London Bus Lane - Update
Discussion
http://www.localgov.co.uk/index.cfm?method=news.de...
17 September 2008
Motorbikes in bus lane study raises safety concerns
A new study on the impact of motorcycles on central London bus lanes has revealed evidence of a rise in accidents and conflicts at sites with a highly trafficked side road.
The Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) study examined data on motorcycle riders permitted to use eight bus lanes in the City of Westminster, comparing one year before and after the schemes were introduced.
It found the percentage of conflicts in bus lanes increased in line with the percentage of motorcycles using the bus lane, but the number of conflicts decreased on roads operating at less than half capacity.
The number of accidents increased on Baker Street, a site with a highly trafficked side road.
Accidents decreased on the whole of Haymarket, where motorcycle use had increased significantly, but the number of conflicts increased near a bus stop, and nearly all conflicts occurred in the bus lane.
TRL concluded that ‘caution should be used in allowing motorcycles into the bus lane under such circumstances’.
TRL stressed that the overall accident analysis was inconclusive, but raised some issues of concern, including worries over cyclist and pedestrian safety.
Bus journey times were found to have increased slightly in the after-survey. On Bayswater Road buses took an extra four seconds to travel between the two timing points after motorcycles were permitted in the bus lane.
This was attributed to the increases in the number of motorcycles using the bus lane, from 17 to 40%. The study concluded that there ‘were limited advantages in motorcyclists using some of the bus lanes under the observed conditions’.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has asked Transport for London to bring forward plans to allow motorcyclists in bus lanes. His predecessor, Ken Livingstone, has previously opted not to change the rules after a TfL study showed ‘no clear evidence of safety benefits to motorcyclists and potential disbenefits to pedestrians and cyclists’.
17 September 2008
Motorbikes in bus lane study raises safety concerns
A new study on the impact of motorcycles on central London bus lanes has revealed evidence of a rise in accidents and conflicts at sites with a highly trafficked side road.
The Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) study examined data on motorcycle riders permitted to use eight bus lanes in the City of Westminster, comparing one year before and after the schemes were introduced.
It found the percentage of conflicts in bus lanes increased in line with the percentage of motorcycles using the bus lane, but the number of conflicts decreased on roads operating at less than half capacity.
The number of accidents increased on Baker Street, a site with a highly trafficked side road.
Accidents decreased on the whole of Haymarket, where motorcycle use had increased significantly, but the number of conflicts increased near a bus stop, and nearly all conflicts occurred in the bus lane.
TRL concluded that ‘caution should be used in allowing motorcycles into the bus lane under such circumstances’.
TRL stressed that the overall accident analysis was inconclusive, but raised some issues of concern, including worries over cyclist and pedestrian safety.
Bus journey times were found to have increased slightly in the after-survey. On Bayswater Road buses took an extra four seconds to travel between the two timing points after motorcycles were permitted in the bus lane.
This was attributed to the increases in the number of motorcycles using the bus lane, from 17 to 40%. The study concluded that there ‘were limited advantages in motorcyclists using some of the bus lanes under the observed conditions’.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has asked Transport for London to bring forward plans to allow motorcyclists in bus lanes. His predecessor, Ken Livingstone, has previously opted not to change the rules after a TfL study showed ‘no clear evidence of safety benefits to motorcyclists and potential disbenefits to pedestrians and cyclists’.
G Man said:
... Bus journey times were found to have increased slightly in the after-survey. On Bayswater Road buses took an extra four seconds to travel between the two timing points after motorcycles were permitted in the bus lane.
This was attributed to the increases in the number of motorcycles using the bus lane, from 17 to 40%. The study concluded that there ‘were limited advantages in motorcyclists using some of the bus lanes under the observed conditions’.
FFS - 4 seconds! Unless the timing equipment was less than 10 yards apart, how the hell can 4 seconds be considered an increase???? This is more likely a result of the fact that most of the passengers on the bus are now ‘fat bThis was attributed to the increases in the number of motorcycles using the bus lane, from 17 to 40%. The study concluded that there ‘were limited advantages in motorcyclists using some of the bus lanes under the observed conditions’.
ds’ thus reducing the acceleration time away from the bus stop.black-k1 said:
G Man said:
... Bus journey times were found to have increased slightly in the after-survey. On Bayswater Road buses took an extra four seconds to travel between the two timing points after motorcycles were permitted in the bus lane.
This was attributed to the increases in the number of motorcycles using the bus lane, from 17 to 40%. The study concluded that there ‘were limited advantages in motorcyclists using some of the bus lanes under the observed conditions’.
FFS - 4 seconds! Unless the timing equipment was less than 10 yards apart, how the hell can 4 seconds be considered an increase???? This is more likely a result of the fact that most of the passengers on the bus are now ‘fat bThis was attributed to the increases in the number of motorcycles using the bus lane, from 17 to 40%. The study concluded that there ‘were limited advantages in motorcyclists using some of the bus lanes under the observed conditions’.
ds’ thus reducing the acceleration time away from the bus stop.By the way there is a 62 page report on the TRL web site with the full findings www.trl.co.uk/store/report_detail.asp?srid=6354&am...
In short it is anti-bike full of contridictions, if it was asked does motorbikes using bus lanes reduce risk for Motorbikes the stats say yes
Does it increase risk for other users - no
Did motorcycle usage double to alter the stats - yes
PS I have read the 62page report, starting to feel like a PH BB campaigner
Edited by G Man on Tuesday 30th September 13:19
Boris is committed to this, however there are a few areas that may still remain bike free, heavily pedestrianised areas, and multiple bus stop areas or terminus. But generally good news for bikers. I also understand he is going to 'rub out' some of the pointless out of town bus lanes that remain empty 23.5 hours a day. (M4 par examplé)
Zead said:
Boris is committed to this, however there are a few areas that may still remain bike free, heavily pedestrianised areas, and multiple bus stop areas or terminus. But generally good news for bikers. I also understand he is going to 'rub out' some of the pointless out of town bus lanes that remain empty 23.5 hours a day. (M4 par examplé)
I like the M4 bus lane though as I shoot past all the cars parked there.What has a bike in a bus lane got to do with safety anyway. There have always been bikes and buses together on other roads what makes the bus driver oblivious to a bike in a completely empty lane?
This will be sorted, as soon as the last of the Red Ken supporting report generating "committees" that have only existed for the government subsidies have been put up against a wall.
This will be sorted, as soon as the last of the Red Ken supporting report generating "committees" that have only existed for the government subsidies have been put up against a wall.
I haev to say I am not surprised at the findings based on my use of bus lanes (on a pushbike) to and from work between Stratford and Bank every day.
Drivers wanting to exit the side road tend to pull out into the bus lane and stop, while waiting for the queue of traffic in the non bus lane to stop and let them out. Probably on average once a day I have somebody pull out without appearing to see me, quite possibly only expecting to see a bus.
The most common one is a driver coming from the opposite direction wanting to turn right into the side road. The traffic on the main carriageway stops to let them across, and they continue into the side road without looking. I have seen some extremely near misses (probably 2-3 near misses a week) and also the aftermath of what appears to be exactly this type of incident.
If all two wheeled users are aware of the dangers specific to using a bus lane, then there would be no problems, but from the evidence I see every day, there are many that just ride along oblivious.
The best solution would just be to get rid of the damn things completely.
Drivers wanting to exit the side road tend to pull out into the bus lane and stop, while waiting for the queue of traffic in the non bus lane to stop and let them out. Probably on average once a day I have somebody pull out without appearing to see me, quite possibly only expecting to see a bus.
The most common one is a driver coming from the opposite direction wanting to turn right into the side road. The traffic on the main carriageway stops to let them across, and they continue into the side road without looking. I have seen some extremely near misses (probably 2-3 near misses a week) and also the aftermath of what appears to be exactly this type of incident.
If all two wheeled users are aware of the dangers specific to using a bus lane, then there would be no problems, but from the evidence I see every day, there are many that just ride along oblivious.
The best solution would just be to get rid of the damn things completely.
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff