Cycling group: ‘We know of no crashes but still want motorcycles out of bus lanes’

A cycling group demanding motorcycles be booted out of London’s bus lanes is not aware of a single crash to back up its call.

Challenged to cite a single collision between a motorcyclist and cyclist in a trial of the two sharing bus lanes which began in January, the London Cycling Campaign failed.

Instead it said: ‘LCC does not have access to police data on collisions in bus lanes which we trust will be published in due course.

‘We hope that there will be no additional injuries to any road user as a result of the 18-month trial and we welcome motorcyclists following the bus lane code of conduct distributed by motorcycling organisations.

‘LCC remains concerned at reports of near-misses of cycle users by motorcycles and inconsiderate motorcycling.

‘Many cycle users consider bus lanes a refuge from fast traffic and, while we work on mutual cycling/motorcycling issues such as better road surfaces and improved safety mirrors on lorries, cycling organisations are opposed to sharing bus lanes with powered-two-wheelers and/or HGVs.’

MCN yesterday asked LCC for more details on the ‘near misses’ and ‘inconsiderate motorcycling’ but our request has so far been ignored.

The group has made a fresh appeal to London Mayor Boris Johnson to pull the plug on the 18-month trail, claiming it will ‘increase road danger for both pedestrians and cyclists’.

Since the trial began LCC has appealed for ‘objections’ through its website. It now claims to have ‘summarised the many hundreds of comments’ of concern for the Mayor. 

Transport for London (TfL) last week said there was ‘nothing at this stage’ to indicate a single collision between a motorcyclist and cyclist in the trial.

LCC’s website urges its members to complete a TfL survey to ‘make cyclists’ views heard’ on the trial.

The group is also calling for ‘car-free zones’ including entire suburbs in which motorcycles and cars would be banned and residents would have to get around on foot or push bikes.