Bus Lanes

[WILDECELT]

Hi All
Looks like we will get to use bus lanes ( in London ) pretty soon
I just recently sent a letter off to the mayor of London regarding a attempt to stop us using bus lanes by our other two wheeled brothers(ahem),and surprise surprise i got a reply .
Anyway here's the letter i wrote and the reply underneath the second from last paragraph, pretty much confirms things


Subject: Bus Lanes
Dear Mr. Johnson
22/06/08
I would firstly like to congratulate you on your appointment as Mayor of London, I feel with you at the helm London has a better future and now has a realist, who is ready to tackle /sort out the problems your predecessor failed to address.
Ok I am a motorcyclist and I was overjoyed by your decision to allow us to utilize bus lanes, a general plus for common sense all around, I feel that over the years we (London bikers) have been tarnished with an unfavorable image due to media and other outside influences.
I remember the introduction of the Congestion Charge ,if my memory serves me right the last Mayor was keen to promote the use of motorcycles (then) as a means to decrease the flow of heavy traffic within central London and to speed up vehicular movement ( don’t mention the traffic lights wink) but over recent years there seems to have been a bit of a U-turn as the number of Scooter/motorcycle riders increased a certain section of our two wheeled fraternity have become rather hot and bothered by recent finding and to your suggestions.
Just recently I read that you have been petitioned by the cyclist lobby to re-think and address your above mentioned decision, I for one am a bit bewildered at this request as recent studies and reports that I assume you are fully aware off, have indicated that allowing motorcyclists to use bus lanes has led to a dramatic fall in fatalities as well as accidents concerning all road users.
My daily commute consists (I think) of riding some of London’s most heavily congested roads the A40 all the way through to the city etc… I am not currently allowed to use the bus lanes so most of my journey consists of low speed filtering,( making progress) given the opportunity I would gladly utilize the bus lanes not as a sole source to reach my journeys end but as a tool to use when heavy traffic is stationary and then only as a means to progress in a safe manner without having the constant threat of unobservant drivers pulling out on me (when filtering) etc… I can imagine that most motorcyclists are on the same thought pattern as me.
It seems a shame that a few people are of the notion that we will increase/ add to the occurrence of accidents involving cyclists. I can understand where the lobbyists are coming from but I feel they are over reacting to your decision, Bus lane trials in parts of London speak the truth and I think that if your ruling prevents the fatality of one rider or serious injury or in fact the injury/ fatality to anyone biker/car driver cyclist/pedestrian etc.. It is a step forward for common sense and increases the insurance that our great city remains one of the safest for all road users in the world.
Here’s raising a glass that good sound judgement will prevail and that a staunch Mayor will stick to his guns (winkJ
Kind Regards



Dear Mr Lyons
Thank you for your e-mail to the newly-elected Mayor dated 22 June 2008 with further reference to motorcycles in bus lanes. Your comments are much appreciated and please accept my response from Transport for London (TfL) on the Mayor's behalf.
The Mayor wishes to further encourage modal shift away from the private car and believes that motorcycles have an important role to play in this. As such, he has instructed us to take steps to facilitate the use of bus lanes by motorcycles.
You have correctly identified the expected safety benefits, particularly for motorcyclists themselves; but the reduced congestion and lessened pollution generated by this move is also expected to significantly improve the journeys of road users throughout the capital.
While we respect everyone's opinion on this issue, we can assure you that we will work as swiftly as possible to implement the Mayor's instructions and it will only be a matter of time before powered two wheel vehicles will be permitted to use bus lanes throughout London.
I would like to thank you once again for your interest in this matter and, as a motorcyclist in London, we appreciate your feedback.
Yours sincerely
Andrew McBride
Customer Service Advisor-London Streets
Surface Transport Communications
Transport for London

[fortknoq]

I like it..I really really like it...but I'll believe it when I see it

Good work though. Let's hope he's a man of honour
hmmm..he is a politician though! Is that a contradiction in terms!?!

[Fnatic]

Photoshop tbh.

[TechJinx]

did you really insert the word "wink" a couple of time?
____________________
bikes: SV650S K5 that is making me do this 57 CBR125 RW-7 - sold ; 54 CBR125 - anyone wanna buy a project?

YOU ONLY NEED TWO TOOLS IN LIFE - WD-40 AND DUCT TAPE. IF IT DOESN'T MOVE AND SHOULD, USE THE WD-40. IF IT SHOULDN'T MOVE AND DOES, USE THE DUCT TAPE.

[WILDECELT]

errmmm yea i did
well look on the bright side bus lanes will still be open to us Wink

[moog]

Why the hell would I want to share a lane with a dirty great diesel belching bus for? He probably won't see me in his mirrors, leading to me leaving the bus lane and getting parped at and told to "fuck off back into the bus lane" by irrate car drivers. Quite apart from getting stuck behind one when he's loading up or unloading his passengers and having to breathe in diesel fumes until he pulls away....completely failing to see me in his mirrors leading to me leaving the bus lane etc etc etc.
____________________
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"I've made an odd discovery. Every time I talk to a savant I feel quite sure that happiness is no longer a possibility. Yet when I talk with my gardener, I'm convinced of the opposite."

[st3v3]

There's pro's and con's to everything, you dont have to use the bud lanes just dont complain when you do and encounter these problems, common sense should prevail.

Use bus lanes - maybe get a little annoyed with buses.
Use normal lanes - increase your chances against useless cagers.
____________________
Roger wrote: Women don't get damp for clingy puppies. Get some better happy pills, hit the gym & buy a medallion the size of a dinner plate. Job done

[dch]

This is good news for all of us, not just those that ride in the capital.

What works in London is often applied to other cities - so you never know, bus lanes may eventually be opened up by other councils. They'll probably implement a congestion charge at the same time, but you can't win them all.

[fortknoq]

boooo - https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7452178.stm

hmmm - https://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/tpm/tal/trafficmanagement/trafficadvisoryleaflet207

Old - https://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/roadsandpublicspaces/2295.aspx

Old, but maybe still applies -
https://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/Motor-cycle-bus-lanes-legal.pdf

[WILDECELT]

Interesting finds my letter was in response to the petition by our cyclist friends.
As pointed out by DHC what applies to London could soon apply to all major cities in the UK and as stated it offers us a alternative to filtering in heavy traffic , i guess it's up to the individual motorcyclist to utilise this at the end of the day, i for one will, the A40 at rush hour can be a real pain in the A**E

[Shay HTFC]

[dch]

[TechJinx]

[moog]

[moonisharsh]

Well, i have not seen the real one,who have the pics to share?

[Moonie]

[TechJinx]

Has anyone ever been cut up, (in car or on bike), when they are using bus lanes that aren't in operation?

There's one near me that only operates, 4-7 mon-fri but people avoid it like it's a 24/7 bus lane.

If I go up the inside people try to out accelerate or pull in front of you suddenly (especially in the car as they seem to think you're getting away with something). I've also been honked at a few time in the car.
____________________
bikes: SV650S K5 that is making me do this 57 CBR125 RW-7 - sold ; 54 CBR125 - anyone wanna buy a project?

YOU ONLY NEED TWO TOOLS IN LIFE - WD-40 AND DUCT TAPE. IF IT DOESN'T MOVE AND SHOULD, USE THE WD-40. IF IT SHOULDN'T MOVE AND DOES, USE THE DUCT TAPE.

[dch]

[chris-red]

It's already started, half the lanes on my way home allow bikes in them now where the didn't before.
____________________
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Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
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[neil.]