New taxi access to Belfast bus lanes in during major roadworks granted
Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd has announced a new pilot scheme that will allow more taxis to use certain bus lanes in Belfast city centre. The move comes as roadworks linked to the Grand Central Station project lead to the closure of Durham Street for up to 12 months.
The experimental scheme will permit Class A and Class C taxis to use specified bus lanes during the closure. The Department for Infrastructure is currently finalising the legal requirements, with further details on the start date of the scheme expected soon.
Class B and Class D taxis already have access to these bus lanes, but the pilot aims to ease congestion and maintain traffic flow during the works.
Minister O’Dowd said: “The closure of Durham Street is necessary for the development of Belfast Grand Central Station and associated public realm works. My Department has worked closely with Translink to manage traffic flow during the ongoing construction, however some level of disruption is unavoidable while these important works are carried out.
“In order to alleviate some of the disruption, and to support the taxi industry, I have asked my officials to urgently bring forward proposals which will permit Class A and Class C taxis to use certain bus lanes in the vicinity of the works.
“The taxi industry provides an important service within our community ensuring people, including the most vulnerable in society, have door to door access to work, education, socialising and medical appointments. Tourists to the city, including those arriving at the new station, are also regular users of taxis.
“My Department will be taking forward the necessary legislative arrangements as quickly as possible and I will announce further details on the commencement of the pilot in the near future.”
What are the different classes of taxi in Northern Ireland?
In Northern Ireland, taxis are classified into four main categories based on the type of service they provide and the vehicle specifications. Here’s a breakdown of the different classes:
Class A – These are public hire taxis, commonly referred to as “black taxis” or “hackney cabs”. They can be hailed on the street or picked up at designated taxi ranks without prior booking. They are typically larger vehicles, often wheelchair accessible.
Class B – Private hire taxis, which must be pre-booked through a licensed operator. These vehicles cannot be hailed on the street or pick up passengers at taxi ranks. The fare is agreed upon in advance with the booking.
Class C – These are private hire taxis restricted to specialised services, such as contract work for schools or health services. They must also be pre-booked and cannot pick up passengers on the street or at ranks.
Class D – Also known as private hire wheelchair-accessible taxis. These taxis must be pre-booked but are specifically designed to accommodate passengers with mobility issues, offering accessibility features similar to Class A vehicles.
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