We’ve listened to people’s concerns and from November 9 Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Vehicles will be able to use the ‘bus gates’ which are part of our Active Streets pilot in Heavitree and Whipton.
And to ensure consistency, Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Vehicles will also be permitted to use the Wonford Road bus gate, near the Active Streets area.
Our Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee (HATOC), which also includes councillors from Exeter City Council, approved the 18-month pilot and it began in the summer.
We made changes to the road layout to reduce traffic on residential streets, to make it safer for residents and pedestrians and to encourage people to walk and cycle more.
And bus gates were introduced at some locations to enable access for buses and emergency services.
We said from the outset that the Active Streets pilot is experimental, and we would closely monitor how it’s working, and whether it’s achieving its goals, before considering whether to make it permanent after the trial period.
A series of public exhibitions has given local people the chance to give their views.
An emerging theme from those exhibitions has been concerns about the impact of the trial scheme on some passengers.
Representations have indicated that the scheme has made some journeys significantly longer, increasing costs to passengers, and particularly disadvantaged were those with disabilities, including children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities who rely on taxi journeys to special schools.
Councillor Carol Whitton, the Local member for St David’s & Haven Banks and Vice Chair of Exeter HATOC said:
“We’re grateful for everyone’s feedback so far as part of our ongoing consultation,
“One of the recurrent themes we’re hearing is the difficulty that some people are having with their taxi journeys and parents of young people with disabilities, for example, have said that they’re finding the extra time in the taxi stressful for their child and costly.”
County and City Councillors and council officers recently met with representatives of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicle drivers, who explained the journeys they make each day in the area to pick up or take-home people with mobility difficulties.
Councillors and officers concluded that a change was needed.
Councillor Whitton added: “We think it’s an important decision and we will make the amendments to the experimental traffic orders as quickly as we can and to put up new signs to allow taxis to start using the bus gates from November 9.”
Jonathan Kellaway, speaking on behalf of drivers on the Exeter Hackney Carriage Forum, said:
“The Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Trade are an essential provider of Public Transport and are grateful for the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussion with Devon County Council. We welcome the decision to allow Exeter Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles access through the Bus Gates. This will help mitigate the negative impact of the LTN on vulnerable children and adults who rely on our services. We look forward to continued dialogue with the Highways Authority on this and other related issues affecting our Trade.”
The modification to the Experimental Traffic Order will be advertised on November 2, and will come into force on November 9.
This modification to the trial will re-start a new six-month statutory consultation period.
However, this will not extend the length of the trial beyond the original 18-month window and previous responses will still be considered.
To use the bus gates Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Vehicles must display the mandatory three bus lane stickers, available from Exeter City Council.
An update on the progress of the trial will be given at the next meeting of Exeter HATOC on October 30.
You can take part in the consultation via our dedicated webpage, devon.cc/exeterstreets.