Edinburgh traffic wardens to ride buses in bid to clamp down on bus lane parking
From Tuesday, parking attendants will ride on specially selected Lothian Buses routes that are regularly affected by "inconsiderate" drivers.
Monday 8 May 2023 15:28, UK
A crackdown on drivers parking in bus lanes in Edinburgh will see traffic wardens travel on local services in a bid to target "inconsiderate" motorists across the city.
From Tuesday, parking attendants will ride on specially selected Lothian Buses routes that are regularly affected by vehicles blocking bus lanes.
The trial will see wardens disembark buses to move on or issue parking tickets to any drivers caught breaking the rules and then board the next bus on the same route.
The City of Edinburgh Council hopes the initiative will improve bus reliability and journey times by reducing disruption to services caused by incorrectly parked vehicles.
In turn, the local authority believes the move will support and encourage sustainable, low-carbon travel by public transport.
The initiative is being carried out in partnership with Lothian Buses.
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Councillor Scott Arthur, the council's transport and environment committee convener, said: "We already have an excellent bus service in Edinburgh, relied on by many, and our bus lanes are really important to making sure services can run smoothly and on time, especially during peak hours.
"This trial, in partnership with Lothian Buses, will let parking attendants target hot spots in real time, where drivers continue to park inconsiderately.
"We'll continue monitoring its effectiveness to make sure we're focusing on the right areas.
"Encouraging and supporting travel by sustainable, reliable public transport is crucial to our net zero 2030 aspirations, as well as helping to reduce congestion, improve air quality and provide accessible transport for everyone."