• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MayorWatch

London News and Comment

  • NEWS
  • Twitter

Watchdog expresses safety concerns over red route trial

January 6, 2009 - Martin Hoscik@MayorWatch

The capital’s transport watchdog yesterday expressed concern at the “lack of publicity” surrounding an 18 month pilot scheme allowing motorcycles into bus lanes on red route roads – those roads controlled by Transport for London.

The scheme, which came into effect yesterday, was announced in October by Mayor of London Boris Johnson amid criticism from cycling groups. The London Cycling Campaign has previously said they were “seriously concerned that putting motorbikes in bus lanes will undermine plans…to make cycling a major transport mode in London.”

Sharon Grant, Chair, London TravelWatch, said: “This is a bold experiment, and we await the outcome with considerable interest, but we are apprehensive that the general public are not aware exactly what is and what isn’t allowed.”

The watchdog says it is concerned that riders may be confused by the different rules for red route roads and local authority controlled roads as not all councils allow motorcycles to use bus lanes on the roads they control.

Grant commented: “We are also concerned about the safety of cyclists, who already use bus lanes, as well as the safety of pedestrians crossing bus lanes on red routes or alighting – motorcyclists are often less visible than other users of the road, and travel at speed. The wider issue, however, is that the whole purpose of bus lanes – to provide a clear route for buses to remain reliable and frequent – is being undermined, now that taxis, cyclists and motorcyclists can use them.

A spokesperson for TfL told MayorWatch that they had carried out a number of initiatives to raise awareness including emailing cycling databases, commissioning radio adverts and placing posters at more than 1,200 sites across London’s bus network.

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

RECENT UPDATES

Record number of candidates stand in London’s Mayoral election

TfL and Siemens unveil new Piccadilly line Tube train designs

852 new homes to be built in Acton by Transport for London

HGV operators in London urged to apply for a Direct Vision Standard permit




POPULAR

City Hall to move to Docklands as Mayor seeks to raise £55m for frontline services

‘Concern’ over TfL’s ability to deliver major projects in wake of Crossrail cost overruns

City Hall halts London Overground ticket office closures but many will still see opening hours reduced

Transport for London confirms bus cuts will go ahead despite passenger opposition

GOT A STORY?

As the original London news and scrutiny site we've been casting an eye over the capital's public services and politicians since 1999.

 

Many of our top stories started with a tip-off from a reader - if you've got something you'd like us to cover get in touch and we'll do the rest.

Stay In Touch

  • E-mail
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2021 MayorWatch Publications Limited · MayorWatch is Registered Trademark · All Rights Reserved · Contact Us · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy

MayorWatch Publications Limited · 20-22 Wenlock Road · London N1 7GU · Company Number 6291816

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.