Road Safety Bill [HL]

Caution is the name of the game for the Government in response to the noble Baroness’s amendment. We are going to disappoint her and the noble Lord, Lord Higgins, who called for the amendment to go even further. I hope that I will be able to make clear the reasons why we are not yet convinced of the case as put in the amendment. The purpose of designating bus lanes is to give priority to buses over other classes of traffic. The more that other motorised vehicles—such as motorbikes—are allowed to use them as a statutory entitlement, the more their purpose becomes devalued. Of course we are sympathetic to the principle of improving facilities for motorcyclists including their use of bus lanes. Local authorities, as noble Lords will know, have powers to allow other vehicles to use bus lanes if they consider that to be desirable. The Secretary of State has similar powers in respect of bus lanes on trunk roads and motorways. We believe, however, that it should be left to the discretion of local authorities to decide whether they should allow any other vehicles, including motorcycles, to use any of their bus lanes, taking into account their local circumstances. Some local authorities have allowed motorcyclists to use bus lanes. The noble Baroness will know that it is at present a minority of local authorities, but some have: she quoted the example of Bristol; Birmingham is another. The Secretary of State has permitted motorcycles and licensed taxis to use the M4 bus lane. There remain concerns however for the safety of other road users, particularly cyclists, pedestrians and indeed motorcyclists themselves. Motorcycles can be fast moving, small objects and by travelling in bus lanes they are in a part of the road where they are not expected to be. We are awaiting the results of trials in London of allowing motorcycles into bus lanes before reviewing the guidance, which presently recommends that motorcyclists are not normally allowed to use bus lanes. We would reserve our right to move any further until we have concluding evidence from those trials. I hope that in view of that explanation the noble Baroness will withdraw her amendment.