Bus lanes scrapped for nine-month trial in Liverpool

The city council in Liverpool has scrapped bus lanes for a nine-month trial.

The move comes after mayor Joe Anderson claims they do not work. According to the BBC, he said: "While we don't have extensive data, the evidence we do have suggests that bus lanes are not benefiting the city as planned, that they are not leading to an increase in bus usage, and that they may actually be making congestion worse.

"This trial is about getting the data we need so we can make an informed decision over this important issue."

According to The Sun, Mr Anderson said he did not want to treat motorists as a "cash cow", reopening the lanes for all road users in the trial.

The paper added that the nine miles that make up Liverpool's 24 bus lanes made a whopping £700,000 in motoring fines in 2012, with a standard penalty costing £60.

Transport industry groups are not over the moon about the trial. A spokesman for the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK (CPT), said the "point of bus lanes is to allow operators to run on time" and that the trial means buses could now be delayed by "congestion and roadworks".

He told the BBC that "by running on time, bus operators hope to attract people out of cars, reducing congestion and helping the environment".

Arriva Merseyside said it had not been consulted on the move.

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