You may have noticed that we're slightly on the cynical side when it comes to the intentions, or at least actions, of politicians. We don't want to be, but the evidence does tend to get a little overwhelming - essentially we feel that politicians just aren't to be believed.

So when Boris Johnson came up with a raft of pro motorcycling rhetoric in his election campaign for London Mayor (you can read about it here) we were slightly sceptical.

Boris, it seems we owe you an apology. Because with effect from 5th January 2009, all TfL controlled bus lanes (that's basically all the ones on red routes), with a couple of exceptions which I'll cover in a bit, are open for bikes to use. It's an extension of the limited trial that has been going on for a couple of years and which the previous incumbent tried to squash. This will give proper data about safety and the impact both on us and other road users, which is only fair. So hopefully in eighteen months at the end of the trial everyone will agree that it's a Good Thing and we'll get to stay in bus lanes.

I mentioned some exceptions. There were only a couple I could find, both pretty reasonable too. Basically if the bus lane flows in the opposite direction to traffic then it'll be buses only as it's considered too dangerous to put bikes in the position where they can be hit head on. On balance I think I'm quite happy with that, actually.

All the affected bus lanes will have signs clearly showing bikes are allowed in them. You should be careful to check that you're about to go into a bus lane controlled by TfL - local authorities have control over the non red route lanes and some of them are less bike frendly than others. Currently I know that Kingston, Richmond and Westminster do allow bikes in their bus lanes, but several other boroughs don't and, I suspect, won't. You have been warned.

So anyway, we've got eighteen months to persuade everyone that we won't melt the icecaps, massacre every pedal cyclist and pedestrian in Greater London or indeed hugely increase our own casualty rates as a direct result of this. Then it can become permanent. So let's not screw it up, eh?

SB