Bikes in Bus Lanes. Boris kept his promise.
Chris Hodder, Policital Advisor BMF reports for IoC
It’s been a long wait but Transport for London’s decision to give motorcycles permanent access to bus lanes on the majority of the Capital's red routes from the 23rd of this month has been welcomed by the British Motorcyclists Federation. ‘Boris kept his bikes in bus lane promise to the BMF’ Coming after the conclusion of numerous trials that first started in 2002, Transport for London (TfL) say that while the safety of motorcyclists and other vulnerable road users has proved to be unaffected, the opening up of bus lanes helps to reduce journey times for motorcyclists, reduces carbon dioxide emissions and achieves a key strand in the Mayor’s Transport Strategy.
The BMF, as a long term campaigner for the use of bus lanes by motorcyclists, say that despite London’s years of reports and investigations, the TfL decision only bears out what Bristol had decided sixteen years ago when after a two year trial they formally opened up their bus lanes to motorcycles on a permanent basis way back in 1996.
Several other towns and cities followed and in 2007 the Government issued a Traffic Advisory Leaflet (TAL02/07) to Local Authorities that specifically encouraged a more objective assessment to be made of bus lane use by motorcycles. In February 2008 the BMF met with the then mayoral candidate Boris Johnston to discuss bus lane access. He said that if elected he would want to see bus lanes opened up to motorcycles, a commitment that the BMF is pleased to see he has kept.
While welcoming the move, the BMF is still concerned that these bus lanes are only those on routes controlled by TfL, i.e. the Transport for London Route Network (TLRN) ‘red routes’ such as the main A1 and A4 thoroughfares. Nevertheless the BMF sees TfL’s decision as a key one in helping to persuade other authorities to open up their bus lanes without further trails. The TfL announcement, report and route maps can be found at: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/redroutes/10151.aspx
IAM chief executive Simon Best offers supportive but cautious advice.
Simon Best: “This change will improve congestion and journey times for motorcyclists, and responsible bikers should find it safer being in a bus lane. Safer motorcycling in busy cities will encourage more moped and motorcycle use which can only be a good thing for traffic flow. But the evidence does show two of the most vulnerable road user groups – motorcyclists and cyclists – will be at more risk.
“This decision doesn’t just affect Londoners. With thousands more people visiting London for the Olympics this summer, everybody needs to be aware of the risks. Bus drivers and cyclists need to be vigilant and get used to sharing the space with motorcyclists, but there is a lot motorcyclists and cyclists can do to protect themselves.”
The IAM warns motorcyclists and cyclists to take extra care when Transport for London’s (TfL) decision to allow motorcyclists to use bus lanes on a permanent basis comes into force on Monday 23 rd January 2012. This decision will see London joining cities such as Birmingham and Bristol who already allow it.
While motorcyclists’ use of bus lanes will help to ease congestion, studies by Ealing Council and TfL have shown a significant increase in motorcycle collision rates and severity. TfL’s review also found that there was an increase in pedal cycle accidents of 173 per cent, even when the increase in the number of people cycling was taken into account.
The TfL trial of 418 sections of road in London that contain a bus lane, showed direct collisions between motorcycles and pedal cycles. Although there were no direct collisions between motorcycles and pedal cycles in Ealing, the council was concerned that pedal cycles are reacting to the presence of motorcycles in bus lanes by travelling nearer to the kerb than before, making them less visible to vehicles turning across their path.
IAM road advice for bus lane use.
Motorcyclists:
- Always assume that other road users may not have seen you
- When travelling in a straight line position yourself where you easily seen – don’t sit out next to the traffic beside you, or hug the kerb. You get lost to sight
- Be seen. Big blocks of bright colour are better than broken up or patterned clothing, which effectively camouflages you. And always make sure you have your headlight on
- Give other lane users time to realise you are there. Give cyclists space and time to avoid startling them
- Don’t use the extra space in the bus lane to unnecessarily increase your speed
- Be careful of traffic crossing the bus lane at junctions – both from side roads, and out of the queue on your right. They aren’t looking for you – they’re looking for a big bus
- Look well ahead to avoid needing to make sudden changes in direction for potholes etc – bus lanes tend to have uneven surfaces
Cyclists:
- Always assume that other road users may not have seen you
- Claim the lane. Ride in the middle of the lane, moving to allow others past as needed, but never ‘hug’ the kerb
- Make eye contact with drivers emerging from junctions, particularly if they are turning right
- Be seen. Check your lights, and wear high visibility clothes. Put your front light on.
- Be aware of the other people who can use the bus lane. Don’t let them force you into things that are unsafe – but do try to make their lives easy as well by letting them past where its sensible
- Don’t position yourself on the left of lorries and buses at junctions or undertake them on the left. The bus or lorry driver can’t see you, and if they turn left will cut across your path. They also have a different turning circle to a car – you risk getting trapped between the vehicle and roadside barriers
