Crawley taxis could be allowed to use bus lanes
source: http://www.thisissussex.co.uk/crawley/news/
A STORM of opposition has greeted the latest stage of plans to allow taxis in town bus lanes.
Under the scheme, due to be discussed by councillors tomorrow (Thursday), Hackney Carriages and pedal cycles would share Fastway routes with buses.
The 18-month trial would cost £160,000.
Around £60,000 of this would be for undoing changes to road signs and markings made at the start.
Councillors, the police, private hire taxi firms and bus operator Metrobus have raised objections over costs, safety, fairness and delays to public transport.
This objection could trigger a public inquiry, which would cost an additional £250,000.
Councillor Chris Oxlade, West Sussex County Council member for Bewbush and Ifield West, called the scheme a “total waste of money”.
He said: “Any plan to get more traffic off the roads is a good one but this doesn’t really do that.
“Taxis would be using bus lanes but not the guided bus routes, so they would be rejoining the main traffic stream at busy junctions.
“Even without that problem, this is a lot of money for about 100 Hackney Carriages. If it included private hire vehicles it would be 700 cars and that could be worth looking at.”
The state of Crawley’s roads has been severely criticised in recent months and Cllr Oxlade said this must be the council’s priority.
The Labour councillor added: “Are we really going to spend money to get a few cabs in the bus lanes when our roads are under so much pressure?”
County council leader Henry Smith supported the scheme a year ago, saying it would “help the local taxi industry in this time of recession and increase convenience for local travellers.”
Tory councillor Alan Quirk says the idea has merits but admits it is “difficult”.
He said: “I’m not convinced that cyclists should use the bus lanes because there is a considerable cycle pathway in Crawley already.
“If you have a cyclist in the bus lane, buses and taxis could get stuck behind them and end up going along at five miles an hour.
“I know taxi drivers would welcome this. I can see logic in that and I understand this has been quite successful in other towns.”
Cllr Quirk, who represents Broadfield, added: “The other question is how is this going to be paid for.”
Crawley Hackney Association, which represents drivers of Hackney Carriages (the black or white cabs that can be hailed at the roadside), welcomed this plan when it was suggested a year ago.
But Crawley Licensed Cab Drivers’ Association called it “discriminating” against private hire drivers.
West Crawley County Local Committee will discuss the plan at Crawley Library tomorrow at 7pm, with the East Crawley County Local Committee expected to hold similar discussions next month.
The committees will make recommendations but the final decision will be made by West Sussex County Council.