Taxi Driver Online

First we can use bus lanes... then we can’t

SIGNS incorrectly telling taxi drivers they could use a new bus lane in Worcester have been painted over by council workers. The error on the blue signs along Newtown Road’s bus lane was pointed out by a disgruntled taxi driver.

Worcester taxi driver Lesley Borthwick said: “On Wednesday, I was allowed to use the bus lane in Newtown Road and on Thursday, I was not allowed as the signs allowing me to do so had been painted over.” However, at least one of the signs has not been painted over, which still confusingly tells taxi drivers they can use the bus lane.

Tariq Mahmood, chairman of Worcester Taxi Drivers’ Association, said he was aware of the complaint about the Newtown Road bus lane and said he and other members of the association would be pressing for all bus lanes to be opened up to taxis.

He said he wanted drivers to be able to use all the bus lanes in the city which include lanes in Lowesmoor, Newtown Road, the Butts and Barbourne Road.

He said: “We have been asking for a few years to be able to use the bus lanes. "I’m going to request that drivers should use bus lanes because they are part of the public transport system. "I think we should use them because the volume of traffic is increasing in Worcester. "It would also mean cheaper fares for customers.”

A Worcestershire County Council spokesman said: “It is not policy in Worcester for taxis to use bus lanes. “However, earlier this week a number of signs indicating that taxis could use the lane were delivered in error to our Newtown Road contractors. Ordering new signs would have taken some weeks, potentially delaying full implementation of the scheme.

"The error was thus rectified as quickly as possible at no cost to Worcestershire County Council by blanking out the ‘taxi’ symbol using special signage material.”

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