No plans to open up bus lanes in Portsmouth to private hire vehicles
A COUNCIL is not set to open up bus lanes to private hire vehicles, despite belief that it would boost air quality.
The separated lanes in Portsmouth can currently be used by buses, cyclists, hackney cabs and the emergency services. However, private hire vehicles - which are pre-booked taxis - are not included.
Calls to open them up to private hire vehicles were revisited by Aqua Cars driver Darren Hobb, who was keen to pull together a petition on the matter. He believed it would cut down congestion and improve air quality.
But traffic and transport boss, Councillor Lynne Stagg, said: ‘Bus lanes are an important part of our road network that provides a congestion free connectivity with the region.
‘Currently, this is achieved by only buses, coaches, hackney carriages and bicycles travelling in these lanes.
‘We consider all vehicle types when investigating measures to improve air quality in Portsmouth including the significant number of private hire vehicles, and at this time we are looking at alternative ways, which would not impact our bus lanes, to support these drivers in reducing air pollution.’
However, a review of bus lanes across the city will form part of the council’s next local transport plan.