M/Bikes in Bus Lanes

[askeans]

So it's been a while with m/bikes allowed in bus lanes.

What has the actual effect been and is it different to what you expected it to be?

[kwackers]

Yep, a quick toot on the horn and a rev of the engine soon clears those pesky cyclists out of the way.

[askeans]

Yep, a quick toot on the horn and a rev of the engine soon clears those pesky cyclists out of the way.

Have they brought it in Warrington as well?

[kwackers]

Have they brought it in Warrington as well?

That's funnier than you can possibly imagine!

I don't think there's much point since the bus lanes are usually full of cars!
Mind you, in my experience car drivers usually brick themselves when confronted by a motorcyclist so perhaps it'd clear the lanes!

(Why are they more intimidated by me on my motorbike than when I'm on my pushbike? Doesn't make a lot of sense...)

[DougieB]

(Why are they more intimidated by me on my motorbike than when I'm on my pushbike? Doesn't make a lot of sense...)

maybe it's your ape-hangers...

[mill4six]

I find it very usefull either on the motorbike or the pushbike, a neat way to beat the traffic unless a van leaves a space for someone to turn who doesn't pause to check the bus lane first. if you see a gap in the cars you are undertaking have a really good look. My friend was taken out like this and his knackers left a dent in the petrol tank He's ok now but a nurse had to shine a torch through them to check they weren't burst!

[askeans]

So no horror stories as predicted by some?

[DougieB]

although it certainly happens, as a 15 year motorbiker (5 years daily in central london) I've never had any incidents with bicycles. no-one I know personally has ever had an incident with a bicycle. every biker I know regularly has potential incidents with cars/buses/lorries. and the fact is that motorbikes in bus lanes means less bikers being hit by cars/buses/lorries.

it's not frequent, but also not uncommon, for oncoming traffic to swerve at you (just to scare you perhaps?) while you filter down the right hand side of a traffic queue. you also are at risk of u-turn idiots swinging out. and the people who drift out to prevent you filtering past, and push you into the oncoming traffic. I get much more grief from other traffic when I'm on the motorbike, than when I'm cycling. it's just the way it is. but being able to use the (often empty) bus lanes does make life easier. as I understand it, they are the basic reasons for bikers wanting to use bus lanes.

I think it's similar to hill-walkers v bicycles. 1000 bicycles pass without incident, but they go nuts about the 1001 th cycle to pass because that cyclist went to fast for their liking. or they just dislike bicycles and revel in that 1001 th cyclists actions because it confirms their petty hatred, so they tell every, again and again.

but I do wonder if the vocal-ites actually weigh up the real danger posed, or just regurgitate tabloid style sound-bites. Buses are surely more dangerous to bicycles, and I expect cause more cycle deaths/injuries. So why not be vocal in getting them banned from bus lanes?

[Spider]

Don't like it myself - and yes, it might be more of the fear rather than the reality...but the overall speed of motorbikes seems to have increased and I don't think it does much for encouraging more nervous cyclists onto their bikes.

Just come back from Holland and although they let mopeds onto the fietspads (cycle lanes separate from roads), this still doesn't compare to the fear factor on Holloway Road (v busy notoriously dangerous road for cyclists in north London) when you've a 1000cc whizzing past your ear..as you're edging out to avoid the nose of a car eager to turn into your path.

Hope the trial won't be extended after July next year, just a personal opinion tho...

[anothereye]

I don't mind them in the bus lanes but I don't like them at the Advanced Stop Lines; motorbikes can get in the way. Perhaps there should be another ASL in front for motorbikes?

Gerry

[niggle]

Bicycles, motorcycles and buses can co-exist peacefully, just got to get rid of the cars:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dqibvh96Og

Now just imagine what would happen if they all got wealthy enough to buy a car....