Council give backing to bus lane taxi plan

Councillors passed the motion in favour of extending the length of the current 12 week trial period, permitting all taxis to use the Belfast Rapid Transit bus lanes for an extra six months and expanding the trial to include all bus lanes, at a city growth committee meeting.

The council will now write an official letter of support to the Department of Infrastructure setting out their position.

The motion was proposed by Sinn Féin, seconded by the DUP and passed with only one vote against.

Thecouncil’s backing for the extension of the trial period comes after the DUP’s Nigel Dodds and Gavin Robinson, Alasdair McDonnell of the SDLP and Sinn Féin’s Paul Maskey put their names to letters of support for the campaign to keep taxis in bus lanes for an extended period to Department, sent to Infrastructure Permanent Secretary Peter May.

Belfast taxi group member William McCausland described the passing of the motion as “hugely significant”.

He added: “Allowing taxis into bus lanes means taxi customers are getting their taxi sooner, reaching their destination quicker and paying less for their fare.

“Taxis in bus lanes works for all road users and the trial is showing this every day.

“The positive impact this has had on the livelihoods of taxi drivers right across Belfast cannot be stressed enough.”

Mr McCausland said his association is drawn from members from across the city and “from all communities”.

“The drivers are united behind this campaign,” he added. “Today (Tuesday) we delivered thousands of signed letters from taxi drivers to Department for Infrastructure Permanent Secretary Peter May in support of extending the trial period.

“Allowing taxis into all Belfast bus lanes is protecting taxi driver’s jobs.”