Hello everyone,
I'm working in London at present and on my walk from Southwark Costa del
Travelodge 
, I cross some main arterial routes, one of them being a superhighway. I always see the ASL full of motorbikes (scooter riders are by far the worst offenders). I personally don't like PTW's in the ASL for three reasons:
1) The ASL is a buffer safety zone for cyclists who can't accelerate at the same rate as traffic. Motorbikes can, and often have greater accelerative power than cars, so therefore don't need to use the ASL at all. Bikers who ride at 70 mph on motorways for example, face low risk in slow traffic as they can accelerate rapidly. Thus, they don't need a buffer zone.
2) It encourages other motorcycles. Ever tried to get into the ASL and it's full of motorbikes?. That's not what the creators of the ASL envisaged. As cycling increases in popularity, we need more space in the ASL for cyclists.
3) Noise and pollution. I dislike having to inhale motorcyclists smoke as they illegally barge their way through to the front, often crossing the sceond white line in violation of Highway Code rule 178. Two stroke is especially vile.
I believe that a recent DOT report on trials of PTW's in ASL's concluded that they were just two big and intimidating - anyone got more info?.
I have had some negative esperiences of PTW's in the ASL. Please go and have a look at my Youtube channel for the video 'left hook avoided'. I was sitting in the middle of this ASL last year , turning right, when a motorbike appeared on my right, having filtered down the outside line of cars. He squeezed in behind me, pushing through to be on my left. I asked him which way he was turning as he wasn't indicating. As we left the ASL, yep, you guessed it...the twat did the same thing as the car in my video
. I think it was deliberate. And on another occasion, I was patiently sitting in another ASL when a biker on a machine the size of a bus decided to force his way in, telling me to F*** Off when I pointed out that he shouldn't be in the ASL.
There is provision in the law for drivers who consider it unsafe to brake before the first white line, but some bikers just take the p*** as they filter all the way down the outside line of cars, expecting the ASL to be free. That's ample room to stop in my book.
On my first week in London, I saw a guy on a road bike going from Baylis Road in Waterloo across into The Cut by the Old Vic. Poor guy got cut up by a motorcyclist who entered the ASL on red and then did a left turn from the right hand side. Kudos to the cyclist though - he anticipated correctly and did a trackstand to avoid being hit. Silly biker though, no consideration.
I suspect the real reason for PTW's in the ASL is simple convenience. Sorry gang, I do appreciate that some of you have motorbikes, but I don't like 'em invading the ASL. They put cyclists at risk just for the sake of their own convenience, blocking cycle lanes etc. They also put themselves at risk. One time, a biker crossed through the ASL in front of me, out into the junction. Boy, did he have to beat a hasty retreat when confronted by the local bus emerging from the side road - he stupidly placed himself within it's turning circle
.
That's all folks, rant over (sorry, but it's lunchtime and the office is soooo boring today!)
)
