Using Bus Lanes in Birmingham on your Bike

Signs for bus lanes you can use...

There's a great article on the Get On website about the on going saga of the use of bus lanes by motorbikes in London.

"Click here for Get On Article"

So I thought it would be useful to see how things are going in Brum - Good News - We can use bus lanes that are showing the signs as above.

Here's what it says on the Birmingham City Council Website...

"From November 2007 Birmingham City Council carried out a trial use of the existing bus lanes by motorcycles along A435 Moseley Road, Alcester Road and Alcester Road South, as shown on the map. The trial lasted for 18 months. Monitoring indicated that allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes was beneficial to motorcyclists, with no disadvantages to other road users. However, some research elsewhere has identified that some bus lanes could be unsuitable for use by motorcycles.

It has been decided that motorcycles will be allowed to use all bus lanes in the City, subject to each bus lane being checked to make sure that it will be safe for motorcycles to use without increasing danger to other road users. Work on changing the bus lane signs will start in 2010, finishing in 2011. Please familiarise yourself with the new signs above that include a motorcycle symbol.

Please note that motorcycles will only be allowed to use bus lanes after the signs have been changed to include the motorcycle symbol."

The MCIA have also published a code of conduct for using London Bus lanes that is just as sensible for us here in Birmingham

1. We share bus lanes with other vulnerable road users, take extra care around them
2. Be aware of pedestrians walking through traffic queues and at bus stops
3. Look out for pedal cycles and give them a wide berth, they may suddenly change direction or position
4. Pass cyclists on the offside only – never undertake
5. Always assume cyclists cannot hear or see you behind them
6. Do not use excessive speed when using bus lanes or overtaking cyclists
7. Accidents happen when cars pull from junctions and side roads into the path of motorcyclists in bus lanes – KEEP YOUR SPEED DOWN
8. Watch out for other vehicles crossing bus lanes
9. Take extra care when riding alongside congested pavement areas
10. We are ambassadors for motorcycling, riding in a bus lane is a privilege that needs to be respected