Motor Bikes in Bus Lanes

[Lizban]

When BOJO suggested that motor bikes be allowed in bus lanes there was complaints galore from many cyclists groups including CTC and (I think) LCC.

Now that it has occured and motorbikes are allowed in these lanes, what are your views now it has actually happened?

Better / worse than you thought?

 

[amnezia]

doesn't really bother me that much, taxis in the bus lane are worse

 

[zimzum42]

I've not seen the piles of dead bodies that were predicted....

Mostly I reckon it was Boris hate from the typical pinko cyclists....

 

[tdr1nka]

Taxi's and scooters are far and above the worst offending things in the bus lanes.

As for having motorbikes, it's not that much different.
I tend to ride about 1.3 meters from the kerb and check behind regularly for any approaching bikes, this giving me time to pull to the left and leave more room.

The point in taking a strong secondary position(riding roughly 1.3 meters from the kerb)is to deter taxis from overtaking you in a bus lane.
There simply isn't enough space for them to get past you safely and they need to hold back until such time that they can safely overtake.
Unfortunately a lot of taxi drivers I encounter will simply drive right up your backside and attempt to bully you out of the way and overtake as close as the gap allows.

The problem I find, riding out from the kerb is that scooters, other cyclists even, will try to undertake this is another kind of nightmare altogether.

 

[Jake]

i still think its a bad thing, the ammount of near misses i've seen, heard about on here, and had myself, its not good. buslane was somewhere where you felt somewhat safer, now you have these rockets appear from no where andnearly take you out when your avoidiing one of the many potholes. Mow because they think they can go in buslanes, even more are using cycle lanes to undertake traffic. As for them using the ASL, thats gone out the window. Even saw a MB last week when the traffic light was on red, go over the white lane, through the ASL and right into the junction, a bit like some cyclists do. Its getting to be a bit of a free for all out there.

 

[joolsybools]

I find I can't hear the motorbikes approaching until they are actually next to me - at least I can hear a taxi!

 

[tdr1nka]

I find I can't hear the motorbikes approaching until they are actually next to me - at least I can hear a taxi!

This is exactly where I suggest long looks over your shoulder a lot more. Most motorbikes run their headlights in the day and are relatively easy to spot, even if you can't get a good judge of their speed.

 

[Dan B]

Most of the people I'd prefer not to share a lane with are not motorcyclists as such, but moped riders.

But TBH moped riders all seem to think the pedal cycle law applies to them anyway, so I can't see as it really make s alot of difference

 

[Andy 71]

Don't get any bother from bikers at all. It's usually effin cabbies (enough said) and muppet cyclists (like the silly twunt at Bank last night who was texting while riding) who cause me the most problems.

 

[CopperBrompton]

I haven't experienced an issue with motorcycles. Scooters are another matter ...

 

[Tynan]

I find cabbies good, motorcyclists at least aware although they regularly block the ASL and all approaches to it including the cycle lane

scooters are the ones to worry about for sure, in a world of their own far too often and no road sense when they aren't

 

[Jake]

agree that some power bikes have a bit more brains, but like everything, there aer good and bad

 

[Jake]

funny this morning though, police MTB at the red lights and not one car, bike, taxi etc pulled into the ASL, and the curiors even waited at the lights! copper told someone off for cycling infront of him across the crossing, left to right. So what is needed then is a return to having a copper on every corner

 

[jazzkat]

So what is needed then is a return to having a copper on every corner

and until it happens the roads will, sadly, get worse

 

[Origamist]

1. It's a little more unpleasant, but not hugely. Close overtakes are the main problem.
2. More ASL encroachment by PTWs.
3. Subjectively it feel less safe, but I doubt it has made much difference (+ or -) to road safety.
4. I like to have a ptw with me when going through pedestrian crossings/high streets - the engine note makes them look.
5. PTWs in bus lanes makes cycling less inviting for the uninitiated.