Bike Trader


London bus lanes saga drags on

09 January 2008
News image The British Motorcyclists Federation is calling for the publication of a long overdue report by Transport for London (TfL) on the use of London’s bus lanes by motorcycles.

TfL have been conducting motorcycle access trials on three sites since 2002, but a draft of an executive summary of their report, issued in September 2006, suggested that the conclusion might be inconclusive, this despite trials carried out by Kingston and Westminster where Kingston had little negative feedback and Westminster actually showed casualty reductions.

BMF spokesman Chris Hodder says: “Publication dates keep being put back but when I asked whether this was due to incompetence or political interference, TfL refused to comment. I suspect the later.

“They have the information. Various trials and permanent bus lane access schemes across the country have been operating for some 12 years so just how long do TfL need?”

Bristol has allowed motorcycle use of bus lanes since 1996 and Reading since 1999. Northern Ireland, Birmingham, Colchester, Derby, Bath, Hull, Swindon, Richmond, Newcastle on Tyne, Sunderland and the M4 bus lane can all be used by two-wheelers.

Motorcycles are also allowed to use some HOVs (High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes). Those in Leeds and South Gloucestershire have been used for some years while others will include the southbound stretch of the M1 from junction 13 near Bedford to junction 7 near Hemel Hempstead, and the M3 north from junction 3 near Bagshot to the M25 turn-off at junction 2, both areas already popular with motorcycle commuter users.

In March 2007 the Government issued a new Traffic Advisory Leaflet to Local Authorities that specifically encouraged a more objective assessment to be made of bus lane use by motorcycles, but apparently this has had little effect on TfL.

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