Another moan to TFL: Motorbikes in ASLs / bike lanes

[caesar]

Hello,

I was cycling home last night along York Road (A3205) in Battersea and stopped at a red light where Lombard Road joins York Road. In front of me on the left of the ASL box was a motorcyclist who had just ridden up the mandatory cycle lane to undertake the traffic and to my right was a van. As soon as the light turned green, the motorbike sped off into and along the continuation of the mandatory cycle lane, and was followed by 3 other motorcyclists who overtook the van to my right and swerved into the bike lane in front of me. The last of these almost hit me, stopping hard about 6 inches from my front wheel.

I am sick and tired of near misses with motorbikes and scooters in bike lanes and have been clipped twice when advancing to turn right out of an ASL box by motorbikes pulling into the box behind me (on a red light) and then trying to overtake on the right. I don't mind them being allowed to use bus lanes (although the environmental arguments don't add up!) but please can you do something about enforcing and increasing awareness of the laws and penalties with respect to ASLs and bike lanes.

Regards,

 

[CotterPin]

Sorry to hear your story, ceasar.
The London Cycling Campaign are collecting this type of information as part of their Bus Lane Watch monitoring campaign - you can report it at http://www.lcc.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=1250 (if you haven't already done so)

 

[caesar]

I'm not too bothered about them being allowed in bus lanes, mainly because the most dangerous bikers were already using them and now the safer ones are as well and at least now you expect them to be there. Not a great reason, I know, and I do agree that it won't help achieve the Mayor's environmental goals but I am far more concerned with the lack of enforcement of bike lanes and ASLs.

 

[beanzontoast]

Something I've never encountered up here. Hope you get a positive response from TfL. It's more likely cars up here that violate ASL's. Only last evening Mrs B and I saw a driver in front of us (we were in the car) continusouly creep further into one instead of stopping and waiting for the light the change.

 

[John Ponting]

As a motorcyclist and cyclist I totally agree that motorcycles should stay (be kept) out of cycle lanes and ASLs. There are no cycle lanes or ASLs in my town and only 1 real set of traffic control lights (plus a few ped controlled lights) so I no longer encounter the problem but .....

 

[rog]

ASL's have become a complete joke in London. I can't think of a junction on my ride to work where the ASL isn't always occupied with motorbikes or scooters. Literally every single one…every single day. I tend to avoid them now as I feel safer back in the queue of traffic than surrounded by a bunch of scooter riders with L plates.

Whilst I've not had much bother from bikes in bus lanes, the recent change does seem to have caused some confusion amongst our two-wheeled friends as I've seen more and more of them now using cycle lanes to filter pass traffic. Some bikers seem to think that with Boris's new law, you can now ride where you want...

 

[hackbike 666]

Motorcycles use the bike lane down Lower/Upper Thames Street and while I don't really mind this I wish they wouldn't use the cycle lanes like frigging idiots without any regard for the cyclists who are using it.

 

[skrx]

I shall write to TFL too. I only use 2 ASLs (and an equivalent area in front of some level crossing barriers), but there's usually a motorbike there too. If I'm at all wary of them, I'll start off really slowly to make sure they aren't going to cut in front of me.

 

[Funtboy]

ASLs eh? There's a concept. I don't mind if someone has edged slightly into it but if you literally can't into them for motorbikes then it does grate. It is quite bad in London and now I just use any dead space between the lights and the intersection/junction as a nominal ASL. If you can't join them, beat them...

 

[hackbike 666]

Im not to bothered if they invade the ASL,it's all about the imaptience thingy isn't it?

Doesn't happen very often but it happens.

 

[caesar]

Had a reply to this today:

Thank you for your e-mail dated 11 February 2009 regarding motorcycles in ASL boxes.

I was sorry to learn of your recent experience on York Road. I am glad that it did not result in a serious incident. Please let me assure you that the safety of all road users is of paramount importance to us.

Motorcyclists are allowed to weave in and out of the mandatory cycle lanes in the same manner as bicycles and taxis may use most bus lanes. Specific provision is included in the Highway Code.

We are continuing to work with the police and the boroughs to raise awareness of the dangers of selfish and unlawful driving and riding. We are also using the enforcement system to complement strategic and locally focused campaigns, such as the Share the Road campaign.

There are now around 2000 police and emergency services personnel using bicycles as part of their everyday operations - they set a good example to cyclists and motorists, provide public reassurance as well as being very effective in catching wrongdoers of all kinds.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to write in on this matter. We are constantly working to improve safety on all roads. Please let me know if you have any other queries with which I can be of assistance.

 

[caesar]

Replied:


Thanks for your reply, but I don't think this is correct:

"Motorcyclists are allowed to weave in and out of the mandatory cycle lanes in the same manner as bicycles and taxis may use most bus lanes. Specific provision is included in the Highway Code. "

As I wrote in my original mail, I have no problem with the trial of motorbikes in bus lanes (and I didn't mention taxis at all), but according to my copy of the highway code, Rule 140 forbids any motor vehicle to enter a cycle lane indicated with a solid white line (AKA a mandatory cycle lane). As for ASLs, Rule 178 explicitly states that motorcyclists must not enter if the light is red and should allow cyclists time and space to move off. Neither of these rules seem to be enforced and I have had a number of near misses because of motorcylists and scooter riders flouting them.

My copy of the Highway Code is from 2007, has this all changed now?

 

[Tharg2007]

Maybe you should have also pointed out that if the "2000 police and emergency services personnel using bicycles as part of their everyday operations" were using their rule book then maybe this is why a bad example has been given to others therefore giving no hope to wrongdoers catching other wrongdoers.

Oh, and maybe you should copy the traffic police in on the letter as well. They might want to put them right seeing as they are talking about them.

 

[Tharg2007]

any updates on this ?

 

[hackbike 666]

Why don't they just throw the highway code into the bin?

(That was an unfunny joke btw)