The Department for Transport (DfT) has today published the predictable and expected written response. MAG says the response is no surprise and will not stop us. It should serve as motivation to collect 100,000 signatures.
The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) was expecting the negative written response triggered by the petition reaching 10,000 signatures. The Department has repeated claims that “Local authorities are best placed to understand the needs of their local road networks”. A default policy does not impact local authority autonomy. They also state that “Research on the potential safety impacts for cyclists, and the impact on bus services would be needed to form the evidence base for any change in policy.” But the Department has previously ruled out any intention to do such research.
Petition author, and MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement said:
“The Department has once again displayed its total lack of interest in the welfare of riders. We are not in the least surprised by this, and it is exactly why we will not let this drop. We ask all riders to continue signing and promoting the petition until we pass the 100,000-signature goal we set from the outset. Riders have a choice – they can either roll over at the first sign of rejection – accept that they don’t matter; or they can sign the petition and send a strong message to the Government. What choice will they make? I hope it is the right one.”
MAG will continue to promote the petition as well as its programme of work to get this outcome reversed. You can sign the petition here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/712763
MAG thanks IAM RoadSmart, BMF, NMC and others for their support in getting the petition past the 10,000 signatures. But MAG is also asking whether politicians will stand with riders and publicly support the petition.
The motorcycle press is also being urged to actively support the petition rather than just reporting its existence.
Change and progress don’t come without effort. Now is the time to put the effort in.
Notes
Read MAG’s analysis of the consultation responses here: https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/7/79/Motorcycles_in_bus_lanes_consultation_responses_-_MAG%27s_analysis.pdf
See MAG’s rebuttal to the consultation outcome justifications here: https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/c/ce/Why_the_motorcycles_in_bus_lanes_consultation_outcome_needs_to_be_reversed.pdf
See the Government refusal to carry out research here: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-12-10/hl3357
Find details of MAG’s programme of work to complement the petition here: https://mag-uk.org/let-us-in/