Jump to content

Recommended Posts

TfL apparently suppressed a report that suggested motorbikes being allowed in bus lanes would NOT mean cyclists would get killed all day and every day. Livingstone - afraid of the cycling lobby backlash - chose not to report it. Boris (I did not vote for him) saw the report and said Motorbikes should go in TFL bus lanes.

We - the biking lobby (Motorcycle Action Group and British Motorcycle Federation (and if you're bikers please become members)) - argued all bus lanes should let us in, in all of London as they do in Birmingham and Bristol and various councils around London (some Westminster roads and Richmond allow us in). But Southwark aren't hearing any of it.

The TfL report was given to pedestrian and cycle groups and not biker groups! In actual fact a few more motorcyclists were injured, but it's a small rise and a short period of time. I suspect sometimes it happens when motorcyclists are riding up the bus lane and don't slow down when a left turn is approaching, knowing it is likely a car will turn left into it across the bus lane path without looking first.


The report is too early too soon to make any real conclusions, but is contained within the link if you're really bored at work today! Motorcycle News Report


Here is a link to my posting in Jan 09 with some useful links within it.

Motorcycle Action Group

The London Bikers

Not wanting to start another row about this and the majority of motorcyclists are good at lights and junctions to us cyclists, but most of the people on scooters are dangerous and until there's a way of either training them better or separating them off from motorcyclists I think the blanket use of bus lanes for motorcyclists is a bad idea. Sorry PR. I thought you were very brave at Pull the Other One if that's any consolation.....it was you wasn't it?

So do I!

Idiots!

But then I also have to be wary of car drivers taking their eye off the road as they look at the sat nav screens, or talking on mobiles, or putting on make up, changing the music etc. Anyway, bikes in bus lanes. Sensible idea. We must never forget to take responsibility for ourselves though and train to be the safest and best road users that we can be. Certainly the accidents I had when I was first a motorcyclist even after passing my test, I would not have now, as experience teaches you to 'see' what that other road user is likely to do. Testosterone of course can't be legislated against!


Sandperson Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Erm, the only stats I have are the fact that I get

> cut off every day, at least once, on my commute to

> and from work by dopes on scooters. Excuse me for

> not attaching an excel spreadsheet.

Absolutely!


I am a better driver because I am a bike rider. I have better road awareness and I am sure this is true for you as a motorcyclist. I even stop at red lights, wave traffic out in front of me and stop at pedestrian crossings!


I think the level of training for motorcyclists is good, for scooterists it is not adequate. Just an opinion formed from sharing the road with them every day in all weathers and at all times.

As a former scooterist and now proper motorcyclist, I'd agree the training for scooters is dismal. You can get on geared 125cc, capable of 70 odd MPH after one days training that even a monkey could get through. A couple of hours is just classroom work, a couple more in a car park, and then a couple on the road.


The new motorbike test is actually pretty good - the final test is about 45 mins. on the road, and you are not allowed to make a single serious fault. A serious fault is anything that causes another vehicle to have to make any sort of evasive action, even such as changing speed.


You generally have to do 5 days training or almost 40 hours. You can get a private pilot license with 40 hours!

You can get on geared 125cc, capable of 70 odd MPH after one days training that even a monkey could get through


I am that monkey! I had to re do my CBT before I could do the rest of the course, luckily I had 2 weeks between the CBT and the DA part.

DirtyBox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> You can get on geared 125cc, capable of 70 odd MPH

> after one days training that even a monkey could

> get through

>

> I am that monkey! I had to re do my CBT before I

> could do the rest of the course, luckily I had 2

> weeks between the CBT and the DA part.


lol - you looser :-) I didn't realize that you could fail it!

Don't have a problem with considerate motorcyclists using bus lanes - would happily trade off full access for motorcyclists to STOP using the Advance Stop Line / zone at lights (that's the green area designed specifically for pedal cycles). The look of bemusement when I point out that they shouldn't be in the area makes me wonder if many of them should be in charge of a moving vehicle at all. [/rant]

It's not just motorbikes; cars, buses and vans all sit in the box which then means that cyclists have to go into the crossing where the pedestrians cross. It's dangerous to a cyclist to stay back in the traffic when the lights change, so motor vehicles sitting in the cycle box, encourage light hopping by cyclists.


I hate it when cars park in cycle lanes too. Everyone wants cyclists to be punished for cycling on the pavements and light hopping, but when are the police going to enforce the cyclists rights and make it safe enough for us not to jumpup on pavements or go through the lights before they have changed?

DirtyBox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> You can get on geared 125cc, capable of 70 odd MPH

> after one days training that even a monkey could

> get through

>

> I am that monkey! I had to re do my CBT before I

> could do the rest of the course, luckily I had 2

> weeks between the CBT and the DA part.


lol - you looser :-) I didn't realize that you could fail it!



I had to try hard! Apparently you have to stay in the left lane when turning left and not head towards the oncoming traffic....


Worryingly I was by no means the worst on the course.

In Newham motorcycles are allowed and encouraged with the paintwork and signage to ride to the front bit at the lights with the cyclists. So there's no London-wide rules. You have to check the signs each time you cross a borough's borders. It's ridiculous.

You say 'thanks for that' in a slightly sarcy tone as my view doesn't agree with yours. I could be wrong.


The evidence apparently shows motorcylsits are safer in bus lane - can you point us to this evidence?, the links are all about the perceived risk to cyclists. How is the information collated and compared really with regard to increased safety? I doubt that in the long run it makes that much difference. Motorcyclists are most at risk from cars turning into traffic from side roads as you point out, being in a bus lane aint gonna help there IMO and the evidence seems to point to this being the case.

Motorcyclists travel at the same speed (supposedly 30mph) as the rest of the traffic - why do they need the bus lanes? The argument is that they shouldn't be in a queue of traffic if it is slow moving - well hell, why should the cars?

Frequently as a pedal cyclist I have been shaken by motorbikes passing me very close at speed after moving out of slow traffic and into the bus lane.


Don't think I am biased against motorbikes particularly as Mr Asset and I used to have one and we travelled many miles on it.

I wasn't being sarcastic - but I like to read the reasons behind people's (otherwise useless) simple stated points of view, "I think this"; "I think something different", etc. Your point of view now explained is useful to read so thanks.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • If you're a fundraising intermediary, reporting promptly and accurately on how you've raised and spent funds seems quite important.
    • Does anyone know when the next SNT meeting is? I am fed up with my son being mugged on East Dulwich Grove! 
    • The issue must be everywhere at the moment. I was visiting a friend last week in Bermondsey, think we were walking  down Linton Rd & we dodged 7 dog poos. It was disgusting. 
    • Thanks for your message — I actually took the time to look into what CityHive does before posting my original comment, and I’d encourage anyone with questions to do the same. Yes, the Companies House filings are overdue — but from what I’ve gathered, this seems likely to be an accountant or admin issue, not some sign of ill intent. A lot of small, community-based organisations face challenges keeping up with formalities, especially when they’re focused on immediate needs like food distribution. Let’s not forget CityHive is a not-for-profit, volunteer-powered CIC — not a corporate machine. As for the directors, people stepping down or being replaced is often about capacity or commitment — which is completely normal in the voluntary and community sector. New directors are sometimes appointed when others can no longer give the time. It doesn’t automatically mean bad governance — it just means people’s circumstances change. CityHive’s actual work speaks volumes. They buy most of the food they distribute — fresh produce, essential groceries, and shelf-stable items — and then deliver it to food banks, soup kitchens, and community projects across London. The food doesn’t stay with CityHive — it goes out to local food hubs, and from there, directly to people who need it most. And while yes, there may be a few paid staff handling logistics or admin, there’s a huge volunteer effort behind the scenes that often goes unseen. Regular people giving their time to drive vans, sort donations, load pallets, pack food parcels — that’s what keeps things running. And when people don’t volunteer? Those same tasks still need to be done — which means they have to be paid for. Otherwise, the whole thing grinds to a halt. As the need grows, organisations like CityHive will inevitably need more support — both in people and funding. But the bigger issue here isn’t one small CIC trying to make ends meet. The real issue is the society we live in — and a government that isn’t playing its part in eradicating poverty. If it were, organisations like CityHive, The Felix Project, City Harvest, FareShare, and the Trussell Trust wouldn’t need to exist, let alone be thriving. They thrive because the need is growing. That’s not a reflection on them — it’s a reflection on a broken system that allows people to go hungry in one of the richest cities in the world. If you're in doubt about what they’re doing, go check their Instagram: @cityhivemedia. You’ll see the real organisations and people receiving food, sharing thanks, and showing how far the impact reaches. Even Southwark Foodbank has received food from CityHive — that alone should speak volumes. So again — how does any of this harm you personally? Why spend time trying to discredit a group trying to support those who are falling through the cracks? We need more people lifting others up — not adding weight to those already carrying the load.
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...