MAG has welcomed a Cambridgeshire County Council move to consult on Motorcycle Access to Bus Lanes as part of its proposals to improve air quality. A tireless campaign by a local MAG activist has seen the Conservative leader of Cambridgeshire County Council pass a motion proposing a consultation on motorcycle access to bus lanes.
MAG has mounted a sustained campaign to get the role of motorcycles recognised in Cambridgeshire and particularly for motorcycle access to bus lanes. Having gained the support of local MP, Daniel Zeichner, engaging with Councillors and officers and making formal representations to the Highways Committee, confirmation was finally received that "the Council Leader announced in December that [Cambridgeshire County Council] will be consulting on allowing motorbikes in bus lanes as part of the climate change strategy action plan."
In a motion passed by the Council on 19th December 2019, the council committed to a raft of measures being incorporated into its environmental strategy consultation proposals. One of those measures was "Consulting on the use of bus lanes for electric vehicles and motorcycles and scooters."
A local activist, who has been closely involved with the process, commented "I am delighted by this progress and look forward to the consultation being released in the near future. What is particularly rewarding is the fact that the policy proposal has been recognised as part of the wider environmental strategy plan, not simply as a road safety issue."
The motion, brought by Cllr Steve Count, did face an amendment brought forward by Liberal Democrat Cllr Lorna Dupré. The amendment would, amongst other things, have totally removed the bus lane access clause, but was not passed by the assembled Councillors. The motion was therefore passed without amendment. The motion also caused controversy for its stance on charging motorists in clean air zones. Cllr Count said the Labour and Liberal Democrat controlled Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire councils "seem obsessed with charging motorists" as the "only solution" to poor air quality. The remarks were made on his blog ahead of the motion being brought at Cambridgeshire County Council on December 19. The motion as passed states that the Council is opposed to "pursuing charging proposals at this time".
MAG's Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, said: "This recognition of the wider benefits of motorcycles and the need to support them as a sustainable transport mode is wonderful. The proposal for motorcycle access to bus lanes specifically promoted in this way, as part of the council's climate change strategy, is a first to my knowledge but, I hope, not the last. Local authorities and the national government need to recognise the fact that single track vehicles, be they human or mechanically powered, are a truly sustainable solution. Simply grouping motorcycles with cars is lazy thinking that neglects the potential benefits of this transport solution. If reducing emissions by promoting modal shift to motorcycles as well as pedal cycles can avoid the need for charging motorists as well as motorcyclists, this is a win for everyone."
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