The number of motorcycle accidents in Kingston has decreased during a three year trial allowing them to ride in bus lanes, but the amount classed as serious has increased.

Bus lanes in London Road, Cambridge Road and Cambridge and Kingston Road have been trialling the change since September 2005.

During that time there were 41 accidents, including 17 “serious” and one fatality, compared with 60 accidents, 10 “serious” and one fatality in the three-year period before.

Boris Johnson has asked Transport for London to develop plans to allow motorbikes to use bus lanes after a similar trial in Bristol proved successful.

But former mayor Ken Livingstone dismissed the study, claiming it was misleading, and campaigners said it could endanger the lives of cyclists and pedestrians.

Kingston Council said it was difficult to attribute any negative or positive change from allowing motorcycles in bus lanes.

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