bikes in bus lanes petition - sign up follow th link
Discussion
for any one who hasn't heard about this one
It's to allow bikes to use buslanes, without penalty.
Petition ends soon and we need more names.
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/bikesinbuslanes/
It's to allow bikes to use buslanes, without penalty.
Petition ends soon and we need more names.
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/bikesinbuslanes/
Not sure about this...
I ride around London all the time and to be honest you can use the bus lanes and would have to be an utter numpty to get caught. Just need to be a bit sensible about how you do it.
If a petition like this doesnt get much support then in an bizare way it may actually give ammunition to those who want to increase penalties etc on those that do use the bus lanes. Equally on a conceptual level why should bikes use the lanes when cars don't. I'm playing devils advocate here but bus lanes allow public transport to move more quickly than private transport, I guess to encourage people to use it and therefore cut congestion and the numbers of vehicles on the roads. Bikes in this context are no different to cars...
I reckon people are better off letting sleeping dogs lie and just to continue to use the lanes with a bit of caution...
I ride around London all the time and to be honest you can use the bus lanes and would have to be an utter numpty to get caught. Just need to be a bit sensible about how you do it.
If a petition like this doesnt get much support then in an bizare way it may actually give ammunition to those who want to increase penalties etc on those that do use the bus lanes. Equally on a conceptual level why should bikes use the lanes when cars don't. I'm playing devils advocate here but bus lanes allow public transport to move more quickly than private transport, I guess to encourage people to use it and therefore cut congestion and the numbers of vehicles on the roads. Bikes in this context are no different to cars...
I reckon people are better off letting sleeping dogs lie and just to continue to use the lanes with a bit of caution...
Davel said:
Agree but that's in the cities.
In loads of places the bus lanes are hardly used, yet the roads can be busy.
Bus lanes could be great for filtering in areas where you can't normally.
Good point, I guess I was thinking mainly cities. Suppose the M4 bus lane is the closest I get to this example. Not being allowed in that would be a bit of a pain but ultimately wouldnt make that much difference, just more filtering! Ironically enough without the bus lane the congestion wouldnt be half as bad. Theres always congestion when it goes from 3 to 2 lanes, then it seems to get better and then you hit again on the elevated section...In loads of places the bus lanes are hardly used, yet the roads can be busy.
Bus lanes could be great for filtering in areas where you can't normally.
Davel said:
Agree but that's in the cities.
In loads of places the bus lanes are hardly used, yet the roads can be busy.
Bus lanes could be great for filtering in areas where you can't normally.
So true. Red Ken has put ever more bus lanes in on my commute to the city, increasing congestion for everyone except the one bus that trundles by every few mins. Bit of a farce really. In loads of places the bus lanes are hardly used, yet the roads can be busy.
Bus lanes could be great for filtering in areas where you can't normally.
Steve.
Twit said:
... Bikes in this context are no different to cars...
I totally disagree with that. Bus lanes are to allow ‘congestion reducing vehicles’ such as busses, taxis and push bikes to get past the congestion as quickly and safely as possible. Other than the occasional world level race meeting or a major show, how often do you see ‘motorcycle congestion’? Motorcycles are not part of the congestion problem but are part of the solution. As part of the solution, I think it is both right and fair that motorcycles should be allowed to use bus lanes. black-k1 said:
Twit said:
... Bikes in this context are no different to cars...
I totally disagree with that. Bus lanes are to allow ‘congestion reducing vehicles’ such as busses, taxis and push bikes to get past the congestion as quickly and safely as possible. Other than the occasional world level race meeting or a major show, how often do you see ‘motorcycle congestion’? Motorcycles are not part of the congestion problem but are part of the solution. As part of the solution, I think it is both right and fair that motorcycles should be allowed to use bus lanes.
Totally agreed. I've never understood this one where motorbike are concerned since they don't cause congestion or hinder bus movement particularly.
Ken and TFL instigated a trial a number of years ago in London where three roads allowed bikes during bus lane hours supposidly loggin accident/incident stats. Of course they extended the trial so they didn't have to do anything. I'm still waiting.........
Agreed with the comment that if you use a route regularly you get to know which lanes you can use and not get caught and which ones you can't! I have to do this every commuting day on one section, I haven't had a PCN yet for it! No front number plate is the key here.
Just signed it 
What's particularly annoying is that parts of London like Hackney you're allowed to use them on a bike, but others you're not.
As mentioned above, bikes create much less congestion than cars and if their in a bus lane even the cars benefit because they won't have bikes filtering through with millimeters to spare. It can only be a good thing.
The biggest problem I have a London bike commuter is other riders who can't filter properly or safely and cause a line of 10+ bikes behind them. In the bus lanes this would be avoided for everyone's benefit.
What's particularly annoying is that parts of London like Hackney you're allowed to use them on a bike, but others you're not.
As mentioned above, bikes create much less congestion than cars and if their in a bus lane even the cars benefit because they won't have bikes filtering through with millimeters to spare. It can only be a good thing.
The biggest problem I have a London bike commuter is other riders who can't filter properly or safely and cause a line of 10+ bikes behind them. In the bus lanes this would be avoided for everyone's benefit.
I signed this a long time ago, but I think it is going to happen anyway - when I was at Bikesafe recently, one of the BIB said that BikeSafe has recommended to TFL that they allow bikes into bus lanes for safety reasons.
What he meant was the number of people that pass a CBT and then jump on a scooter and ride through London every day. They would be much safer in a bus lane, than trying to filter through the rest of the traffic lanes.
So I think it will happen - but I do agree that the most stupid bit is that some lanes you can ride and some you can't.
What he meant was the number of people that pass a CBT and then jump on a scooter and ride through London every day. They would be much safer in a bus lane, than trying to filter through the rest of the traffic lanes.
So I think it will happen - but I do agree that the most stupid bit is that some lanes you can ride and some you can't.
Just signed it.
I live in Brighton and use the A23 bus lanes on my bike all the time...it's dangerous not to. If I ever get stopped I plan to tell the police that I saw the sign allowing bikes to use the A23 back in Croydon and haven't passed another sign saying this is no longer the case.
I live in Brighton and use the A23 bus lanes on my bike all the time...it's dangerous not to. If I ever get stopped I plan to tell the police that I saw the sign allowing bikes to use the A23 back in Croydon and haven't passed another sign saying this is no longer the case.
Twit said:
would have to be an utter numpty to get caught. Just need to be a bit sensible about how you do it.
I got caught. I know what normal bus lane cameras look like, but this was a CCTV camera. Clerkenwell Road heading West, between Britton Street and Farringdon Street. Sometimes they turn the camera so it looks between St John's Square and Britton Street. 
ec1 eex said:
Twit said:
would have to be an utter numpty to get caught. Just need to be a bit sensible about how you do it.
I got caught. I know what normal bus lane cameras look like, but this was a CCTV camera. Clerkenwell Road heading West, between Britton Street and Farringdon Street. Sometimes they turn the camera so it looks between St John's Square and Britton Street. Only time I've been caught by a camera for about 10 years. The Government said:
The Government recognises that motorcycling has become increasingly popular and offers a number of benefits.
Bus lanes are the responsibility of the relevant highway authority. In February 2007, The Department for Transport issued new guidance in the form of a Traffic Advisory Leaflet 2/07 on "The Use of Bus Lanes by Motorcycles". This makes clear to local highway authorities that it is open to them to decide whether or not to allow motorcycles to use bus lanes and encourage them to make an objective assessment of the issue.
The new guidance revises the previous Department for Transport's advice on bus lanes, Local Transport Note 1/97: Keeping Buses Moving, which recommended that motorcycles should not normally be permitted to use bus lanes.
Got the above email today in response to the recent petition. Basically it's not their problem anymore Bus lanes are the responsibility of the relevant highway authority. In February 2007, The Department for Transport issued new guidance in the form of a Traffic Advisory Leaflet 2/07 on "The Use of Bus Lanes by Motorcycles". This makes clear to local highway authorities that it is open to them to decide whether or not to allow motorcycles to use bus lanes and encourage them to make an objective assessment of the issue.
The new guidance revises the previous Department for Transport's advice on bus lanes, Local Transport Note 1/97: Keeping Buses Moving, which recommended that motorcycles should not normally be permitted to use bus lanes.
m3psm said:
The Government said:
The Government recognises that motorcycling has become increasingly popular and offers a number of benefits.
Bus lanes are the responsibility of the relevant highway authority. In February 2007, The Department for Transport issued new guidance in the form of a Traffic Advisory Leaflet 2/07 on "The Use of Bus Lanes by Motorcycles". This makes clear to local highway authorities that it is open to them to decide whether or not to allow motorcycles to use bus lanes and encourage them to make an objective assessment of the issue.
The new guidance revises the previous Department for Transport's advice on bus lanes, Local Transport Note 1/97: Keeping Buses Moving, which recommended that motorcycles should not normally be permitted to use bus lanes.
Got the above email today in response to the recent petition. Basically it's not their problem anymore Bus lanes are the responsibility of the relevant highway authority. In February 2007, The Department for Transport issued new guidance in the form of a Traffic Advisory Leaflet 2/07 on "The Use of Bus Lanes by Motorcycles". This makes clear to local highway authorities that it is open to them to decide whether or not to allow motorcycles to use bus lanes and encourage them to make an objective assessment of the issue.
The new guidance revises the previous Department for Transport's advice on bus lanes, Local Transport Note 1/97: Keeping Buses Moving, which recommended that motorcycles should not normally be permitted to use bus lanes.
m3psm said:
The Government said:
The Government recognises that motorcycling has become increasingly popular and offers a number of benefits.
Bus lanes are the responsibility of the relevant highway authority. In February 2007, The Department for Transport issued new guidance in the form of a Traffic Advisory Leaflet 2/07 on "The Use of Bus Lanes by Motorcycles". This makes clear to local highway authorities that it is open to them to decide whether or not to allow motorcycles to use bus lanes and encourage them to make an objective assessment of the issue.
The new guidance revises the previous Department for Transport's advice on bus lanes, Local Transport Note 1/97: Keeping Buses Moving, which recommended that motorcycles should not normally be permitted to use bus lanes.
Got the above email today in response to the recent petition. Basically it's not their problem anymore Bus lanes are the responsibility of the relevant highway authority. In February 2007, The Department for Transport issued new guidance in the form of a Traffic Advisory Leaflet 2/07 on "The Use of Bus Lanes by Motorcycles". This makes clear to local highway authorities that it is open to them to decide whether or not to allow motorcycles to use bus lanes and encourage them to make an objective assessment of the issue.
The new guidance revises the previous Department for Transport's advice on bus lanes, Local Transport Note 1/97: Keeping Buses Moving, which recommended that motorcycles should not normally be permitted to use bus lanes.
Never mind the safety aspect of seperating cars and bikes!
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