Cyclists on the right hand side of those cycle boxes can be a danger to themselves.


As a motorcyclist I really applaud Boris and his decision.

- Jonathan P, East London

I do not think there will be any problem between us using bus lanes,at least motorcyclists, do not slow down buses as the cyclist do.
Also motorcyclists don't go on the pavements wrongways and red lights, i think it will be good and safer for everybody.
Well done Boris.

- R Gonzalez, Walthamstow E17

Didn't understand this when I first read it last night. I assumed motorbikes already did ride in the bus lane. I checked it out today pedalling along East India Dock Rd, and yes they're allowed.

Motorbikers have respect for other vulnerable two wheelers. The biggest enemy of the cyclist in bus lanes are the buses. They're too wide, much wider than a Routemaster, so you can't pass them safely within the bus lane when they're at a bus stop, and if he keep very clear, you'll be mowed down by cars, or if you don't you'll be hit by the bus if the driver is unwary. And lot's are because they have too much to do.

- David Short, London

There is no danger to cyclists as long as they remain, as soft road-users and riders of relatively slow vehicles, where the good Lord intended them to, i.e. on the left-hand side of the lane and preferably in single file. As motorcyclists we respect them, of course, but when they start to wander off willy-nilly like a flock of out-of-control goslings in search of a non-existent mother figure, that's then they jeopardize themselves and everyone else - it happens all the time in London, irrespective of the lane they're using, the colour of the lights or the presence or not of cycle/bus lanes.

- Tim, london

Being a motorcyclist who commutes to work everyday I think it's about time we were able to use the bus lanes. The majority of us ARE responsible and only want to get where we are going in one piece. There are bad apples on both motorcycles AND pedal cycles , so the person above saying that it puts cyclists in danger from unpredictable vehicles is talking out of their proverbial as some pedal cyclists are just as bad, the cyclists who dodge in and out of bus lanes without checking their path is clear or even stopping for red lights which is from my commute into work seems to be the norm for most pedal cyclists as they feel that the 'highway code' doesn't have to apply to them as 'they don't have an engine' and that if they stop they will be surrounded by us 'gas guzzling vehicles'. Many a time I have seen a cyclist overtake a slower moving cyclist without even looking over they're shoulder to see if it's safe to do so. And as for using the 'cycle box' how many times do cars and buses stop in the box while waiting for a green light. If we all just stopped moaning about the driving standards of everyone else and just rode/drove/cycled comfortably and safely the person who 'cut us up' and is driving idiotically will be gone in a few seconds and out of our lives forever. Just get over it. Besides the biggest danger for us using the buslanes (bikers and cyclists) are vehicles turning in front of us to take a side road. So ride as safe as you can in London.

- Hadden, Sutton

I ride the A23 through Brixton pretty much every day on a motorbike, and I can confirm this is a good idea. I've seen a lot less motorbike accidents since the change. Before it I saw two serious, and several more minor incidents in a year. Pushbike accident rates seem unchanged.

Some motorcyclists do ride too fast, or too close to pushbikes. But generally, there is more camaraderie with a fellow two wheeler than with cars - surely we can understand each other better than the four-wheel boys will?

Some cyclists do stupid things too - I see your 'motorbikes use the advanced stop lines' Austen, and raise you my 'cyclists shoot through traffic lights on red'. You know you do it (and I don't mind).

The real danger in bus lanes isn't two-wheel conflict, but from buses and pedestrians.

Since privatisation, drivers have incentives to complete routes quickly. They're desperate to overtake each other. On the A23, with its many buses, this causes frequent sharp-angle pull-outs by buses.

This could be stopped by making buses stay in their lane. The time spent waiting for the bus in front to move would be outweighed by the reduction in congestion at points like Brixton High St, where the road is often blocked by buses at crazy angles.

And then pedestrians. I'm amazed by the number that wander through slow moving traffic in stupid places without really looking because they can't be bothered to walk 20 yards and wait at a controlled crossing.

Two-wheelers unite!

- Ross, Reigate, UK

To Austen (London) -

If all cyclists weren't kamikaze's, their death rate would drop dramatically. I have absolutely no facts to back this up whatsoever.

- Etienne, London

When cyclists receive some training, pass a test of competence, register their machines with a traceable number, take out third party insurance, pay some road tax, stop riding through red lights and pedestrian crossings and the wrong way up one way streets... then, I will listen to your opinions.

- Tim Fennell, London, England.

When cyclists receive some training, pass a test of competence, register their machines with a traceable number, take out third party insurance, pay some road tax, stop riding through red lights and pedestrian crossings and the wrong way up one way streets... then, I will listen to your opinions.

- Tim Fennell, London, England.

When cyclists receive some training, pass a test of competence, register their machines with a traceable number, take out third party insurance, pay some road tax, stop riding through red lights and pedestrian crossings and the wrong way up one way streets... then, I will listen to your opinions.

- Tim Fennell, London, England.

Calm down cyclists. Much of the unpredictability at the moment is caused by motorcycles having to duck in and out of lanes to get through traffic. With unfettered access to bus lanes it will be all much smoother.

Bicycles weave all over the place, by the way, and you talk about near-misses with motorcycles while practically all of you run red lights, all the time.

Motorcyclists have no more interest in hitting you than you do in being hit by them. We both lose.

What London really needs is a genuine system of bicycle trails, away from the roads altogether.

Many bicyclists are just 'fad' cyclists who ride a bicycle while the weather's nice and then abandon it in the bike shed at work when the weather turns. At my workplace we are talking dozens of bikes a year, just dumped. Motorcyclists tend to be in it for the long haul, and that's why there should be provision for us on the road as well as for bicycle riders.

As for the environmental argument, it's about space and congestion as much as the environment. Can someone tell me why black taxis are allowed in the bus lane? It's privileged access for the rich few who can afford to ride in one. You can't tell me that a motorbike produces more carbon than a black taxi!

- Waz, London

The trial wasn't in Bristol it was in Brixton.

- Robin, LOndon, England

This is the thin end of the wedge. The British Motorcycle Federation will now be pushing to legalise motorbikes using cyclists' Advanced Stop Lines at junctions, not that many take notice of the current ban.

Contrary to popular myth, powered-two wheelers aren't green machines - they spew out more toxic pollution than most modern cars.

And as for the hypocritical Hell's Angels who criticise cyclists for riding dangerously, if bikers didn't break speed limits and behave like idiots, their death rate would drop dramatically.

- Austen, London

Quote " Many cyclists find bus lanes a refuge from high-speed and unpredictable motor vehicles."

Is a bus not an unpredictable motor vehicle ? ..its a lot wider and has more inertia than a bike as well.

- Nigel, London

As a cyclist this is bad news and I can't help but think that the other comments above do not come from cyclists, or come from cyclists who don't respect that others may not have their skills. This is simply going to put novice cyclists off cycling.
While most motorcyclists are responsible, there are some that are completely irresponsible and pass cyclists too close, too fast.
In regard to basing this decision on Bristol, I don't think that the results are relevant to London where there are far greater percentages of cyclists and motorcyclists on the road.

- James, London, United Kingdom

Nice one Boris and keep up the great work. The fact that the previous Mayor buried the report and wanted it changed shows just what an odious, horrible, power crazy little man he really was and London is now a far better place now he has gone.

- Duncan Walker, Ex Peckham now Samui Thailand

Wonderful news...I am also both a cyclist and a biker (mainly a cyclist in London). I really wonder whether Mr Bogdanowicz has some alternative agenda - simply stating the findings of a long-term study to be wrong (with no supporting argument) is puerile in the extreme. Well done Boris!

- Leo, London

Motorbikes in bus lanes will cause mayhem and probably many extra road deaths in London.

- Mike, Croydon

A victory for common sense. And as a London cyclist I have to disagree with Tom Bogdanowicz of the London Cycling Campaign. The material danger in bus lanes to cyclists will remain buses. The danger to cyclists caused by motorcylists will primarily be caused by cyclists wearing earphones who don't hear motorcyclists coming up behind them OR don't check over their right shoulder when passing other cyclists. And for those cyclists who do wear earphones (and, as if to further advertise their idiocy, they are often wearing helmets), they are just asking to get hit.

- Lg, London

Nice one Boris. I knew you wouldn't be prejudiced and make an irrational decision on this one.
Keep up the good work and lets get campaigning for fixing this country's potholes too.

- Si Trenchard, United Kingdom

Excellent news! As both a cyclist and motorcycle rider i think the move is a great step forward for road safety. Some cyclist may argue its unsafe for motorcycles to share the same space as them - but these are usually the same cyclists who jump red lights and cycle in blind spot of HGVs. I never thought I would say it but...Nice one Boris!

- David, London

As motorcyclists we reduce congestion as much as bicycles, which is also why wedon't pay the congestion charge so why restrict us from another congestion reducing method.

Well done Boris it's about time someone thought about solutions to the problem of congestion and not just how to make money from it like your predecessor.

- Kymmy Leigh-Thompson, Barton-Le-Clay, Bedfordshire

Thanks Boris! I've been driving my scooter to work for years now and think it's ridiculous that i can't use the bus lane. I knew voting for you was the right thing!

- Steve Hill, Shepherds Bush

Every day some motorcyclist or other zooms past me on my bike at 40mph+ in a bus lane. It spooks the hell out of me, and I've been riding every day in London for a decade.

In my view motorcyclists are a much greater threat to cyclists than bendy buses. At least with those you can avoid them. You don't see motorbikes coming until they've hit you (and yes, I've been clipped by one, and so have many others I know.)

It's not motorbikes that are dangerous, it's the small minority that decide London is their race track. And yes, there is also a minority of cyclists that ride like this, but there is a difference: they don't have large motors.

- Tom, London

At long last common sense prevails. I ride a motor cycle to London for my work. Yes I am also a car driver and yes use my bicycle around the Swanley area!. I will say this though that there's a lot of cyclists out there that do themselves no favours when it comes to road hopping and red light jumping. What I don't understand about the fanatical cyclist mob is the concern of the motorcycle in the buslane! what about the cyclist who ride on the outside lanes thats used by motorcycles and holding them up as the bicycle has no speed, if they do this then they must give motorcycle users fair play in the buslanes. Remember the motorcyle is the least polluting transport and the least likely to be in collision in accidents when it comes to bicycle verses motorcycle.

- Joe Sardena, Swanley Kent

Cyclists have nothing to worry about from bikes in bus lanes, cyclists just want the roads for themselves. They will have to watch out for scooters which are car drivers on 2 wheels. No biking understanding just selfish eyes shut motoring.

- Al, london

I am absolutely delighted with the move. As a motorcylist in London, I find car drivers who regularly fail to use their wing mirrors an absolute menace. The sheer relief of being allowed in bus lanes will make my daily commute a lot safer. I've always personally been very careful of cyclists and given them a wide berth
Well done Boris!

- Helen, London, UK

Every day I walk along bus lanes stuck behind cyclists who inconsiderately hop off the pavement to use them when the pavement is blocked.

- Bonners, Londonish

They will go past any red traffic lights too, before mounting the pavement! I'm a cyclist and motorcyclist, this looks like a great plan and would mean much less dangerous filtering in traffic jams (which is not illegal). Many (not all by any means) car drivers simply don't look for or see us. When they get behind the wheel they become comatose. Bring it on!

- Neil, London, England

Why do the Cyclist feel that this idea would be more dangerous than jumping red lights or flying along the pavement as they already do?
As long as they use their brains and look before swerving across the road (as most don't) then we will all get along fine.
I have commuted on a m/cycle for many years and have not had an incident with a cyclist apart from getting some abuse for being in a bus lane.

- Sean, London, UK

I'm glad cyclists feel they will be put in danger, as work in Oxford street,they put pedestrians in danger everyday cycling fast through red lights, we wait for the green man, traffic stops, we walk out and start to cross when cyclists just go straight through the crowd. So as far as I'm concerned....... buses bring it on ! game on ..... They do not use any highway code, shout and swear at drivers when they are the people in the wrong.

- Mr F, London

Every day, my bicycle has to crawl along in a bus lane stuck behind buses that stop every 500 metres. The sooner buses are banned from bus lanes, the better.

- Ben, London, England

Every day my bus crawls along in a bus lane stuck behind cyclists. They are the real menace. No doubt cyclists will do what they normally do when they can't get their own way on the road -- jump onto the pavement!

- Philip, London, England

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