Bus lanes likely to take car-share commuter traffic on Irish roads
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THE introduction of car-sharing lanes is being considered by the Government in a bid to cut journey times, traffic congestion and carbon emissions.
The initiative, which could see motorists sharing cars in order to access designated lanes or bus lanes, is one of the car-pooling options currently being considered by the Department of Transport for its sustainable travel and transport action plan.
While insisting that the best way to reduce congestion and minimise city traffic is to encourage people to switch from cars to public transport, Minister Noel Dempsey said recently High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes will be considered.
Already, HOVs are in use in Canada, the United States and Australia, while the UK opened it's first car-sharing lane between Bradford and Leeds last March.
Only cars with two or more occupants are eligible to use the lane, in addition to taxis, buses and coaches.
Although such countries have lanes designated solely for car-pooling initiatives, Ireland is likely to have to rely on bus lanes if such a scheme is pursued here.
