Snowy ride-out as London’s bus lanes finally open to bikes

Motorcycle groups braved snowy roads to celebrate the opening of London’s bus lanes to bikes with an early morning rush-hour ride-out today.

Representatives from the bike industry, riders’ rights groups and even the London Mayor’s Office joined a ride on bus lanes from Whitehall to the Ace Café in Wembley despite arctic conditions.

It marked the day journeys for tens of thousands of motorcyclists transformed overnight as they were finally allowed into lanes previously shared by buses, taxis and cyclists.

London Mayor Boris Johnson’s transport policy director Kulveer Ranger praised motorcyclists for committing to a self-imposed Code of Conduct to help ensure the safety of cyclists and pedestrians.

Ranger, who joined the start of the ride on a Honda Hornet, said: “Motorcyclists themselves are taking it very seriously and treating it as a privilege.”

Craig Carey-Clinch, policy director for the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCI), said the day marked victory in a 10-year campaign and meant other towns and cities across the country would follow suit by throwing their bus lanes open to motorcyclists. “It already is happening elsewhere,” he said. “This is I think is the 20th bus lane scheme in the country.”

Steve Martindale, general manager of Honda Motorcycles UK, which organised the ride, praised Johnson for pushing the move through. “It’s great when you come across a politician who thinks about bikes,” he said.

The change applies to red route bus lanes already used by cyclists and taxis and controlled by Transport for London (TfL), the capital’s transport authority. It means a total of 180 miles of bus lanes in the capital are now open to motorcyclists.

It does not apply to bus lanes controlled by individual London boroughs. TfL says signs will clearly show which lanes riders can use, and red routes are easily identified by red lines at the kerb instead of yellow.

It starts as an 18-month trial, after which a decision will be made on whether to make it permanent. The MCI says there is every reason to hope for a decision in our favour, especially if riders adhere to the Code of Conduct.

Devised by the MCI and Metropolitan Police motorcycle officers with backing from TFL and MCN, the code features 10 safety pledges.

They are listed on a card which is being distributed through motorcycle dealerships.

The code can also be found at www.mcia.co.uk/Public/Bus.aspx

Find a full list of London bus lanes you can now use here

For more reaction from the chilly celebration ride, get MCN, on sale January 7.