Drivers have been left furious over a local authority’s plan to make a bus gate permanent in a major city, potentially slapping thousands with penalties.
Coventry City Council has revealed that the bus gate currently in place at Hales Street will be made permanent, having already raised more than £500,000 in fines.
The bus gate launched in June last year and within the first six months issued 25,000 fines to drivers who broke the traffic rules.
The gate, which operates from 10am to 6pm every day except Sunday, sees motorists fined £70 fine for breaching the restriction at Hales Street, although halved to £35 if paid early.
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The bus gates in Coventry are monitored by ANPR cameras
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The council detailed: “The enforcement of bus lanes is carried out by fixed automatic number plate recognition cameras which record all vehicles using the bus lanes.
“After identifying those vehicles that are not allowed to use the bus lanes an evidence pack is assembled, and a penalty charge notice is issued by post from Coventry City Council to the registered owner/hirer of the vehicle in contravention of the regulations.
“The aim of most traffic management measures, such as bus lanes and parking regulations is to give priority to certain groups of road users by excluding others during prescribed hours.”
It added that the introduction of CCTV monitoring of traffic regulations was intended to reduce the level of violations in the city as well as reduce delays on the highway network.
At a council meeting on Wednesday, representatives stated that businesses would be eligible to apply for permits to prevent them from being fined.
Permits were free during the trial period of the bus gate, but as the scheme now gets the green light to remain, the council stated charges may apply.
But the move has been met with anger from residents who have accused the council of causing more disruptions.
One person shared: “These clowns are incredible – bus gates to improve bus movements on one hand and bus lane closures for cycle paths on the other!”
Another angry resident said: “Have you by any chance considered that features such as bus lanes, yellow boxes at junctions, giveaway signs, speed limits etc might be there for reasons other than making money?
“Many Coventry bus lanes have been suspended because of detrimental effects upon traffic. Some have been kept because they have been effective.
“I was one of those caught using that lane just after it was installed. I got my money back because of lack of signage.”
The bus gates currently in operation across Coventry are located on Gosford Street, Hales Street, Sky Blue Way, Stoney Road, Tile Hill Lane, Warwick Road and Whittle Arch.
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Drivers could see their fines halved if they pay early enough
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The council commented: “Bus lane signs and markings clearly indicate both the start and end of bus lanes and highlight the hours of operation. If there are no times indicated, then the bus lane is in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
