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Keep motorbikes out of bus lanes, cyclists urge Mayor
Katharine Barney, City Hall Reporter11.06.08
Cyclists have launched a campaign to persuade Boris Johnson not to allow motorcycles in bus lanes.
Members of the London Cycling Campaign have written to the Mayor asking him to reverse his decision, which they believe could endanger the lives of cyclists and pedestrians.
Mr Johnson has instructed Transport for London to develop plans to allow motorbikes to use bus lanes after a similar scheme in Bristol proved successful.
It follows a three-year study in which motorcyclists used the bus lanes in Brixton Road and Finchley Road and the number of collisions fell by 42 per cent. The study concluded the lanes were safer for pedestrians, cyclists, car drivers and motorcyclists.
But cyclists have questioned the results after former mayor Ken Livingstone dismissed the study, claiming it was misleading.
He was accused of ordering the report's authors to rewrite it so it was "politically acceptable" before ruling that motorcycles should not get wider access to bus lanes.
LCC chief executive Koy Thomson said the results were based on flawed methodology and not statistically significant.
He said: "This would be a decision taken not only against the advice of transport officials and without the input of cycling and pedestrian groups, but also in the face of a warning that it could 'disbenefit' cyclists and pedestrians."
Tom Bogdanowicz, LCC's campaigns manager, added: "Providing new, high-speed channels for motorcycles along major roads will inevitably increase motorcycle use.
"More motorcycle traffic will spread to all streets in London and will bring with it an increase in casualties for vulnerable road users.
"We're asking our supporters to urge the Mayor to consider the safety impact on all London streets for every road user before any decision on allowing high-speed vehicles into bus lanes is made."
A spokesman for Mr Johnson said he stood by his decision and the scheme would be rolled out in due course.
He said: "The Mayor's manifesto is committed to allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes and he has asked TfL to draw up proposals for this to happen on their roads. As a committed cyclist, the Mayor has an obvious interest in ensuring the capital's roads are as safe as possible for cyclists but he is aware that motorcycles already use bus lanes successfully, and safely, in several areas of London and other cities.
"Further consultation will be required before motorcycles can officially use TfL's bus lanes. The Mayor and TfL will listen carefully to all views on this matter."
Craig Carey-Clinch, of the Motor Cycle Industry Association, pointed out that motorcycles were already allowed in bus lanes in parts of Westminster, Kingston and Sutton, where they had impressive safety records.
He said: "Members of the LCC are sorely misguided and their fears are unfounded. In the boroughs where this has happened, we have seen a reduction in pedestrian and motorcyclist casualties. This campaign is driven by a dislike of motorbikes rather than concerns for road safety."
VIEW FROM THE SADDLE
Sion Tammes, 44, a television sound man from Whitechapel, cyclist
"Bus lanes are one of the only sections of road where cyclists can cycle in relative safety. Motorbikes go there anyway, even though they are not supposed to. When you think you have a safe lane it's unsettling and dangerous to find a motorbike bearing down on you at great speed. We'd get used to motorcycles sharing bus lanes because we'd have to, but London roads are dangerous as it is. There are relatively few cycle lanes and they stop and start. Bus lanes at least are consistent."
Hannah Palmer, 24, a photography student from Ladbroke Grove, cyclist
"Motorcyclists are quite dangerous because they weave in and out of the traffic but much faster than bicycles. The best solution would be to have more cycle lanes. Cycling in bus lanes is not ideal because you are constantly being overtaken by buses and then having to overtake them again when they stop - you get a lung-full of bus fumes every time."
Olivia Stubbings, 21, an English student from Kensington, cyclist and motorcyclist
"It's perfectly fine to have motorbikes in bus lanes. It should be encouraged. I ride a small motorcycle and if I'm in a regular car lane I often find myself forced into the bus lane by vans and cars. Cyclists are aware of motorbikes because we can hear them - they are not a silent threat."
Susanne Sivborg, 48, a businesswoman from Barnes, cyclist
"Allowing motorbikes in bus lanes would be safer because cyclists would know where they are. At the moment they sneak between cars. What's more dangerous is allowing cars to park in cycle lanes because you have to swing out suddenly into traffic.
Ildiko McAuley, 39, a club manager from Fulham, cyclist
"This is a really stupid idea. I have been run down so many times by motorcyclists. They behave like barbarians and because they are so small and fast you don't see them coming."
Per Sivborg, 50, an exhibition consultant from Barnes, cyclist and motorcyclist
"It's a great idea for the safety of everyone. At the moment motorbikes weave in and out of the traffic. It would be much safer if they could travel smoothly. They are skilled drivers and pay attention to cyclists. It's taxis that should be banned from bus lanes because they creep up behind you. I've used the pilot shared lanes in London and they work and in my native Stockholm, these shared lanes have cut accidents. Mind you, motorists and motorcyclists are much politer here."
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Reader views (66)
Here's a sample of the latest views published. You can click view all to read all views that readers have sent in.
I think it's a great idea, I commute 100 miles a day on my motorbike and as a regular in London I quite often find myself forced into the bus lanes by cars, lorries, vans and most of all by cyclists who have no idea how to use roads or respect other road users or pedestrians.
I say all cyclists should have to be insured and pay road tax, it's an every day event where I see cyclists steam roller pedestrians (even me on my bike a few weeks ago causing lots of damage I had to foot the bill for!) when they ride through red lights and over zebra crossings.
They are also the worst for zig zagging through traffic which is even more dangerous as they can't ride fast enough to do it safely, having said that scooter riders are almost as bad as cyclists but at least they are insured and pay their road tax!
- Rick Duncan, Stevenage, UK
Motorcyclists - do it anyway!
Why do you have to ask permission from cyclists - cyclists ride on the pavements without permission, so they have no right to whine if anyone uses bus lanes without permission.
Cyclists have established their right to use pavements simply by using them. That's how you get things in Britain today - by taking, not by asking.
So use those bus lanes, and pretty soon you'll have established the right, just like the cyclists.
And anyway, who pays more for those lanes - you, or the cyclists? What right do those freeloaders have to tell you anything about the roads they don't pay for?
Grab those bus lanes now!
- Bill Bates, london
I am a motorcyclist living in London - I use my motorbike to commute from Hampstead to Richmond, and for journeys into the city. I have an advanced motorcyclist licence and consider myself an unusually safe driver. I am shocked at some of the driving I see around the capital. If I were to offer a general observation on the two most dangerous groups of drivers on the roads at the moment, it would not be the traditional 'white vans and taxis'. In my daily journeys I believe that I have to negotiate most dangerous hazards from pizza delivery scooters, cyclists and thoughtless bus-drivers. Whereas I think that opening the bus lanes would be a good idea for motorists, it would also bring the most dangerous groups of road users together. I would like to see the natural 'immunity from the highway code' that is exercised by most cyclists, many bus-drivers and nearly all pizza-scooters addressed before we open the bus lanes. Heaven knows - there are enough cameras around to watch us!
- Justin Roux, London, UK
