Government to trial taxis in Belfast bus lanes which are often used by cyclists
Sustrans has criticised the sudden decision by the Northern Ireland Infrastructure Minister to allow taxis into bus lanes in Belfast.
The Department for Infrastructure announced today that it will allow taxis to use bus lanes for a trial period of 12 weeks starting from Monday 20 February. Currently only a limited number of taxis such as wheelchair accessible vehicles are permitted to use bus lanes in the city. However, this decision will allow the vast majority of taxis, an estimated 4,000 vehicles to use the bus lanes on the East and West Belfast Rapid Transit (BRT) routes and the 12 hour bus lanes in the city centre, which link the two routes.
Sustrans has lobbied hard for many years to prevent taxis in bus lanes because they are essential infrastructure for cycling in a city with few segregated cycle lanes. We have issued the following statement:
We are extremely disappointed by this decision which we see as a potential setback for cycling in the city.
This decision has been made at very short notice, without a period of consultation or indeed reasonable advanced notice to all those who currently use bus lanes. Decisions, such as this, made in haste often fail to properly consider all the consequences and create more problems than they solve.
Overwhelming majority opposed taxis in bus lanes
The last time this issue was consulted on by the Department in 2012, the overwhelming majority of respondents (86%) were opposed to taxis being permitted into bus lanes. Therefore we are unsure what this decision is based on and how it aims to ‘balance and respect the needs of all road users’. On the contrary we believe this is a premature decision as there is currently limited alternatives for cyclists given the lack of a segregated bike network in the city.
In the absence of segregated cycle lanes, bus and cycle lanes (their official title) have become safe havens for cyclists offering the best access in and out of the city. Our concern is that cyclists who currently rely on bus lanes will give up due to safety fears.
We are concerned that this ‘trial’ will be repeating the mistake made in Dublin where taxis were allowed into bus lanes for a temporary period in 1997 which then drifted into a permanent arrangement. Taxis in bus lanes are today considered the biggest problem for cycling safety in Dublin. The Road Safety Authority in the Republic of Ireland carries out an annual Free Speed Survey which secretly measures vehicle category speeds. Taxis are always the major breacher of the speed limit in urban areas.
Cyclists among most vulnerable road users
Cyclists are among the most vulnerable road users. We believe this trial contradicts the government’s own strategy to promote sustainable transport and active travel as it will hinder people ‘to have the freedom and confidence to travel by bicycle for everyday journeys’. [Dept for Infrastructure Bicycle Strategy]
We recently welcomed and are supportive of the Department for Infrastructure’s recently published Belfast Bike Network Plan which sets out a timescale of 10 years for its implementation. We have consistently argued that the Department should be developing parallel routes to Belfast Rapid Transit (BRT) to offer cyclists a safe alternative to the bus lanes. In light of this decision this is more urgent than ever. There is now an onus on the Department to make the Bike Network Plan a priority. We need the Minister to make a commitment now for immediate investment in the Plan and for its urgent implementation. In particular we call for the upgrading of the Comber Greenway, alongside links into the city centre, and the route from the City out to west Belfast.
Only when there is an alternative, comprehensive segregated network of cycle lanes in place in the city should consideration be given to allowing taxis in bus lanes.