I came across this info from the Parramatta Mall event yesterday. Most of us would just accept that we can't access the M2 bus lane because that's the way it is. Not good enough Minister.
If it's good enough for Epping Road, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Victoria Road etc, then why not the M2
Ed
From
http://ridetowork.org.au/?page_id=203Petition – Motorcycle Access to M2 Bus Only Lanes
Background
In November 2009, the then Minister for Transport and Roads was asked why Motorcycles and Scooters were not permitted in the M2 Bus Only Lane, even though the RTA allows Taxis and Hire Cars. The formal response received in February 2010 was that it was a safety issue and that Safety Audits had shown that motorcycles entering and leaving the M2 Bus Only lane represented an unacceptably high risk.
This was a lie.
In February 2010, an Freedom of Information (FOI) request was submitted seeking those safety audits. In April, those safety audits were received; none even dealt with motorcycles or scooters, let alone stating that this was a safety risk. Someone has misled the public. It could be Transport NSW, someone within the RTA or even the Minister himself. We wrote back in April raising this issue and in May 2010 received a polite “The matters raised by you have been noted and are presently receiving attention.” response.
The prior Minister for Roads and Transport then very publicly fell on his sword (M2 access not the only untruth in the closet…)
No response was subsequently received, so we wrote again to the new Minister for Transport.
In July, the recently reinstated CEO of the RTA (having taken the fall for the prior Minister over the F3 debacle) replied to our questions.
Apparently, the reason that motorcycles and scooters cannot use the M2 Bus Only Lane (whereas Taxis and Hire Cars can) is because feedback from the bus drivers using the M2 Motorway consider the ingress and egress of motorcycles into and out of their lane an unacceptably high risk to buses and motorcycles. Allowing Taxis on the other hand is considered to deliver a “significant benefits as a public transport option”.
Let’s consider the arguments here:
■“…taxis provide significant benefits as a public transport option.”
■How many of the public forced to take public transport can afford a taxi for the length of the M2?
■Use of Taxis provides a significant benefit over use of motorcycles and scooters?
■1 passenger per taxi (on average) is better than 1 passenger per automobile on the M2?
■“…multiple entry and exit points of motorcycles in and out of the ‘Bus Only Lane’… would represent an unacceptably high risk to motorcycles and buses.”
■Motorcycles and taxis are permitted only the same ingress and egress points by law. Average taxi (including driver and passenger) weighs approximately 1.9t. Average motorcycle and rider weigh 0.3t. Physics 101 tells you that ingress and egress of a taxi is a significantly greater risk to buses.
■Safety audits were conducted for changing the lane to taxis, so if ok for taxis then ok for motorcycles (by a factor of 6) – or at least any logic would suggest.
■Bus drivers are qualified to conduct risk assessments or draw conclusions on consequences and likelihood?
■Bus drivers who commonly exceed the speed limit on the M2* and routinely muscle their way into the traffic across painted traffic islands** are best qualified to offer advice to the RTA about “acceptable risk” in the M2 Bus Only Lane?
This excuse is a farce!
There are a number of things that can be done.
1.Sign the petition (so we can show relevant people that there is a critical mass of motorcycle and scooter riders that care – there is a state election in March 2011 and they care, right now).
2.Write a letter to your local member.
3.Write a letter to your local paper (since local members care about what is in the local papers)
4.Write a letter to the Minister for Transport.
5.Write a letter to the CEO of the RTA.
6.Write a letter to Hills Motorways.
7.Write a letter to the Greens.
8.Join a motorcycle or scooter club and encourage them to affiliate with a motorcyle or scooter lobby group (for obvious reasons, Ride To Work Inc is the preferred partner here…)
Please sign the petition below and we will pursue this with applicable ministers and shadow ministers, the local members of relevant electorates and local government authorities.
Thank you for you assistance.
__________________________________
Petition to NSW Parliament
We the undersigned request that the NSW government (through the RTA NSW) take action to allow Motorcycles and Scooters access to the M2 Bus Only Lane.
Access has been allowed for Taxis & Hire Cars by the RTA. Access to the M2 Bus Only Lane should also be granted to Motorcycles and Scooters in recognition of the benefits that Powered Two Wheel (PTW) commuting delivers for improved traffic flow, reduced congestion, reduced greenhouse emissions and the improved safety to motorcyclists.
We request that this action take place immediately
Please consider 'signing' the petition at:
http://ridetowork.org.au/?page_id=203Update:
Recd this reply from my earlier email today:
Ed
Thanks for the support. We appreciate the posting on your website.
The plan from here is to approach each of the sitting MP's in seats adjacent to the M2 and publicise whether they support this or not. I have posters ready to print and distribute en masse to motorcycling related businesses in the same corridor.
The only thing I am waiting for is a response to my latest FOI request. So far the RTA has delayed the response (formally) once and has subseqeuntly failed to reply within the legislatively determined timeframe. I am going to give them another week before pursuing the other options available under the legislation.
Anything you can do to have people sign the petition would be worthwhile. Once I get to 500 signatures, we can request formal lodgement of the petition to the Minister which then requires a formal response to parliament within 35 days. I was hoping to do this before parliament closes for the March 2011 election.Once again, thanks for the support.
Regards
Scott