Open consultation

Motorcycles in bus lanes

Published 17 March 2024

Applies to England

Ministerial foreword 

“Think once… think twice… think bike!” as the advertisement said. Motorcycles are an important but sometimes overlooked mode of transport, not just by drivers who fail to spot bikers, but occasionally by government too. Their size and nature make them a dynamic and affordable option for road users, and with that it’s only right that our roads become as dynamic as those using them. To deliver on this, the Plan for Drivers included 2 commitments specifically aimed at making it easier for motorcyclists to access bus lanes. Local authorities already have this ability, so we committed to remind them of their powers, which we set out on 15 January 2024 through an updated traffic advisory leaflet. This made clear that local authorities should allow motorcyclists to use their bus lanes, following the advice set out.

The second, and most important commitment, was to carry out this consultation on whether to make access to bus lanes the default position. While motorcyclists have been able to use some bus lanes for some time, access is neither universal or consistent across local authority boundaries.

Amending this could lead to many positive benefits including shorter journey times for those on motorcycles and less congestion for motorists in normal lanes, all while potentially having little impact on bus journeys.

The department has historically been neutral, leaving it to local authorities to decide if this is something they wish to adopt, as set out in the original advice published in 2007. The world has moved on since, and it is right that we consider whether the evidence now supports a move to a more positive position, that the presumption should be that motorcyclists be allowed to use bus lanes unless there are good reasons not to.

This consultation is aimed at exploring issues around current practice and potential impacts, to support a possible change in the policy. I urge anyone interested in this subject to respond.

Guy Opperman
Minister for Roads and Local Transport

Introduction 

Bus lanes are implemented by local authorities as a measure to help improve the performance of bus services. To create a bus lane, authorities must make a traffic regulation order (TRO) and put in place traffic signs as prescribed in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 (TSRGD).

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 the TRO.  

This consultation seeks views on allowing motorcycles to access bus lanes by default, as is the case for pedal cycles. Under the provisions of TSRGD, the pedal cycle symbol may not be omitted from bus lane signs without special authorisation from the department.  

For the purpose of this consultation, the term ‘motorcycles’ refers to solo-powered 2-wheelers including mopeds but excluding e-scooters. The term ‘bus lanes’ refers to with-flow and contra-flow bus lanes.  

The government is interested in hearing views from local authorities and other organisations and individuals who may have relevant information, in order to understand the implications of any change in policy.     

The outcome of this consultation may be used to inform updated advice to local authorities and future regulatory changes.   

Current situation 

Allowing motorcyclists to use bus lanes was first trialled in the 1990s. Various monitoring and research projects were carried out to determine the effects of these schemes on both motorcyclists and other road users and inform advice originally published in 2007.

In 2011, traffic signs were prescribed to allow local authorities to permit motorcycles to use their bus lanes without the need for the Department for Transport (DfT) to authorise the signs.  

The Plan for Drivers, published on 2 October 2023, included a commitment to refresh the 2007 advice, to remind authorities that this was within their gift. An updated traffic advisory leaflet, TAL 1/24, was published in January 2024. This says that:

Wherever it is appropriate, local councils should allow motorcyclists to use bus lanes. In doing so, they should take into account the factors set out in this advice. 

Consultation proposal 

The Plan for Drivers contained a commitment to launch a consultation on motorcycles using bus lanes as a default.  

We are exploring 2 options – continue with the current position or allow motorcycles to use bus lanes by default. This section explains the potential benefits and drawbacks of both options.

Option 1: Continue with current position

Local authorities will continue to make decisions on whether to allow motorcycles to use bus lanes on their networks.

Potential benefits are:  

• maintains the position that local authorities are best placed to consider if motorcycle access is appropriate
• reduces potential for increased conflict with other vulnerable road users, particularly cyclists
• reduces potential for impacts on bus services caused by increased numbers of motorcycles in bus lanes

Potential drawbacks are:  

• there may be safety implications of restricting motorcycles to general traffic lanes
• the lack of consistency about where motorcycles can be ridden would remain, particularly where lanes cross local authority borders
• potential journey time benefits for motorcycles would not be realised
• potential to reduce congestion for other motorists on routes currently used by motorcyclists would not be realised
• possible negative impacts from increased potential for collisions between pedestrians not expecting motorcyclists in bus lanes

Option 2: Allow motorcycles to access bus lanes by default  

Potential benefits include:  

• improved journey times for motorcyclists, making motorcycling a more convenient form of transport
• improved safety for motorcyclists by removing potential conflicts with general traffic
• reduction in congestion for other motorists on routes currently used by motorcyclists
• clarity and consistency for motorcyclists, especially in urban areas where bus lanes cross local authority borders

Potential drawbacks include:  

• possible impacts on the safety of other vulnerable road users, especially pedestrians and cyclists
• possible negative impacts on bus journey times

Implementation 

Any changes to the current policy of local authority choice could initially be implemented through a further revision of the traffic advisory leaflet TAL 1/24. This would set out the expectation of local authorities having an assumption in favour of allowing motorcycles into bus lanes when reviewing existing bus lanes or installing new ones.

When Parliamentary time allows, TSRGD could be amended to prescribe the motorcycle symbol as a requirement on bus lane signs, and that it may only be omitted through special authorisation by the Secretary of State. 

Full list of questions 

These questions are included here so you can read them in the context of this document. See the Ways to respond section of the GOV.UK home page for this consultation for an online response form and other ways to respond. 

Questions for local authorities   

Question 1 Approximately what percentage of your local authority’s road network includes bus lanes?  

Question 2 Approximately what percentage of your local authority’s bus lanes can be used by motorcycles currently?  If none, please provide an explanation for your reply.

Question 3 What are the main factors your local authority considers when deciding which bus lanes can be used by motorcycles?  

Question 4 Have the main factors that determine which bus lanes can be used by motorcycles changed in recent years? If so, how?   

Question 5 In your view, has the increase in the number of freelance delivery drivers (the gig economy) had any impact on deciding which bus lanes can be used by motorcycles? Please provide an explanation for your reply. 

Question 6 Has your local authority ever revoked permission for motorcycles to use a bus lane on its road network? If so, why?   

Question 7 Has your local authority carried out an equalities impact assessment on the impact of allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes on its road network?   

Question 8 Which tools, if any, does your local authority use to monitor motorcycles using bus lanes on its road network?  

Question 9 In bus lanes that allow motorcycle access has your local authority seen an impact on journey times for: motorcycles, buses, pedal cycles, taxis? 

Question 10 In bus lanes that allow motorcycle access has your local authority seen an impact on collisions for: motorcycles, buses, pedal cycles, taxis?  

Questions for local authorities and other respondents

Question 11  How far do you agree or disagree with the following statement: ‘Local authorities should continue to be able to choose whether to allow motorcycles to use bus lanes on their networks’. Please provide an explanation for your reply. 

Question 12 How far do you agree or disagree with the following statement: ‘If it is safe to do so, motorcycles should be allowed to access bus lanes by default’. Please provide an explanation for your reply. 

Question 13 How far do you agree or disagree with the following statement: ‘There are benefits in allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes’.  

Question 14  In your opinion, what are the benefits in allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes?

Question 15 How far do you agree or disagree with the following statement: ‘There are risks in allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes’.  

Question 16 In your opinion, what are the risks in allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes?

Question 17 Do you have any relevant information that you can share with us (research, studies, reviews, reports of trials, statistics)?

Question 18 Do you have any other comments?

Please do not upload information that could identify an individual or member of the public.  

How to respond 

See the Ways to respond section of the consultation page on GOV.UK to find out how you can respond to this consultation. 

The consultation period began on 17 March 2024 and will run until 9 June 2024. Please ensure that your response reaches us before the closing date.  

What will happen next 

A summary of responses, including the next steps, will be published on GOV.UK. Paper copies will be available on request.  

If you have questions about this consultation please email traffic.signs@dft.gov.uk.  

Freedom of information 

Information provided in response to this consultation, including personal information, may be subject to publication or disclosure in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) or the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. 

If you want information that you provide to be treated as confidential, please be aware that, under the FOIA, there is a statutory code of practice with which public authorities must comply and which deals, amongst other things, with obligations of confidence. 

In view of this it would be helpful if you could explain to us why you regard the information you have provided as confidential. If we receive a request for disclosure of the information, we will take full account of your explanation, but we cannot give an assurance that confidentiality can be maintained in all circumstances. An automatic confidentiality disclaimer generated by your IT system will not, of itself, be regarded as binding on the department. 

The department will process your personal data in accordance with the Data Protection Act (DPA) and in the majority of circumstances this will mean that your personal data will not be disclosed to third parties. 

Data protection 

DfT is carrying out this consultation to gather your views on allowing motorcycles to access bus lanes by default. This consultation and the processing of personal data that it entails is necessary for the exercise of our functions as a government department. If your answers contain any information that allows you to be identified, DfT will, under data protection law, be the controller for this information. 

As part of this consultation, we’re asking for your name and email address. This is in case we need to ask you follow-up questions about any of your responses. You do not have to give us this personal information. If you do provide it, we will use it only for the purpose of asking follow-up questions. Responses will be held for 5 years. 

DfT’s privacy policy has more information about your rights in relation to your personal data, how to complain and how to contact the Data Protection Officer.

Consultation principles 

This consultation is being conducted in line with the government’s consultation principles. 

If you have any comments about the consultation process, contact: 

Consultation Co-ordinator 
Department for Transport  
Zone 1/29
Great Minster House 
London SW1P 4DR 

 Email consultation@dft.gsi.gov.uk