Taxi Driver Online

Taxi driver's bus lane petition

Mr Brocklehurst wants private hire cabs to be allowed to stop in bus lanes
A taxi driver who challenged a fine for using a bus lane has set up a petition to allow private hire cabs to stop in bus lanes for passengers.

Derek Brocklehurst, 38, from Audenshaw, was fined £30 for driving in a bus lane near Victoria Station, but successfully appealed against the fine in April.

He says bus lane laws make it difficult for drivers to pull in for passengers.

A Manchester City Council spokesman said he was in the process of setting up a meeting date with Mr Brocklehurst.

'Blatant discrimination'

Mr Brocklehurst, who works for a city centre taxi firm, said disabled passengers were particularly affected as often they could not be dropped off at their destination.

"I have contacted a number of disability groups and many taxi drivers from around the city centre have signed my petition," he said.

"I am hoping to meet with the traffic enforcement department of Manchester City Council in the next few weeks to give them my petition.

"I am not asking for permission to drive along the bus lanes but only to pick up or drop off customers. I feel this is blatant discrimination."

3,000 names

So far he has more than 3,000 names on his petition and is looking to arrange for a fleet of 20 cars to accompany him when he drops it off at Manchester town hall.

Mr Brocklehurst won his appeal against his fine after he noticed signs were missing on the bus lane.

The regulations state that alongside a round blue circular sign indicating a bus, a cycle and hackney carriage, there should also be an accompanying sign bearing the word "only".

It was the latter sign that was missing.

Difficult one, but I see his point.

This is another one of those stupid regulations that allow taxis and ph to use bus lanes in some areas but not in others. It should be the same in all areas IMO

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

It's not that he wants to use the lane Toots, he just doesn't want a ticket for pulling up in one to pick his customers up.

Yes you can have two types of taxi a HC & PH only one can use the bus lane. Discrimination!

I did notice, thanks My point is that it seems silly that in some areas you can use bus lanes and in other areas you can't. We have bus lanes with parking bays, go figure

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Indeed.

Can never work out why taxis can go in a bus lane, but not licensed PH.

Madness.

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IDFIMH

Both HC and PH can use bus lanes here which is why I don't understand they can't everywhere else it seems silly. I know if I go into Liverpool I can use bus lanes there but I'm not too sure about Chester so it's kinda confusing really.

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!