MAG campaigns for BUS LANE ACCESS FOR BIKES

Bikers should be allowed access to all bus lanes in the UK, campaigners say.

At present, the use of bus lanes by motorcyclists isn’t consistent. Some transport authorities allow it, others ban bikers from the routes.

Now a Motorcycle Action Group report has identified that only 56 of the 159 transport authorities in the UK with bus lanes allow motorcycles to use them. The group says it’s confusing and is campaigning to change that.

Currently, 48% of all ‘with-flow’ (that’s the ones that run alongside the flow of normal traffic) are able to be used by motorcycles, but MAG wants bus lane access to become uniform across the UK and follow the lead of Northern Ireland, who’s Department for Infrastructure allows motorcycle access in all bus lanes.

Speaking about the variability of the rules, report author Colin Brown said: “It has led to a confusing picture for motorcyclists who can have access to bus lanes on one part of a route, only to cross an authority border and fall foul if continuing to access a bus lane on the same route. The picture in London is even more chaotic where Transport for London (TfL) allows access on bus lanes managed by them, but many of the boroughs do not allow access on the lanes they manage”.

He continued: “This research has revealed the successes of three decades of campaigning by MAG on this issue. Given the complexity and stumbling blocks placed between a coherent national policy and a totally unnecessary exclusion of motorcycles from bus lanes, we have done well to gain access to 48% of the nation’s bus lanes.

“We have also shown the ludicrous situation where access permissions change along certain routes or in opposite directions on the same road. We have had three decades of expensive local trials but the overwhelming result of all these is that motorcycle access to bus lanes is not a problem.

“It is time for a consistent default access for motorcycles, just as already exists informally for pedal cycles.”

As you’d expect, MAG is already hard at work to make change happen. A petition has been raised by Birmingham-based barrister Dr Mirza Ahmad which asks the Government to require local authorities in England to permit motorcycles in bus lanes. Visit the Motorcycle Action Group website for more information on how to sign it.

The next part of the process is to meet with Roads Minister, Baroness Vere of Norbiton, who previously asked MAG to list its top five priorities. Bus lane access was priority number one, as voted for by its members.

Then MAG will approach decisionmakers in Wales and Scotland to promote the sensible approach taken in Northern Ireland. And finally, MAG plans to redouble its efforts with key authorities that still do not allow access (and is pushing for meetings with Glasgow, Manchester, Nottingham and Leicester, as well as discussing with Transport for London on how best to get London Boroughs to accept a common policy).

There’s a long way still to go, but with your help MAG plans to make motorcycling in the UK easier, safer and less confusing. Credit to them.