Proposition 51K2897

Proposition de résolution relative à la circulation des motocyclettes dans les bandes réservées aux bus.

General information ¶

Authors

MR François Bellot, Olivier Chastel, Valérie De Bue, Corinne De Permentier, Charles Michel
PS | SP Camille Dieu, Thierry Giet
Vooruit Hans Bonte

Submission date

Feb. 7, 2007

Official page

Visit

Status

Adopted

Requirement

Simple

Subjects

cycle and motorcycle industry resolution of parliament two-wheeled vehicle highway code road safety traffic regulations road traffic

Voting ¶

Voted to adopt

CD&V Vooruit LE PS | SP Open Vld N-VA MR FN VB

Party dissidents ¶

• Dirk Van der Maelen (Vooruit) voted to reject.
• Dirk Van der Maelen (Vooruit) voted to reject.

Contact form ¶

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Discussion ¶

April 26, 2007 | Plenary session (Chamber of representatives)

Full source

The general is opened.

Mr Van den Bergh is a reporter. He refers to his written report.

The number of two-wheel motor vehicles on our roads is constantly increasing. As of August 1, 2006, the fleet of motorcycles amounted to 359,764 units. This represents an increase of 3.9% compared to 2005. The motorcycle fleet grew from 277,838 in 2000 to 359,764 units in 2006. In other words, we see a 25% increase in six years. The motorcycle fleet has tripled between 1980 and 2006.

The increase in the number of two-wheel motorized vehicles shows the importance of taking these users into account in road safety policy. We must also give these vehicles a central place in a comprehensive policy to improve mobility. In terms of mobility, motorized two-wheel vehicles are an alternative to the problem of saturation on our roads and are a major asset in a sustainable mobility perspective.

Bicycles have considerable advantages due to their low congestion and high maneuverability. More and more people are considering this solution for travel between their home and workplace.

Unfortunately, the statistics of road accidents are blurring the picture. In fact, motorcyclists are over-represented in comparison to their digital importance in traffic. In 2004, the number of motorcyclists killed was 137, the number of serious injuries 724 and the number of light injuries 3.184. The figures on lightly injured or killed persons are relatively stable compared to 2003. On the other hand, we see a real decrease in the number of serious injuries from 978 in 2003 to 724 in 2004.

In order to develop the use of motorcycles, it is necessary to make progress in the safety of their drivers. The development of road infrastructure is of course a first step and the use of bus corridors by motorcycles must be seriously considered.

More and more European cities are taking measures to promote the use of such vehicles and to enhance safety, thus generating positive results in terms of road accidents.

For example, thanks to a preventive policy and adequate motorcycle-related railway arrangements, London has reduced the number of serious injuries and deaths among two-wheeled road users by a third in four years; a 11 percent decrease in motorized two-wheeled accidents. In addition to a large field-based information and awareness campaign, the City of London has experimentally allowed motorcycle traffic in the bus corridors on three important axes.

In the English capital, these roads are materialized only by a white line. In Belgium, devices called half moons too often separate these corridors and pose a real danger for motorcyclists. Motorcycle traffic on bus corridors has real advantages, on the one hand for the safety of motorized two-wheel users who are no longer forced to rise the rows in traffic jams and, on the other hand, for the fluidity of traffic.

At present, the Decree of 1 December 1975 concerning the general regulation on the police of road traffic and the use of the public road allows taxis to take the routes reserved for buses. In December last year, Pascal Smet, Brussels Minister of Mobility, announced a modification of the Road Code allowing cyclists to travel on many bus lines in the Brussels Region. According to M. Smet, bus bands are an effective way to streamline traffic but also to increase the safety of cyclists.

Surprised by the adoption of such a measure for cyclists and not for motorcyclists, I questioned the Minister of Mobility for this purpose at least last January. We first submitted a bill and, after discussion in commission with Minister Landuyt, we submitted a proposal for a resolution. Our goal is to extend to motorcycles the possibility of borrowing the bands reserved for buses as well as the special franchiseable sites.

After multiple agenda sets and discussions in the Infrastructure Committee, we finally agreed to ask the Government to amend the Royal Decree of 1 December 1975 on the General Regulation on the Road Traffic Police and the use of the public road in order to allow the roadway managers to allow motorcycles to use the bands reserved for buses as well as the special franchise sites.

I think this represents a great step forward for motorcyclists, as it develops a coherent mobility and safety policy for these users. Therefore, Mr. Minister, I look forward to the adoption of this proposal and I hope that, in the next legislature, we will have the opportunity to continue working in this direction.

I thank you for your attention.