I am aghast at Ealing Council's decision to have an 18-month trial allowing motorbikes in all of the borough's bus lanes, since there has been a complete lack of public consultation.
The two groups that are most effected are cyclists and pedestrians, who will face the greatest potential danger from these measures.
A sizeable majority of the motor-bikes and scooters in London are either couriers or take-away drivers. They are paid by the job and speed is the name of the game. There is no doubt that these speed merchants will adversely affect my safety as a cyclist.
It is amazing that even the Transport for London recognises that there are 'potential disbenefits (sic) for both cyclists and pedestrians', yet our council says that 'it seems much more sensible to allow motorbikes to use those "bus" lanes to help them get through traffic more quickly'.
I call on the council to explain why they have not carried out a full consultation, and why they are only going to do a proper study of the impact that motorbikes will have in bus lanes only after implementation of the trial. Is this not a case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted?
BEN OWEN
Hanwell
