Motorcycles in your bus lane

Issue would be twofold I think- problem one would be enforcement as the chap on a motorbike doing 50 is already ignoring the limit, and two the bus company would resist strongly as they are targeted on punctual running.

Sounds OK to me. Don't mind if busses are exempt provided the road is clear obv. As I said I don't have a problem with others in the bus lane provided they're not riding like they're in a video game. Yield to traffic ahead etc.

Issue would be twofold I think- problem one would be enforcement as the chap on a motorbike doing 50 is already ignoring the limit, and two the bus company would resist strongly as they are targeted on punctual running.

if the motorbike doing 50 is already breaking the law then telling him he can't use the bus lane is a moot point anyway as he's quite clearly going to ride however he likes until he gets his collar-felt and pointed to the point of /being kept off the road. a 20 limit would actually help them throw the book at him if he's caught doing 50 as he'll be in greater excess of the speed limit and more likely to get a ban. for those who follow the rule of the road (albeit with some minor interpretations in their favour) may have their behaviour modified for the better if the speed limit was lower.

as for the buses, I'm merely basing this on my own experiences but the amount of time most buses spend doing more than 20mph is probably not as great as you may think unless it's on a major road. along my commute the buses stop every 50 yards and they're not quick off the mark either.

there's only been one instance in my own personal experience where I had a bus following me and I couldn't go fast enough to stay ahead of him until the next stop so I was holding him up and pulled over to let him pass. he was travelling empty with the lights off though so I guess he was on his way back to the depot in new cross to get home/have his tea.

no wing mirrors is no excuse, half the cyclists can't and don't check over their shoulders,
why are you leaving so much space on your inside?? if a motorbike can get between you and the curb then you check your road position

I occasionally like to ride in a position which allows me to avoid grids and potholes. This happens to be close to the centre of the lane. Where would you suggest I position myself in this scenario?

I more than welcome fellow two wheeled friends into bus lanes but are motorcycles allowed in bikelanes?

I always thought they where.. but thats only because I so often see them doing it?
Which now I'm thinking they're clearly not....

This topic remind me of an incident I saw a couple of months ago, a motorcyclist overtook me with little space, and got hit by a left turning vehicles.

that's the second time I've seen it, also that time there was no exchange of information, both parties decided to part way despite obvious costly damaged to both vehicles.

I got clipped by one riding up the smurfway because I wasn't on it.

hate having to rely on my hearing now to hear the tell tales sound of a loud roaring engine coming from behind (couldn't look back enough to clock it in time).

biker pulled by police... - YouTube

On the rare occasion that I take my motorcycle to work, the main reason that I spend a lot of the journey in bus lanes is that at 30mph, the legal speed limit, I'm the slowest vehicle on the road. Staying out in traffic is a pain in the arse because there's always an idiot dangerously close to your rear wheel. When I'm cycling, I've never yet had a problem with motorcyclists in the bus lane.

If youve never had problems like that youre part of a tiny minority.
On the main road from clapham south to elephant and castle im cut up by moped riders and to a lesser degree motorbikes everytime without exception.

Its an absolute menace when, in some cases you need to maintain a high speed to stay clear of buses and vans then you suddenly get some complete cock appear from static traffic and tear up infront of you on the bus lane with no warning.

1. Driving illegaly in a designated bus/cycle lane.
   
2. Undertaking. (they invariably have to rejoin the traffic to the right of them at some point)
   
3. Endangering cyclists lives.
   
4. Did I mention driving in a lane theyre explicitly forbidden to drive in?
   
   

Where the hell are the fines and clamping down on this?

If youve never had problems like that youre part of a tiny minority.
On the main road from clapham south to elephant and castle im cut up by moped riders and to a lesser degree motorbikes everytime without exception.

Its an absolute menace when, in some cases you need to maintain a high speed to stay clear of buses and vans then you suddenly get some complete cock appear from static traffic and tear up infront of you on the bus lane with no warning.

1. Driving illegaly in a designated bus/cycle lane.
   
2. Undertaking. (they invariably have to rejoin the traffic to the right of them at some point)
   
3. Endangering cyclists lives.
   
4. Did I mention driving in a lane theyre explicitly forbidden to drive in?
   
   

Where the hell are the fines and clamping down on this?

Yep, and Bishopsgate west bound is lethal for motorbikes to swerve into the cycle lane to undertake, I've had some narrow escapes there. PTWs regularly block asls too.

If youve never had problems like that youre part of a tiny minority.
On the main road from clapham south to elephant and castle im cut up by moped riders and to a lesser degree motorbikes everytime without exception.

Its an absolute menace when, in some cases you need to maintain a high speed to stay clear of buses and vans then you suddenly get some complete cock appear from static traffic and tear up infront of you on the bus lane with no warning.

1. Driving illegaly in a designated bus/cycle lane.
   
2. Undertaking. (they invariably have to rejoin the traffic to the right of them at some point)
   
3. Endangering cyclists lives.
   
4. Did I mention driving in a lane theyre explicitly forbidden to drive in?
   
   

Where the hell are the fines and clamping down on this?

I live in Balham and use the same road as you. If you look at the the timings on the bus lane boards you'll see that before 0700, between 1000 and 1600 and after 1900hrs, anybody can drive in the bus lane, making your points 1. and 4. invalid.

I live in Balham and use the same road as you. If you look at the the timings on the bus lane boards you'll see that before 0700, between 1000 and 1600 and after 1900hrs, anybody can drive in the bus lane, making your points 1. and 4. invalid.

Jesus. Well, good to have that so completely wrapped up.

And between 4pm and 7pm, when most cyclists are out and about? and Motorbikes and Mopeds and the occasional cuntish car driving commuter nip along the bus lanes anyway?

Like I said, Point 1 & point 4.

Not in the slightest bit 'invalid'

Yay, I get to post a 'meme'.

biker pulled by police... - YouTube

I don't get these lanes that allow buses and taxis but not mbikes, i can only think it's because they might speed, in which case stick some cameras on it. I find the inconsistantcy around London very annoying having been fined twice.

There are bad road users whatever the vehicle, sushi delivery riders, kids on t&gs, suits on their shiney new vespas riding possessed, etc, the same way that every time I get on my SS there are more inconsiderate cyclists than like minded people.

Jesus. Well, good to have that so completely wrapped up.

And between 4pm and 7pm, when most cyclists are out and about? and Motorbikes and Mopeds and the occasional cuntish car driving commuter nip along the bus lanes anyway?

Like I said, Point 1 & point 4.

Not in the slightest bit 'invalid'

'fraid it is, most of the bus lanes on that route are part of the scheme and mortorcycles are allowed in them at any time. Try looking at the signs...

As for your point 3, how many cyclists have been killed by a motorcycle along that stretch?

Point 2 is a bit daft, bus lanes mean undertaking by definition. It isn't difficult to join the lane to the right in a perfectly safe way.

Point 2 is moot anyway.
If the traffic is moving slowly in queues (which it always is) then passing on the left is legal.
I'm sure you move faster than the cars when you're on your bicycle.

From the Evening Standard yesterday:

Motorcyclists will be given the permanent right to use bus lanes in the capital after a trial run showed it reduced congestion and improved safety, transport chiefs said today.
Mayor Boris Johnson ordered the 18-month trial of the scheme - the second to be done - last year. Cyclists have warned the measure is dangerous and risks lives.
But Ben Plowden, director of better routes and places at Transport for London, said: "The two trials have shown reduced journey times and environmental benefits with no significant safety issues for motorcyclists and other vulnerable road users.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-24023549-trial-gives-go-ahead-for-motorbikes-in-bus-lanes.do

Improved whose safety, exactly?

They can fuck right off, I don't care if safety has improved, it's awful getting buzzed ridiculously closely, and sometime get undertaken when I want them to slow down and overtake me properly.

Indeed. Not happy about this decision. But sadly not surprised.

you have two trials, both times it proves it is a bad idea, what do you do...go ahead with it.

the full report is here but pg 37, (conc bullet 3) suggests 150% increase in cyclist and motorcycle accidents.

They can fuck right off, I don't care if safety has improved,

Really?

I don't mind them to be honest. I often find you can draft the scooters, escpecially if there are two passengers on it.
Motor cyclists are fine on the whole, they know the score, just don't give them any room or be intimidated by them

In my experience motorcyclists are either incredibly considerate road users and generally nice people or complete bellends and a nightmare to be cycling near. I swear there is no middle ground whatsoever. Anyway I have more of a problem with them pulling dodgy moves while filtering or getting in the way at red lights than when they're in bus lanes.

Scooters on the other hand... many of my sketchiest moments on the roads have been caused by shit riding from people on scooters.