Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy announced at the start of July 2012, the opening of two new bus lanes in Belfast city centre, on Oxford Street and East Bridge Street, both of which will allow access for motorcycles.
 
The Minister said: “The new bus lanes are part of the Belfast on the Move Transport Masterplan and will give priority to buses. The lanes will also be available to motorcycles, bicycles and Belfast public hire taxis. Drivers should take extra care when travelling in the city centre area until they are familiar with the new traffic management arrangements.”
 
The new bus lanes opened on Thursday 5th July 2012.

The Oxford Street bus lanes will give priority to buses between Queen’s Bridge and May Street from 7.00am - 7.00pm, Monday to Saturday.
 
The East Bridge Street bus lane will be in operation Monday - Friday 7.30-9.30am and 3.30-6.30pm and will assist buses approaching from the east from incurring delays at the signalised junctions.
 
Both bus lanes will be clearly delineated with solid white lines and associated signs.
 
The Minister also said: “Associated works are now underway in May Street, Donegall Square South and Howard Street, to provide further bus priority measures over the summer months.”
 
These works include;
 
·         the reconfiguration of the pedestrian facilities at the junction of Bedford Street

·         the provision of new traffic signals at Donegall Square South / Linenhall Street, including a bus gate

·         one way traffic northbound on Linenhall Street between James Street South and Donegall Square South and

·         one way traffic northbound on Alfred Street between Sussex Place and May Street.

The Minister added: “Further traffic management works are planned across the city centre until Summer 2013 for the full implementation of the ‘Sustainable Transport Enabling Measures’ (STEM).
 
“Ongoing works at Grosvenor Road / Durham Street and Sandy Row / Hope Street will provide an alternative south-north bypass of the city centre via Hope Street, Sandy Row and Durham Street. These works are due to be completed later in the summer.”

The STEM proposals include:
 
The re-routing of northbound through traffic from Great Victoria Street onto Hope Street and Durham Street with south bound traffic continuing to use Great Victoria Street. Grosvenor Road will become one-way westbound and College Square North one-way eastbound.
 
The redistribution of existing road space in city centre streets to provide extensive bus priority measures for use by public transport, taxis and cyclists.
 
The delivery of 20 new controlled pedestrian crossing points; about 2.6km of new bus lanes which will also accommodate cyclists and taxis; 340m of new dedicated service bays; 1km of new dedicated cycle lanes; and over 40 additional dedicated disabled parking bays.

At Right To Ride we have been assured that motorcycles (Powered Two Wheelers – Motorcycles – Scooters – mopeds) will have the necessary access within these proposals.
 
Original Source

Information
 
Further details are available on the ‘Belfast on the Move’ website 
 
Right To Ride - Bikes In Bus Lanes

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