Agenda item

This Report provides information on local authorities (regional and national) that allow motorcycles to use their bus lanes and the likely benefits if this approach is adopted by the Council. It provides information on a proposed trial on the A404 corridor and how the outcome will inform a future policy decision on allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes throughout the borough.

RESOLVED that:

(i)         The contents of the report and information on the experiences of other Local Authorities in terms in a national and regional context be noted;

(ii)        The Council’s Head of Highways and Infrastructure be instructed to undertake the necessary statutory procedure to pilot the scheme under experimental powers for a maximum period of 18 months. This is shorter than the recommended 24 months. During the experimental period of the order the Head of Highways and Infrastructure shall consider all representations.

(iii)       The Council’s Head of Highways and Infrastructure to report back to the next meeting of the Highways Committee (June 2017) on the initial data from the first few months of the trial. This report will look to discuss the viability of shortening the trial period further , subject to positive feedback and bring a recommendation for borough-wide implementation forward or for the trial to be expanded to include additional suitable roads with bus lanes; and

(iv)       The Council’s Head of Highways and Infrastructure to report back to a future meeting of the Highways Committee (January 2018) with more detailed data from the trial and make recommendations on a decision to allow motorcyclists to use all bus lanes across the borough.

(v)        The Council’s Head of Highways and Infrastructure to ensure the pilot is publicised widely using local motorcycle traders/dealers to promote the scheme

The Chair invited Mr Robert Dunwell (representative of Qara Group of Associations) to address the Committee. Mr Dunwell outlined that he had spoken to a number of motorcycle and scooter dealerships and had been in contact with hundreds of motorcyclists to conduct a ‘straw poll’ and gather feedback on the proposals being put forward by the Council. He also noted that on a personal basis he was a car driver, motorcyclist and pedal cyclist and would use all three modes of transport to get around the borough on a regular basis. Mr Dunwell stated that, on the whole, the proposals for a trial of motorcycles in bus lanes had been welcomed by these stakeholders with a high level of support. The Committee heard that it was felt that advantages (specified in paragraph 3.15 of the report) were agreeable and outweighed the disadvantages. He highlighted, in particular, the positives of improving road safety and the potential for reducing motorcycle casualties. Mr Dunwell concluded that it was appreciated that the Council was taking these steps to introduce this trial.

The Chair then invited Tony Kennedy (the Council’s Head of Highways and Infrastructure) to give the Committee a further overview of the proposals. Mr Kennedy outlined that the report provided information on a proposed 24 month trial for allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes on the A404 corridor. The Committee heard that the data captured from this would inform a future policy decision on allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes borough-wide. He noted that the Council planned to publicise the trial widely and that Officers would continue to liaise with Transport for London (TfL) on initiatives which ensured motorcyclists adhered to the speed limits within bus lanes, and also reduced traffic speeds at accident hot spots. Mr Kennedy continued that there were currently 31 bus lanes in Brent and that if the trial provided successful outcomes the plan would ultimately be to roll out this policy to every bus lane in the borough. He highlighted that TfL supported the trial and that two neighbouring Councils (Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and City of Westminster) had recently trialled this proposal with positive results. He concluded that the trial would be monitored and evaluated against a host of different criteria and that a more detailed report which assessed the trial would be provided at a future meeting of the Highways Committee.

Questions arose on whether it was necessary to have a 24 month trial, considering the large, positive evidence base there was already on allowing motorcycles in bus lanes, and also whether the trial could be expanded to include more roads with bus lanes rather than just the A404. Tony Kennedy stated that the Council did consider proposals for a borough-wide trial, but this would have been more expensive at this stage and would have required further budget considerations. He also stated that a longer time period allowed more time for perception surveys with motorcycle groups and TfL alongside analysis of the data captured against the key evaluation criteria. He did however state that the trial period could be shortened to a degree under experimental powers, which was welcomed by the Committee.

Members raised questions about how this scheme could be linked to a road safety campaign to educate both drivers and motorcyclists on the dangers of speeding and the increased risk of accidents that this caused. It was felt that this would be particularly important for motorcyclists who had just obtained a licence. Tony Kennedy said the Council wanted to work with both young and old drivers and motorcyclists on the importance of adhering to speed limits. He emphasised that part of the scheme included speed surveys, and that the Council also frequently liaised with the Police on their highways initiatives on speeding. Linked to this, the Committee also questioned what the Council could do to educate drivers of larger vehicles, such as freight vehicles, of the need for increased motorcycle awareness. Tony Kennedy said that the Council provided awareness training to both drivers of large vehicles and motorcyclists and it was important that this continued to be publicised. He also noted that the Council also led further awareness training initiatives in schools to highlight this problem early to younger drivers and motorcyclists.  

Further questions arose on the level of signage for the proposed trial and whether details would be prominent and clear for road users upon imposition. Tony Kennedy stated that the physical size of signs were guided by traffic regulations but would be as prominent as possible. He expanded further on an earlier point about the Council planning to publicise the scheme widely which would include: developing a full communications plan for advertising the scheme in local magazines, newspapers, online and with posters planned to be sent to motorcycle traders and outlets in the borough. 

RESOLVED that:

(i)         The contents of the report and information on the experiences of other Local Authorities in terms in a national and regional context be noted;

(ii)        The Council’s Head of Highways and Infrastructure be instructed to undertake the necessary statutory procedure to pilot the scheme under experimental powers for a maximum period of 18 months. This is shorter than the recommended 24 months. During the experimental period of the order the Head of Highways and Infrastructure shall consider all representations.

(iii)       The Council’s Head of Highways and Infrastructure to report back to the next meeting of the Highways Committee (June 2017) on the initial data from the first few months of the trial. This report will look to discuss the viability of shortening the trial period further , subject to positive feedback and bring a recommendation for borough-wide implementation forward or for the trial to be expanded to include additional suitable roads with bus lanes;

(iv)       The Council’s Head of Highways and Infrastructure to report back to a future meeting of the Highways Committee (January 2018) with more detailed data from the trial and make recommendations on a decision to allow motorcyclists to use all bus lanes across the borough; and

(v)        The Council’s Head of Highways and Infrastructure to ensure the pilot is publicised widely using local motorcycle traders/dealers to promote the scheme.