§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to encourage the provision of secure parking for motorcycles. [59665]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe Government are in favour of the provision of secure parking for motorcycles and have agreed to support and provide drafting assistance for a Private Peers Bill which Lord Rotherwick intends to introduce in the next session to facilitate such provision.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment the Government have made of the practice of banning motorcyclists from riding for six months if they fail to obtain a full licence within two years; and if he will make a statement. [59686]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonCurrent legislation is that, if a learner motorcyclist fails to pass his driving test within two years of getting their provisional licence, he may not ride a motorcycle for 12 months. Driver licensing records indicate that the two year validity period for provisional motorcycle licences affects very few learner riders; 555 in the 12 months to June 1998, around 0.25 per cent. of the 220,000 provisional motorcycle licences issued in a year. Surveys indicate that on average learner riders take their motorcycle tests 4-5 months after their initial training.
The limited validity period for provisional motorcycle licences is intended to improve road safety by encouraging learner riders to get to test standard without undue delay. None the less, the Government recognise that the current arrangement is not popular with some motorcyclists. A Consultation Paper seeking views about how the rules might be altered was published in July and copies were placed in the House Library. We are currently considering the responses that we have received.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the potential(a) increased use of and (b) safety implications of the use of (i) cycle lanes and (ii) bus lanes by motorcycles. [59685]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThere has been no assessment of the potential increased use and safety implications of the use of cycle lanes by motorcycles. Cycle lanes exist to give encouragement to people to cycle. Studies have been340W conducted on allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes in Bristol and Reading but the results were inconclusive in safety terms.
The Department would welcome proposals by local authorities to conduct comprehensive before and after monitored studies to help inform decisions on whether there is a case for motorcyclists to be allowed to use bus lanes.