Let Us In
MAG asks the Government to maximise road access for motorcycling.
Allow motorcycles in bus lanes as default
MAG launched the petition on Monday 3rd March, and it has attracted over 10,000 signatures in its first week. At this point a written response is a given. MAG is warning the 10,000 supporters that the response is likely to repeat the outcome of last year’s consultation. MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, has said that a dismissive response is entirely expected. We will not allow this to put off further people from signing the petition.
MAG is also laying out a programme of activity to run in parallel with the petition in the form of a 5 step plan, and we are asking you to get involved.
Sustainable transport choice is not defined. The question ‘what is sustainable transport?’ will only elicit a list: Walking, Cycling and Public Transport.
The all-consuming clamour for policy to promote use of the prescribed list of sustainable transport modes has created a clear issue for motorcycling. Increased segregation of road space and restriction or closure of entire areas to motorised traffic has seen the motorcyclist caught in the crossfire.
Motorcycling provides a sustainable alternative to the motor car but is treated as just another motor vehicle. Motorcycles should be considered a valuable part of a sustainable transport system.
Additionally, the shortsighted policy fails to recognise the fact that motorcyclists are also vulnerable road users who, just like cyclists, could benefit from separation from larger vehicles. If the separation principle can be applied to pedal cycles, then logic would suggest the same policy be applied to motorcycles.
Motorcycle access in bus lanes, despite being proven to be perfectly safe in trial after trial and already implemented in over 48% of all bus lanes in the UK, remains a policy that is not universally adopted. After decades of campaigning a consultation on default access was launched under the old Government.
(The consultation outcome was published on Thursday 21st of November. Full DfT outcome report: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/motorcycles-in-bus-lanes/outcome/motorcycles-in-bus-lanes-consultation-outcome)
The Labour Government has now removed any pretence that may have existed about their policy position on motorcycling. In the response to the motorcycles in bus lanes consultation they have openly stated that they have no policy to encourage greater use of motorcycles. The future for motorcycle related policy over the next few years is looking bleak. If there was ever a time for riders to stand shoulder to shoulder and make their voices heard, that time is now.
Government must recognise that policies developed for cars are not necessarily suitable for application to motorcycles. Bus lanes, bus gates and traffic filters, low traffic neighbourhoods and advanced stop lines are all areas where the Government needs to Move on Motorcycling.
Let Us In- Campaign Progress
Default Bus Lane Access: Sign the petition now!
MAG has launched a petition calling for the motorcycles in bus lanes consultation outcome to be reversed. Sign the petition now!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/712763
Last year’s motorcycles in bus lanes consultation resulted in a decision against adopting a national default policy. MAG vowed to mount a full campaign to get the outcome reversed.
That campaign launches with the publication of a government petition. The petition was raised by MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown. The petition format allows for only a very brief description, so MAG has also published three supporting documents.
The first is a longer version of the petition wording, better laying out the argument of the petition.
Secondly there is a detailed analysis of the consultation responses from 46 key
stakeholders. These consultation responses were provided via a Freedom of Information (FOI) request lodged by MAG. These responses allow us to see the detail of arguments against the default policy.
Finally, the third document is a detailed argument for the reversal of the outcome decision.
MAG is urging all riders to sign the petition. It also calls on all rider organisations and the motorcycle press to promote the petition. Whilst the government will respond at 10,000 signatures, MAG want to hit the 100,000-signature target. This has the potential to trigger a vital parliamentary debate.
MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, said:
“The petition is only a part of our campaign to get this default access policy across the line. It will be pivotal though, supporting the direct engagement with politicians that will be going on behind the scenes. We are actually a lot closer than you may think to winning this campaign. If you read right to the end of the consultation outcome the Department for Transport (DfT) says that they will do three things. First, they will update their guidance document. This will advise local authorities to work together to get consistency of provision
across boundaries. Secondly, they will work with the metro mayors and combined authorities to encourage a joined-up approach to motorcycle access. And thirdly they will take comments into account in future changes to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General
Directions.
This amounts to a default access policy in all but name.
We just need to make sure they follow through on these promises. And then they must openly state that this is a default policy position to avoid confusion and continued arguments.”
We can get this across the line. Act now to sign the petition which can be found here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/712763
View and share the YouTube petition video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao8gzjboeik
The full motorcycles in bus lanes consultation outcome can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/motorcycles-in-bus-lanes/outcome/motorcycles-in-bus-lanes-consultation-outcome
The extended version of the petition can be found here: https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/f/fd/Default_bus_lane_access_petition_full_text.pdf
MAG’s analysis of the consultation responses can be found here: https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/7/79/Motorcycles_in_bus_lanes_consultation_responses_-_MAG%27s_analysis.pdf
MAG’s rebuttal to the consultation outcome justifications can be found here: https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/c/ce/Why_the_motorcycles_in_bus_lanes_consultation_outcome_needs_to_be_reversed.pdf
5 Step Plan for Default Access
MAG is also laying out a programme of activity to run in parallel with the petition.
- Help us make more riders aware of and to sign the petition. We need at least 100,000 signatures.
- Contact your local MP to ask if they will speak in favour of default access at the hoped for debate.
- Put pressure on the Department for Transport (DfT) to invite MAG to collaborate on the promised revised bus lane guidance document.
- Ask the DfT what action it plans to take to work with Metro Mayors, Transport for London and others to deliver consistent bus lane access.
- Put every local authority on notice that they will need to comply with the new guidance.
Share the petition to your socials directly from the Government petition page here
When contacting your Councillor, Mayor or MP personalised letters have more impact and would encourage you to communicate in your own words. We do however know time can be short so below are some template letters to utilise.
The easiest way to contact your local representative is via the WriteToThem website. Simply enter your postcode, choose who you wish to contact from the list, enter your message and details then press send. Don’t delay and contact your representatives now.
Rejected November 2024
The Motorcycles in Bus Lanes consultation outcome was published on Thursday 21st November 2024. The outcome was a flat rejection with a series of straw man arguments to justify the decision. View the YouTube video here.
The Motorcycles in Bus Lanes consultation outcome was published on Thursday 21st November. The outcome was a flat rejection with a series of straw man arguments to justify the decision. View the YouTube video here:
We cannot accept this illogical anti-motorcycle decision. Freedom of Information requests have gone in to the DfT and a formal challenge to the outcome will be formulated over the coming weeks. We will not rush into this response without careful planning, but there is certainly no harm in letting your local MP know your feelings. The Labour Government has generated a whirlwind of anger on a range of policy areas. We need to take care that if our specific grievances are added to this we are not dismissed as playing partisan political games or worse still overlooked as a minor footnote to the general unrest.
Conservative MPs stood on a manifesto that included a promise to deliver default access in bus lanes they need to be reminded of this fact. This explicit promise appeared on page 57 of their manifesto (https://public.conservatives.com/publicweb/GE2024/Accessible-Manifesto/Accessible-PDF-Conservative-Manifesto-2024.pdf ). Labour MPs should be concerned that their leadership is happy to reject a policy supported by 97% of respondents and that will have no measurable impact on anyone other than motorcyclists.
Other opposition parties are likely to view this purely on a partisan level of point scoring, so they need to understand that our position is based on logic and evidence. This needs to underpin all communications with MPs
MAG continues to get motorcycling issues on the political agenda. All riders can get involved in helping to make that happen. Visit the ACT NOW page to see what you can do today to help us make the future of motorcycling better.
If you have never been a MAG member, have let your membership lapse, or are thinking you need to save some money by not renewing this year, we would love you to join, re-join or stay with us. If, like us, you are passionate about motorcycling, want to see motorcycling continue in the future, and want to preserve all that you love about it, we hope it will be an easy choice to make. MAG’s strength is in numbers. The riding community can demonstrate strength when it unites. If you want to say you played your part to defend motorcycling, please… join MAG today