Move to let bikers use bus lanes delayed

Motorcyclists suffered a new blow today as plans to let them use London bus lanes were put on ice.

Riders have been using three bus lanes in a pilot scheme aimed at improving safety and speeding their trips by separating them from other traffic.

Motorcycle campaign groups had expected Transport for London TfL) to wrap up the trial by giving motorbikes and scooters free access to bus lanes across the capital. But Peter Hendy, TfL's managing director of surface transport, is announcing only that the current trial will be extended by a year.

The setback emerged as motorcyclists threatened to bring London to a halt if TfL proceeds with a separate proposal to make them pay the ?5 congestion charge.

Mr Hendy said there were " conflicting, strongly held views" on motorcycles in bus lanes. The trials - on East India Dock Road

(A13), Brixton Road (A23) and Finchley Road (A4) - were being extended because "the clarity of data is insufficient".

The London Cycling Campaign is concerned about motorcyclists speeding in bus lanes. But today Craig Carey-Clinch, of the Motor Cycle Industry Association, said: "There has been a 19 per cent reduction in casualties from letting motorcycles use bus lanes."

He said the trial results were only unclear because of roadworks in one lane. Meanwhile, the 40,000-member Motorcycle Action Group (Mag) said it was "closely monitoring" the proposal-to make bikers pay the congestion charge - revealed by the Evening Standard last week. The group warned of a "major" protest in central London if TfL decided to charge, and its president, Ian Mutch, said: " Motorcyclists feel betrayed."

Motorcycles are exempt from the charge as they are not considered to cause jams, but bikers were in almost 500 crashes last year in the charging zone. TfL's safety committee has suggested that making riders pay could cut the number killed or badly hurt by 40 per cent by 2010, as many would switch to cars or public

transport. Charging would also raise ?750,000 a week.

The RAC Foundation and AA Motoring Trust are backing Mag. And Sir Richard Branson, whose Virgin company runs the Limobike "two-wheeled taxi" service, called the suggestion "ludicrous".

A TfL spokesman said Mayor Ken Livingstone would not back the safety committee. "The Mayor ... has no intention of making scooters and motorcycles pay," he said.