With the experimental scheme which allows motorcycles to use bus lanes in London due to end on July 5th, the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI) has today called on the Mayor and Transport for London to make the initiative a permanent feature on London's roads.

Allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes helps commuters gain easier access to areas of London without the need to mix with other traffic on certain key routes. This helps to reduce rider vulnerability on the overall road space and improve their visibility. The scheme has led to an increase in motorcycle usage in London, with more miles travelled in 2009 compared to other years. An interim report on the initiative (Nov 2009) noted that the scheme did not impact negatively on bicycle safety and against the expectations of cycle lobbyists, a majority of cyclists were happy to share bus lanes with their motorcycling brethren.

However, motorcyclists need to be aware that they are still vulnerable to cars and other traffic pulling across bus lanes from side roads and MCI is today calling for Transport for London to put greater efforts into publicity and education aimed at making car drivers aware of motorcyclists in bus lanes - in the same way that they do for cycling. Motorcyclists also need to be aware that their speed is important when using bus lanes - too fast and avoiding a car that pulls out becomes more difficult. This is where enforcement and the police-led 'Bikesafe' has a key role to play.

Steve Kenward, MCI's Acting CEO said: "Given that the July deadline is now quite close, we are surprised that the Mayor has been silent about the future of the initiative. We feel that it is important to point out that allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes is a positive step towards improving transport accessibility for London citizens and in demonstrating the positive effect that motorcycling has in reducing traffic congestion and Co2 levels.

"Industry is also saying that TfL has a duty of care to ensure motorcycle safety. In this case, duty of care policy needs to be applied in the same way that it is towards cycling. This means putting more effort into educating both car and motorcycle users about safety and bus lanes. Precisely the same issues affect cyclists in bus lanes and on other London roads... as witnessed by the noticeable increase in cycling casualties (up nearly 8% in 2008) which has occurred since efforts were made to promote cycling in London, but cycles continue to be allowed into bus lanes in recognition of their role as an important transport mode.

"Given that it is clear that cycling has been shown coexist in a safe way with motorcycling in bus lanes, we consider it to be paramount that the positive thinking that is applied to reducing cycling vulnerabilities in bus lanes is also applied to motorcyclists. Safety must not be used once again as an excuse to deny motorcycling equal treatment with cycling. Such a policy would be unbalanced and would actually sustain poor motorcycle safety records and deny Londoners transport choice.

"it is clear that allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes has been a positive step for motorcycling as a whole and a positive step for London, with increases in motorcycle use demonstrating this. However, it is now down to the Mayor and TfL to demonstrate that they are willing to apply a fair hand in how they regard the future of the scheme and focus on motorcycle safety education, awareness and positive 'bill board' publicity in the same way that they do for cycling - anything else would be both grossly unfair and demonstrate unjustifiable bias against motorcycling."

There has never been a better time for companies to add bikes and scooters onto their vehicle fleet or incorporate them into their business...

An economic survey carried out for the MCI found that motorcycle support services, that includes leasing, publishing, insurance, couriers and training contributes £940 million in Gross Added Value to the UK economy. (1)

The medical profession is a field that has seen the many financial and social benefits of using bikes. The 'blood runners' who offer their services free of charge to the National Health Service have carried out 16,000 runs since their inception , saving lives across the UK. Providing an all -year round service they typically respond to around 2,000 calls per year saving the Health Service on average £300,000.  

The hire and leasing sector has an important role to play  as analysis suggests that this sub-sector has an annual turnover of around £38 million, just over half of which is estimated to be GVA (£20 million).

The motorcycle hire sector comprises the hire and lease of motorcycles for business or recreational purposes.  The lease and contract hire sector provides motorcycle rentals for business use and fleet lease management services.  Motorcycle leases are popular with many businesses as the rental is tax deductible and provides employees with a mode of transport that is cheap to run, is less affected by congestion and can avoid congestion charges.

The motorcycle courier industry has an annual turnover of  almost £800 million with added value of over half of that at £480 million providing employment for 20,000 people.  It is also estimated to provide a tax contribution of almost £200 million.

Motorcycle couriers provide a valuable service transporting items that require urgent, safe or discreet delivery.  They typically provide a same-day delivery service, or even quicker for source and destination locations within the same city.

There are currently around 100,000 people involved in courier work in the UK, 20,000 of which are estimated to be motorcycle couriers .  Motorcycle couriers are concentrated around heavily congested urban areas, where motorcycles offer customers a rapid and low cost courier solution relative to other modes of transport. 

Steve Kenward, the MCI's CEO commented, " Economic and practical factors mean that including a bike into modern business is a sensible option. As businesses have an increasing need to move items and people around quickly and safely a bike or scooter makes sense. Services such as motorcycle taxis in cities have lots of potential and organizations dealing with emergencies would benefit from deploying motorcycles. People from plumbers to the emergency services are seeing the value of motorcycles and we expect this to grow in the coming years."

With so much talk about disrupted flights, deficits and difficult times ahead, road safety officers are expecting many more people to take a ‘staycation’ this year. This will undoubtedly mean more people driving long distances, but a particular concern is for motorcycle riders who will load their bikes with pillion passengers and luggage, to ride to holiday destinations as far afield as Cornwall and Scotland.

Warwickshire’s Road Safety Unit is expecting to see increased numbers of motorcycle tourers travelling from – and through – the county during June, July and August, as Road Safety Officer Stephen Rumble explains; “Many local motorcycle riders will pack up and head for popular UK holiday destinations, as well as big motorcycling events such as the Isle of Man TT races, European rounds of Moto GP races and Superbike championships. Most probably don’t travel with a fully laden machine for 95% of the year and don’t regularly ride long distances, so a few hints and tips would help for safer long distance travels. Now is probably the best time to take a day off and polish up your riding skills. A perfect solution is offered by the county councils’ own ‘Take Control’ scheme; which includes a dedicated one-day assessment for full licence holders at a subsidised rate of just £30“.     

Information about the free and subsidised Take Control scheme for motorcyclists who live in, or travel through Warwickshire, can be found at www.takecontroltraining.co.uk Bookings can also be made seven days a week by calling 0845 370 91 91.