In response to a decision taken by Hull City Council’s Cabinet, Hull’s bus lanes will operate during peak hours in both directions.
The city will now initiate a traffic regulation order (TRO) proposing changes to all bus lanes except the Carr Lane bus gate, which will remain open 24/7. Moreover, the council will assess all key junctions and crossings along each bus route to determine if additional safety measures can be implemented, as well as reviewing parking arrangements within bus lanes to ensure that there is always room for moving traffic.
As a result of the new operating hours, the lanes would be open to all traffic outside of peak hours.
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, all-day operating hours were implemented. Since summer 2020, bus lanes have been operating Monday through Saturday, 7am-6.30pm.
Over 20,000 responses were collected in a Traffic and Transport Survey conducted in summer 2022, with 65 percent of respondents favoring changing bus lane operating times. Therefore, the Cabinet requested that a statutory consultation exercise be conducted to review the existing arrangements.
During June and July 2023, the council held a consultation based on Government guidance and received 2,526 responses.
Public comments were included alongside detailed comments from statutory consultees and stakeholder bodies.
Informed by the consultation and detailed data upon road use in the city, along with requesting improvements to junctions where cyclists access the highway and prohibiting daytime parking in bus lanes, Cabinet has decided to initiate the process to limit bus lane use to peak hours.
Councillor Mike Ross, leader of Hull City Council, said: “Having considered all the feedback, we have made a decision that balances the needs of all members of the travelling public, whilst considering the available data and the reality of Hull’s highway network.
“Today’s decision demonstrates the council’s commitment to addressing traffic issues and congestion, while continuing to support residents to make active travel choices, such as walking, cycling and bus travel, and comes alongside agreed plans for off-road cycle lanes on Freetown Way, enabling a return to two lanes of carriageway, and a wider ambition to invest in more off-road cycle facilities.”
Once the TRO is published, there will be a formal objection period of 21 days. Should no objections be received, the aim would be to implement the new bus lane operating times in the New Year, following changes to any signage.
Pending formal approval of a TRO, the current restrictions on bus lanes will remain in place.
