Tarring with same brush
Many MCN comments and letters totally fail to acknowledge the vast numbers of cyclists who are very experienced road users, have no problem with motorcyclists who are considerate, and share the same problems of killer pillars, very inexperienced drivers, bullying bus drivers, and all other forms of death passed down through traffic and road layout.
The CTC, LCC and other cycling campaign groups are right to be concerned about 200kg of motorbike using the bus lane. As they are also concerned about buses running cyclists down. The real issue here is not the bicycle user, bus or motorbike, but the road layout.
In many places across Europe, traffic has its place on the highway, some places like Assen, Offenburg or Copenhagen, have very high levels of decent cycle infrastructure and bus services. This is well thought out, clear, and works well. Conflicts as we are debating here is rare. Italy and Paris being an exception!
The real villains are the DfT and TfL.
These rants against cyclists need to stop. Motorcyclists ranting about the minority of idiots on bicycles is as bad as drivers ranting about tw*ts on motor bikes. This bigotry is socially corrosive and will get us nowhere. If you really need to point the finger, point it at the Department of Transport. An out of touch collection of bumbling meddlers who have failed the UK for the last 40 years.
If only two-wheeler pressure groups could unite, then the idiot leading DfT might take some notice. I expect that TfL is delighted to see bikers and cyclists locked in battle - it takes the focus off their cock-ups.
