grandad wrote:
I have read on several occasions in the private hire and taxi paper about out of town taxis getting fined for using the bus lanes. As far as I can remember all of them won appeals.
Some time ago I posted the Oxford case of 1999 which sheds some light on bus lanes it was stated in that case that the council didn't have the power to restrict bus lanes to just Oxford cabs.
Apparently the act states a class of vehicle which one would assume means for instance a bus is a class of vehicle, therefore a bus from one area would be able to use the bus lanes of any other area. Likewise a taxi.
However, make of this passage what you will.
"References in this Act to a class of vehicles or traffic shall be construed as references to a class defined or described by reference to only characteristics of the vehicles or traffic or to any other circumstances whatsoever."
""""The signs that are specified under the Act are those contained in the Traffic Signs Regulations and the general directions. There does not appear to be a specified sign which would exclude taxis sufficiently identified to cover Oxford City taxis.""""
The effect of the Act and the Regulations, however, is clear to me. The local authority have power to regulate who shall use a bus lane. They have the power to require the Secretary of State, if they wanted the bus lanes to be used by taxis, to devise a sign, which is not a specified sign, which would allow Oxford City taxis to use the bus lane.
http://taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4276
Regards
JD