THE Government has responded to a recent petition to allow the use of motorcycles in bus lanes, submitted by Richard Skepper.
Over 10,500 people signed this petition and here is the Government's response:
The Government recognises that motorcycling has become increasingly popular and offers a number of benefits.
Bus lanes are the responsibility of the relevant highway authority. In February 2007, The Department for Transport issued new guidance in the form of a Traffic Advisory Leaflet 2/07 on "The Use of Bus Lanes by Motorcycles". This makes clear to local highway authorities that it is open to them to decide whether or not to allow motorcycles to use bus lanes and encourage them to make an objective assessment of the issue.
The new guidance revises the previous Department for Transport's advice on bus lanes, Local Transport Note 1/97: Keeping Buses Moving, which recommended that motorcycles should not normally be permitted to use bus lanes.
