Agenda item

            The Committee was reminded that the Council, in accordance with Standing Orders, had referred the following notice of motion, which had been proposed by Councillor Beattie and seconded by Councillor Reynolds, to the Committee for consideration:

 “This Council supports the decision by the Department for Infrastructure to introduce the twelve week trial period permitting all taxis to use the Belfast Rapid Transit bus lanes and agrees to write to the Department for Infrastructure a letter of support to extend the duration of the trial period for an additional six months and expand the trial to include all Belfast bus lanes.”

            The Chairperson advised the Committee that requests to speak on the issue had been received from Mr. Jonathan Hobbs, NI Greenways, Mr. John Wright, Green Action, and Mr. Sean Duffy, Belfast Taxi Group.  The Committee agreed to accede to the requests.

            Mr. Hobbs explained that the cycling lobby was strongly against the proposal to extend the use of bus lanes by taxis.  He outlined that he was pleased that the twelve week trial was coming to an end that he looked forward to seeing the results of the trial from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI).  He reported that the only public consultation which had been carried out on the issue had been in 2012, by the former Department of Regional Development.  He stated that he would like to see a five year freeze on any additional vehicular access to bus lanes in order to allow the Belfast Rapid Transit scheme to realise its full potential and to allow the DfI to begin to build the Belfast Bicycle Network.  He also explained that he felt a proper deputation on the issue should be considered from Sustrans NI.

            Mr. Wright outlined to the Members that the issue with taxis using bus lanes was ill-advised not only in terms of safety for cyclists but with regards to a long-term transport plan for the city.  He emphasised to the Committee that Belfast should be serious about promoting sustainable, low-carbon transport and that he felt it would be unwise and hasty for the Council to support an extension of the trial by a further 6 months.

            Mr. Duffy explained that the trial had been an overwhelming success for the taxi industry as a whole, with customers having benefitted from cheaper fares and had been able to reach their destinations quicker. He reported that taxis were able to use bus lanes in a number of cities across Great Britain and Ireland, including Manchester, Glasgow, Cork, Dublin and Cardiff.  He emphasised that taxis provided a vital community service in the city, by taking people who were unable to use public transport to hospital appointments and to school.  He explained that taxi drivers would be severely disadvantaged if they were forced out of bus lanes, given the introduction of twelve hour bus lanes throughout the city, with a substantial increase in traffic as a result.  He outlined that taxi drivers wanted the trial period to be extended for a further six months and that the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Peter May, had the power to extend it.

            During discussion, a Member pointed out that many of the roads in Belfast were too dangerous to cycle on.  He felt that cyclists shouldn’t have to use bus lanes and that there should be a network of safe, dedicated cycle lanes.

            A further Member stated that the debate should not be between those who cycle and those who use taxis and that, through the Belfast Agenda, Belfast should seek to be an accessible city for all and he highlighted the key role that taxis played in terms of providing accessible transport to many.

            Proposal

            Moved by Councillor Beattie, and

            Seconded by Alderman Spence,

      That the Committee supports the decision taken by the Department for Infrastructure to introduce the twelve week trial period permitting all taxis to use the Belfast Rapid Transit bus lanes and agrees to write to the Department for Infrastructure a letter of support to extend the duration of the trial period for an additional six months and expand the trial to include all Belfast bus lanes.

            On a vote by show of hands thirteen Members voted for the proposal and one against and it was declared carried.