Livingstone and the London bus lane cover up

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The Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI) has reacted angrily to the publication of a so-called 'official' report into an experimental scheme which allows motorcycles to use bus lanes on routes in London by Mayor Ken Livingstone.

The 'official' report says that there is no clear safety benefit for motorcyclists, but that there would be a safety disbenefit for cyclists. Mr Livingstone has said that he will not now allow motorcyclists to use bus lanes in London.

But MCI is aware that Mr Livingstone was presented with a 'final daft' of the report before Christmas, which showed a very clear and in some cases, a dramatic safety improvement for cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists. The original 'un-doctored' final draft was leaked to the media and motorcycle organisations in January.

Since the un-tampered report was leaked, Mr Livingstone has been attempting to 'rubbish' it as not 'fit for purpose' and has heavily criticised the team which prepared the report.

MCI's Craig Carey-Clinch said: "Mr Livingstone's idea of 'fit for purpose' clearly has nothing to do with motorcycle or cycle safety. The findings of the 'real' report were clearly not 'fit' for his pre-determined view that he didn't want motorcycles in bus lanes.

"The report that Mr Livingstone has published today is little more than politically 'spun' tripe, pedalled to suit a negative view about motorcycling which has been heavily promoted by the Mayor's anti-motorcycle transport advisors.

"The original report shows quite clearly that safety can be significantly improved not just for motorcyclists, but also cyclists and pedestrians. By doctoring the results to suit both his and his advisors' personal opinions, Livingstone has condemned cyclists and motorcyclists to greater vulnerability in London's traffic. A bizarre standpoint from a Mayor who claims that he wants to encourage cycling and improve road safety.

"If Livingstone wants to get serious about improving road safety, reducing traffic congestion and Co2 pollution then he must start taking motorcycling seriously as a mode of transport in London. The fact is that an increasing number of Londoners and commuters are voting with their wheels and switching to motorcycling. Allowing riders to use bus lanes makes complete sense from an overall road safety and mobility perspective."

Several other UK local authorities and even some London boroughs allow motorcycles to use bus lanes, some for many years, with no negative safety issues reported.

MCI is now calling for the publication of the original report, so that the results can be properly compared with the tampered 'official' report which has been published today.

Motorcycle Action Group (MAG UK) response

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG UK) also condemns the announcement by London Mayor Ken Livingstone that motorcycles would not be permitted to use bus lanes on roads controlled by Transport for London.

In a report published today, Transport for London rely on the Tanner Test to 'prove' that there would be no safety benefit to either motorcyclists or other vulnerable road users if motorcycles were allowed to use Transport for London bus lanes. This same Tanner Test was described in internal documents, leaked to MAG, as unreliable and incapable of delivering sound statistical analysis.

The published report is strikingly similar to a much discredited early draft, published in October 2006, that was withdrawn by TfL. A more comprehensive report, prepared in April 2007, demonstrated that there would be clear safety benefits for all vulnerable road users, and not just motorcyclists, if motorcycles were allowed to use bus lanes. This report was suppressed by TfL, although a copy has been seen by members of the Motorcycle Action Group.

Motorcycles are permitted to use bus lanes in Bristol, Reading, Swindon, Hull, Northern Ireland and many other towns and cities in the UK with no perceived problems.

Greater London Regional Representative, Gerard Livett, said: "The report finally published today contains the same woeful statistical analysis as the one that was rejected by TfL in October 2006. A more comprehensive analysis of the data, which was never officially published, clearly demonstrated that there would be safety benefits for all vulnerable road users if motorcycles were permitted to use bus lanes."

"Successful trials from elsewhere in the country demonstrate that motorcycles and bicycles can share bus lanes safely. In this regard, London would appear to be lagging behind the rest of the country and not leading the way forward."

"The timing of this report, and the nature of the contents, would appear to be a form of gerrymandering (political manipulation) aimed at securing the votes of cyclists at the expense of motorcycle safety and motorcyclists lives.