Boris Johnson to let scooters and motorbikes
use London's bus lanes
12th June 2008
New London mayor Boris Johnson has squared up to the subject of bikers in bus lanes and come down firmly on the side of powered two wheelers being allowed to join cyclists and taxi's in the specially marked bus lanes. To date, bikers caught straying into these lanes would automatically pick up a £120 fine!
Despite stiff opposition from cycling groups worried that push-cyclists could be put in greater danger, Mr Johnson looked at evidence from studies showing an actual improvement in safety when powered two wheelers were allowed into the reserved bus lanes.
Bikers have been allowed to use bus lanes for some years in Bristol and there has also been a three year trial in which motorcyclists used the bus lanes in A23 Brixton Road, the A13 Leamouth Road and Butcher Row East and A41 Finchley. This study in London concluded that allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes proved safer for pedestrians, cyclists, bikers and all road users with a 42% reduction in collisions.
Bern Adams, Managing Director of Camrider states: "Having been involved with the training of over 20,000 learner riders in the London area I can vouch that the very last thing any biker wants to do is hit or clip any other road user - as the result would potentially be very dangerous to themselves".
The opinion of Camrider is that motorcycling in bus lanes though new and thus contentious has in other towns given improvement in safety to cyclists who have an additional peer group to create "zones" or "flows" where all two wheelers are respected, with an anticipation from busses and taxis to allow for their safe passage. As a result scooter riders have an enviable safety record.
In training new riders for their Compulsory Basic Training course or for their full test, the instructors at Camrider can with the greatest confidence state that the wide mix of public who come to us to ride mopeds or motorbikes have the safety of others at the front of their minds at all times. The lack of a seat belt and a steel box make bikers a natural friend of all vulnerable road users.
Scooter use in London and other towns is proving increasingly popular. Scooters and motorbikes are exempt of any congestion charge, can be very easily parked and can return in excess of 90mpg. The trend now is for the second car to become one or two scooters.
To get on the road legally on a 125cc scooter a person 17 years or older will need to pass a Compulsory Basic Training course, 16 year olds still need to take CBT but are restricted to a 50cc moped. On passing a CBT the rider will be able to ride on "L" plates for up to two years, during which time they will be expected to take more training and pass a full test, or have to retake CBT to carry on for another two years.
Full information here http://www.camrider.com/law-and-learning/index.html or call 0845 83 83 766
TFL Report in PDF reports http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/P2W-in-bus-lanes-study.pdf
Main TFL report web page http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/roadsandpublicspaces/2295.aspx
