Easy Rider: Improving motorcycle safety on London roads


Organisation: London Assembly Transport Committee
Date uploaded: 29th March 2016
Date published/launched: March 2016


This report says a significant number of motorcyclists have told the Transport Committee that they do not feel safe riding in London, and considering recent casualty data it is clear why this is the case.

Around 17% of those injured on London’s roads — and 24% of serious casualties — are motorcyclists, despite this mode accounting for a very small minority of traffic. The reports says there is recent evidence, too, that the number of motorcyclist casualties in London is growing again, following a period of decline.

The report says that while Transport for London (TfL) and partner organisations have been making significant efforts to make motorcycling safer in London, it is obvious that these efforts have not had the same level of media or political attention as schemes to promote the safety of cycling in London.

The report identifies a number of areas where TfL needs to focus if it is to make motorcycling safer in London, including:
• Developing a better understanding of why motorcyclist casualties occur;
• Addressing the inconsistency across London in access to bus lanes for motorcyclists which causes unnecessary confusion;
• Educational campaigns to improve safe riding behaviour, such as riding at an appropriate speed and wearing protective equipment;
• Increasing the participation of young riders on the BikeSafe scheme;
• And assessing the impact of segregated Cycle Superhighways on London’s roads, particularly the reduction in road space for other traffic. The London Assembly Transport Committee says it strongly supports the Superhighways programme, but recommends close monitoring of segregated roads to assess the impact on safety for other vulnerable road users, and the application of new design guidance for motorcycle safety to all schemes where road layouts are being modified.

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