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Getting Bikes in HOV’s
MAG is campaigning for motorcycles to be included in pilot schemes which will see the creation of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) or carpool lanes on UK
motorways.
Alistair Darling, Secretary of State for Transport, has announced that the pilot schemes to cut congestion and improve journey times on motorways by creating
dedicated lanes will be reserved for vehicles carrying 2 or more people. The Minister also announced the consideration of a new M6 toll road and has invited views, in a
consultation paper on the desirability of a new M6 toll road. Motorcycles are not granted any exemptions or privileged status within the pilot schemes.
With the
possibility of a new M6 toll road being built and operated by a private company, motorcyclists face the prospect of being charged as on the existing M6 toll road.
Last
year Mr Darling announced that sections of the hard shoulder would be removed on sections of the M5 Birmingham to Exeter road, M6 Birmingham to Carlisle road, and the M25. This is
being proposed despite the findings of an RAC study revealing that 83% of drivers thought that the Government plan to let cars use the hard shoulder at busy times was a bad one.
The Minister also decided not to wait for the results of a safety trial on the M42 Birmingham to Nottingham road before making his announcement. This was defended on the basis
that a similar tactic in Holland had posed no safety problems.
MAG has raised the issue at the Government Advisory Group for Motorcycling. The response was that
‘hard running’ on the motorways was being introduced to meet targets to cut jams on the country's busiest motorways and there would be cut outs or safe spaces to
pull into in the event of emergency.
MAG is sceptical of the claim that opening the hard shoulder will not adversely affect the operation of emergency vehicles or the
safety of those who need to use hard shoulders when broken down. MAG feels that the ‘hard running’ proposal reflects desperation on the part of the Government. It
suggests that the Government is more concerned about meeting congestion reduction targets than it is about safety.
We recognise that this is a problem as traffic growth
stems from economic growth so the issue is bigger than just transport, but if ever a sticking plaster were stuck on a major wound this is it.
Notwithstanding its reservations about the use of hard shoulders, MAG is asking that:
- Motorcycles are permitted to use dedicated HOV lanes
- Hard shoulder running is reviewed and safety concerns given priority over congestion issues
- That, "The Trunk Road Charging Schemes (Bridges and Tunnels) (Keeping of Accounts) (England) Regulations2001" be changed to state that:
Motorcycles (PTWs) are exempt from charges imposed on motor vehicles under a scheme, whether the charging authority is public or privately owned.
Government can lay down conditions for private operators to meet when granting contracts to operate roads and tolls.
How can you help the campaign?
Simply write to your MP and the Minister outlining the issues above, you may wish to use the letter below as a guide.
Dear Secretary of State or your MP,
I am writing to raise my concerns regarding the creation of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) or carpool lanes
on UK motorways and the introduction of a further M6 Toll Road. My concerns relate to three issues.
1 The exclusion of motorcycles in the pilot schemes for HOV.
2
Safety concerns regarding the removal or opening of the hard shoulder (hard running) on motorways to accommodate HOV lanes.
3 We urge you to change the wording of "The
Trunk Road Charging Schemes (Bridges and Tunnels) (Keeping of Accounts) (England) Regulations 2001" to accommodate motorcycles free of charge.
I support the
Motorcycle Action Group views relating to the inclusion of motorcycles in HOV lanes and the exemption of motorcycles from toll charges:
In consideration that all forms of
Powered Two Wheelers assist the reduction of congestion and limit environmental impact.
I ask you to
• Support a review of the safety implications of hard shoulder
running before any plans are implemented.
• To support MAG's views for exemption from toll charges, which has been sent to the Minister.
• Support a change
in the "The Trunk Road Charging Schemes (Bridges and Tunnels) (Keeping of Accounts) (England) Regulations 2001" to state that:
"Motorcycles (PTWs) are
exempt from charges imposed under Charging Schemes (Bridges, Tunnels or Road Tolls), whether the charging authority is public or privately owned."
Thank you for taking
the time to give this letter your consideration, I would welcome your comments on these issues.
Yours sincerely
Please send all your replies to Director Public Affairs MAG UK PO BOX 750 CV21 1QZ or email
public-affairs@mag-uk.org
You can find your MP’s details at www.locata.co.uk/commons or find and fax your MP at www.faxyourmp.com
Or head to the MAG UK web site at www.mag-uk.org and use the Political Wizard to locate and email your MP.
The Minister’s details are:
Alistair Darling MP, Secretary of State for Transport, Department for Transport, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street,
London,SW1P 4DR. alistair.darling@dft.gsi.gov.uk
Stop Press:
The Highways Agency have released a Consultation Pack on Active Traffic Management on the M42, Junctions 3A to 7. We will have a full consultation response for the next issue as responses are not required until 25th October. But in the meantime please write to your MP and the Minister highlighting your concerns.
M6: Giving motorists a choice
A consultation Proposal is available at www.dft.gov.uk
You may wish to respond to this
consultation but as the consultation doesn’t close until 21st September we will have full details for replies in the next issue.
In the meantime you may want to ask
your members their opinions on motorcycle use of toll roads:
Why should motorcycles be exempt from toll charges?
Why do they think motorcycles are environmentally friendly?
Why would a Toll Road be safer for motorcycles compared to a congested motorway?
What operational or
safety problems do they associate with motorcycles having to pay at toll booths?
Would the benefits of extending the M6 toll, 35 – 40 metres in width out way the
environmental impacts?
At the moment the proposed extension of the M6 affects the area encompassing Junction 11 to Junction 19.
Proposed development of existing
motorways in the rest of the UK will have an impact on motorcycle use so we need to build an overview for a response from MAG.
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