Taxi Driver Online

As the article suggests, not the first time this has been raised, but the transport convener wants it finally 'put to bed'...

And maybe worth noting that a previous transport convener in recent history was Dr Scott Arthur, who is one of the TransComm committee members conducting the House of Commons inquiry

And after reading just a few excerpts from the TransComm transcripts I'm picking up a certain vibe from Dr Arthur with regard to the trade.

And a vibe that is entirely expected


Plea by Edinburgh private hire drivers to use city's bus lanes set to be rejected by council

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/ ... il-5389111

Council chiefs look set to reject a plea to allow private hire vehicles to use the city's bus lanes.

But officials are to look at whether both private hire cars and back cabs should be allowed to access roads which are closed to general traffic by "bus gates".

The request from private hire drivers to lift the ban on access to bus lanes and bus gates is to be considered by the council's transport and environment committee next week.

Private hire drivers say being unable to use bus lanes means longer journeys for their passengers.

But convener Stephen Jenkinson said there had been similar requests on bus lanes in the past and the committee had always stuck to the existing policy.

He said: "I'm very supportive of ensuring the bus priority measures we have in place in the city continue to serve their purpose and do their job, so I'm clear that I want to ensure bus lanes are predominantly for buses and are not available to private hire vehicles (PHVs)."

A report to the committee says bus operators are concerned about potential increases in journey times and a reduction in reliability if more vehicles are allowed to use bus lanes and cycling representatives were worried it could have a negative effect on safety.

The PHV drivers argue that not having access to bus lanes means longer journey times for their passengers and is unfair when black cabs do have access.

Cllr Jenkinson said: “We recognise that private hire does offer transport options for those who don't have access to private cars and are unable to use public transport. It's an important element of the mix.

"But if you have a bus priority measure and you're really pushing for people to see bus as a primary option for them to get around the city, reducing the benefit that buses get by potentially allowing 3,000 private hire cars access to bus lanes I think would probably negate the use of it in the first place.”

On the alleged unfairness of allowing black cabs to use bus lanes but not PHVs, he said: “It's very difficult to differentiate between a PHV and any other vehicle. Once you open Pandora's box you run the risk of making it a free for all on bus lanes and then you lose the priority measure.”

However, there may be better news for private hire drivers over “bus gates” - short lengths of bus lane used to close certain streets to general traffic.

Cllr Jenkinson said: “Where I do have a degree of sympathy and flexibility is not so much on bus lanes but on bus gates. Bus gates restrict not just PHVs but black cabs too. We're going to look at a little more detail at bus gates.”

The committee will be asked to approve a review of all existing and proposed bus gates to consider where it may be appropriate to allow access to both PHVs and black taxis.

Cllr Jenkinson said: “I think it's quite important, certainly in the short to medium term, to put to bed the question of PHVs and bus lanes, but at the same time explore how bus gates could be more efficiently used across the city.”

He said each bus gate would be considered individually and there was the option to allow permanent access or time-restricted access.

No surprise here, and the usual arguments either way from the usual groups.

But I'd forgotten about the possibility of a PH cap in Edinburgh, as mentioned right at the end


Edinburgh roads: Bus lanes will remain out of bounds for private hire vehicles

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/ ... es-5401775

A bid to allow private hire cars to use Edinburgh's bus lanes on a trial basis has been defeated at the city's transport committee.

But there is to be an individual review of all existing and proposed "bus gates" - or traffic filters - over whether to allow access to both private hire vehicles and black cabs.

Bus operators had expressed concern at the prospect of more vehicles being able to drive in bus lanes and how it could affect journey times.

But private hire drivers claimed current rules which barred them from bus lanes while allowing black cabs was "discrimination by badge".

A written submission from the Scottish Private Hire Association said private hire vehicles were “essential to Edinburgh’s transport network” and voiced their “deep concern and frustration” at being excluded from bus lanes.

And another submission from the GMB union, which represents many private hire drivers, argued many disabled passengers found private hire vehicles (PHVs) easier to use than black taxis.

It claimed: "By excluding PHVs from bus lanes and bus gates, many passengers with disabilities are forced to walk longer distances—often in unsafe or poorly lit conditions—to reach their pre-booked vehicles."

But Edinburgh Bus Users Group said: "The purpose of bus lanes is to speed up journeys for buses and passengers, and improve reliability. Adding more vehicles negates this benefit by causing delays and reducing bus reliability."

It said research showed journey times was one of the main factors which led to declining bus use.

And cycle campaign Spokes said introducing more vehicles into bus lanes made them less safe for cyclists and busier for buses - "the exact opposite" of what they were intended to do.

Tory group leader Iain Whyte proposed allowing PHVs to use bus lanes on a trial basis, saying app-based travel meant there had been a big increase in the use of private hire cars. "We have to be fair across the board," he said.

But Lib Dem transport spokesman Kevin Lang said: "I think it's inevitable that if we allow a significant number of new vehicles to come into a bus lane it will have significant impact."

And committee convener Stephen Jenkinson said he felt strongly about making bus lanes as effective as possible.

However, he said: "I do feel the way the city currently moves and plans to move in the future, the issue of traffic filters is something that should be looked at on a case by case basis."

He accepted a Green amendment that the bus gate review should only be carried out following a review which is currently under way by the council's licensing department on a possible cap on PHV numbers.