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I have been driving cars, riding motorcycles and push bikes for 40 years. I am a member of the Institute of Advanced motorcyclists and motorists and also advise on advanced motorcycle training.
It is my experience that by far the biggest problem on the road is not the licensed and road fund paying users but those people who can use the road without the need for insurance, Road Fund License or a license. i.e push bike users and pedestrians. Cyclists do not seem to understand that the Highway Code applies to them as much as drivers and motorcyclist. They ride on pavements, they ride through red lights and down one-way streets the wrong way. Maybe if they were more considerate to other road users they might earn some respect in return. I don't see the problem with motorcycles in bus lanes, I have been doing it for years where and when permissible, without incident. All it takes is for a little understanding and a bit more concentration on the part of all road users. Learn to spot trouble before it spots you.

- Kevin Richardson, Romford, Essex

I ride both a cycle and motorbike.
I cannot see why you cannot fit both of us on a bus lane with maximum safety. It should be perfectly fine.

It is frustrating to be stuck on your mototbike in traffic, next to an empty 24h bus lane at 1am on the Marylebine Rd...it doesn't make any sense not to be able to use it.

I would also like to see less cyclist with their ipods whilst cycling!

- Edward, Ealing, London

"At the end of the day, they are generally safer road users than cars, as they, like cyclists, are not surrounded by a metal shell for protection, and therefore tend to pay more attention to the road."

That's an assertion not bourne by the facts

Dave, that is my summary for over 30 years road cycling experience, so I would say there is some truth in that statement. I pay alot of attention knowing that I do not have that shell as protection. I have never been cut up by a motorbike, but cars, every day. And most of those drivers are on their phone, shaving, putting on makeup, half cut from the night before...etc.
IMHO and after 30 years on the road, I never have problems with motorbikes (scooters are different, esp the pizza delivery ones!!) and would welcome them in to buslanes.

- Dom, London

When cyclists learn that the rules of the road also apply to themselves (inc red lights!), we may see the number of accidents drop even further than the 'bus lane trial' suggests.

- Andy, London

@Duncan Walker

The use of nazi in a debate is usually a sign of someone that has already lost.

You talk about who pays for the roads and think that because cyclists do not have a tax disc they have no right to determine how the public land and revenue in this country ought to be used.

There are clearly obvious flaws in your argument that do not need repeating, but if you really believe your own argument, what right do you have given you live in Thailand and thus pay no tax whatsoever.

- Steve Murphy, London

@Mark Hall,
"The green boxes are a bad idea - cars & motorbikes are all faster than a push bike so now all cars & bikes get held up behind a pack of cyclists when the lights go green and then all try and scramble out of the way of the cars and bikes! Surely an accident waiting to happen."

I use the green boxes when I can, when I do not I am always amazed by how long it takes cars to actually move following the light going green. People are reading the paper, playing with their radios, texting etc, anything other than paying attention to the road. The cyclists are long gone by the time most car drivers have woke up. Of course the motorbikes invade the green box and think they are in a race with their fellow bikers.

- Steve Murphy, London

boris failed to carry out the basic requirements when opening bus lanes to motor cyclists. He consulted with people like the AA, RAC and taxi drivers but no cyclist groups. The department of transport advisory leaflet recommends consulting those affected, he did not - this was purely an electoral concern.

To Valentio, there is a huge difference between buses and motor cycles, buses do not try to out run each other between traffic lights for instance, whereas when motor cycles invade the advance stop line it feels as though they think they are on a moto GP starting grid.

- Steve Murphy, London

Great news - of course cyclists are going to be up in arms about it but seeing as the tax disc on my motorbike says 'Bicycle' anyway I'll use any cycle lane or green box I like.

The green boxes are a bad idea - cars & motorbikes are all faster than a push bike so now all cars & bikes get held up behind a pack of cyclists when the lights go green and then all try and scramble out of the way of the cars and bikes! Surely an accident waiting to happen.

- Mark Hall, Dartford, Kent

I do not understand how Cyclist feel more in danger with Motorcycles in the bus lane, when in the first place they have to share a lane with a huge bus... and how is a 42% drop in collision in trial sections of london misleading? Anyway, great news I feel!

- Valentio, London

This is surely a bad move - I mean, how many motorcyclists actually stick to the speed limits on the roads? As soon as they see an open bus lane they'll be hitting 40+ mph. And what happens to the green cycle box at junctions? I already see a lot of motorcyclists using the green cycle lanes, where will it stop?

Fair enough let motorcyclists use the bus lanes BUT ONLY WHERE THERE IS AN ADEQUATE CYCLE LANE.

Only in London could the government come up with a no-brainer like this one! I hope the first cyclists to get hit by a motorbike/scooter in a bus lane sues Boris for his sheer stupidity!

- Kenny, London

The cycling organisations that are so vociferous in their unsubstantiated argument against the use of motorcycles in bus lanes are largely irrelevant - even if you combine the membership of the three largest cycling groups in Britain, they represent less than 2% of all regular cyclists. If they must ban something from using bus lanes in the interests of cyclists, why not taxis or even buses themselves? Motorcycles are a green, efficient and highly pracatical means of urban transport for those unable or unwilling to cycle. Well done, Boris.

- Finn, London

When the cycling nazis that hate ALL forms of motorised transport stat paying an extortionate amount of money for the privilage of using the roads then they can start to dictate to the rest of us who pay. Till then please try to read a copy of the highway code and remember in the event of an accident you are going to come off worst and ride accordingly not like you have a god given right to FLAUNT the highway code. It should have been brought in years ago and saved many lives but that horrible little man would not listen to common sense.

- Duncan Walker, Ex Peckham now Samui Thailand

I'm glad to hear Boris is honouring his pre-election pledge to open up bus lanes to motorcyclists albeit only red route bus lanes. However, trust the self-centred cyclist lobby in the LCC, CTC et al to object as they have done for years. This lot doesn't even want buses or taxis in bus lanes let alone motorcycles. They seem to regard pedestrians and motorised private transport as the enemy but let's face it, the only people who like these particular cyclists are people like themselves, everyone else thinks they are an anti-social nuisance. So when they raise their contrived objections to sharing bus lanes with motorcycles and scooters on safety grounds let's just remember that these are the same people who run red traffic lights, intimidate pedestrians young and old on the pavements, on zebra crossings and pedestrian only paths in the Royal Parks, these are the same people who endanger themselves and others by riding up one way streets the wrong way and cycle at night without lights. I've ridden a large capacity motorcycle almost on a daily basis in central London for 33 years covering covering over 300,000 miles and haven't had a collision with a cyclist yet - no thanks to their abysmal riding skills. I'm looking forward to January 5th. Thanks again Boris...now about removing the Western Extension Congestion Charge.

- Niall, London W11

By allowing cabbies, cycles and now motorbikes Mr Boris is underminding the public transport by bus. There is no point in calling them "bus lanes" anymore. So what next on the bus lanes? lorries, vans??

- John Span, london

Finally a bright man understand how to make traffic move faster in London ! Well done Boris, next please help to introduce more FREE MOTORCYCLE BAYS in central London and make Westminster Council scrap the silly parking charge they have just introduced for motorbikes, they are making themselves looking ridiculous. Well done Boris !!

- Max, London

Put this plan together with open platform buses and it looks like BOGO has it in for bus passengers who will run the danger of alighting in front of motor bikes.

Lets just seperate bus lanes and keep them for buses ONLY all other traffic can learn to share the road!

Boris could start a trial in the strand where the heritage routes operate?

- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex

I Am so impressed with Boris he is an original thinker,he takes no nonsense.
what is more logical then stopping bikes battling through traffic ,endangering their lives against traffic coming in the opposite direction,letting them use deserted bus lanes.
pure logic .
Thank you Boris i will vote for you for ever you are a hero,there is not enough words to praise ,your decision of saving lives and helping the city in one.

- Danny Edgar, London

"At the end of the day, they are generally safer road users than cars, as they, like cyclists, are not surrounded by a metal shell for protection, and therefore tend to pay more attention to the road."

That's an assertion not bourne by the facts.

- Dave, London

motorcyclists are just as vulnerable as cyclists from errant taxis and marauding bendy buses - the argument that motorcycles will put cyclists at more risk is ridiculous.

- Barnesy, london

Several trials of motorcycles in bus lanes have been ongoing for a couple of years. Ken refused to publish the results of these trials, only saying that the figures were in dispute. Without the raw evidence it appeared he was just stalling to pacify the pro-cycling lobbyists.
Boris has agreed that the trials should be rolled out across the other red-route bus lanes within London, and full credit to him. As a motorcyclist I believe it can only help the traffic situation, but it's up to motorcyclists not to abuse the situation and put themselves and others in danger in the process. Well done Boris though for pulling his finger out and making a decision.

- Mark, Dagenham, Essex

I am cyclist & I have no problems what so ever sharing a resticted lane with motorbikes. At the end of the day, they are generally safer road users than cars, as they, like cyclists, are not surrounded by a metal shell for protection, and therefore tend to pay more attention to the road.

- Dom, London

Surely the fact that Boris himself cycles to work every day (I occasionally see him huffing and puffing his way up Amwell St) negates any objections by rational cyclists, if that’s not an oxymoron! The LCC has badly let cyclists down by pursuing an unnecessarily aggressive campaign against all other road users (I’m surprised they haven’t attacked mobility scooters!) and creating unnecessary animosity towards cyclists. Come on, Londoners, we’re not ruled by Ken anymore, we’re in Boris’ live-and-let-live London, let’s enjoy it!

- St, London

Common sense prevails over the "I know best, even when I don't know best" attitude that we had to suffer for years under Ken. At last a mayor who listens.

- Kerry, London

as cyclist and a motorcycle rider i think this is a great idea. I have to agree with DT, most of the trouble ive seen has been from Cyclists not using the road rules

- Ben, London

Motorbike red route trials concluded that there were no increase in accidents but Ken still proceeded to apply another unfair law. Nice one Boris.
Cylists now need to clean up their skills and abide by the laws that apply to all road users.
Any chance or also doing a u-turn on bike parking charges, please.

- Dt, London

I forsee an increasing in collisions between rapidly accelerating motorcyclists and pedal cyclists. This is definitely bad news from the pseudo-cycling friendly BoZo

- Mcw, London

Excellent news - common sense at last.

- David, London

Boris, thanks for not listening to the London Cycling Campaign too closely. In delibrately ignoring the safety benefits to all users including the most at risk - motorcycles and scooters - they are guilty of attempted murder in my opinion.

We're not all rich enough to be able to live near where we work, and so cycling is only accessable and practical to a select few in the real world.

There's plenty of room for all concerned to use these lanes, and lets hope that those who abuse this privilege (motorcycles and cyclists) are in the minority and can be punished.

- Jason, london

Motorcycles are intimidating, noisy, pollute and speed more than any other vehicle type (DfT statistics). In addition, they pose a greater threat to other road users, particularly pedestrians - so far this year 3 elderly people have been knocked down and killed by motorcyclists in London alone! Why is Johnson encouraging more of these wretched machines, driven by maniacs, onto our streets?

- Carl, London

Austen, you're clearly speaking on behalf of the cycle lobby who seem to have bought in to the idea that Bus Lanes belong to them. Personally I can't see a problem, if anything the presence of Motorcycles helps break up the traffic in the bus lanes and provide some sanctuary for cyclists who are otherwise bullied by Taxi's or Buses. As for the risk of injury, the only time I've ever had a close thing with a cyclists was when one decided to shoot through a 40cm gap between myself and a cyclist who were both turing left! Clearly whatever form of transport you pick, you're always going to find idiots using it..

- Jonathan, London

Bruce is correct that where an emergency vehicle is approaching in those circumstances it may be permitted to occupy the cyclist box at red. But not otherwise. There is PLENTY of time to stop, if we're honest. It is always a case of massive vehicles creeping into the box slowly. Motorists justifying this behaviour have no right to expect cyclists to risk death in their shadows.

The problem is, those motorists heading traffic at the lights fear that another more bolshy motorist will usurp their place in the traffic by overtaking them and changing lanes at a junction, effectively gambling that the forward traffic will move on in time for the adjacent light change.

This type of junction manoeuvre should be made a criminal act, as it contributes heavily to serious accidents. Overtaking at a junction should mean gaol.

jl - I'm all for vehicular assault no matter who - cyclists included. I hate these 14 year olds and couriers that help those driving dangerously to justify their kills of law-abiding commuters. But the prosecution should be proportinate to the danger. The threat from a lorry is certain death, that from a cyclist is not, and the stats don't lie.

Proportionality is important. Bruce's proposal that a cyclist "tailgating" a car and a juggernaut tailgating a cyclist should be treated as equivalent infractions of the law says much about the attitude of many on the road. Still, I commend all concerned that no-one has wished death on cyclists today.

- Reg, London

Austen

Obviously you are anti-motorbike, but I would just like to point out that you are wrong about motorcyclists endangering cyclists. A motorcycle is nearly as unstable as a bicycle, if I were to hit a cyclist whilst on my bike, then chances are we'll both be off our bikes.

The greatest danger to cyclists are trucks, buses and cars and of course themselves.

- Martin, Reading, UK

This is bad news for all Londoners. Motorcycles and other powered-two wheelers are disproportionate contributors to air pollution and the statistics counting up the numbers of people killed and seriously injured on our roads. These vehicles' rapid acceleration and high speed intimidates and endangers vulnerable road users - like cyclists. Boris is gambling with lives just to keep the British Motorcycle Federation sweet.

- Austen, London

Well done Boris - common sense demands that we look at lessons that have been learned elsewhere and then try dfor improvement. Some of the assertions of increased danger to cyclists are completely evidence free - but then that's been the culture of legislating for the past 11 years.

- Peter Haldane, London

Very good news as far as I am concerned and good to see Boris following through.

Quick comment in response to Reg; vehicles other than bikes are allowed in Cycle Boxes in certain circumstances, i.e. trapped by lights or unsafe to stop sooner so zero tolerance would not be possible and if a harsher policy were to be applied to these boxes then it was also need to applied to cycles and stopping at red lights.

The same applies to tailgating and dangerous driving. Any changes in the law must also apply just as harshly to cycles who currently flout the law in huge numbers.

- Bruce, London

Great news, Boris. You're correct in saying we should be doing everything to get people onto two wheels. What a pity one of the councils in your city - Conservative Westminster - has just introduced punitive parking fees for bikes.

- Steve, London

I keep reading that this is bad news for cyclists. I am both a cyclist and a motorcyclist and do not get it. Why is it bad for cyclists? They are sharing the lane with buses allready and buses are much more dangerous than motorcycles are they not?

In the end it is the buses' lane and if those that are allowed to share the bus lanes dont behave we should all be removed and have them left to the buses for which they were intended.

- Stewart, London UK

Excellent news and nice to see a politician stand by their manifesto commitments. This is a simple move which will ease congestion and make the roads safer for all 2 wheeled road users; and I say all because this is proven from the TFL trials..letting motorcyclists use bus lanes cuts all accidents.

Well done Boris!

- Christian H, London

How blinkered of Reg, it's not very often that the cyclists actually stop in the cyclist boxes at the lights anyway! Being colour blind is no excuse cyclists, if the light at the top is prominent then you STOP! Just like the motorcyclists, cars, buses and lorries do.

- Simon, London, London

Maybe they should exclude learner motorcyclist,
as I would feel a lot safer.

- David, Brixton, London

As a regular commuter to London by motorbike I fully welcome Boris' plan.

As for Reg's comments: I would also welcome the offence of vehicular assault as long as it includes cyclists too. They also should be held accountable for the number of accidents and near misses they cause. Whilst they should also have a zero tolerance on cyclists for offences committed by them for example always running red lights.

Also Reg I think you will find that motorbikes can't go everywhere that cyclists can - motorbikes normally have the courtesy to stay off pavements.

- Jl, London

Thank you Mr Johnson, nice to know that you keep your electoral promises. This will make life a lot safer for all road users, cyclists included. All it requires is some common sense and for motorcyclists to keep to posted speed limits for this to be a real success.

- Gm, London

Definitely not good news for cyclists. But the Mayor could offer a sweetener - absolute zero tolerance for occupation of cyclist boxes by ANY motorised vehicles at reds.

The Mayor should now work closely with central Government on bringing in a criminal charge for goods vehicles and TfL's own buses occupying the advance stop boxes at red lights, or bestriding the crossroads and pedestrian crosses on red. This is vehicular assault on all vulnerable road users, including pedestrians crossing legally. An offence of vehicular assault could also be introduced for vans and cars tailgating cyclists and motorbikes, and overtaking them too closely.

If (as now seems to be the case) motorbikes can go everywhere that cyclists can go on the roads, the concept of introducing vehicular assault as a serious, recognised and effectively prosecuted offence, is vital.

- Reg, London

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