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Hundreds of thousands of motorcycles are using bus lanes around the world every day. It’s safer for riders and it eases congestion for all road users. And it’s high time every state

and territory in Australia takes heed

The road rules governing motorcycles in Australia are in complete shambles. Well-intentioned law makers in the various states and territories, as

well as city and local councils, have created a confusing jungle of regulation that even a legal genius would struggle to slash a path through. Jump on your bike and ride around Australia to see what we mean.

The time-saving practice is currently only allowed in New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory. Even so, there’s lingering confusion over Bus Lane and Bus Only signs and police have been known to book riders, even though they were legally using the lane.

In central Melbourne you can park on the footpath to ease parking congestion – but you can’t use bus lanes to beat the rush hour. Don’t even get us started about the use of transit lanes when you head further north. In the Sunshine State of Queensland, motorcycles and cars with more than two occupants can use the

transit lane for short distances during rush hour. But recent research has shown that more than 90 percent of road users don’t understand or even know what the T2 sign means. Travelling through our major cities should be a seamless experience – with the same road rules applied. But it isn’t – because the states have authority over their piece of the nation’s transport system and guard it jealously.

To their credit, various authorities have instigated traffic reviews that include motorcycles as a key element. This has resulted in lane filtering becoming the hot topic of discussion right now.

But the traffic issue can’t be resolved easily and this whole mess of multi-state legislation is too much for AMCN to tackle on its own. So we’ve launched a campaign to urge the various state governments – with your help – to rewrite the rules on one of the core issues at the heart of easing congestion: allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes throughout Australia. Turn to Page 71 to see how you can join the fight.

STORY HAMISH COOPER & CHRIS DOBIE PHOTOGRAPHY NATHAN JACOBS & AMCN ARCHIVES

NATIONAL CONFORMITY ON BUS LANESCHANGE THE LAW062

ChangingLanes

Bikes forbus lanes

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An expert’s viewScott Benjamin has worked for 20 years on traffic and transport technology in the UK and Australia. After attending the World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems in Detroit recently, he believes major cities could be heading for the perfect storm. General Motors told the conference it would have a car on the road within two years that could drive itself both on highways and in stop-start traffic. It would be interacting electronically with other cars and roadway infrastructure.

Which leads Scott to ponder: Where do bikesfit into all this?

“In the future, city traffic is going to be a lot more mixed, especially with the influx of smaller-capacity motorcyclesand the increase in electric bicyclescapable of sustained speeds,” Scott says.

The conference was also told of a US Department of Transport-funded study run over the past two years.

The study involved over 3000 cars, a few bicycles and a dozen motorcycles travelling around the city of Ann Arbor in a real-life trial of Connected Vehicle Technologies.

As a result of the study, major US cities will have wireless communication between vehicles to guide them on roads within five years – so freeing up bus lanes to ease congestion will be made even easier.

“We’re on the threshold of a transformation in mobility that the world hasn’t seen since the introduction of the automobile a century ago,” a spokesman for the study said .

Scott says the groundbreaking technology will allow a better use of existingroad networks.

“We should always be thinking of ways that new technology can improve both our mobility and safety – including the use of bus lanes,” he says.

Facts and fictionIt’s an undisputable fact that motorcyclists are one of the solutions to chronic inner-city congestion. Just ask yourself why scooter sales boomed a few years back when the city apartment-building boom took off. Motorcycles take up a fraction of the road compared to cars and are more manoeuvrable.

They use less fossil fuel and reduce commuting travel time. Okay, we acknowledge cars are getting better mileage now – but they can’t offer the solution to traffic congestion that motorcycles do.

Why? Because the sheer size of a car, van or truck means it has a cumulative impact on traffic movement. A motorcycle doesn’t.

Want another major issue to mull over? We reckon governments see traffic issues as a safety issue – not a mobility issue.

They may commission all the surveys and trials on road usage they want, but when they review the results they usually have an opt-out clause.

If it’s all too hard they will most likely invoke the issue of safety. That’s their ultimate political easy out. But enough of the complaining. What’s our solution?

We are simply urging authorities to allow motorcyclists to use bus lanes across Australia’s major cities and in the process open up a debate based on mobility, rather than a purely safety-based discussion.

If lane filtering (which seems to be at the forefront of traffic regulators’ minds right now) is contentious and hard to enforce legally, then the use of bus lanes is a no-brainer.

During peak-capacity commuting hours in the city, buses generally pass any given point once every two to four minutes.

A recent study of Melbourne’s entire bus network (including the city and suburbs) showed the average time between buses during peak hours was nearly 40 minutes. That leaves a staggering

The average time between buses (in Melbourne) during

peak hours was nearly 40 minutes

amount of empty space between buses around the road network.Cyclists are allowed in many bus lanes – but it actually makes more sense to have powered two-wheelers in them.

Pedal power baulks when presented with a hill, thereby slowing buses trying to keep to a timetable. Motorcycles can keep up with buses all along the route.

Want another reason? Cities that have imposed a congestion charge on commuters have seen a shift to bus use and a 30-50 percent increase in the use of motorcycles, scooters and mopeds. The logical progression is to allow both forms of transport to share the same lane.

Needless to say, Sweden, which regularly leads the world index of countries respected for their social and economic policies, has already shown the way forward. Motorcycles have been allowed in bus lanes in Stockholm (population of 800,000), since 1986.

TOP: A typical empty bus lane. Why can’t

bikes use them? BELOW: Imagine the

dramatic congestion in Bangkok if everyone

drove a car

The futureh ff t

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Snapshothh tt

Bus lane rules around the world

Australia’s contradictory bus lane regulations

Queensland

ACT

Banned from bus lanes – but can use T2/T3-designated transit lanes. Published research shows most road users (let alone bikers) don’t understand what these signs mean and don’t feel confident using the lanes. Like many other states, Qld also forbids lane filtering, adding to congestion woes.

Allowed to use bus lanes – but there’s lingering confusion among riders about varying Bus Lane and Bus Only signs.

Western AustMotorcycles are currently banned from bus lanes, but the government is considering a trial.

South Australia,NT & TasmaniaBanned from bus lanes.

NSWBikers can use bus lanes in Sydney – but there’s lingering confusion among riders over signs saying Bus Lane and Bus Only (sometimes a Bus Lane ends in a Bus Only lane). Riders have been booked by police who are ignorant of rules which allow bikes in bus lanes. Motorcyles are also allowed in T2/T3 lanes – but again confusion means many don’t feel confident using them.

VictoriaAllowed in Melbourne’s Hoddle Street (southbound bus lane, 7am-9.30am, Mon-Fri, using bus traffic lights). The Hoddle Street trial has shown that bikers save 90 seconds along this 1.9km stretch of a bus lane during rush hour. Motorcycles are also allowed to use transit lanes – but most bikers aren’t aware of this.

TWO YEARS AFTER completing a trial in which motorcycles were allowed into a bus lane in inner-Melbourne’s Hoddle Street, bikers have been allowed to keep using it. Perhaps this is the start of a policy similar to metropolitan London – Europe’s largest city, with a population of eight million. The chairman of Victoria’s motorcycle council thinks so: “Informally I’ve heard the results have been positive. It’s obviously very positive that authorities have kept the signs up for motorcyclists.

“I understand there are some issues about riders triggering the induction loops that give buses preferential green traffic lights, but that is just a technical hitch.

“Melbourne has at least 100 bus lanes and I can’t see why VicRoads wouldn’t now be looking at all of them with a view to allowing motorcycle use.”

The six-month trial started in November 2011 and allowed motorcycles and scooters to use the southbound bus lane on Hoddle Street, between the Eastern Freeway inbound off-ramp and Victoria Parade, which

operates between 7am and 9.30am Monday to Friday. Bikers shared the lane with the existing users: buses, bicycles, taxis and hire cars. When contacted by AMCN, VicRoads acting director for network policy and standards Wayne Harvey had this to say:

“The trial showed that by using the bus lane, motorcyclists obtained a median travel time saving of 90 seconds, without delaying buses.”

The test route only covered 1.9 kilometres, but even so,

the time motorcyclists shaved off their commuting time was significant. You’d be hard pressed to match this time saving by lane-filtering. Asked about the wash-up from the trial, the public results of which have still not been released, he said:

“Evidence regarding the safety implications of permitting motorcycles in bus lanes has warranted further investigation. A range of options are being considered regarding the use of bus lanes by motorcycles.”

He then confirmed that “motorcycles may continue using the Hoddle Street bus lane until a position is finalised”.

Public servants choose their words carefully, especially with a 29 November state election looming. But read between the lines and you see the possibility of a new dawn on the horizon for inner-city commuters on powered two wheelers.

VicRoads allows bikers to use the dedicated bus traffic light to proceed through three intersections during bus lane operating hours. So bikers are being given a mobility advantage over car commuters.

AMCN understands the average time between buses on Hoddle Street, southbound in the morning peak hours, is approximately two minutes. So there is plenty of vacant space available. If there is no issue for bus drivers on this route regarding interactions with motorcyclists (and we haven’t heard of any), the system works here. This means it should be able to work pretty much anywhere in Australia.

The Hoddle Street trial MelbourneM lblbo rne

The London experience Londoners either love or hate their flamboyant mayor Boris Johnson. If nothing else, Mad Boris is a visionary, who has been in the position since 2008 and has been credited with making London hip again. After two lengthy trials initiated by cycling fan Boris, motorcycles were allowed in bus lanes (along with taxis and bicycles) in January 2012.

“One of the ways we can ease congestion is by encouraging more people to get on their bike, whether pedal or powered, and I believe they should be able to share our bus lanes successfully and safely,” Boris said when he launched the first trial.

The government body Transport for London (TFL) praised the trials, pointing out that 30,000 motorcyclists a day commute in the capital’s bus lanes.

“The Mayor’s policy of providing access to bus lanes along some of the busiest roads in London has delivered strong benefits for motorcyclists and improved the efficiency of the road network,” a TFL spokesperson said.

“The trials have shown reduced journey times and environmental benefits, with no significant safety issues thrown up for motorcyclists and other vulnerable road users.

“The additional enforcement measures we introduced have also helped reduce average speeds for riders in bus lanes, delivering benefits for all road users in London.

“This is an important measure which has proved popular with motorcyclists across the capital.”

The CEO of United Kingdom’s Motorcycle Industry Association, Steve Kenward, added: “Allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes sends a clear message to road users that motorcycling helps reduce commuter journey times, traffic congestion and CO2 (pollution).”

Allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes helps

reduce commuter journey times, traffi c

congestion and pollution

Federal regulations encourage motorcyclists to use High Occupany Vehicle lanes (sometimes called car pool lanes). Many states allow this, but motorcyclists are banned from bus lanes.

The world leader in allowing bikes to use bus lanes. Bristol opened up its entire network in 1995 – central London in 2012. At least six other cities allow it and a roll-out is due in in another seven cities soon.

Stockholm has allowed bikers in bus lanes since 1986. Many cities in Spain and Italy also allow it. Motorcycle lobby groups are urging other countries to follow – based on a recent mobility survey.

Our southerly neighbour’s two biggest cities – Auckland and Wellington – have allowed motorcycles to share transit lanes and bus lanes (except where signs state Bus Only) since 2004. Lucky buggers.

America United Kingdom Europe New Zealand

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A rider’s viewKinga Tanajewska has been riding motorcycles since she was a teenager. Two decades on, as wellas many trips around Europe, she has circumnavigated Australia on her own.

“Motorcycles in bus lanes? It’s a no-brainer,” says the Polish-born motorcyclist.

“There’s tonnes of vacant space and a nice shortage of unexpected car manoeuvres.”

Like many of us, Kinga is also confused about the lack of coherence of rules.

“In Sydney you’re allowed to go in bus lanes, but other places you’re not.

“Luckily, I found out about this before leaving for my trip around Australia via conversations with other riders.

“It’s one country – so why not have the one set of laws?”

Kinga agrees with the bus-lane option, combined with filtering.

“Not only is riding in bus lanes good for motorcyclists in terms of safety, but it’s clearly beneficial for cars as well – giving everyone more peace of mind.

“Having said that, the law is one thing, education is another.

“Car drivers in Europe are more aware of motorcycles because they make up a greater portion of the commuter mix – so in a way it’s safer to ride in Europe.

“More needs to be done to educate Australian drivers about sharing the roads in our cities with motorcycles, scooters and bicycles.”

The London Cycling Campaign initially opposed the move – but cyclists now acknowledge that sharing bus lanes with motorcycles has reduced the incidence of jaywalkers stepping out in front of them and motorists cutting across the end of a bus lane without looking. For powered two wheelers, there’s safety in numbers.

Bristol, a regional city the size of Newcastle, NSW, or the Gold Coast, Qld, has allowed motorcycles in bus lanes since 1995. Trials have been held in seven other UK cities, with the latest in Coventry (population of 300,000) being held last February.

The European experience The Federation of European Motorcyclists (FEMA) has just published the results of commuter mobility tests undertaken in 15 cities across eight European countries. This was the first Europe-wide mobility test in a part of the world where 60 percent of the population lives in urban areas.

It found convincing evidence that motorcycles and mopeds made trips significantly faster – saving up to 38 minutes on a 29-kilometre commute. This time-saving statistic was from Oslo, Norway, which allows motorcycles in bus lanes. The study revealed

that motorcyclists saved over one hour a day in travelling time. Oslo (with a population of 600,000) is Europe’s fastest-growing capital city.

The comparison cost for the journeys, including parking and tolls, also had motorcycles and mopeds coming out on top.

Whereas most European cities don’t charge bikers to park, car commuters have to stump up as much as €25 ($36) a day. This is comparable to the extortionate fees charged in Australian cities.

FEMA is an umbrella group for the biker lobby and has the ear of the European Parliament andthe United Nations.

In conclusion, it said: “It would be easy for the European cities to promote powered two wheelers and improve safety at low cost, for example by allowing filtering, giving access to bus and taxi lanes, opening dedicated parking spaces for PTWs and exempting PTWs from congestion charges.”

In an upcoming issue of AMCN, we will look into what lead the ACT to change its bus lane laws and the positive effects it’s had on motorcyclists. We will also further investigate London’s experience, seeing what we can learn from overseas in order to implement positive changes across Australia.

Shamblesh blbl

Motorcycles and mopeds make trips signifi cantly faster – saving up to

38 minutes on a 29-kilometre commute

SEND ALETTER!SEE PAGE 71

Let’s make this

the hot topic on

every transport

minister’s

to-do-list!

AUSTRALIAN MOTORCYCLE NEWS calls on all our readers to join our fight – urging governments across the nation to change the nonsensical laws. One of the liberating joys of owning a bike is gettingto places quicker.

Other road users will also benefit from us not hogging their limited space in peak-hour traffic. We urge you to fill in the form below, adding your name and address, and to post it off to the minister of transport in your state/territory. (Their postal addresses and emails supplied on the right). Every one of your letters counts.

We want their intrays to be overflowing with our simple request for change. We’ve also supplied their emails – so you can email them personally as well.

We want them to confront the issue, and the best way we can do this is by joining together – calling for state governments to reach unity with road rules, starting with bus lanes.

OPEN UP BUS LANES FOR MOTORCYCLES! I call on you to make motorcyling safer and to ease traffi c congestion for all motorists by legislating to allow motorcyclists to travel in bus lanes.

Major cities around the world have allowed motorcyclists to use bus lanes for many years. The prime exampleis Europe’s largest city, London, in which 30,000 motorcyclists a day use bus lanes. The government body Transport for London has proved that the much-praised practice reduces travel times for all and helps reduce pollution – as less time is spent by vehicles crawling along or idling in heavy traffi c.

New Zealand also allows motorcycles to use bus lanes. Studies show that motorcyclists save up to 38 minutes on a 29km commute by being allowed to use bus lanes. They are also safer as it results in a bigger gap between bikes and cars. Cyclists also benefi t as it reduces the incidence of jaywalkers stepping out in front of them and cars cutting the end of a bus lane without looking. For two-wheelers, it’s safety in numbers.

The current laws regarding the mobility of motorcycles in Australia are confusing. It’s a no-no in Victoria (apart from one short section), Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania – where presumably easing traffi c congestion isn’t high on the government agenda. In Sydney and Canberra motorcycles can use all the bus lanes – but there’s lingering confusion about varying signs saying Bus Lane and Bus Only. Please end the confusion and follow the example of enlightened authorities in the ACT, NSW and Europe. Legislate to allow motorcycles in bus lanes, so that we have the same rules across the nation.

Signed: Address

Full Name:

Date: / /2014

JOIN OUR NATIONWIDE FIGHT! YES, YOU! VICTORIATerry MulderMinister for Public Transport and RoadsGPO Box 2797, Melbourne, Vic, 3000minister.mulder@minstaff.vic.gov.au

Luke DonnellanShadow Minister for RoadsPO Box 126, Endeavour Hills, Vic, 3802luke.donnellan@parliament.vic.gov.au

TASMANIARene HiddingMinister for InfrastructureLevel 1, Franklin Square, Hobart, Tas, 7000rene.hidding@dpac.tas.gov.au

QUEENSLANDScott EmersonMinister for Transport and Main RoadsGPO Box 2644, Brisbane, Qld, 4001TMR@ministerial.qld.gov.au

Jackie TradShadow Minister for Transport and Main RoadsPO Box 5326, West End, Qld, 4101South.Brisbane@parliament.qld.gov.au

NORTHERN TERRITORYPeter StylesMinister for TransportGPO Box 3146, Darwin, NT, 0801peter.styles@nt.gov.au

WESTERN AUSTRALIADean NalderMinister for TransportPO Box 7084, Applecross North, WA, 6153alfredcove@mp.wa.gov.au

Ken TraversShadow Minister for TransportUnit 2, 1 Wise Street, Joondalup, WA, 6027ken.travers@mp.wa.gov.au

SOUTH AUSTRALIAStephen Mullighan Minister for Transport and InfrastructureGPO Box 1533, Adelaide, SA, 5000ministermullighan@sa.gov.au

Corey Wingard Shadow Minister for Transport and Road SafetyPO Box 650, Oaklands Park, SA, 5046Wingard.mitchell@parliament.sa.gov.au

CUT HERE and post off the

CAMPAIGN LETTER below to your state minister. Let’s fight

together to make motorcycling safer

and easier. Bikes for

bus lanes