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Bus lanes open to Bikers in Birmingham - in 2010/11 Please note that motorcycles will only be allowed to use bus lanes after the signs have been changed to include the motorcycle symbol. |
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MAG (Motorcycle Action Group) has been campaigning on the issue of allowing
motorcycles to use bus lanes for years, first winning access to bus lanes
throughout Bristol in 1996. London opened all of its major route bus lanes
to motorcycles recently and now, in an effort to make more effective and
efficient use of its roads, the second biggest city in the country has
followed suit.
Birmingham City Council recently completed
a trial allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes, a policy which allows
motorcyclists to see and be seen in congested traffic. The pilot was so
successful that the council has decided to roll it out citywide. MAG
President Ian Mutch said ‘There seems to be an outbreak of sanity among
local authorities all over the country, this is great news and shows how
MAG’s campaigning is helping to produce real results for riders. From November 2007 the City Council carried out a trial use of the existing bus lanes by motorcycles along A435 Moseley Road, Alcester Road and Alcester Road South. The trial lasted for 18 months. Monitoring indicated that allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes was beneficial to motorcyclists, with no disadvantages to other road users. However, some research elsewhere has identified that some bus lanes could be unsuitable for use by motorcycles. It has been decided that motorcycles will be allowed to use all bus lanes in the City, subject to each bus lane being checked to make sure that it will be safe for motorcycles to use without increasing danger to other road users. Work on changing the bus lane signs will start in 2010, finishing in 2011. Please familiarise yourself with the new signs below that include a motorcycle symbol. Please note that motorcycles will only be allowed to use bus lanes after the signs have been changed to include the motorcycle symbol.
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