ACCESS DENIED: Portsmouth private hire vehicle drivers frustrated at Bus Lane decision
Private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers in Portsmouth have expressed frustration over the City Council’s decision to block further access to bus lanes. Nearly 100 drivers gathered at the Guildhall to protest the refusal to expand a trial allowing PHVs to use certain bus lanes across the city.
In 2022, a three-month trial granted PHVs, including those operating through Uber, access to five bus lanes. This was later extended to almost a year. Currently, only buses, cyclists, emergency vehicles, and hackney carriages, which can be hailed on the street or at ranks, are allowed to use these lanes. PHVs, which must be booked in advance, remain excluded from most lanes in the city.
Portsmouth has 32 bus lanes, covering 9.8 kilometres. The trial allowed PHVs access to five lanes: Cavell Drive, Marketway, Mile End Road, Queen Street, and Bishop Crispian Way. The council had considered expanding access to 11 additional lanes but ultimately decided against it.
Councillor Peter Candlish, the transport cabinet member, followed the recommendation of officers not to extend the scheme. However, Cllr George Madgwick advocated for an 18-month extension to gather more data on the scheme’s impact.
Portsmouth City Council currently licenses 234 hackney carriages and approximately 1,300 PHVs. Cllr Emily Strudwick, chair of the licensing committee, stressed that the taxi trade had been asking for this support “for several years”, while other transport modes, such as buses, receive grant funding.
Former councillor Scott Payter-Harris, who initiated the trial, criticised the lack of detailed data presented in the council’s report, which he believes left Cllr Candlish in a difficult position. The decision may face review by a scrutiny management panel.
Peter Sutherland, representing Uber drivers in the area, questioned why PHVs are excluded from bus lanes when they provide a similar service to hackney cabs. He argued that PHVs undergo the same stringent tests and licensing fees. He also pointed out that in cities like Brighton and Southampton, PHVs are allowed bus lane access.
The council’s decision follows a road safety audit and casualty data analysis, which indicated no significant negative impacts from the trial. However, concerns remain about potential risks to cyclists and the cost of further expanding the scheme. The council estimates it would cost £300,675 to carry out further design work and implementation if additional bus lanes were opened to PHVs.
As it stands, the future of PHV access to Portsmouth’s bus lanes remains a contentious issue, with no immediate plans for further extensions.
