18-MONTH TRIAL PERIOD LAUNCHED ON 'RED ROUTES'

+ Click to Enlarge BUS LANE RIDE JUST THE TICKET: Back in the 1950's and 1960's the Ace Cafe bikers' hangout in Wembley, London, was much less salubrious - this week the restored landmark hosted a mass ride to welcome bikers' access to cty bus lanes.

January 7, 2009

Honda (UK) on Monday led a snow-sprinkled ride with a number of motorcycle industry partners and the London Mayor’s Director for Transport Policy, Kulveer Ranger, to celebrate the opening of London’s Red Route bus lanes for motorcyclists.

Transport for London’s recent announcement to allow motorcycles to use the lanes for an 18-month trial period started this week.

London motorcycle dealers and staff of Honda (UK) were joined by members from a number of key UK motorcycle industry partners, including the Motorcycle Industry Association, Institute of Advanced Motorists and British Motorcyle Federation as well as the Metropolitan Police BikeSafe squad and London-based media.

The ride used lanes across London to get to the legendary Ace Cafe in Wembley.

The ride highlighted the benefits of two-wheeled commuting in London and promoted the MCIA’s new Bus Lane 'Code of Conduct' for motorcyclists developed in conjunction with the Metropolitan Police.

Steve Martindale, general manager of Honda (UK) Motorcycles, said: "The opening of Red Route bus lanes for motorcyclists is a welcome decision by TfL, both for easing traffic congestion and improving safety for motorcyclists and other road users.

"We hope that today’s successful ride will inspire the motorcycle industry in the UK to further promote the safe use of bus lanes and encourages riders to use them."

MCIA’s Craig Carey-Clinch said: "Motorcycles in bus lanes is good news for road safety but it is crucial that motorcyclists use this new freedom responsibly as ambassadors for biking."

Individual London boroughs (locally governed suburbs) will decide whether to open their bus lanes to motorcyclists but the strong show of support and effectiveness of the intitiative should soon make it more widespread.

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