Cycling campaigners in Belfast have hit out at the Department for Infrastructure for a "hidden" consultation on extending the time period for taxis using bus lanes.
Before Christmas, a Temporary Traffic Regulation was put in place to allow Class A and Class C taxis to use certain bus lanes in the city centre in a bid to help ease traffic congestion. However, the Department for Infrastructure said it was always planned that this would be replaced by Experimental Traffic Control scheme, with the consultation for this open from January 14 to February 5.
Campaigners have said allowing the scheme to continue "will be the end of bus lanes as a "safer" space for cyclists on the roads." Due to a lack of cycle lanes in the city, many cyclists are forced to use bus lanes instead.
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Speaking to Belfast Live, Etain O'Kane from the Belfast Cycle Campaign said cycling in the city is "very dangerous and scary." She added she is concerned about the provision of taxis using bus lanes and the precedent this sets.
"We have such little safe infrastructure in the city which makes cycling very dangerous and scary. Quite often we think of young lycra clad men as being cyclists, but I'm a 50-year-old woman with a 10-year-old child on the back of my bike. So for me, safety is a massive concern," Etain said.
"I don't feel safe allowing my child to ride his bike on his own because it's so scary out there. Over the last 20 years, cars have doubled in size and have become much more powerful. But legislation in terms of the Highway Code and commitment to building safer infrastructure has not moved with the times.
"I live in North Belfast, which is chronically under-resourced in terms of cycling infrastructure. I work beside Queen's and don't plan my cycling route on the quickest way to get there, but on the safety element. By the time I get to work, my heart rate is through the roof, not because I'm exerting myself, but because I'm actually scared.
"We're not anti-car, most of us who ride bikes also drive cars, but there has to be an acknowledgement that increasing car use with private taxis is not a solution to creating a safer and healthier infrastructure for Belfast, where everyone can get around safely."
Etain said the group are concerned about the length of time the DfI consultation on taxis in bus lanes was active for, as well as the amount of advertising it received. The group believes "it is clear DfI were hoping it would pass without note or objections."
She added it raises concerns about government commitment to active travel. Etain said: "The consultation wasn't based on the government's commitments to actually get us around the city safely and efficiently. As far as I know, there are no actual studies or data showing that increasing taxis in bus lanes makes congestion better.
"So it was really a decision to support local businesses and not the the people who get around, especially around rush hour and trying to get in and out of the city to socialise.
"There's a lot of lip service paid to promoting active travel, but it's about judging on what they do, not on what they say. There's a real sense of exasperation within the cycling community where we see all of these pretty words being said, but we don't see any change on the ground.
"If we're trying to encourage more people to be active and get out and about, this is just the complete opposite. What happens is if there are more taxis in the bus lanes I use to get to work safely, I'm going to replace my cycling journeys with driving in my car, which is actually increasing congestion. I would have to go through the city center during rush hour, which is exactly at the time that we're finding congestion at its worst."
Etain said once taxis are allowed in bus lanes, it becomes the precedent. "This will become the status quo which is a really retrospective step in terms of promoting active travel, promoting public transport," she added.
"Our fear is that there isn't a dedication, will, or leadership within DfI to really make those tough choices that will improve things over time."
Concerns around the advertising of the consultation were raised by Alliance MLA Peter McReynolds during a meetinf of Stormont's Infrastructure Committee on January 15.
He said: "It was disappointing to hear the decision had been made prior to Christmas to allow taxis in bus lanes. I stated at the time it would not make the slightest difference. Committee members were told today [Jan 15] no data is available from the festive period, which only serves to strengthen that belief.
“The consultation looking to extend this scheme has almost been put out under the radar, with a closing date of February 5, the shortest possible time the Department can consult on it, and next to no publicity on it. Nor is it highlighted the way other consultations have been there. Questions need to be asked if the Department has already made its mind up on it.
“Taxis being able to use bus lanes only serves to endanger cyclists and cause confusion for motorists, while discouraging the use of public transport. I would strongly urge the Minister to reverse the scheme, and encourage everyone to complete the consultation to state that.”
When asked about the above concerns, a Department for Infrastructure (DfI) spokesperson said: “Before Christmas and in response to significant traffic congestion, Minister O’Dowd introduced a Temporary Traffic Regulation under Article 7 of the Road Traffic Regulation (NI) Order 1997 which allowed Class A and Class C taxis to use bus lanes on lengths of Bruce Street, Dublin Road, Great Victoria Street and Shaftesbury Square in Belfast.
"It was always planned that the initial arrangement would be replaced by an Experimental Traffic Control scheme, and the consultation for this was advertised on 13 January 2025 and was published on the Departmental website on 14 January 2025. In line with legislation the consultation period lasted for 22 days and closed on 5 February 2025. The Department received a number of representations on the draft scheme and a submission on the way forward is being prepared for consideration by Minister Kimmins.
“The purpose of the Experimental Traffic Control scheme is to gather data to help inform future policy decisions by evaluating the benefits and impacts of allowing additional taxis access to certain bus lanes.”
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