Thousands of motorcyclists have signed a petition urging the Labour government to reverse its decision to maintain restrictions on motorcycle access to bus lanes.

The petition, which has gained nearly 10,000 signatures, calls for motorcycles to be allowed in bus lanes by default across the UK. This push follows a Department for Transport (DfT) decision in November last year to uphold the current policy, which grants local authorities control over which vehicles can use bus lanes in their areas.

Despite strong public support for change, with most consultation responses favoring motorcycle access, the government has decided to keep the status quo.

At present, only cyclists can legally use bus lanes, while drivers who enter them without permission face a £160 fine, reduced to £80 if paid early.

The DfT conducted a consultation on the issue from March to July 2024, considering whether motorcycles should be permitted by default, allowing local councils to opt-out if necessary. Former Transport Minister Mark Harper had championed the proposal, arguing it could ease congestion and improve travel times.

Under current rules, motorcycle access to bus lanes varies between different boroughs, creating confusion for riders navigating city streets.

Colin Brown, who launched the petition, stated: "We call on the Government to reverse its decision on the motorcycles in bus lanes consultation published November 21, 2024, and make the national default that motorcycles are allowed in bus lanes unless the local authority decides otherwise."

Supporters argue that extensive real-world data demonstrates the policy’s safety. Currently, more than 55 local authorities permit motorcycles in bus lanes, covering about half of the country’s total bus lane network.

If the petition reaches 10,000 signatures, it will receive a formal response from the government. At 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

The DfT consultation received 14,327 responses, including 14,107 from individuals and 46 from key organizations. Of the 14,089 individual responses analyzed, an overwhelming majority (13,885) supported allowing motorcycles in bus lanes if deemed safe. Respondents cited benefits such as improved safety for riders, reduced traffic congestion, and increased convenience for motorcyclists.

However, local authorities remained cautious, with only five out of 22 supporting automatic motorcycle access, highlighting a gap between public opinion and official policy.

In response to the consultation, the DfT stated: "The safety benefits of allowing motorcycles into bus lanes are not clear at this time. Where data is available, the evidence is mixed. The response rate from local authorities and stakeholder organizations was low and did not provide a strong enough evidence base to justify a policy change."