IN THE NEWS


PHV MOUNTS PAVEMENT AND USES CYCLE LANE TO UNDERTAKE TRAFFIC ON ROAD IN HULL


An impatient private hire driver mounted the pavement and used a cycle lane to queue jump at traffic lights in Hull. The Hull Daily Mail reports that the vehicle was seen undertaking cars in a queue for lights on Holderness Road.


Dashcam footage taken from one of the cars shows the audacious manoeuvre, which has since been shared on social media. The Driving in Hull Facebook group posted the footage showing the taxi from a popular local company skipping the queue.


Using the tagline ‘I’m not waiting!’, the clip shows the taxi pushing its way to the front of the queue, regardless of the safety of any pedestrians or cyclists. Most comments from members of the public slammed the driving,


with many noting that they (taxis) often ‘do as they want’. Others meanwhile defended the move, saying time ‘is money’ for passengers. While not technically illegal to move into a cycle lane, the move is extremely risky and should be done with full caution and only as a last resort. Undertaking is also against the Highway Code in the UK. The manoeuvre is sure to split opinion with the taxi in the footage clearly using the lane to move ahead in the queue and not turn left at the lights.


COUNCIL CONSIDERS PETITION TO OPEN UP READING BUS LANE TO PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLES


Private hire drivers in Reading are petitioning to be able to use a traffic lane currently reserved for buses and cyclists. Along King’s Road, there are two bus lanes, one going east and one going west towards the town centre. Currently, PHVs are allowed to use the westbound bus lane, but have to join regular traffic when going eastbound towards the A329, the M4, Heathrow Airport and other destinations. A private hire driver has complained that they are often made ‘very late’ by the worsening traffic conditions in Reading. Recently, a petition signed by 187 people, has been submitted asking Reading BC to allow PHVs to use the eastbound bus lane. It also calls for the council to allow PHVs to use the Duke Street ‘bus gate’ to access London Street.


PHTM NOVEMBER 2022


The petition was delivered by Kamran Saddiq, who introduced it at a recent council meeting. Mr Saddiq said: “Over the years the traffic situation in Reading has gone from bad to worse. Day by day it is making our job very difficult and very challenging. “Especially in the peak times the roads are so busy that we are often very late in dropping our passengers to their destinations. “On several occasions we have clients who need to get to the airport in the mornings, we are always stuck in traffic. “If we were granted access to use this bus lane it would help us in a logistical way. You have been very kind to grant us the inbound usage of the King’s Road bus lane a few years back, in which there have been barely any complaints of abusive use.


“It was given to us on a trial period, we all stuck to the rules.” He added that easing the flow of traffic would contribute to the council’s strategic aim of reducing pollution, and that the intention is not to slow buses down. Mr Saddiq said: “The main reason of use is for the buses, we do not want to be stopping them escorting their passengers as well.” The petition was officially received at the traffic management sub committee meeting on Wednesday, September 14. Committee vice-chair, Councillor Matt Yeo, explained that the petition has been received and considered by council officers for a report to the committee at a later date. Currently, buses, cyclists, motor- bikes and taxi drivers are allowed to use the eastbound bus lane.


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