Nov 2008: Keep
motorbikes out of LBM bus lanes
Dear Councillor
Brierly
I am writing to you
on behalf of Merton Cycling Campaign to convey to you our view that motorbikes
[motorised two-wheeled vehicles, also known as PTWs] should continue not to be
permitted to use bus lanes on Merton-controlled roads. We ask Merton Council to continue to ban
such vehicles from bus lanes on Merton-controlled roads, regardless of the
recent decision by the Mayor of London concerning access of PTWs to bus lanes
on TLRN roads (A24 and A297 in Merton).
Our main objection
to PTWs in the bus lanes is on safety grounds for cyclists. Motorcyclists place not only themselves at
risk, but they are also disproportionately hazardous to pedestrians' and
cyclists' safety as well. Per mile
travelled, PTWs are about 1.5 as likely as cars to be involved in collisions
which cause serious injury to cyclists, twice as likely to be involved in
causing them serious injuries and about three times as likely to be involved in
killing them - CTC. A Transport Research Laboratory report 'Impacts
of motorcycles in Westminster bus lanes' (TRL, August 2008), noted
that: "On Bayswater Road the
average speed of motorcyclists increased by 2mph, with the 85th percentile of
speed being 43.1 mph in the after survey. Such behaviour is of concern, particularly
in relation to the effect on cyclist and pedestrian safety, as there is a
correlation between increased speed and severity of collisions for pedestrians
and cyclists."
We note from
careful study of TfL data on trials of allowing PTWs in bus lanes that no
conclusive evidence has emerged of the supposed 'safety' benefits to
motorcyclists. Furthermore it would
seem to us that encouraging motorcyclists to travel in close proximity to
pedestrians and cyclists is likely to result in increased risks to, and intimidation
of, pedestrians and cyclists. [We are
not aware of any assessment by TfL of the likely deterrent effects of allowing
motorbikes into bus lanes on cycling and walking; for example, the reduction in
quality of life and health to be expected for people who choose not to cycle as
a direct result of any decision to allow PTWs into bus lanes].
Other studies
commissioned by TfL and the Department for Transport have found no 'congestion'
benefit from motorcycles in bus lanes.
A concern is that many new motorcycle trips are likely to be modal
shifts from more sustainable transport modes such as rail, bus or cycling.
(Clearly, these modes represent the obvious competitors with journeys by
motorcycle for many trips in Merton and across London).
In terms of noise
pollution and air pollution, the case for promoting motorcycling - which
allowing them into bus lanes would represent - is also unconvincing. Motorcycles emit higher levels of dangerous
hydrocarbons than cars; larger motorcycles are less fuel-efficient than small
cars; and motorcycles are significant contributor to noise pollution, greatly
eroding the quality of life of people living and working in Merton.
We welcome the
growth in cycling in London, with a 91% increase on TLRN roads since 2000. An important factor in Londoners' individual
decisions to cycle has been the introduction of the London Bus Priority
Network. LBPN has provided a relatively
safe, well-enforced, direct network of routes which has increased choice of
routes for journeys by people wishing to cycle.
Any decision by
Merton Council to allow PTWs to use bus lanes directly contradicts policies to
encourage cycling and walking as well as undermining the NHS's policy
initiative to promote physical activity e.g. as set out in recent NICE Guidance
on Physical Activity and the Environment.
I should emphasise
that ours is not an 'anti-motorcycle' stance; London Cycling Campaign, and
Merton Cycling Campaign, recognise that cyclists and motorcyclists do have some
common cause. For example, both groups
of road users suffer disproportionately from collisions caused by drivers who
fail to observe the road properly, and LCC's campaigns for safer HGVs and for
20 mph speed limits have the by-product of also improving motorcyclists' safety. There is no mutual benefit however in
allowing PTWs into bus lanes, and it is not acceptable to seek to improve
motorcyclists' safety (as one reason for such a measure that has been cited by
politicians, albeit without evidence) at the expense of cyclists and
pedestrians. As with the introduction
of the Congestion Charge, from which PTWs are exempted from payment, allowing
motorbikes to have access to bus lanes would inevitably encourage modal shift
to motorbikes, to the detriment of our public realm, quality of life, community
safety and public health.
We are concerned to
note that in the recent Mayoral Questions & Answers (Ref. Motorcycles in
bus lanes (1) Question No: 2195 / 2008 Valerie Shawcross), the list of
stakeholders given by the Mayor of London to be formally consulted by TfL about
allowing PTWs to use bus lanes excludes non-motorised user groups such as the
London Cycling Campaign and Living Streets.
This contravenes the Mayor's stated commitment to listen to all views as
part of his consultation on a measure which has the potential to deter many
Londoners from cycling. We are aware
that both the London Cycling Campaign and Living Streets have expressed concern
about the likely impact on cyclists and pedestrians of allowing PTWs into bus
lanes.
As you may know,
Merton Cycling Campaign, with 250 members, is the local group of the London
Cycling Campaign, the largest urban cycle campaigning organisation in the
world. MCC's vision is for Merton to be
a borough in which cycling is a natural transport choice for everyone. We see cycling as a key element of a
liveable and sustainable public realm.
In summary:
1. We call on
Merton Council to continue to work to reduce danger on our roads, reduce road
traffic casualties, improve air quality, reduce noise pollution, increase
levels of cycling (and walking), and as practical expression of this work, to
continue in its current policy of not allowing PTWs in LBM-controlled bus
lanes.
2. We ask Merton
Council to convey to the Mayor of London MCC's views in this matter, as part of
Merton Council's response to the Mayoral consultation.
Please keep us
informed of any opportunities to contribute to policy decisions in this matter.
Best regards
Richard Evans
Merton Cycling
Campaign