BUS LANES NO-GO ZONES FOR CITY MOTORBIKES
TRANSPORT BOSSES KEEP BAN DESPITE PILOT SCHEME IN CAPITAL ...
MOTORBIKES will not be allowed to use bus lanes in Glasgow despite changes in Edinburgh.
The city council confirmed it had considered the move as part of its ongoing review of bus lanes but decided it was not justified.
A spokeswoman said there was not enough evidence on either grounds of safety or congestion to allow the change.
Council chiefs in Edinburgh are currently running a nine-month pilot scheme allowing bikes in bus lanes to help speed up journey times and improve safety for motorcyclists.
It is one of a number of cities to allow the move, including London, Coventry and Bristol.
In response to a Freedom of Information request, Glasgow City Council said Powered Two Wheeler (PTW) interest groups had lobbied for them to be able to use the lanes for years.
The review report said the groups argued that private hire cars were able to use the lanes.
It said: “It is the council’s view, however, that the private hire cars provide, as with taxis, a form of public transport, which enables greater mobility by those who have no access to a car.”
It pointed out that the main element of the PTW case was safety. The report added: “However, Glasgow city council is not convinced that bus lane use is justified. PTWs can at least keep pace with most motorised traffic and, in many instances, outstrip it”.
A council spokeswoman said the council would continue to monitor the evidence from the other trials, including Edinburgh, in relation to allowing motorbikes access to the bus lanes i n Glasgow.
She said: “However, at this stage it is not considered that there is sufficient evidence on safety or congestion grounds to warrant changing the current regulations regarding access to bus lanes”.
The review, which is expected to be published in the next two months, is expected to bring in new operating hours for bus lanes.
It is understood the council wants to introduce sweeping changes to the bus lane system - including abolishing 24-hour lanes in favour of 7am-7pm enforcement.
But the plans require agreement from city bus operators as well as Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT).
Despite a year of negotiations, the groups – known as the Statutory Quality Partnership (SQP) – were unable to reach a consensus and the process stalled earlier this year. The council spokesman said progress had since been made and the review report is expected to be published shortly.
A public consultation will then take place.