Infrastructure Minister grants Belfast taxis temporary access to bus lanes for festive season
Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd has announced that, starting at 6am on 18 December 2024, Class A and Class C taxis will be permitted to use select bus lanes in Belfast city centre during the festive period.
This temporary measure aims to ease traffic congestion and support the taxi industry.
O’Dowd also mentioned plans for a pilot scheme to allow taxis in bus lanes, with a consultation set for early in the new year. In the meantime, the temporary regulations will enable taxis to use specific bus lanes.
The affected bus lanes are:
Inbound towards the City Centre: Shaftesbury Square; Great Victoria Street (Shaftesbury Square to Grosvenor Road).
Outbound away from City Centre: Great Victoria Street (Howard Street to Bruce Street); Bruce Street; Dublin Road.
Class A taxis are identifiable by a yellow roof sign and can be hailed, pre-booked, or hired at taxi ranks outside the Belfast Zone. Within the Belfast Zone, they can be pre-booked and hailed during specific hours.
Class C taxis operate on a pre-booked basis only and do not display a roof sign.
Minister O’Dowd said: "I am committed to bringing forward measures which will help alleviate the traffic congestion in the city centre.
“I had previously announced my intention to introduce a pilot scheme to permit taxis to use city centre bus lanes to help support the industry and ease traffic. My officials are continuing to carry out the necessary legislative work and the consultation period for that scheme will commence very early in the new year.
“In the meantime, I have asked my officials to urgently introduce temporary traffic regulations, as an interim measure, to allow Class A and C taxis to use a number of bus lanes.
“Belfast is a thriving city and I would encourage anyone planning to travel to the city centre, especially over the Christmas period, to plan their journey, use public transport if possible and if travelling by car factor in extra time for your journey.
"DfI will continue to work closely with partners in the coming days and weeks. We all share a common goal of wanting to keep Belfast moving, while balancing the needs of everyone who needs to use the city’s roads and footpaths.”
