Bus Lanes

Department for Transport written question – answered at on 20 April 2021.

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Photo of Sarah Olney Sarah Olney Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy), Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Transport)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) length of bus lanes removed between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021 to (i) provide more space for motorists and (ii) create sections of road dedicated to cyclists; and if he will list the locations where those lanes have been removed.

Photo of Sarah Olney Sarah Olney Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy), Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Transport)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance he has issued to local transport bodies on the removal of bus lanes to enable the creation of sections of road dedicated to cyclists.

Photo of Sarah Olney Sarah Olney Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy), Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Transport)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his policy is on dedicating sections of roads for use as bus and cycle lanes.

Photo of Rachel Maclean Rachel Maclean Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department has made no such estimate on the removal of bus lanes. Local authorities are responsible for managing their roads, including provision of bus lanes and cycling infrastructure. They are free to make their own decisions about the streets under their care, provided they take account of the relevant legislation.

The Department has issued guidance for local authorities on reallocating road space in response to the Covid-19 outbreak. This includes bus and cycle-only corridors as one measure local authorities may consider. This can be accessed at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/reallocating-road-space-in-response-to-covid-19-statutory-guidance-for-local-authorities.

In July 2020, the Department also published Local Transport Note 1/20: Cycle Infrastructure Design. This provides good practice advice on designing high-quality cycling infrastructure and includes advice on bus and cycle lanes.

Bus lanes are open to cyclists by default, and whilst not specifically a cycle facility, bus lanes can offer some degree of segregation for cyclists as they significantly reduce the amount of interaction with motor traffic. Local Transport Note 1.20 can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cycle-infrastructure-design-ltn-120

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