BIKERS should be allowed to use the bus lanes in York, according to York MP Hugh Bayley.

Mr Bayley has written to City of York Council asking for their advice on the measure, which he hopes will help reduce the death toll of motorcyclists on the city's roads.

Over the past seven years, the number of bikers killed on York roads has doubled, prompting various bodies to hold talks last month on the issue of motorcycle safety across North Yorkshire.

The issue of bikers in bus lanes was brought up at the meeting at St Olave's church hall, Marygate, on October 6, which was hosted by Transport Minister David Jamieson as part of Labour's Big Conversation project.

Also present were Mr Bayley, York College, York Advanced Driving, York Motorcycle Action Group (MAG), the Highways Agency, the Occupational Road Safety Alliance, the Driving Standards Agency, the British Motocyclists' Federation and York Rider Training Scheme, along with concerned bikers and Scarborough MP Lawrie Quinn.

Mr Bayley told the Evening Press he had written a letter to City of York Council on October 12, asking for their views on motorcyclists using York's bus lanes.

He said: "On balance, I would be in favour of allowing motorcyclists to use the bus lanes, but I understand that in other Yorkshire cities, such as Sheffield, where bikers already use them, there is an issue of cyclists' safety.

"But as a cyclist myself, my instinct tells me it is more likely to be cars and double decker buses which put cyclists most at risk.

"Any provision to keep motorcyclists safe is obviously a good thing, and in the bus lanes they will certainly be less at risk than when they are weaving in and out of the traffic."

Bill Woolley, acting director of environment and development services at the council, said the issue of motorcyclists using bus lanes was "not as significant in York as the general problem of their safety".

He said: "I think the idea of using bus lanes is something we should bring up with motorcyclists themselves as part of a wider discussion about motorcycle safety.

"We are currently putting together our Local Transport Plan 2, but have not yet got the views of the motorcycling fraternity.

"The risks faced by motorcyclists on York roads are different to other parts of North Yorkshire. Here, bikers tend to be young people riding smaller motorcycles."

York has bus lanes in The Mount, Hull Road, Malton Road and Shipton Road.

Updated: 10:01 Saturday, November 06, 2004