Details revealed about plans to restrict Hull's bus lanes
Currently the lanes are in operation all day
Details have been released about how Hull’s bus lanes would work if they move to peak times with the plans open for comment.
The bus lanes would operate from 7am to 9.30am inbound and from 4pm to 6.30pm outbound, outside of which they would be open to all traffic.
Hull City Council leader Cllr Mike Ross said the move towards the formal consultation required with road users, residents, businesses and others showed people’s views are being listened to.
It comes as the Liberal Democrat administration made reforming the city’s all day bus lanes a cornerstone of their election platform when they first took power in 2022.
A Transport Survey they commissioned found 65 per cent of respondents wanted to return to peak times only bus lanes.
All day bus lanes were brought in in July 2020 under the previous Labour administration to help improve public transport and cycling facilities to promote alternatives to cars.
But the return of traffic to Hull’s roads following the easing of coronavirus restrictions saw roads become congested, with many blaming the moves and handling of road works.
Labour leader Cllr Daren Hale said ahead of May’s local elections they would wait for the findings of a report into returning to peak times only before taking a position.
They have also accused the Liberal Democrats of doing the Transport Survey rather than acting on the issue after they took power.
A report ahead of the council’s consultation stated the total casualties from crashes in bus lanes fell from 73 in the 30 months before July 2020 compared to 62 since.
The number of cyclists involved fell from 25 to 19 during the same period though the report stated the pandemic has affected the data.
Buses ran more quickly in 2020-1 at 11.8mph on average compared to 9.9mph before the changes, partly also because of less traffic due to the pandemic.
Journey times increased during 2021-2 though they were still 7 per cent quicker compared to beofre the pandemic.
The consultation into returning to peak times only is set to begin later this month through online surveys, stakeholder meetings and public events.