Motorcycles in your bus lane

car pulling out on motorcyclist/cyclist are the most common collision, I'm not surprised there's an increase.

Also a type of accident that is increased by segregation, if I remember correctly.

I think an American study found that bikes being hit by turning cars at junctions was about eleven times more likely where the bikes were in thier own lane than when they were mixed in with the traffic.

quite right, it's all about safety in number, the more drivers get used to cyclists on the road, the more likely they'll get used to them.

segregation just make it worse by implying that the road is for car only, thus no need to worry about cyclists.

I see over at MCN's website (Motorcycle News) that they say the trial is to continue for another 18 months (well it isn't - it's a new trial) and they willfully neglect to mention any of the conclusions of the first trial. Well, I suppose they wouldn't would they - they'd be too worried that thousands of bikerswould turn up and circle their office every Tuesday morning if they printed something that MCN readers don't like. Will have a read of it in WH Smiths and report back what they have written.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/General-news/2010/June/jun1610-london-bus-lane-trial-extended/_/R-EPI-124797

Its definatly a trial - nearly got mown down by a Lewis Day m/c today. Trouble is, m/c riders are usually cool dudes and hate the same peeps as us couriers ie everyone else lol!!!

Any m/c riders reading this - just please, please dont come up my inside on Bishopsgate without first giving a little toot on the horn. Saves me a heart attack. Cheers.

Im ready for the inevitable backlash this post it probably going to cause but I rode my m/cycle into london daily during the first trial and apart from working out which bus lane I could go down (its not all of them) I found that most of the time the cyclists adapted well to this extra intrusion. I did see some idiots trying to race past cyclists but the majority respected the fact that we were all using the lane together. (shame the bus drivers didnt want to join in. I saw more problems with bus drivers vs everyone than anything) im not sure exactly what im trying to say but as a cyclist and motorcyclist (cyclist first always) I definately benefitted from the extra space.

I see over at MCN's website (Motorcycle News) that they say the trial is to continue for another 18 months (well it isn't - it's a new trial) and they willfully neglect to mention any of the conclusions of the first trial. Well, I suppose they wouldn't would they - they'd be too worried that thousands of bikerswould turn up and circle their office every Tuesday morning if they printed something that MCN readers don't like. Will have a read of it in WH Smiths and report back what they have written.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/General-news/2010/June/jun1610-london-bus-lane-trial-extended/_/R-EPI-124797

It does seem strange that Boris has continued to let motorcycles in bus lanes. He set up a trial for 18 months with the result that there were many more motorcycle crashes, and they were more serious. The motorbikes were going much faster. The casualty rate for cyclists also went up.

Boris doesn't have the guts to admit the experiment failed. MCN has the story totally wrong. The 40+ percent reduction in casualties predicted by the motorcycle industry was pure fantasy.

We've been loaned a little 50c Vespa chicken chaser and I've been riding bikes for about 10 years so happy to go in bus lanes with caution. The best thing about it is when the missus takes it, who has never ridden a motorbike until now, she can go along in the bus lane a be a little bit safer. I do see some morons on motorbikes, but then I see some idiots in cars, lorries, taxis and bicycles too.

It does seem strange that Boris has continued to let motorcycles in bus lanes. He set up a trial for 18 months with the result that there were many more motorcycle crashes, and they were more serious. The motorbikes were going much faster. The casualty rate for cyclists also went up.

Boris doesn't have the guts to admit the experiment failed. MCN has the story totally wrong. The 40+ percent reduction in casualties predicted by the motorcycle industry was pure fantasy.

It does seem strange that he has continued to allow bicycles in the bus lanes, for exactly the same reason.

Your one-sided view of things is as bad as MCN's.

My bro came a cropper whilst riding down a bus lane on his motorbike, car driver just pulled across him with no warning, luckily it was only bruised ribs and a few scratches to the bike, just saying

It does seem strange that he has continued to allow bicycles in the bus lanes, for exactly the same reason.

Your one-sided view of things is as bad as MCN's.
The study showed cyclist casualties increased after Boris allowed motorcycles in bus lanes. So it could be safer for us if motorcycles were removed. The study had no evidence to suggest cyclists would be safer out of bus lanes.
I think bus lanes would be safer without taxis and buses, but it is going to take a while for Boris to get that one through.

[FONT=Arial]

[FONT=Arial]Dear Mr O

I am writing to remind you to take extra care to look out for motorcycles when turning across bus lanes.

This is because motorcycles can use most bus lanes on London's Red Routes for a new trial period ending 23 January 2012.

For more information please visit [/FONT][FONT=Arial]tfl.gov.uk/motorcyclesinbuslanes[/FONT][FONT=Arial]

Yours sincerely,

Ben Plowden
Director Better Routes and Places [/FONT]

What about bicycles?[/FONT]

^what they've found is motorbikes don't cause extra danger to cyclists but are actually in more danger themselves when in bus lanes.
Rather than abandon the 'trial' they are extending and spending loads of money on warnings to drivers to look out. It might have a knock on benefit to us.

^bingo.

Rather than abandon the 'trial' they are extending and spending loads of money on warnings to drivers to look out. It might have a knock on benefit to us.

Therein lie the question - could they not do that to cyclists? I mean spending money to warn drivers to look out for cyclists in the first place.

I'm both a cyclist and motorcyclist (well, until some c*nt drove into me earlier in the year) I prefer not to ride a motorbike in bus lanes in heavy traffic because I end up travelling faster than the inevitably crawling traffic and faster than I would be when filtering down the middle because it's an empty lane, which leaves for less time to deal with incidents.

If my lights aren't shining in someone's mirrors then they're not going to see me until its too late if they decide to turn off or join the lane. I stick to filtering down the middle on both, it's how I was trained on the motorbike and serves me personally well on the bicycle as well.

Scooter riders should generally be shot.

Scooter riders are fine, it's those with an L plates who hasn't finish their lesson tend not to work with the traffic properly.

I pride myself on my tolerance and broad mindedness but I would support a cull on all scooter riders. Any such cull must be done humanely though, we would not want to come across as barbarians.

Therein lie the question - could they not do that to cyclists? I mean spending money to warn drivers to look out for cyclists in the first place.

I suspect telling them to look out for motorcyclists will be a more effective campaign for 4 reasons

1. car drivers harbour a lot less resentment towards motorcyclists as they pay road tax and so are seen as having a "right" to be on the road, whereas cyclists are evil scum who jump lights, ride on the pavement, etc etc.
   
2. car drivers know that motorcyclists all (most) have insurance and lawyers and all that.
   
3. car drivers know motorcycles are heavy and will damage their shiny car.
   
4. car drivers think motorcyclists are hardnuts who will beat them up and steal their grannies.
   

^what they've found is motorbikes don't cause extra danger to cyclists but are actually in more danger themselves when in bus lanes.
....
Not quite the whole truth but part of TfL spin in the press release and to the Mayor.
They found dramatic increases in the casualty rate to motorcyclists.
They found dramatic increases in the casualty rate to cyclists on sites with detailed study.
They found overall, there is some evidence that the cycle collision rate had increased.

There was not enough evidence to show whether or not motorcycles caused the extra danger to cyclists. They did not find any evidence to justify the claim that 'motorbikes don't cause extra danger to cyclists'.
I still cannot understand why TfL are spinning this to downplay the main finding of an increase in danger to motorcyclists. As they say: You can fool all the Mayors some of the time, and you can fool some of the Mayors all of the time, but ... ... ...

They found dramatic increases in the casualty rate to cyclists on sites with detailed study.

Figure as much, bit annoying having to take a very assertive position in order to force the motorcyclists to slow down on the bus lane.

freak me out sometime rotten when one appear at speed, not even looking back regularly is enough to anticipated them.

freak me out sometime rotten when one appear at speed, not even looking back regularly is enough to anticipated them.
+1

Scooter riders are, I agree, unpleasant fellow occupiers of the road but I would caution against cries for a cull. All sounds a little Matthew Parris or James Martin and we don't want to sink to their levels do we?

Who would deliver my pizza?

MaxCrowe?