Councillors will consider the report at the next meeting of the Transport and Environment Committee on Thursday, November 13 2025.<\/p>\n
By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Edinburgh councillors will review allowing private hire vehicles to use bus lanes in the city \u2013 but for now are asked to maintain the current position.<\/p>\n
A report before the city\u2019s transport meeting next Thursday asks councillors to review access to bus lanes for private hire vehicles. But council officers recommend that any decision allowing such a should be delayed until several city centre mobility projects and traffic studies are completed.<\/p>\n
Council officers also ask for a review of all current bus gates in the city to determine where it may be appropriate to open them up to private hire cars as well as Black Taxis.<\/p>\n
Transport Convener Cllr Stephen Jenkinson said he expected there will be differing opinions on the proposals \u2013 but that he remains opposed to bus lanes being opened up to more vehicles.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cMy opinion is that it should be maintained and upheld, and that the current restrictions should continue.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have been asked multiple times by the industry to change the policy, we\u2019ve held firm on that as a committee, as a council under various administrations.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019ve got a bus priority measure, and you\u2019re really pushing for people to use and see bus as an option for them to get around \u2013 I think that would negate the use of it in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also said officers had spent time speaking with the private hire, black cab and public transport industries, along with other stakeholders, when compiling the report.<\/p>\n
As to the proposals for changes to bus gates, he said it could be valuable to explore how they could be used more efficiently to help both private hire and taxi drivers.<\/p>\n
Currently most Edinburgh bus gates are closed to black cabs, and all are shut to private hire vehicles.<\/p>\n
The report states that the council has maintained a long-standing policy of keeping bus lanes for buses and black cabs only since at least the 1990s. Bus operators have said they are concerned about possible increases in journey times, and additional queuing at junctions, if bus lanes were now opened to the 3,000 or so private hire vehicles in the city.<\/p>\n
Cycling representatives are against the proposal over safety concerns \u2013 as bikes can also currently use bus lanes in Edinburgh.<\/p>\n
But the private hire industry feel that allowing black taxis to use bus lanes creates an unfair operating environment, and can lead to higher fares caused by traffic delays.<\/p>\n
Council officers admit in the report that private hire vehicles provide travel options for city residents who are unable to use the bus and who do not have access to a vehicle of their own.<\/p>\n
The report explains: \u201cBus gates are short lengths of bus lane that are an effective way to restrict access to certain streets to a limited number of vehicles. They can be implemented on roads that do not have bus services and could be more accurately referred to as modal filters.\u201d<\/p>\n
There are proposals for a new bus gate on Market Street which will include allowing private hire vehicles to use it in a trial scheme.<\/p>\n
And any bus gate in the George Street project might allow private hires at certain times \u2013 though the George Street and First New Town<\/a> proposals still await approval.<\/p>\n Councillors will consider the report at the next meeting of the Transport and Environment Committee on Thursday, November 13 2025.<\/p>\n By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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