So far over 1000 bikers have signed the petition, but they still need more!
A cycling group has already handed the Mayor a petition with over 3,500 names asking him to reverse his decision to let us share the lanes. And now MCN has learned that Johnson has indicated to a cycling magazine that his decision is not final.
The article and petition here:
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/mcn/2008/july/14-20/jul1608-bus-lane-petition/
LeMarsu
I don’t believe petitions work, especially electronic ones. I’ve just been reading a thread on this forum about a proposed protest which seemed to have stopped in Feb. I was searching for ‘BMF’, as I am so angry the BMF have a spokesman cosying up to Westminsters with their bike charging policy.
But in that thread there were some really good points about effective protests. After reading that thread, I’m going to look in to re-joining MAG todasy after years of absence, as they seem to know much more about the politics of the bus lane decisions than I do.
???
Old news, and TfL has already confirmed bus lane access begins before the end of this year in a release just last week.
Thanks Big Pug.
Could you pl post a link to that press release? I can’t find it.
Thanks 
On a lot of the A23 in south London (to about Croydon I think), there is already an “experimental” use of bus lanes for bikers. Anyone got an opinion on how good it actually is? It’s not my normal stomping ground so I have only used it once but I found bus lanes had two problems… those dirty great red monsters stopping every hundred yards, often in convoy so you have to try to filter back into the main road; and you also come up to parking boxes quite frequently so again you have to find a way back out into the traffic.
When the road is moving but coming to a halt for lights and things it works great, easier than filtering for getting to the head of queues… in crawling traffic it didn’t seem to help much. Is that just me?
Duncan
Could not find any recent press release on this announcement on the TFL website news center;
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/1491.aspx
That’s the thing I find tricky sometimes, coming out of the bus lane, also there seems not surprisingly more diesel in them, but rather have the use of them than not.
I use the A23 every day and being able to use the bus lanes on my commute is, well, brilliant!
I think it is a myth that there is more diesel spilt in bus lanes- most buses dodge in and out of the lanes anyway to avoid cyclists or just to hog as much of the road as possible ;). Been using that route for three years and never seen a big diesel spill in a bus lane. The odd dribble yes but not as bad as some would have you believe.
As for having to filter back into the main carriageway at bus stops, once you have done the route a couple of times you know where the bus stops are so you know where the bus is going to stop (they don’t indicate so you have to know really 
). Coming down Brixton Hill for instance its all about getting in the right lane for the traffic lights/ right-left turners/ u-turners/ cyclists/ pedestrians/ buses and having the use of the bus lane is invaluable for safe progress.
You can filter on the bus lane too so yes they do help in crawling traffic.
Some of the bus lanes aren’t maintained as well as they should be so there are some massive ruts in the tarmac but again you get used to them once you know where they are.
Oh yes- cyclists use bus lanes too but TBH having them all over to the left is a good thing. Never had a problem with the cyclists in bus lanes- plenty of room for everyone- only sometimes a prob at the lights where they think they own the first meter (gutter) on the LHS of the road.
When we are finally all allowed to use the bus lanes you’ll know what I mean- Bus lanes rock!
The statement is cleverly hidden in the Congestion charge release :crazy:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/8948.aspx
4th bullet under “Careful Planning”
The Mayor has asked TfL to bring forward plans to allow motorbikes to ride in bus lanes, and expects the first lanes to open later this year
Thanx for the link big plug, should have known it would be buired, open government my arse.
Thinking about the diesel in bus lanes, you’re probably right lessismore, i think it’s just cos they’re red it shows up the dribbles making me just think its slippery, but then they have shellgrip in them (think that’s what it’s called).
Working for government myself I am totally committed to letting the public have full and complete access to everything I don’t mind you seeing. 
Back on topic, hopefully one of the first routes open to us will be the A11, as that would save me going right down to the Limehouse Link and along the Highway in search of an easy route in from SW Essex.
Thanks for the link, Big Pug. This is heartening…
Also re the A23 trial scheme - I have been using that route for over 10 years and before we could use bus lanes, I regularly saw accidents on Brixton Hill where filtering bikers were hit by vehicles unexpectedly turning right or pulling U-turns. One incident was very nasty, in which a Ninja was embedded in the side of a Metro; I don’t think the rider survived, no idea what happened to the car passengers (if any) but there were a couple of ambulances there. Brixton Hill was renowned as being the most dangerous road in London.
Since the trials began, I haven’t seen a single motorcycle accident on that stretch. This is simply because we are no longer forced to filter in the middle of the road.
My experience shows that allowing us to use the bus lanes seriously saves lives, not just of bikers but all other vulnerable road users.
It is very clever how the cycling lobby has managed to camouflage this fact with insistence that the trial adopt the “Tanner Test” halfway through, thereby rendering the report next to useless!
The thing that worries me isn’t bus lanes - I believe bikers have won that argument and will find access improving over time. The law is changing so that local authorities will be able to enforce advanced stop lines, and do so remotely by CCTV etc. Cyclists actively campaign for this to be enforced, and the Standard Cycle Campaign supports this move.
I think this change is very bad news and will kill bikers.
This is because it will do several things -
It will force filtering bikes at junctions to sit alongside cars and lorries instead of in front of them. This will mean accelerating bikes and vehicles turning right will mix more than at present leading to more collisions. Of course the correct thing is to sit back and wait, but bikers won’t do that.
Smaller (NB also less polluting) bikes will find themselves amongst more powerful vehicles when the light change leading to more accidents. Restricted 50s will be lethal as the only safe refuge from white vans and 4x4s at junctions was the green cycle boxes.
There will be more rear end shunts as the lights change. A changing light will mean making sure you have enough room to stop before the first line or pay a penalty. If not you need to charge through the light. This will lead to confusion with people slamming on brakes to avoid the penalty colliding with those that accelerate. This can happen now but the advance stop line will make it more common. Bikers will be more likely to be injured in such accidents which already happen when other vehicles fail to stop behind bikes at lights.
I am not aware of any studies done on the impact upon motorcyclists of enforcing advanced stop lines.
What is the point when cyclists don’t stop for red lights anyway?
