Bus lane access for taxis, motorcycles

Motorcycles will be permitted to travel in selected bus lanes for a 12-month trial period next year and the process to allow taxis to travel in most bus lanes is also being formalised.
 
Transport Minister Dean Nalder announced today that starting early next year, a 12-month trial would be conducted for all motorcyclists to use two peak-period bus lanes. Until now, motorcycles have not been allowed in bus lanes.
 
“Motorcycles will be able to travel in the Beaufort Street bus lanes between Roe Street in Northbridge and Grand Promenade in Inglewood, as well as along South Street between Vahland Avenue to the Kwinana Freeway,” Mr Nalder said.
 
“We are running this trial in response to requests from the motorcycling community, namely the Motorcycle Riders Association.  The purpose of this trial is to assess any safety implications and whether sharing the lanes has any impact on the on-time running of buses.
 
“This is part of the State Government’s plan to use our existing infrastructure in a smarter way.”
 
The Minister said the trial had prompted the Public Transport Authority and Main Roads WA to review signage used for all bus lanes in Perth.
 
“This revealed inconsistencies with taxis access to use bus lanes - some lanes had been opened up to taxis but not others,” he said.
 
“So, from early next year all bus lanes, except those that terminate in dedicated bus facilities, will be open to properly licensed taxis.
 
“Main Roads WA will install the signage over the coming month with the aim of the trial and taxi usage changes starting in earnest in early 2015.”
 
Mr Nalder said motorcyclists would be restricted to the same signposted speed limits as buses.
 
Transperth will monitor bus on-time running using GPS data and collate feedback from bus drivers to determine whether the trial can be continued on a long-term basis.
 
Fact File

• Motorcycles will be able to travel in the peak-period Beaufort Street and South Street bus lanes during 12-month trial
• New signage to formalise taxi use of all bus lanes in Perth, excluding those that terminate in bus stations