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Traffic Management

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 April 2012

Wednesday, 18 April 2012

Questions (1383)

Eoghan Murphy

Question:

1401 Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider granting access to bus lanes for electric vehicles, as has happened in Norway, as a means of effectively promoting the purchase and use of electric vehicles on Irish roads. [18151/12]

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Written answers

The primary purpose of providing bus lanes is to facilitate and promote bus based public transport. The regulations generally limit the use of bus lanes to buses and, in the case of with-flow bus lanes, to cyclists. Having regard to the role of taxis in providing on-street immediate hire services, an exemption is allowed in respect of taxis when they are being used in the course of business.

There have over the years been a number of requests to my Department to consider amending the legislation to allow other categories of vehicle to use bus lanes. These include hackneys, limousines, multi-occupancy cars, and motorbikes, among others. I have received a number of such requests since becoming Minister. The overriding concern in considering these applications is the carrying capacity of bus lanes, and the potential that their primary role to provide bus priority could be undermined if other vehicles were allowed access. As a result, I have taken the view that the current restrictions on use of bus lanes should be maintained. These lanes were introduced at some expense to the taxpayer in order to provide priority on our roads for public transport. This is in line with our aim of making public transport more efficient and attractive, and so reducing congestion and pollution.

I do, of course, support the development and promotion of electric cars as an environmentally friendly means of transport, a policy which is within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. However, changes to the bus lane legislation in regard to electric cars, or other modes of transport, are not in my view the appropriate way to promote them.

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