BICYCLE NETWORK & RACV OPPOSE MOTORCYCLES IN BUS LANES

THE AGE

Page 5.

Monday, November 7, 2011.

By City Editor Jason Dowling.

"BIKERS TO TEST SHARING BUS LANE

MOTORCYCLISTS will be able to travel in bus lanes on Hoddle Street for six months under a trial to begin within weeks.

The Bus Association and Bicycle Network Victoria both oppose the plan but Roads Minister Terry Mulder said the trial would assess 'travel times and other benefits for motorcycles and determine if there are any impacts on buses and other road users'.

Under the trial, motorcyclists will be able to ride in the south-bound Hoddle Street bus lane between the Eastern Freeway and Victoria Parade.

VicRoads chose Hoddle Street because of the number of road users, the length of the bus lane and the level of congestion during peak hours. Mr Mulder said information from the trial 'along with community feedback, will be used to make an evidence based decision on whether to allow motorcycles to use bus lanes'.

Victorian Motorcycle Council chairman Peter Baulch welcomed the trial.

'Broadly we are very much supporting the concept because it has been very successful overseas,' he said. Motorcycles using bus lanes 'frees up congestion on the main roads'.

But Bicycle Network Victoria spokesman Garry Brennan said motorcycles should not use bus lanes because of the speed at which they travelled.

Cyclists are permitted to use bus lanes in signposted areas on Hoddle Street and Mr Brennan said they expected more bus lanes to be opened to cyclists.

'It is inevitable,' he said. 'The evidence from around Australia and around the world is that buses and bikes can successfully share bus lanes.' (DC - Maybe, but it defies logic to claim motorcycles & scooters should be banned because they can travel at speeds that keep up with motorised traffic.)

Chris Lowe from the Bus Association said it did not support motorcycles or bicycles using bus lanes.

'The three modes of transport are inherently different and we are very concerned at the prospect of two-wheeled motorised and non-motorised forms of transport sharing the road space with a heavy vehicle,' he said.

RACV general manager public policy Brian Negus said bus lanes should only be used by buses, taxis and commercial hire cars."

INDEPENDENT RIDERS' GROUP

MEDIA RELEASE

THE MANNINGHAM LEADER

Manningham has a lot of bus lanes. In 2010, Templestowe resident  Damien  Codognotto OAM, was concerned that the system was treating one road user group unfairly. Bicycles  were permitted to use bus lanes but motorcycles and scooters were not. Damien praised Roads Minister Terry Mulder for setting up a trial to see if Victorians were getting the most out of their bus lanes.

Damien is a spokesman for the Independent Riders' Group. VicRoads wrote to the IRG on October 25, 2011:

" ... During the 2010 Victorian state election. the Government committed to a range of motorcycle initiatives, including the trial of motorcycle use of one of Melbourne's dedicated bus lanes. VicRoads has been liaising with key stakeholders ... An assessment of the impacts on bus operations, motorcycle travel, intersection operations, enforcement and road safety are some of the issues being considered ..."

VicRoads contact:        Mr Alistair Cumming
                                        Network & Asset Planning.
                                        Tel: 03 9854 2440. 

A six-month trial permitting motorcycles and scooters to use bus lanes in Hoddle Street between the Eastern Freeway and Victoria Street in Abbotsford.

Roads Minister Mulder was quoted in the Age (7/11/2011) saying that the trial would assess

" ... 'travel times and other benefits for motorcycles and determine if there are any impacts on buses and other road users.' ... Vic Roads chose Hoddle Street because of the number of road users, the length of the bus lane and the level of congestion during peak hours. ..."  

Damien was confident the trial would show that permitting motorcycles and scooters to use bus lanes was a sensible move. He said:

"Taxis generally don't delay buses, neither will motorbikes. Using bus lanes will improve safety while reducing pollution and traffic congestion. It works in Sydney, it will here."

If the Hoddle Street trial indicates that permitting motorcycles and scooters to use bus lanes is a good move, the IRG hopes bus lanes across Victoria to open to powered two-wheelers in 2012. Damien said this would have a significant, positive effect on traffic in Manningham.

Independent Riders' Group
Melbourne
Tel: 03 9846 8621

d.codognotto.oam@bigpond.com