The bus lane has been created and signs are up – but there is confusion over when fines will start being sent out
A new Bus Lane has appeared on Whitworth Street West – next to the City Road Inn(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
A new bus lane has been sparking confusion among motorists in Manchester city centre. The change has been introduced on one lane of Whitworth Street West heading towards Deansgate, once one of the major routes into Manchester.
A large red painted section stating “BUS LANE” has been in place for over a month at the junction of Albion Street with Whitworth Street West, next to the City Road Inn pub.
It has been introduced as part of the recently completed Deansgate roadworks that have turned the once busy thoroughfare into a single lane for one-way traffic up to Liverpool Road in a bid to make the area more pedestrian, cyclist and bus friendly.
Signs have now gone up at the new bus lane junction next to Deansgate Locks, stating that “Traffic Enforcement Cameras” are in operation, stating it is access for bus, taxi and bike only.
Traffic enforcement camera signs have gone up by the bus lane(Image: MEN)
These signs were pictured in place on Thursday evening by the MEN at the junction of Whitworth Street West and Albion Street.
It would suggest that any motorist passing through the route will receive an automatic Penalty Charge Notice in the post from the council.
However, the MEN has now checked with Manchester Council, who have confirmed that the cameras are NOT yet in operation, and say they will be activated in the “summer” with a date to be announced in due course.
But the new bus lane’s arrival has sparked confusion among motorists for the past month – many of whom have been fearing they’ve got a fine about to drop through their letterbox.
The Bus Lane markings are now in place – but it’s not in operation yet according to Manchester Council(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
Posters on Reddit have been summing up the confusion, with one taking to the social media site to ask if he was going to find himself slapped with a fine after stating his Sat Nav still sent him down there.
In a Manchester sub-Reddit post, a driver called Mark wrote: “Sat nav sent me over the Oxford Road and down Whitworth StReet west bound toward Deansgate, turns out it’s a bus lane. I realised as I got to the road marking with nowhere to go. I’m expecting a PCN in the post.
“Did some looking afterwards – Waze, Google Maps, and Apple Maps all send you down that road. Google maps satellite and street view do not show the bus lane marking on the road, so it must have been added as part of the recent roadworks.” He added: “Don’t get caught out like I did!”
The signs are in place – but the council say the cameras are not yet live(Image: MEN)
A number of others responded to the post to say they’d experienced the same thing – but no one had yet received a fine.
One wrote: “I don’t know that it’s live yet. I went through it last week and haven’t received anything. It isn’t listed on the council site yet.”
Another added: “Just got caught out today whilst using Apple Maps. Didn’t even see any blue signs saying bus only lane. Did anybody get a ticket yet?”
But anyone who has currently driven through the marked bus lane does not need to worry.
The bus lane is now on one side of Whitworth Street West heading towards the newly-designed junction of Deansgate (pictured)(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
A spokesperson for Manchester Council said: “The planned bus lane in Whitworth Street West is not yet active, but will be later this summer.
“Before that takes place steps will be put in place to ensure that motorists are warned well in advance of it going live.”
They added: “Bus gates have proven to be an effective and useful way of controlling traffic in the city centre, and ensuring that public transport can flow easily on the road network, preventing delays and ensuring they stay on time.”