Taxi Drivers in Lincoln Demand Changes to City Centre Bus Stop
Severe concerns have been expressed by taxi drivers in Lincoln regarding the Lincoln Central Station bus stand. Drivers are urging Lincolnshire County Council to address its issues related to safety and traffic obstruction.
Near-Miss Incidents Reported
The primary contention from taxi drivers is that the bus stop is not wide enough. Instances of near misses with buses have become frequent due to the narrow stop. The Accessible Bus Stop Guidance recommends a stop width of 3 metres for maximum safety. However, the Central Station bus stand is only 1.84 metres wide - significantly narrower than advised, leading to reported disruptions in traffic.
Impaired Visibility and Increased Risk
In addition to the narrow stop causing potential collisions, drivers have also voiced concerns about the location of the bus stop. They argue it obstructs their view as they exit the car park of the train station, heightening the potential for accidents. Furthermore, during peak hours buses have been observed parked in the taxi rank directly opposite the bus stand. This further impairs drivers' visibility and compounds the risk.
Taxi Driver's Testimonies
"It shouldn’t be here; it makes no sense. When they’re parked in our rank, it's dangerous. I nearly had an accident once. As soon as I pulled out of the car park, another bus emerged from behind the one parked in the taxi rank,"
said one concerned driver who wished to remain unnamed. Another driver echoed these sentiments expressing the necessity to
"edge out a lot and hope the other person sees you."
The collective of drivers are now urging the Lincolnshire County Council to take action and rectify these issues.
Lincolnshire County Council's Response
In response to these concerns, a spokesperson from Lincolnshire County Council stated that the markings within the layby on St Mary’s Street adhere to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 (Part 5 of Scheduled 7). They asserted that these are a legitimate variation of the standard bus stop clearway marking and are enforceable.