Tag Archives: Traffic congestion

Motorcycle News, News

Should motorcycles be allowed in bicycle lanes?

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Should motorcycles and scooters be allowed in bicycle lanes for short intervals at a limited speed to free up inner-city commuter traffic?

It’s not such an unusual proposal.

Motorcycles and scooters have their own lanes in several countries and even VicRoads considered it for inclusion in the lane filtering rules after it was recommended in a 2014 online cycling survey.

Unfortunately, the proposal was rejected, but now many be the time to reconsider.

As pandemic restrictions ease, many people believe public transport is a health risk.

This could turn the commute from lockdown to gridlock as train and bus commuters return to their cars!

So the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries is calling for more people to ride to work while the cycling lobby is asking for $300m to be spent on more bike lanes.

Maybe we should put the two proposals together and allow motorcycles and scooters to share bicycle lanes!

The Australian Motorcycle Council points out that bicycle lanes rob traffic lanes of space which makes lane filtering more difficult.

Bicycle lanes trial

Rodney Brown Rider's call for ute tarps rejected bike lanesRodney Brown wants motorcycles and scooters t be allowed to use bicycle lanes

Long-term motorcycle advocate Rodney Brown made an application in 2015 for motorcycles and scooters to use bicycle lanes.

He is now calling for the issue to be reconsidered.

Rod does not believe motorcycles and scooters should travel in bicycle lanes for the whole of their journey.

He suggests a six-month trial where motorcyclists and scooter riders are allowed to use them only for short parts of the journey where traffic is congested, not just at intersections where they can access bike lanes now.

Bike lanes

“This would have a number of benefits, including easing of traffic congestion, improving rider safety through reduced motorcycle and scooter crashes, better use of road space and an environmental win as a result of reduced emissions,” he says.

His initial proposal was backed by several rider advocacy groups, including the popular motorcycle riders’ rights group, Freedom Riders Australia, who would like the plan introduced nationwide.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Narrow lanes would promote riding

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Rather than making roads wider, new research shows that adding more narrower lanes to existing roads would not only aid traffic flow but also promote more motorcycles and scooters.

University of Melbourne professor Chair of Statistics and motorbike rider Prof Richard Huggins says the plan has some merit.

The Grattan Institute suggests narrow lanes would reward motorists in smaller cars and on powered two wheelers and encourage people to ditch big SUVs in the city.

Melbourne City Council’s future transport strategy has picked up on the idea which has been welcomed by the Victorian Motorcycle Council.

VMC media spokesman John Eacott says altering road design to include narrow lanes dedicated to small traffic such as micro and light cars and motorbikes would have a beneficial effect on congestion.

Prof Huggins says it would be a good idea “at least in Melbourne”.

Melbourne roads lane filtering more often congestion promote
Melbourne traffic

“It would make the last bit of people’s commute much easier and safer,” he says.

“We had a very informal chat with City of Melbourne a few years ago about something similar (back then a narrow lane for single track vehicles) but as there were no regulations to cover such a lane it didn’t get to square one.”

Promote small cars and bikes

The Grattan Institute report says Australian cars are getting wider.

In the early 2000s, Aussie motorists started ditching their large sedans for hatchbacks.

However, in the past decade or more, they have swung over to SUVs and pick-ups which are much wider.

The report claims these wide vehicles are causing congestion because they limit visibility and intimidate other drivers.

They say adding a narrow lane would encourage motorists to switch to smaller cars and motorcycles and increase the capacity of roads to carry traffic.

Of course, a simple solution would be to allow motorcycles to use bus lanes and bike lanes. (Motorcycles are allowed to use bus lanes only in NSW, ACT and some Melbourne streets on a trial basis.)

But there is another result which the safety Nazis will just love.

Narrow lanes would force drivers to be more cautious and slow down.Commute traffic lane filtering speed wet NSW sydney police commuting slow speeding speed limit

The Grattan Institute also suggested in 2017 that a congestion tax should be introduced in Sydney and Melbourne during peak hours within five years.

That is another suggestion that Melbourne City Council has embraced. Click here to read more.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Congestion tax call to include motorcycles

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Melbourne has renewed calls for a CBD congestion tax, but now the plan is to include motorcycles and scooters.

Last week’s Melbourne future transport strategy suggested a system that would use number plate recognition for all vehicles.

No fee amounts have yet been suggested, but report author Marion Terrill says Melbourne should follow cities such as London, Stockholm and Singapore.

However, two of those cities have some exemptions for motorcycles and scooters.

Stockholm has no fees for motorcycles and scoters as London did initially.

However, since April 2019 the new London Ultra Low Emissions Zone charges £12.50 (about $A23) a day for motorcycles and scooters that do not meet Euro 3 emissions standards.London scooters England UK

Singapore has CBD road-user charges for all vehicles and plans to ban pre-2003 motorcycles throughout the city in 10 years.

Calls rejected

Melbourne Council first suggested a CBD congestion tax last year, but made no mention of motorcycles and scooters.

It cited a 2017 Grattan Institute report that said tax should be introduced in Sydney and Melbourne during peak hours within five years.

However, Melbourne Council cannot legislate the changes as is is a state matter and the State Government has previously rejected such calls.

The Victorian Motorcycle Council and Australian Motorcycle Council reject any moves for motorcycles and scooters to be included in any congestion tax.

“We are the solution to the congestion issue, not the problem,” says VMC media spokesman John Eacott.

“You’re quite right that council can’t change State legislation but they are driving a discussion which has, so far, been rejected by Victorian State Government.

“Any references to motorcycles may benefit from instead using the term PTWs (powered two-wheelers) should a broader audience become engaged.

“Experience has shown that the greener elements tend to change their tune when it’s pointed out that PTW includes scooters.” 

The Motorcycle Riders Association of Victoria also says PTWs should be exempt because riders “contribute financially paying similar road fees and CTP premiums to car owners and motorcycles do less damage to infrastructure and the environment”.

John says the VMC is pleased the report notes that altering road design to include narrow lanes dedicated to small traffic such as micro and light cars and motorbikes would have a beneficial effect on congestion.

Congestion charges

Sydney traffic congestion motorcycles lane filtering planning

Calls for CBD congestion charges are not new. They have been around for years.

In March this year, Sydney University transport economist Professor David Hensher had a novel twist on the idea.

He said motorists should be able to choose to pay a 5c-per-kilometre congestion tax in return for lower rego.

Other cities have various fee systems not only to reduce traffic congestion but also air pollution:

  • Milan’s Ecopass charges all vehicles entering a designated traffic restricted zone and bans old cars and bikes that do not meet set emissions standards;
  • China and Brazil are considering congestion charges in various cities; and
  • Oregon, USA, has trialled a voluntary pay-per-mile distance charge resulting in a 22% drop in traffic in peak hours and a 91% approval by participants.

Rider concern

Riders should be concerned because these taxes and bans could spread to other congested cities.

ride to work day traffic congestion car
Singapore traffic congestion

The Singapore ban on older motorcycles seems harsh but may be warranted as the city is choked by thousands of two-stroke scooters that have since ceased production.

But powered two-wheelers should be exempt because they not only free up traffic, they can also reduce pollution as stricter European emissions standards have made them much cleaner.

Also, the coming wave of electric models will make them even more attractive for easing CBD congestion and pollution woes.

Melbourne City Council once had an exemplary motorcycle plan.

Yet the city no longer has free tolls for motorcycles, widespread free footpath parking is slowly being eroded. and now riders might be hit with a congestion tax.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Reward for two-wheeled commuting?

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If cyclists have their way, the Federal Government should pay them a $5 daily reward for commuting to work and taking the strain off roads and public transport.

The ridiculous suggestion comes in the lead-up to the Federal election from the Bicycle Network which claims to be Australia’s biggest bike riding organisation with more than 50,000 members.

Politicians usually give in to the strong cycling lobby, but if they do this time, then they should also reward motorcyclists.

After all, have they not heard of the Belgian consultancy Transport & Mobility Leuven study that found if 10% of all private cars were replaced by motorcycles, it would reduce traffic congestion by 40%. 

If 25% went from steering wheel to handlebar, traffic congestion would cease.

Rules Lane filter splitting filtering reward
Motorcyclists ease congestion

Ridiculous reward

We are all for a carrot rather than a stick approach to social problems, but the Bicycle Network suggestion is ludicrous.

For a start, who would qualify? 

What about electric-assisted bicycles, scooters, skateboards, Segways etc?

And with the coming wave of electric motorcycles, should they also be included?

Where do you stop? Three-wheelers?

And how would the payment be made and monitored?

Cyclists reject paying registration and number pates, so any sort of automated reverse toll cameras would be impossible!

Bicycle claims

The Bicycle Network suggestion would cost the government $500m a year, but they say it would save more on road and transport infrastructure.

They also claim that for every kilometre cycled, society benefits up to $1.07. 

“An average bike commute of around 10km contributes $10, but an average commute by car in Australia costs society up to $9.30,” they claim.

“Rewarding people who ride to work with a $5 bonus will encourage even more people to swap out cars for bikes. 

“Keen bike commuters who ride every day could earn up to $1100 a year, while also saving on car and petrol costs.”

Absurd demand

Motorcycle Riders Association of Melbourne spokesman Damien Codognotto says bicycles and motorcyclists have a lot in common and agrees that more riders would ease traffic congestion.

“So if pushbike riders are paid $5 per commute motorbike commuters who pay registration and insurance for both their cars and their bikes, should get $5 too,” he says.

“The difference between bicyclists and motorcyclists, in this case, is that we rarely ask for the absurd!”

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

Motorbike Response Crew keep traffic moving

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Motorcycles may soon be coming to the rescue of crash victims and broken-down vehicles on tollways around Australia to keep traffic moving.

It follows the Australian-first trial of a motorbike response crew on the Logan and Gateway motorways in Brisbane.

The trial is being run by Queensland tollway company Linkt, which is owned by Transurban that also operates CityLink in Melbourne and six tollways in Sydney.

Trial results

Trial results are expected in mid-2019. If it is deemed a success, it may be expanded to other cities.

“As part of an Australian-first trial, experienced motorbike responders will get to breakdowns and incidents sooner, providing much needed assistance to affected motorists during periods of high congestion, and helping to keep traffic moving,” Linkt says.

What makes motorcycles quicker to respond is their ability to legally filter through slow or stationary traffic.

So motorists will have another reason to be grateful for more motorcycles on our roads!

Motorcycle paramedics have been used in other states before, but this is the first by a private tollway company.

Linkt say their motorbike response crews are first-aid trained and equipped with “fuel, water, jump kits, and more”.

traffic
Logan Motorway

Trial crew

Incident Response Supervisor Paul Hillman, who is an ex-paramedic and part of the motorcycle trial, says the crew have more than 20 years’ motorcycle experience.

“To ensure their safety, motorcycles will only be deployed during daylight hours, during peak times and when incidents result in congestion,” he says.

“Breaking down on the motorway can be a very scary experience for people, so when we arrive on the scene to provide assistance, they are very grateful.”

Linkt say they respond to about 1000 traffic incidents each month across Transurban’s roads in Brisbane, including breakdowns, out-of-fuel and debris clean-up.

“Research has shown that the rate of crashes on Brisbane’s toll roads is 53% lower than on similar roads,” they say.

Keeping traffic moving

Transurban Queensland General Manager Operations David McLoughlin says their incident response fleet is the largest in Australia with four trucks fitted with crash cushions, two tow trucks and four utes.

“Since 2017, our average incident response times on these motorways has reduced to just over eight minutes and we expect this trial will result in further benefits for motorists,” he says.

“To ensure the highest safety standards are met throughout the trial, we have been collaborating closely with Queensland Police, who currently use motorcycles as part of their own fleet.”

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com