Why are Taxis allowed to use bus lanes?

Spook_ie · 22-05-2014 12:44PM

ezra_pound wrote: »

1981
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1997/en/si/0182.html#zzsi182y1997a32

Did find this one 1980
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1980/en/si/0082.html
Which not only doesn't mention taxis but doesn't mention cycles either, evolution of laws is a wonderful thing ( sometimes

)

BUS LANES

Application of Part VII.

23. This Part applies to a street or portion of a street which has been prescribed by traffic sign as a bus lane or as a contra-flow bus lane.

Prohibition on entry to or parking on bus lanes.

24. (1) A person shall not enter, with a vehicle other than an omnibus, a street or portion of street to which this Part applies.

(2) A person shall not park a vehicle in a street or portion of street to which this Part applies.

Non-application of Part VII.

25. This Part does not apply to—

( a ) any vehicle which is being used in connection with—

(i) the removal of any obstruction to traffic,

(ii) the maintenance, improvement or reconstruction of a street or portion of a street to which this Part applies,

(iii) the provision, alteration or repair of a sewer, or of any main, drain, pipe or apparatus for the supply of gas, water or electricity or any telegraph or telephone line, or

( b ) a fire engine, an ambulance or any vehicle in the service of the Garda Síochána while being used in pursuance of statutory powers of duties.".

patrickpc · 22-05-2014 05:19PM

whirlpool wrote: »

That's a joke, right? You believe that people who can afford to buy, own and run a car are poorer than those who can't?

If you can afford to buy, own and run a car then you are the richer in society.

The only reason I ever have to take a taxi is if I'm too late for the bus and because I can't afford the expenses of a car. Yeah - I'm totally "the richer in society." And if the taxi wasn't allowed use the bus lane, the taxi bill would probably be twice the cost and the journey would take twice as long.

And if you're speaking strictly on a bus-users vs taxi-users basis, then see above comment re having missed the bus, not being rich and not being able to afford spending twice as long in a taxi.

No - not a joke. Most people can't afford to take a Taxi to work every day - if they could, some would as it is certainly more convenient than the queueing, waiting, jostling for seats etc. that comes with bus travel. If a person decides to take a Taxi it's their own choice and they pay the premium for the relative convenience compared to taking the bus. I just don't see why they should also be allowed to use the bus lane?

Imagine if half of the commuting population decided to take a Taxi to work tomorrow instead of the bus. The bus lanes would be full and there would be uproar. Remember the reaction to Michael O'Leary when it was revealed that he had his own private Taxi plate - and he wasn't alone. Why should commuters who take the bus be delayed by Taxis who use their bus lanes?

Spook_ie · 22-05-2014 09:30PM

patrickpc wrote: »

No - not a joke. Most people can't afford to take a Taxi to work every day - if they could, some would as it is certainly more convenient than the queueing, waiting, jostling for seats etc. that comes with bus travel. If a person decides to take a Taxi it's their own choice and they pay the premium for the relative convenience compared to taking the bus. I just don't see why they should also be allowed to use the bus lane?

Imagine if half of the commuting population decided to take a Taxi to work tomorrow instead of the bus. The bus lanes would be full and there would be uproar. Remember the reaction to Michael O'Leary when it was revealed that he had his own private Taxi plate - and he wasn't alone. Why should commuters who take the bus be delayed by Taxis who use their bus lanes?

Not all people take taxis for the whole journey when commuting, they will often rely on taxis at one end or the other of the journey.

To accomodate the number of people requiring taxis without using the bus lanes would (figure plucked from air ) probably double the number of taxis required, as they would take longer to complete the return journey, thereby gridlocking the road network.

Live with it and use them yourself to complete a journey, maybe even get them to use the bus lane/new bridge/bus gates etc. for you

patrickpc · 22-05-2014 10:19PM

Spook_ie wrote: »

Not all people take taxis for the whole journey when commuting, they will often rely on taxis at one end or the other of the journey.

To accomodate the number of people requiring taxis without using the bus lanes would (figure plucked from air ) probably double the number of taxis required, as they would take longer to complete the return journey, thereby gridlocking the road network.

Live with it and use them yourself to complete a journey, maybe even get them to use the bus lane/new bridge/bus gates etc. for you

I don't get that logic at all. Why would we need more taxis if they weren't allowed use the bus lanes?

The basic fact is that Taxis are a disincentive to people using mass public transport. Taxis are adding to the problem of congestion, not alleviating it. Taking taxis off the bus lanes and back onto the regular traffic lanes would help promote the use of public transport, ensure the bus lanes are kept clear for buses and result in less taxis on the roads.

Spook_ie · 23-05-2014 12:17AM

patrickpc wrote: »

I don't get that logic at all. Why would we need more taxis if they weren't allowed use the bus lanes?

The basic fact is that Taxis are a disincentive to people using mass public transport. Taxis are adding to the problem of congestion, not alleviating it. Taking taxis off the bus lanes and back onto the regular traffic lanes would help promote the use of public transport, ensure the bus lanes are kept clear for buses and result in less taxis on the roads.

The logic is that people travel into town on bus/train etc but they still need to get to their final destination. Options are use their own cars from A to B or go A to public transport hub then public transport hub to B. The end bits are ideal taxi use but if the taxis are stuck in traffic you'd need more taxis or have people waiting. If people are waiting it reduces the likelihood. Of using public transport.

patrickpc · 23-05-2014 12:52PM

Spook_ie wrote: »

The logic is that people travel into town on bus/train etc but they still need to get to their final destination. Options are use their own cars from A to B or go A to public transport hub then public transport hub to B. The end bits are ideal taxi use but if the taxis are stuck in traffic you'd need more taxis or have people waiting. If people are waiting it reduces the likelihood. Of using public transport.

Bizarro logic.

You're saying if people have to wait for a Taxi after using a bus (which probably came on time) then they won't use the bus again.

I think we'll have to agree to differ on this point.

stevenmu · 23-05-2014 01:13PM

The idea behind bus lanes is to try and reduce congestion in the city and let people get around faster. If everybody brings a car into the city, the roads and parking infrastructure simply can't cope. If one taxi can do twenty trips in a day, that's potentially twenty fewer cars brought in to the city. In practice it won't be that many, but the basic principle is valid. The more efficient taxis can be, the more other cars they can remove from the roads.

ezra_pound wrote: »

No it's not a public transport road. It's a BUS LANE originally conceived to benefit buses and bikes not cars or vans.

Taxis driving in bus lanes do not encourage me to leave the car at home. They make my cycle to work slower, more stressful and much more dangerous.

If it's a "BUS LANE" then why should cyclists be able to use it? Cyclists blocking bus lanes slows buses down, making the bus trip slower and less worthwhile. Cyclists in bus lanes do not encourage me to leave the car at home.

Spook_ie · 23-05-2014 01:38PM

patrickpc wrote: »

Bizarro logic.

You're saying if people have to wait for a Taxi after using a bus (which probably came on time) then they won't use the bus again.

I think we'll have to agree to differ on this point.

If the bus stop isn't ideally located or if the connection time is too long for where their ultimate destination is, yeah I do,

You've just not thought things through of how a door to door journey happens using public transport

StinkyMunkey · 23-05-2014 01:46PM

I use my motorbike to commute to and from work. I use the bus lane everyday on my bike, im ok with taxis using my lane. Only gripe i have, is when a taxi is driving to slow (below limit) or breaks suddenly without indicating.

Cienciano · 23-05-2014 02:35PM

Not only should taxis be allowed use bus lanes, I'd like to see them be able to use the port tunnel for free too.

patrickpc · 23-05-2014 03:57PM

stevenmu wrote: »

The idea behind bus lanes is to try and reduce congestion in the city and let people get around faster. If everybody brings a car into the city, the roads and parking infrastructure simply can't cope. If one taxi can do twenty trips in a day, that's potentially twenty fewer cars brought in to the city. In practice it won't be that many, but the basic principle is valid. The more efficient taxis can be, the more other cars they can remove from the roads.

If it's a "BUS LANE" then why should cyclists be able to use it? Cyclists blocking bus lanes slows buses down, making the bus trip slower and less worthwhile. Cyclists in bus lanes do not encourage me to leave the car at home.

I don't think Taxis are taking other cars off the road. They are taking passengers off buses. Buses take cars off roads. Taxis are adding cars to the existing congestion. The mindset of allowing low occupancy Taxis skip the traffic on a public road by using the Bus lane is not right. Why should Taxis be given this sort of priority over regular cars with the same or higher occupancy ?

As regards cyclists using bus lanes - this is a misconception. Due to their slower speed the safest place for cyclists on Irish roads is at the left hand side. Similarly due to the regular stops buses make they must use the left hand lane. Therefore both Cyclists and Buses have equal rights to this lane. In many cases Cyclists have their own lane to the left of the bus lane to avoid collisions/ bikes delaying buses etc.

Coat22 · 23-05-2014 04:22PM

I can see the point in OCCUPIED taxis being allowed use the bus lanes otherwise the whole systme would explode BUT a sizable number using the BLs are not occupied.

In most countries bus lanes can be used by those pooling cars - ie more than the driver in the car. This makes some sense. But why should a taxi with just a driver on board have priority over a car with 2 or 3 in it?

Makes no odds really - the gardai would neve pull them up anyway.

Why are Taxis allowed to use bus lanes?

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