Response to LGOIMA request 2024-078 14 May 2024

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Response to LGOIMA request 2024-078 14 May 2024 preview
  • Published Date Mon 26 Aug 2024
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Requested Information:

Thank-you for this comprehensive and excellent response. 

Unfortunately, it hasn’t provided exactly what we were after, perhaps because of the way the decision sat within the LTP package rather than as a discrete decision paper or business case. 

We therefore have two follow-up questions (in bold below) that we request are considered as LGOIMA requests: 

In making the decision to install bike racks on the front of Wellington buses, did the Council receive any advice that doing so would lead to situations of non-compliance with several requirements detailed in Land Transport Rules? 

In making the decision to install bike racks on the front of Wellington buses, did the Council receive any advice on the significant increased risk of fatality or serious injury to pedestrians struck by a bus with a rack and bikes mounted on it? 

For example, studies undertaken have concluded that while modern buses offer good pedestrian protection across much of their frontal structure, the fitting of bike racks dramatically increases the risk of serious injuries. For the risk of fatal injury to a child, this rose from below 20% without racks fitted to over 95% for most test locations on the bus frontage- 2004 TRL Limited study for the Department for Transport. 

Over the last decade, the Driver and Vehicle Safely Agency in the UK have repeatedly declined supporting front-mounted bike racks modifications due to safety concerns. The world class Bus Safety Standards Transport for London has produced will not allow front-mounted bike racks to be installed. 

Updated August 26, 2024 at 8:48 AM