VICTORY FOR COMMON SENSE AS TAXIS ALLOWED TO USE BELFAST BUS LANES OVER CHRISTMAS

In a bid to alleviate traffic congestion in Belfast city centre, particularly during the busy Christmas period, Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd has announced a temporary measure allowing taxis to use certain bus lanes.

The Temporary Traffic Regulation will allow Class A and Class C taxis to use certain lanes, effective from 6am on Wednesday, 18 December.

Announcing the move on Tuesday, 17 December, Minister O’Dowd said: “I am committed to bringing forward measures which will help alleviate the traffic congestion in the city centre. I had previously announced my intention to introduce a pilot scheme to permit taxis to use city centre bus lanes to help support the industry and ease traffic.

“My officials are continuing to carry out the necessary legislative work and the consultation period for that scheme will commence very early in the new year. In the meantime, I have asked my officials to urgently introduce temporary traffic regulations, as an interim measure, to allow Class A and C taxis to use a number of bus lanes.

"DfI will continue to work closely with partners in the coming days and weeks. We all share a common goal of wanting to keep Belfast moving, while balancing the needs of everyone who needs to use the city’s roads and footpaths.”

Just last month, one of Belfast’s biggest taxi firms, Fonacab, called for bus lanes to be opened up for drivers in a bid to help ease ongoing traffic congestion.

The bus lanes included within the new regulations are:

Inbound towards the City Centre

Shaftesbury Square

Great Victoria Street (Shaftesbury Square – Grosvenor Road)

Outbound Away from City Centre:

Great Victoria Street (Howard Street – Bruce Street)

Bruce Street

Dublin Road

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