Copyright bbc
Last month, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins wrote to business groups outlining plans to extend bus lane hours as part of efforts to improve traffic flow before Christmas. In her letter, seen by BBC News NI, Kimmins said the plans aimed to give buses "enhanced priority" so that they "can turn up on time without being snarled up in traffic". Last year, car journey times in parts of Belfast more than doubled during peak periods before Christmas, prompting complaints from motorists and businesses. On some occasions fewer than a quarter of Metro bus services arrived on time. Since last December, more taxis have been permitted to use some city centre bus lanes in an effort to ease congestion.
