Issue - meetings

The report by the Head of Transport and Environment is in response to a petition by Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) drivers to be allowed to use bus lanes; this report has been requested by the Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transportation. It discusses options for allowing PHVs in bus lanes within Portsmouth.

RECOMMENDED  That based on information within this report (sections 5,6,7,10 and 13) particularly the stakeholder responses and the safety record of taxis and PHVs within Portsmouth, that the Cabinet Member retains bus lanes for buses, bicycles and hackney cabs only.

Councillor Ellcome wished to state that there was a need for more groups to co-operate and it was regrettable that there had been heightened tensions due to exchanges on social media.  He stressed that that would not influence his judgement at the meeting.  Mark Griffin, the Assistant Head of Transport & Environment presented a report which had been in response to the petition by private hire vehicles in June 2014 that had attracted 1,830 signatures.  He also reported comments made by the City Development Manager regarding the importance of transport to the economic development links in the city.

A deputation was made by Pete Stothers as the organiser of the petition which had collected over 1800 signatures within seven weeks whose points included that there had been overwhelming support by residents; the private hire vehicles were public transport and offered an important service to the elderly and disabled; 32 councils allowed PHVs within bus lanes including Southampton and the government recognised PHVs as part of the public transport system.  They also enable people to get to school and hospital appointments on time.  It would help attract businesses to Portsmouth when the road system was at breaking point.  If people used the PHVs more there would be less cars on the road and less parking problems.

A deputation was then made by Clive Carse also speaking on behalf of PHV drivers whose points included that in licensing terms PHVs were included with taxis as seen in the recent increase in charges; they gave better coverage than the buses running 24 hours; PHVs were treated unfairly as the Tipner bus lane was not for Portsmouth people and the buses were heavily subsidised.  On Saturdays there was gridlock in the city with Gunwharf and football traffic meaning it was hard for PHV drivers to make a living.

A deputation was then made by Jon Spencer of the Portsmouth Cycle Forum whose points included there was a poor safety record of PHVs so it would be dangerous for them to be allowed to share bus lanes with cyclists; PHVs charged hourly so they needed to move fast; PHV drivers were distracted by electronic devices in their vehicles; the Department of Transport advice is against PHVs in bus lanes; the city council were announcing support of cycling.  He was concerned that any trial of shared use of bus lanes would be using live subjects without their consent and he felt the best way to improve traffic conditions in Portsmouth was to encourage alternatives to private car use.

A deputation was then made by Eric DeGreef a co-author of the cycling strategy for Portsmouth who spoke about his own experience with his family of cycling on the roads which required the patience of other drivers and he was concerned that there would be a reduction in safety for cyclists; members of the Portsmouth Cycle Forum had been subject to abuse which he did not want replicated on the roads. 

A deputation was then made by Dervla Mackay,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10