MAG steps up efforts to allow motorcycles default access to bus lanes

A new petition has been launched calling on the Government to reverse its decision not to allow motorcycles in bus lanes by default.

The petition, launched by the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) on 3 March, has so far received in excess of 4,000 signatures.

Currently local authorities can choose whether to allow other vehicles, including motorcycles, to use bus lanes on their networks, by adding the symbol to the bus lane signs and referencing them in their traffic regulation orders (TROs).

In 2024, the Government launched a consultation seeking opinions on two potential future options:

• continue with the current position, with local authorities continuing to make decisions on whether to allow motorcycles to use bus lanes on their road networks
• allow motorcycles to use bus lanes by default, as is the case for pedal cycles

Following the consultation period, the Government opted against adopting a national default policy.  

This is despite the overwhelming majority of individual responses to the consultation being in favour of allowing motorcycle access to bus lanes, MAG says.

MAG is urging all riders to sign the petition. It also calls on all rider organisations and the motorcycle press to promote the petition.  

While the Government will respond at 10,000 signatures, MAG wants to hit the 100,000-signature target. This has the potential to trigger a parliamentary debate.

Colin Brown, MAG’s director of campaigns and political engagement, said: “The petition is only a part of our campaign to get this default access policy across the line.  

“It will be pivotal though, supporting the direct engagement with politicians that will be going on behind the scenes.  We are actually a lot closer than you may think to winning this campaign.  

“If you read right to the end of the consultation outcome the DfT says that they will do three things. 

“First, they will update their guidance document. This will advise local authorities to work together to get consistency of provision across boundaries. Secondly, they will work with the metro mayors and combined authorities to encourage a joined-up approach to motorcycle access. And thirdly they will take comments into account in future changes to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions.

“This amounts to a default access policy in all but name. 

“We just need to make sure they follow through on these promises. And then they must openly state that this is a default policy position to avoid confusion and continued arguments.”

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