Moderator Goff Posted January 6, 2009 Moderator Share Posted January 6, 2009 Bikes in Bus Lanes victory for common sense From today (5th January) motorcycles have been granted access to main route bus lanes in London. The adoption of this policy allows riders to see and be seen by other road users, as well as helping motorcycles to improve on their already excellent congestion-busting advantages. The initiative was an election promise by London Mayor Boris Johnson and comes more than ten years after bikes were first allowed to use bus lanes in the city of Bristol following a successful campaign by local MAG members. MAG General Secretary, Nich Brown said today “the adoption of this policy in the capital city has been a long time coming but its benefits should soon become apparent. The experience of other UK cities as well as previous experiments in London shows that where motorcycles are allowed to use clear road space in congested traffic there are fewer crashes.” Motorcycle riders are being urged to follow a simple code of practice designed to protect everyone in and around bus lanes. We share bus lanes with other vulnerable road users, take extra care around them. Be aware of pedestrians walking through traffic queues and at bus stops. Look out for pedal cycles and give them a wide berth, they may suddenly change direction or position. Pass cyclists on the offside only – never undertake. Always assume cyclists cannot hear or see you behind them. Do not use excessive speed when using bus lanes or overtaking cyclists. Do not overtake each other. Watch out for other vehicles at junctions and side roads. Take extra care when riding alongside congested pavement areas. We are ambassadors for motorcycling, riding in a bus lane is a privilege that needs to be respected. But MAG has highlighted the need for other road users to play their part in road safety. “Urban collisions involving motorcycles are generally not caused by the rider” said Nich Brown “typically a rider will be travelling with right of way when another driver crosses their path at a junction, or a cyclist rides off the pavement into the road or a pedestrian steps out in to the road”. In these circumstances, riders in bus lanes will be more likely to be seen and MAG believes this means collisions will decrease. The new rules allow access to those bus lanes on the main routes controlled by Transport for London. Some London Boroughs have also moved to open up bus lanes on local roads so that the benefits can be more widely enjoyed, other Boroughs’ failure to open access to their bus lanes may well cause unnecessary confusion as road users will have to check which bus lanes are still closed to bikes after today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator drewpy Posted January 6, 2009 Moderator Share Posted January 6, 2009 lets hope it extends to Manchester!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imanupstart Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 “Urban collisions involving motorcycles are generally not caused by the rider” said Nich Brown “typically a rider will be travelling with right of way when....... pedestrian steps out in to the road”. F*cking tell me about it *breathes* Good old Boris, he said he would do it. Too bad I hate London more than any place on earth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ttaskmaster Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 So all ya's Pooer Raesahs ride proper, or ya'll get yer knackers stuffed doon yer neick, ya bloody loonies!!!!!!!!! Dunno why, but that accent always sounds more threatening....... Seriously folks, don't take the piss. Get caught and there's 1.6 million bikers who will be very unhappy with you!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yammy dodger Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Not before time, lets just hope it snowballs now all over the country. Should have been done years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisw Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Yeah he's opened them but it's not a full opening .... he's done it on a trial basis. Which is why it's even more important people don't abuse the privildge, otherwise you'll lose it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handai Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Bikes in Bus Lanes victory for common sense From today (5th January) motorcycles have been granted access to main route bus lanes in London. The adoption of this policy allows riders to see and be seen by other road users, as well as helping motorcycles to improve on their already excellent congestion-busting advantages. The initiative was an election promise by London Mayor Boris Johnson and comes more than ten years after bikes were first allowed to use bus lanes in the city of Bristol following a successful campaign by local MAG members. MAG General Secretary, Nich Brown said today “the adoption of this policy in the capital city has been a long time coming but its benefits should soon become apparent. The experience of other UK cities as well as previous experiments in London shows that where motorcycles are allowed to use clear road space in congested traffic there are fewer crashes.” Motorcycle riders are being urged to follow a simple code of practice designed to protect everyone in and around bus lanes. We share bus lanes with other vulnerable road users, take extra care around them. Be aware of pedestrians walking through traffic queues and at bus stops. Look out for pedal cycles and give them a wide berth, they may suddenly change direction or position. Pass cyclists on the offside only – never undertake. Always assume cyclists cannot hear or see you behind them. Do not use excessive speed when using bus lanes or overtaking cyclists. Do not overtake each other. Watch out for other vehicles at junctions and side roads. Take extra care when riding alongside congested pavement areas. We are ambassadors for motorcycling, riding in a bus lane is a privilege that needs to be respected. But MAG has highlighted the need for other road users to play their part in road safety. “Urban collisions involving motorcycles are generally not caused by the rider” said Nich Brown “typically a rider will be travelling with right of way when another driver crosses their path at a junction, or a cyclist rides off the pavement into the road or a pedestrian steps out in to the road”. In these circumstances, riders in bus lanes will be more likely to be seen and MAG believes this means collisions will decrease. The new rules allow access to those bus lanes on the main routes controlled by Transport for London. Some London Boroughs have also moved to open up bus lanes on local roads so that the benefits can be more widely enjoyed, other Boroughs’ failure to open access to their bus lanes may well cause unnecessary confusion as road users will have to check which bus lanes are still closed to bikes after today. even though they havent changed all signboards yet??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lxjamesr Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 i think its a good idea that bikes can do that in london now i think they should be alowd to do it all over the country it would make it a hell of a lot safer for bikers, less of us will b killed or injured and it would encourage more people to get into bikes and away from cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark h Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Am i the only one not sure about this, I ride through London often (Daughter visiting) And it could turn into chaos, Will you be happy to sit behind a bus, or will you say "I`ll just overtake this one and get back in lane, weaving in and out of traffic to do so, The bus driver heart attack rate will double, Don`t forget the huge amount of riders all trying to do the same thing, And i`ll not mention all the scooters (spit) piddling about, getting in the way,(as they so often do), Now I`m a born optimist but still... I`ve nothing against Scooters, My youngest daughter has one, Devils spawn from hell. (I must get a D.N.A. test soon). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Goff Posted January 7, 2009 Author Moderator Share Posted January 7, 2009 even though they havent changed all signboards yet??? Give them a fuckin chance! This was only agreed on the 5th January - its only the bloody 7th today! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gas up - Let's Go! Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 even though they havent changed all signboards yet??? Give them a fuckin chance! This was only agreed on the 5th January - its only the bloody 7th today! It's a fair point though, when the rules and the signs don't marry up it causes all kind of problems. We see this lot on the Green Lanes, where they may have been signed as a Bridleway/footpath when they are infact a BOAT. A mate of mine nearly had his bike impounded as the copper was going by the signs, when they were wrong. My point being, unless the signs say you can doin it, you'd better have all the supporting evidence to hand if you are going to disobey them. I'm fairly sure that they would have know this was to be announce way before the 5th, maybe better to announce that it is being started on the 5th rather than saying all lanes ??? Poor bloke (Boris) he can't win really can he !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Goff Posted January 7, 2009 Author Moderator Share Posted January 7, 2009 Bus Lane Code of Conduct A major report commissioned by Transport for London (TfL) on the effects of allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes provided overwhelming evidence of safety benefits to cyclists and pedestrians, as well as motorcyclists. London’s Mayor, Boris Johnson has announced that motorcyclists will be allowed access to London’s bus lanes for a trail period of 18 months, as of 5th January 2009. If this trial period achieves its objectives of cutting congestion and reducing casualties, it is likely this will become a permanent arrangement and open the door to motorcyclists to access to bus lanes in other parts of the country. It is therefore imperative that motorcyclists use the bus lanes properly and responsibly. The MCI together with support from the Metropolitan Police and riders groups, have produced a Code of Conduct for motorcyclists using bus lanes. The Code covers the TfL rules associated with bus lane use and the etiquette that riders should observe in order to protect and respect cyclists and pedestrians. The Code of Conduct in brief: We share bus lanes with other vulnerable road users, take extra care around them. Be aware of pedestrians walking through traffic queues and at bus stops. Look out for pedal cycles and give them a wide berth, they may suddenly change direction or position. Pass cyclists on the offside only – never undertake. Always assume cyclists cannot hear or see you behind them. Do not use excessive speed when using bus lanes or overtaking cyclists. Do not overtake each other. Watch out for other vehicles at junctions and side roads. Take extra care when riding alongside congested pavement areas. We are ambassadors for motorcycling, riding in a bus lane is a privilege that needs to be respected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handai Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 Bus Lane Code of Conduct A major report commissioned by Transport for London (TfL) on the effects of allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes provided overwhelming evidence of safety benefits to cyclists and pedestrians, as well as motorcyclists. London’s Mayor, Boris Johnson has announced that motorcyclists will be allowed access to London’s bus lanes for a trail period of 18 months, as of 5th January 2009. If this trial period achieves its objectives of cutting congestion and reducing casualties, it is likely this will become a permanent arrangement and open the door to motorcyclists to access to bus lanes in other parts of the country. It is therefore imperative that motorcyclists use the bus lanes properly and responsibly. The MCI together with support from the Metropolitan Police and riders groups, have produced a Code of Conduct for motorcyclists using bus lanes. The Code covers the TfL rules associated with bus lane use and the etiquette that riders should observe in order to protect and respect cyclists and pedestrians. The Code of Conduct in brief: We share bus lanes with other vulnerable road users, take extra care around them. Be aware of pedestrians walking through traffic queues and at bus stops. Look out for pedal cycles and give them a wide berth, they may suddenly change direction or position. Pass cyclists on the offside only – never undertake. Always assume cyclists cannot hear or see you behind them. Do not use excessive speed when using bus lanes or overtaking cyclists. Do not overtake each other. Watch out for other vehicles at junctions and side roads. Take extra care when riding alongside congested pavement areas. We are ambassadors for motorcycling, riding in a bus lane is a privilege that needs to be respected. most bus lanes......and not ola dem!!!so watch out for sign posts guys!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imanupstart Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 Anyone get this weeks MCN? Bunch of cyclists trying to sabotage it and used it as an excuse to dress up as women.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeyb Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 Sorry to rub it in guys, but here in yokel land ( Bristol) we've been allowed in bus lanes for several years. Still, now "the Capital" has done it as well maybe it will spread, as long as the loonies don't f**k it up. Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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