CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News
"Councils set for bus lane powers"
(10 posts)-
Posted 13 years ago #
-
"The councils stand to raise considerable sums from the introduction of the secondary legislation as it would mean they, rather than central government, could collect revenue raised from bus lane penalties."
"Edinburgh City Council launched a tender for five portable cameras in the expectation of legislative changes ... It expects to break even on the expected initial £293,000 capital cost of the cameras within a few years."
So it frees up Police time, and creates another revenue stream for the cities. Of course, if everyone always obeyed the law, the cities would probably have slightly more congestion, and no money.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Oh well good news for bus passengers. Alas the motorists will just drive and park in cycle lanes instead...
Posted 13 years ago # -
"would probably have slightly more congestion, and no money."
Already got no money!
Posted 13 years ago # -
incidentally, I noticed this morning that there is a new bus lane on Comiston Road, heading north, just before the Greenbank crossroads. (It's probably been there for months...)
Posted 13 years ago # -
could collect revenue
this is all the wrong way round. The council(s) seem to be wanting to do this so they can raise money by levying fines. Bus lanes were not put in to raise money for the council, they were put in to improve and encourage people onto public transport and (perhaps) improve road safety. Yes enforcement of the lanes is needed, but councils should be aspiring to setting themselves a target of having no "revenue" coming from this, through no offending.
By treating greenways as a money-raising opportunity, you might as well develop the idea to its logical conclusion and turn greenways into a "pay to use" priority lane for drivers.
Posted 13 years ago # -
To be devil's advocate and temporarily un-cynical for a moment, complete law-abiding-ness and zero revenue may be the Council's goal; however, it's a lot easier to get the go-ahead for these sort of things if you can show that they will pay for themselves...
Posted 13 years ago # -
...and turn greenways into a "pay to use" priority lane for drivers.
*cough* congestioncharging *cough*
Well I voted for it, but we got 'trams' instead. :-/
Posted 13 years ago # -
"Well I voted for it, but we got 'trams' instead. :-/"
Not exactly.
The 'no to CC' vote meant no money for a tram "network" and - it turns out - not enough for the first bit!!
Posted 13 years ago # -
If only the council would end press releases concerning bus lanes with something along the lines of "Remember, everyone is entitled to use these bus lanes, as long as they're travelling on a bus or a pedal cycle" to try and prevent griping drivers from resenting being told to keep out of what must seem like a terribly under-used (compared to the solid traffic in the non-bus lanes) waste of roads they've paid good money towards.
Are there any multi-occupancy-only lanes anywhere in the UK like they have in the US?
Posted 13 years ago #
Reply
You must log in to post.
posts
