Letters: If you’re not going to train, you shouldn’t use the lane

I refer to the article “Cab driver caught on bus lanes 30 times” (News, May 10). He must be some kind of protester to be caught so many times.

It is stated the Private Hire Car Association said it was unfair that black cabs were allowed into bus lanes whilst private hire cars were not.

Why is this unfair?

I once put it to the council that since private hire cars could charge the same fare as black cab drivers but some didn’t know where they were going and therefore charged more, that they should undergo some kind of training with testing at the end. One councillor replied that if private hires were forced to undergo training, then they would want into the bus lanes.

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No such training is taking place but they still want into the bus lanes. It is entirely fair that they should not be allowed into the bus lanes.

Bob Dewar, Taxi Academy, Edinburgh

Issue is an excuse to raise revenue

CAN anyone explain why the Calder Road bus lanes are in use from 7.00am until 6.30pm and Corstorphine/St John’s Road, which is a far busier route, is only in use at peak times? There is absolutely no need for the all-day use of these lanes.

Peak-time-only enforcement would cut congestion and still allow buses to move freely. The whole issue is just an excuse to raise revenue.

Also, there are numerous areas on Calder Road and other routes with parts of bus lanes no more than 50 yards long. These cause absolute chaos, with traffic pulling out and then trying to get back into lane for turning.

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Is the enforcing authority for the bus lanes going to target black cab drivers who use the bus lanes when they don’t have a fare? I see dozens of them daily. As far as I am led to believe the Road Traffic Act Scotland only permits them to use bus lanes if they have a fare at the time.

Colin Friel, Broomhouse Walk, Edinburgh

Twenty is plenty for the Capital

EARLY this year the city council began work on a trial of 20 miles per hour speed limits on streets across South Central Edinburgh.

Following the local elections, it is fantastic to see the new administration affirm their commitment to lower speed limits on our residential and shopping streets.

Edinburgh streets should be places for people first, not places where the car is king.

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At 20, there is a significantly lower chance of an accident being fatal, just 2.5 per cent at 20, compared to 20 per cent at 30mph.

We look forward to working with the new administration to make Edinburgh a city of 20.

John Lauder, Sustrans Scotland, Edinburgh

Be thankful for small mercies

IN East Lothian, Labour have joined forces with the Tories to form a coalition.

We can be thankful for one thing – the Tories could have joined the Lib Dems and made the same mess that they are making in England.

Alan Lough, Dunbar

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