YP Letters: Why car drivers must follow the rules on using bus lanes

I READ Janet Porter’s recent letter on bus lane fines with interest.

Mrs Porter’s view – that we should ban all cars from bus lanes at all times – is definitely consistent. But it may be disproportionate and lead to situations where cars are backed up when there is a free lane. That doesn’t seem fair on car users.

Mrs Porter argues that the rules about when bus lanes are enforced are overly complicated.

We certainly don’t want that to be the case; that said, from my experience the majority of people are able to follow these rules.

If there are any particular signs or bus lanes in Leeds that residents want to let me know about, please feel free to contact me and I’ll look into it.

However, my general advice would be “if in doubt, don’t drive in the bus lane”.

Bus lanes can make a significant difference to travel times for public transport users at peak times.

This only works if car drivers stay out of them.

Enforcement is there to make sure that people are following the rules and to prevent them from being flouted.

If the rules are followed, there are no fines.

That’s the situation we want to see – freely moving buses providing quick and reliable public transport to residents in the city.

From: Hilary Andrews, Nursery Lane, Leeds.

ONCE again (The Yorkshire Post, August 8) there are suggestions that pensioners are responsible for the country’s economy and our bus passes should be removed to help.

We deserve all the perks we get and the bus pass enables seniors to get out and about and prevents deterioration in their mental state, the treatment of which would prove far more expensive than a bus pass. Many travel to other cities to meet old friends and, where they have the time, for retail therapy so this benefits the economy. Leave us alone please. PS. We are not responsible for Brexit either.

From: Andrew Mercer, Guiseley.

RE concerns about rural bus services in the Yorkshire Dales. Why the silence from Harrogate MP Andrew Jones? He is, after all, a junior Minister at the Department for Transport and his brief, according to the DfT website, includes buses.