Taxis get to use North Shore peak-time transit lanes

Taxis will be allowed to use North Shore transit lanes that have been strictly reserved at peak times for buses and cyclists and cars with at least three people in them.

The city council has decided to let taxis use the lanes even if they have only one passenger, or none.

Taxi operators welcomed the move yesterday as a boon to getting airport-bound customers and special needs children more quickly through the heavily congested Onewa Rd to the Northern Motorway - a trip that can take 45 minutes to an hour.

Onewa Rd has operated with a transit lane for 20 years.

"Councillors acknowledge that taxis perform an essential service and are an important part of the passenger transport fleet," said Mayor George Wood.

But across the Harbour Bridge, Auckland City Council transport committee chairman Richard Simpson was angry at the move.

"It's angered me because I don't want to see softening-up of the lanes when consistency [between the cities] is important," Mr Simpson said. "Having a different rule for each city will create confusion and havoc with safety."

The Auckland City committee is opposed to general use of the city's 24.5km of bus lanes by taxis. But the committee will review bylaws for bus lane use next December.