More taxis to be allowed in Belfast bus lanes

Private hire taxis and Ubers will be permitted to use certain bus lanes under the pilot

More taxis are to be allowed to use some bus lanes in Belfast city centre in a bid to ease traffic congestion.

It follows complaints due to roadworks on the Sydenham Bypass and at the city's new public transport hub.

Class A and Class C taxis - categories that include private-hire taxis and Ubers - will be permitted to use certain bus lanes under the pilot scheme while roadworks associated with Grand Central Station are carried out.

At present, the only taxis allowed in the lanes are Class Bs and Class Ds - mostly London-style black cabs and wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd said the move would "alleviate some of the disruption" and "support the taxi industry".

He said the necessary legislative arrangements would be brought forward "as quickly as possible", and details of the pilot's start date would be announced soon.

'Bad news' for cyclists

However, the move has been criticised by cycling campaigners and the Green Party, who say the plan raises safety concerns for cyclists.

Councillor Anthony Flynn said the bus lanes are also used by cyclists "in an attempt to create a sustainable transport element to our road service".

"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 can be pushed through with near immediate effect," Flynn 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."

One charity tweeted that it was "really bad news for cycling as if it wasn't dangerous enough in Belfast".

Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd announced the move on Friday

Belfast's £340m Grand Central Station opened last month for bus journeys, with rail services due to start from Sunday.

Durham Street between Grosvenor Road and Hope Street is due to close from Saturday for up to a year to facilitate public realm works around the new station.

The street includes Boyne Bridge, which was the subject of a last-minute High Court attempt to stop it being dismantled.

'Urgently bring forward proposals'

The infrastructure minister said his department has "worked closely" with public transport operator Translink "to manage traffic flow".

But O'Dowd said "some level of disruption is unavoidable while these important works are carried out".

“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," he said.

"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."

Last month, the minister defended his department following complaints of roadworks causing traffic congestion in Belfast.

He acknowledged there had been issues, but said those in rural areas would be “aghast that people are complaining” about multi-million-pound investments.