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Cyclist Leo Chapman with motorcyclist courier Marcelo Marcus |
Cyclists rally against bus lane bikers
MPs join calls for Mayor of London’s trial scheme to be scrapped over fears for riders’ safety
ISLINGTON’S cycling MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Emily Thornberry have joined a growing chorus of opposition to Mayor Boris Johnson’s plan to allow motorcyclists to use bus lanes.
From January motorcyclists will be able to share red route bus lanes with buses, cyclists and licensed black taxis on a trial basis for 18 months.
Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn said he was definitely not in favour.
“Bus lanes should be for buses and taxis and cyclists,” said Mr Corbyn. “Once we introduce motorcyclists there will be potential for more danger to cyclists.”
Emily Thornberry, MP for Islington South and Finsbury, said that the mayor had already appeared to renege on getting rid of bendy buses.
“It won’t make life any easier for us cyclists, although we are a pretty hardy lot,” she said. “Cycling in London has got safer and that’s a fantastic achievement and I just hope that this doesn’t set us back.”
Islington Lib Dem councillor Greg Foxsmith, who uses both a pedal cycle and a motorcycle, is supporting the mayor’s scheme.
“I think it’s a good idea, which Boris pledged before the election,” he said. “I’m firmly of the belief that there is far more that unites two-wheeled transport than divides us. Both cyclist and motorcyclists are vulnerable and it’s not each other they should be worried about but the bendy buses.
“There are in fact very few accidents between cyclists and motorcyclists.”
The change will only apply to TfL bus lanes that operate with the flow of traffic, and motorcyclists are being advised to familiarise themselves with the bus lanes open to them as well as checking the signs before entering any bus lanes.
Activist Leo Chapman, who has been a cyclist for 20 years, said he was appalled by the plan. He added: “Boris is a cyclist himself so I can’t understand why he’s doing this.
“Motorbike handle- bars are more than 3ft wide with mirrors and will take up a lot of space on a 12ft-wide bus lane.”
Motorcycle courier Marcelo Marcus, 36, from Leytonstone, on the other hand, thought it a good idea. “Sometimes we have difficulty squeezing through the cars,” he said. “Cyclists will be nervous at first but they will learn to get used to us.”
For information about the bus lanes affected and how to make representations about the scheme go to www.tfl.gov.uk/motorcyclesinbuslanes |
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