Motorcycles: Bus Lanes

(asked on 12th June 2025) - View Source

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54299 on Motorcycles: Bus Lanes, if she will make it her policy to issue guidance to (a) local highways authorities and (b) combined authorities on an England-wide approach to allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes.


Answered by
Lilian Greenwood Portrait
Lilian Greenwood
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
This question was answered on 18th June 2025

Any decision on whether to allow motorcycles to use bus lanes is a matter for the relevant local highway authority.

In 2024 the Department for Transport ran a consultation on allowing motorcycles to access bus lanes by default, as is the case for pedal cycles. The responses did not provide a robust evidence base on which to amend the current policy, but highlighted issues regarding the current approach to permitting access. In urban areas permissions can change frequently at borough boundaries and this can lead to uncertainty.

Following this consultation, the Department is considering whether to update Traffic Advisory Leaflet 1/24 to include advice that local authorities should work with neighbouring authorities to achieve consistency of provision across boundaries, particularly in urban areas. The Department will also consider how best to work with the metro mayors, combined authorities and Transport for London, to encourage a more joined up approach to motorcycle access in these areas.

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