Bonkers Boris' bikers' bus-lane blunder

The Evening Standard's poll on motorcycles in bus lanes is currently at 63% in favour and 37% against. http://www.standard.co.uk/or http://thisislondon.co.uk/standard (Scroll down to see it--look out for a light and dark blue circle.) Please vote in the poll.

The LCC's position is that motorcycles should not be allowed into bus lanes. Please sign our petition if you agree with it:http://www.lcc.org.uk//index.asp?PageID=1145.

This is what LCC and Living Streets wrote to The Standard, which recently published an editorial supporting motorbikes in bus lanes.

Dear Editor

We are most concerned to read of your support for allowing motorbikes inbus lanes (Open Bus Lanes - 22 May 2008) based on evidence thatTransport for London has described as 'not sufficiently reliable to inform a decision on such an important issue.' If the Standard is to be consistent in its support for reduced road danger for cyclists and pedestrians then it should examine the TfL reports on motorbikes in bus lanes more critically before advocating such a move by the Mayor.

The executive summary of the original report says repeatedly that key data is not statistically significant. TfL described the report methodology as 'flawed.' Following the final report a TfL official wrote "'there is no evidence to indicate that motorcyclists would see any significant safety benefits from being allowed to enter bus lanes but that there were potential dis-benefits for both cyclists and pedestrians.' For the Mayor to make a policy decision on the basis of flawed methodology and insufficient evidence would be premature and open to legal challenge should anyone be injured as a result.

Best regards, Tony Armstrong
Chief Executive , Living Strrets

Koy Thomson,
Chief Executive, London Cycling Campaign

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Press release from LCC

Boris shouldn’t risk lives with a snap decision on motorbikes in bus lanes

London Cycling Campaign has written to London Mayor Boris Johnson asking him not to make a snap decision on motorbikes in bus lanes that could endanger the lives of cyclists and pedestrians. LCC is advising the Mayor not to base any decisions on what Transport for London has described as unreliable evidence.

London Assembly Conservatives say that the ‘wheels are in motion’ and the Mayor will ‘rubber stamp’ the decision after technical requirements are met.

LCC’s chief executive Koy Thomson told the Mayor that ‘making a snap decision on this key issue based on evidence that is ‘not statistically significant’, or is based on ‘flawed methodology’, is an enormous risk and could adversely impact the safety of many pedestrians and cyclists.

‘This would be a decision taken not only against the advice of transport officials and without the input of cycling and pedestrian groups, but also in the face of a warning that this could ‘disbenefit’ cyclists and pedestrians.’

Managing Director for Surface Transport at Transport for London David Brown has stated: ‘The data used in the earlier report was not considered sufficiently reliable to inform a decision on such an important issue.’ Following a review of the data Mr Brown’s conclusion (April 2008) was that ‘there is no evidence to indicate that motorcyclists would see any significant safety benefits from being allowed to enter bus lanes but that there were potential disbenefits for both cyclists and pedestrians.’

LCC is urging the Mayor to consider the safety impact on all London streets for every road user before any decision on allowing high-speed vehicles into bus lanes is made.

Providing new high speed channels for motorcycles along major roads will inevitably increase motorcycle use. More motorcycle traffic will spread to all streets in London and will bring with it an increase in casualties for vulnerable road users. It is well established that motorcycles are involved in a greater proportion of collisions per kilometre with pedestrians and cyclists than are cars.