[sustran] Re: [NewMobilityCafe] RE: [New Mobility/WorldTransport Forum - Motorcycle use of bus la nes]

[Charlie Lloyd]

On 20 Dec 2004 at 13:21, Wetzel Dave wrote:

> Just had a meeting with motorcyclists to discuss an experiment we have
> been conducting over the past 2 years re allowing powered two wheelers to
> use bus lanes.
> 
> Together with a control bus lane corridor we have been assessing the
> before and after effects on three routes re:
> 
> Accidents
> Bus journey times
> Traffic speeds
> Other road users
> Cyclists
> Etc.
> 
> Any experience with similar experiments or results of wider policy
> implementation you can share?
> 



On the wider policy issues it is important to realise that any claims 
of an environmental advantage for motorcycles in urban areas is 
bogus.  Generally they do not have catalytic exhaust systems, usually 
they carry only one person and as they travel faster with high 
revving engines they throw as much muck (per passenger km) as do 
cars. For some pollutants they are worse (eg PM10). This is 
particularly true in London where all the motorscooters too dirty to 
meet Italian emission levels have ended up here.

They are also noisy, causing more stress and annoyance than any other 
road transport.

Giving them access to bus lanes will increase their numbers while not 
replacing any car journies from the system. Interestingly recent 
research commissioned for DfT and TfL ( http://tinyurl.com/5vhfz ) 
suggests that allowing them in bus lanes will actually increase 
congestion by a few percent.

A lot has been written about the poor safety record of motorcycles, 
both for their riders and other vulnerable road users especially 
pedestrians.  I don't know if the trials in London have shown 
significant changes in casualty levels but as they have only been 
looking at the trial routes they may miss the extra casualties caused 
by more motorcycles on all roads in the system.

Currently motorcycles in London have roughly the same modal share 
(no. of journeys) as do bicycles Before adding to the TfL policies 
which encourage more motorcycles into the system without reducing car 
VMT and which may frighten away cyclists and pedestrians you need to 
explain why this is a desirable policy objective.


Charlie Lloyd.