From TSRGD
In Section 1 "taxis" are "hackney carriages". No mention of locally-licenced taxis.
9 BUS LANES AND GATES 9.1 General 9.1.1. This section describes bus lanes and gates that use prescribed signs, i.e. facilities for buses, cyclists, taxis and solo motor cycles. Where certain vehicles, such as private hire vehicles (minicabs), are permitted to use a facility, [b]this is indicated by the legend “authorised vehicles”. Where other vehicles such as heavy goods vehicles are to be admitted, the signs will require authorisation and guidance should be sought from the national authority. Working drawings for some non‐prescribed signs, including those for bus lanes that may be used by heavy goods vehicles, and those for high‐occupancy vehicle lanes, are available on request from the Department.[/b] 9.1.2. A bus lane is mandatory and requires an order which prohibits other vehicles from using that part of the carriageway while the lane is in operation. It may be either a with‐flow lane or, in a one‐way road, a contraflow lane. The latter must be operational at all times, but a with‐flow bus lane may operate for only part of the day. With‐flow bus lanes on the left hand side of the carriageway are usually available to both buses and pedal cycles; it is not considered safe to force cyclists to use the general traffic lane where they would be confined between two streams of motor traffic. There might, however, be situations where a with‐flow lane leads directly to a bus‐only facility that is not available to pedal cycles (e.g. a bus‐only gate or the entrance to a bus station). In these circumstances, where the bus lane excludes cyclists, the regulatory upright traffic sign will need authorisation by the national authority. Where permitted by the order, taxis (hackney carriages), solo motor cycles and authorised vehicles may use a with‐flow bus lane as appropriate. A contraflow bus lane is generally used by buses only, but pedal cycles may also use the lane where permitted by the order. 9.1.3. The Regulations permit signs to be varied to indicate centre or off side with‐flow lanes. Where these are not appropriate for use by pedal cycles, as with nearside lanes the upright regulatory sign will need to be authorised. Centre or off side with‐flow lanes are likely to be used as a lead‐in to a bus gate at junction ahead (see 9.3.9). Where an off‐side lane is provided in a two‐way road, it should generally be separated from the opposing flow of traffic by a solid island or hatch markings to diagram 1040 (S11‐4‐23) where the boundary line is formed by the marking to diagram 1049A (S9‐6‐11, see 9.3.2 and Chapter 5). Contraflow lanes, in the direction of travel along the lane, should always be on the nearside. 9.1.4. Bus‐only streets and bus gates are lengths of road or parts of a road where access is restricted to buses, although sometimes other vehicles such as pedal cycles, solo motor cycles, taxis and trams are also admitted. 9.1.5. Bus lanes and bus gates may be surfaced in coloured material in order to demarcate them more emphatically and to discourage encroachment by motor vehicles. However, coloured surfacing has no legal significance; it is the prescribed traffic signs and road markings that establish the legal status of a bus facility.
|