A planned trial of taxis in bus lanes in Belfast will endanger people cycling and slow the city’s buses, campaigners and politicians have said.
Sustrans in Northern Ireland, a local branch of the UK charity which aims to promote active travel, said: “This is really bad news for cycling as if it wasn’t dangerous enough in #Belfast Bus lanes full title are bus and cycle lanes, they are sustainable transport corridors not meant for private cars such as taxis.”
Dublin Commuter Coalition, which describes itself as a community advocacy group dedicated to improving sustainable mobility across the Greater Dublin Region, joked on twitter that it was “Crossing the border to shout ‘nooooo, don’t make the mistake we did’ like some sort of time traveller from a dystopian future.”
A trial to allow taxis to use bus lanes in Dublin started in 1984 after taxi drivers lobbied for the concession. It is understood that the decision has not been reviewed since then, although there have been growing calls to review the situation in recent years.
Belfast-based Cllr Anthony Flynn (NI Green Party) said that the raises safety concerns for cyclists and issues with bus priority.
“While we understand the desire to reduce traffic pressure in Belfast city centre, which is exacerbated by the road works at Grand Central Station, this is not the way to solve the issue,” he said.
“This plan also makes bus travel much less efficient and less reliable. Sinn Fein have been trying to pull this for years, and all it took was for their own poor planning and incompetence of DfI around the Grand Central Station redevelopment to push it through,” he said.
“In the absence of a properly funded and developed cycle network, this plan raises safety concerns for cyclists, while providing little to relieve serious congestion,” said Cllr Flynn. “Bus lanes are designed to be used by cyclists too, in an attempt to create a sustainable transport element to our road service. They are not meant for any type of private car, including private hire taxis.”
Cllr Flynn said: “We have been waiting for the Belfast cycle network delivery plan to be rolled out for four years and yet it is possible for a decision, which reduces sustainable transport to be pushed through with near immediate effect.”
He added: “This is not the way to tackle traffic disruption and speaks to poor planning and an inherent failure to take the climate crisis seriously.”
Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd (SF) announced last week the pilot scheme, which will permit Class A and Class C taxis to use “certain bus lanes in Belfast city centre while road works associated with Grand Central Station are carried out”.
His department said that to facilitate public realm works around the new station, a full road closure of Durham Street, from Grosvenor Road to Hope Street, will be in place for a period of up to 12 months, and that this has prompted a planned legal change.
The Department of Infrastructure said: “Following the completion of the necessary legislative processes, the Department aims to introduce an experimental scheme which would allow Class A and Class C taxis to use specified city centre bus lanes for the duration of the works. Further details on commencement of the pilot will be confirmed in due course.”
Minister O’Dowd said: “In order to alleviate some of the disruption, and to support the taxi industry, I have asked my officials to urgently bring forward proposals which will permit Class A and Class C taxis to use certain bus lanes in the vicinity of the works.”
“The taxi industry provides an important service within our community ensuring people, including the most vulnerable in society, have door to door access to work, education, socialising and medical appointments. Tourists to the city, including those arriving at the new station, are also regular users of taxis,” he said.
Minister O’Dowd added: “My Department will be taking forward the necessary legislative arrangements as quickly as possible, and I will announce further details on the commencement of the pilot in the near future.”
A previous trial of taxes in bus lanes in Belfast was ended after a planned period.