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Plymouth gives bikers entry to bus lanes

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geoffb2005
In: Leeds
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Plymouth City Council is to allow motorcyclists to use bus lanes on a permanent basis, after a successful 18 month trial. The council introduced an experimental order in October 2007 following a sharp rise in the number of collisions involving motorcycles, despite a significant drop in the number of road accidents generally. It hoped the trial would make bikers more visible to car drivers and reduce ‘weaving’ in and out of traffic. After monitoring accident statistics and traffic flow before and after the trial, the number of motorcyclists killed or seriously injured across the City fell from 22 in 2006 to 14 in 2008. Before and after studies on bus lane corridors in Exeter Street and Tavistock Road showed there had been fewer motorbike casualties during the trial and they were reduced in severity. On Exeter Street the number of motorbike casualties fell from 8 in 2006 to 2 in 2008 and on Tavistock Road the number of serious injuries fell from 2 to 0. Road safety officer Tom Jenkins said; “Since the introduction of the bus lane trial, motorcyclists have not been weaving in and out of traffic as much and this is probably the main reason why the number of accidents has fallen. “Bikers have been heeding our advice about not using the bus lanes as “fast tracks” to beat traffic queues and have been driving considerately and sensibly.”

Plymouth City Council is to allow motorcyclists to use bus lanes on a permanent basis, after a successful 18 month trial.
The council introduced an experimental order in October 2007 following a sharp rise in the number of collisions involving motorcycles, despite a significant drop in the number of road accidents generally.  It hoped the trial would make bikers more visible to car drivers and reduce ‘weaving’ in and out of traffic.
After monitoring accident statistics and traffic flow before and after the trial, the number of motorcyclists killed or seriously injured across the City fell from 22 in 2006 to 14 in 2008.
Before and after studies on bus lane corridors in Exeter Street and Tavistock Road showed there had been fewer motorbike casualties during the trial and they were reduced in severity.
On Exeter Street the number of motorbike casualties fell from 8 in 2006 to 2 in 2008 and on Tavistock Road the number of serious injuries fell from 2 to 0.
Road safety officer Tom Jenkins said; “Since the introduction of the bus lane trial, motorcyclists have not been weaving in and out of traffic as much and this is probably the main reason why the number of accidents has fallen.
“Bikers have been heeding our advice about not using the bus lanes as “fast tracks” to beat traffic queues and have been driving considerately and sensibly.”

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geoffb2005 @ 27/04/2009 11:31

Dragon13
In: Billingshurst
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Brilliant news, hope many more councils follow suit!

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Dragon13 @ 27/04/2009 11:42

Deleted Member
In: NA
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It would be great if this info was made available to all local councils...not only does it free the road up for other vehicles but also has an overall effect on road safety.. Safety being the key for other councils to follow suit!!

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Deleted Member @ 27/04/2009 16:23

Deleted Member
In: NA
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In scotland most bus lanes are restricted to peak times only and are mostly bus AND bike lanes.

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Deleted Member @ 28/04/2009 00:53

geoffb2005
In: Leeds
Posts: 2593
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Yes I know Cas ... grrrrr! Why did I ever leave?? Oh, yeah, I was six months old and so didn't have a lot of choice!

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geoffb2005 @ 28/04/2009 10:53

Deleted Member
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Unfortunately, neither did we!