London: Motorbikes and TFL bus lanes

[maomao]

Agree on both counts. Often have motorbikes on both sides of me when in the bike box, leading to undertaking and all sorts of hairy behaviour.

Whenever I have motorcyclists next to me in the advance box I like to pretend to 'rev' my handlebars and make broom broom noises. I'm not sure what this achieves but it does make sure the motorcyclists keep their distance when we get moving.

 

[Spark]

at least when cyclists jump the lights they don't slow down other road users off the lights

I was speaking as a cyclist - I'd prefer to have a motorcyclist taking up a small part of the ASL rather a car taking up the whole thing (plus going a bit ahead of it too usually)

 

[Homeless Mal]

Whenever I have motorcyclists next to me in the advance box I like to pretend to 'rev' my handlebars and make broom broom noises. I'm not sure what this achieves but it does make sure the motorcyclists keep their distance when we get moving.

 

[FunkyUK]

Fucking excellent. I see it's an 18 month "trial" again, but at least the trial extends to all red route bus lanes.

 

[fjydj]

anyone spotted the new pointless cycling lanes between Stockwell and Brixton?

YES! Its hilariously crap. No doubt cost 10's of £1,000s to "plan" a few dabs of paint. Love the way it just ploughs into the parking bays.

Totally useless and probably more dangerous than without it.

 

[Orang Utan]

YES! Its hilariously crap. No doubt cost 10's of £1,000s to "plan" a few dabs of paint. Love the way it just ploughs into the parking bays.

Totally useless and probably more dangerous than without it.

Anyone with any sense would not go into them at all - I give them about a 4feet berth

 

[T & P]

Does anyone know whether the bus lane signs for the bus lanes affected are being altered to show motorbikes are allowed?

 

[winjer]

Saw one with a motorbike symbol on Holloway Road today, so yes.

 

[Oswaldtwistle]

We badly need a single UK policy on this- it makes no sense to allow motorbikes in TfL bus lanes while banning them from Local Authority ones, or for that matter allowing them in London while banning them in some other cities.

If this 18 month trial is a sucess, motorbikes should be allowed in all bus lanes nationwide.

 

[CorkieMagic]

Ladies and gentlmen - this is my first post so please don't be too harsh with your retorts...

First off, I am a motorbike rider of 5 years standing and a car driver of over 10 years. I have used the A23 Streaham/Brixton bus lanes for many years and apart from the ridiculously adverse camber I have found them to be much safer as they keep me away from the d*ckhead car drivers that seem to frequent that part of town and indeed the whole of London (read 'cabbies')

I really wish the 'cycling community' would stop their bleating about the danger posed by allowing motorbikes to use bus lanes in the capital.
I pay a road tax fee each year - cyclists pay nothing yet think they have more rights than I do! So to brand motorbike riders - who are also vulnerable two-wheelers lest we forget - as wreckless speed freaks is unfair and unfounded. I for one tend to drive more slowly in bus lanes as there are frequent pools of diesel left by busses and other dangers such as cyclists and pedestrians stepping out... I just cannot see how can I possibly pose more of a threat to cyclists than a 11 ton double decker bus?

In my experience cyclists are the danger in the bus lanes as they rarely, if ever, check over their shoulders before swerving in front of the rest of us or blocking us from filtering. And don't get me started on the way they run red lights......

I am all up for sharing the bus lanes with our pedal powered friends but they also need to be aware of the danger they cause to us on motorbikes with their careless abandon of traffic regulations and etiquette.

Thank you for listening, viewers.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

I pay a road tax fee each year - cyclists pay nothing yet think they have more rights than I do!

I just cannot see how can I possibly pose more of a threat to cyclists than a 11 ton double decker bus?

In my experience cyclists are the danger in the bus lanes as they rarely, if ever, check over their shoulders before swerving in front of the rest of us or blocking us from filtering. .

Uh oh.

 

[tarannau]

It's so genuine a post that he's made it on two separate threads.

E-

 

[FunkyUK]

Last in? Actually, were both posts his first post?

Cock

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

I really wish the 'cycling community' would stop their bleating about the danger posed by allowing motorbikes to use bus lanes in the capital.
I pay a road tax fee each year - cyclists pay nothing yet think they have more rights than I do! So to brand motorbike riders

Because Cyclists cause such a large percentage of wear and tear to the roads and cause so much congestion and pollution of course.

- who are also vulnerable two-wheelers lest we forget - as wreckless speed freaks is unfair and unfounded.

Not all motorbikes but I see my fair share of reckless speed freaks every day. Sounds like you have your generalizing hat on for the cyclists as well.

I for one tend to drive more slowly in bus lanes as there are frequent pools of diesel left by busses and other dangers such as cyclists and pedestrians stepping out...

Oh good for you for driving with due care as you always should do, have a biscuit.

I just cannot see how can I possibly pose more of a threat to cyclists than a 11 ton double decker bus?

Then you are a moron,
Why do you have to be more than a threat anyway?

In my experience cyclists are the danger in the bus lanes as they rarely, if ever, check over their shoulders before swerving in front of the rest of us or blocking us from filtering.

Your experience over the last couple of weeks or have you been illegally driving in the bus lane for some time.

PLus you are generalizing again. Way to go, dick head. Or is it Firky (also a dickhead), thinking about it this has to be a joke poster .

 

[Orang Utan]

I've thought about it and spoken with the bikers here at work and now I think it shouldn't be a problem for us to share with motorbikes.

 

[Orang Utan]

Because Cyclists cause such a large percentage of wear and tear to the roads and cause so much congestion and pollution of course.

Road maintenance is paid for by council tax anyway

 

[gaijingirl]

Well I am a dedicated cyclist, but I also have a motorbike licence and in the past was a dedicated biker. Where I used to find myself at the head of a queue of cars during the London morning commute, I now find myself in the same place with a bunch of other cyclists. My cycling confidence is undoubtedly down to my motorbike training (which was much more rigorous than my training when I took my car licence btw).

I don't actually feel that differently about either - both groups are more vulnerable (as opposed to dangerous) and I don't have a problem with bikers in the bus lanes myself.

It's definitely not helpful if two-wheelers start fighting amongst ourselves though. Sweeping statements such as some of those Corkie has made is completely pointless tbh.... not to mention inaccurate - For example, personally, I have been unable to filter through due to motorbikes on a number of occasions - this is entirely logical as motorbikes are bigger and unable to get through the same gaps as their smaller engine-free cousins. To be honest though, I'm not going to get that wound up about it or translate that into some kind of "rarely, if ever..." style sweeping statement - we're on busy roads and we can't all have it our own way the whole time.

So in essence - we need to learn to share a bit better and stop being quite so territorial and ready to point the finger!!

 

[mauvais]

As a cyclist, I like motorcyclists. I get out of the way for them and they get out of the way for me. We have most of the same benefits and nearly all of the same problems. Any time I see a m/c accident, I remember that it could be me. We've too much in common to argue.

 

[spitfire]

That get's on my wick. "I pay road tax, cyclists don't".

I have a car and pay road tax, I also cycle. I think I may not be the only one.

Fucking stupid argument.

I can't say I'm too thrilled about the motorbikes. However there are also quite a lot of cyclists I'd rather not share a bus lane with. The balancing ones for a start, wobbling all over the shop at the lights. Nurks.

 

[tommers]

I pay a road tax fee each year - cyclists pay nothing yet think they have more rights than I do! So to brand motorbike riders - who are also vulnerable two-wheelers lest we forget - as wreckless speed freaks is unfair and unfounded. I for one tend to drive more slowly in bus lanes as there are frequent pools of diesel left by busses and other dangers such as cyclists and pedestrians stepping out... I just cannot see how can I possibly pose more of a threat to cyclists than a 11 ton double decker bus?

Let me start by saying that I agree with some points you make, and I personally don't really have a problem with motorbikes using bus lanes. It'll take some getting used to, cos cyclists are used to having them pretty much to themselves.

BUT...

as has been pointed out countless times... "road tax" isn't "road tax." It is "Vehicle Excise Duty". It is calculated based on the engine size of your vehicle. Cycles don't have engines. That's why they don't pay it. In fact you're paying for a license to use the roads, cycles don't have to do this and so it could be argued that cycles have more "right" to use roads than motorbikes, cars, lorries etc. "Road tax" does not also go towards paying for the upkeep of roads. It goes towards tornado fighter bombers, same as everything else.

Secondly, the reason why motorbikes are potentially more dangerous than 11 tonne buses is that buses are slow to accelerate and slow to change direction. They are also noisy. This means that, as a cyclist, you tend to know where they are. Motorbikes are fantastically quick at accelerating and change direction extremely quickly. They can be next to you before you have had a chance to react. That makes avoiding them, or avoiding stumbling into their path, much more difficult.

Hope that helps.

 

[tommers]

As a cyclist, I like motorcyclists. I get out of the way for them and they get out of the way for me. We have most of the same benefits and nearly all of the same problems. Any time I see a m/c accident, I remember that it could be me. We've too much in common to argue.

Absolutely right. We're almost cousins.

 

[gaijingirl]

Absolutely right. We're almost cousins.

Hey - that's my line... have you paid tax for a licence to use it?

motorbikes are bigger (than) their smaller engine-free cousins.

 

[tommers]

Hey - that's my line... have you paid tax for a licence to use it?

Must have been the power of suggestion.

Are you derren brown?

 

[gaijingirl]

Must have been the power of suggestion.

Are you derren brown?

Fucking hell how did you guess that?

 

[tommers]

Fucking hell how did you guess that?

I didn't guess anything. I just thought what you made me think.

I think.







I'm going for a lie down.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

I've thought about it and spoken with the bikers here at work and now I think it shouldn't be a problem for us to share with motorbikes.

I don't think it will make that much difference, they always seemed to be in the bus lanes on my journey anyway (mostly on the car side).

I have had a few motor cycles undertake me but I would guess that they are a small minority of dicks.

 

[Crispy]

I stop at red lights. In return, could one motorbike rider in london please stay out of the advance stop zone? Thanks.

 

[Orang Utan]

I stop at red lights. In return, could one motorbike rider in london please stay out of the advance stop zone? Thanks.

I don't mind that at all - it doesn't make sense for the slowest accerating mode of transport to be at the front.

 

[Crispy]

ok, I can understand that. I modify my request (and it is only for one motorbike) to 'please don't use the cycle lane to get there'

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

I don't mind that at all - it doesn't make sense for the slowest accerating mode of transport to be at the front.

I mind, and it does make sense to me. If I have to do a right turn at and advance stop in busy traffic it is often my only chance to get in lane without being killed or waiting for all the other traffic to pass.