Dangerous motorbike experiment "should not be repeated"

London Mayor Boris Johnson today ordered a new trial of his dangerous proposal to allow motorcyclists to use bus lanes. Results of the trial so far reveal a worrying increase in accidents since the trial begun.

• New figures show cyclist collisions in bus lanes up 173%
• Motorbike collisions in bus lanes up 133%
• 10% increase in motorcyclists speeding - now up to 47%
• Labour's London Assembly transport lead warns Mayor not to re-run the dangerous trial

London Mayor Boris Johnson today ordered a new trial of his dangerous proposal to allow motorcyclists to use bus lanes. Results of the trial so far reveal a worrying increase in accidents since the trial begun.

Labour's transport lead on the London Assembly, Val Shawcross, said: "The results of this ill-thought through experiment show what all sensible people feared would happen has happened - bus lanes have become more dangerous for cyclists and ironically for motorcyclists as well. If the Mayor really wants London to become a cycling city he should accept that the experiment has failed rather than re-running it in the hope he gets the result he wants.

"Its important to take rational, research-based decisions - not make policy based on political bias or to seek favour with one group or another."

Just two weeks ago the Mayor was criticised for threatening to end the trial if motorcyclists did not end their protest against parking charges. He told protestors, "Do you want to stay in the bus lanes or what? Then stop this protest."

Transport for London's report into the trial shows that there has been a 173% increase in accidents involving cyclists in bus lanes (page 63). There has been a 133% increase in accidents involving motorcyclists in bus lanes (page 76). And there speeding by motorcyclists has increased by 10%, up to 47% from before the trial (page 53) http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/MIBL-report-2010.pdf

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