Brighton & Hove’s first low emission zone (LEZ) has begun.
The majority of buses entering the UK city centre zone from this week will meet
minimum emission standards.
Although the LEZ area is small, almost 98% of bus movements
in the city pass through the zone, extending the benefits of cleaner buses and
taxis throughout the city.
Brighton & Hove’s LEZ came about following constructive
discussions with all the city’s bus operators and the taxi forum on ways in
which poor air quality can be tackled in a practical way.
All bus operators large and small are playing their part in
making public transport cleaner.
Cuckmere Buses, a small company made up of volunteers, has
spent £90,000 on a Euro V Sprinter while Metrobus is replacing four buses to
Euro VI in March. Stagecoach has invested over £2 million with 12 Euro V buses
which are now being used on the 700 route.
Cuckmere Buses has a turnover of just over £200,000 a year,
so each new bus represents a huge commitment. It is planning further
investment.
Brighton and Hove Buses is in the process of retrofitting 50
buses to better than Euro V standard and buying a further 24 new Euro VI buses
in the spring.
These vehicles will provide the backbone of the public
transport system for the city for some years to come, and with a fleet of
almost 300 buses operating in compliance with the requirements of the new LEZ, the
business aims to balance the needs of bus users and the wider needs of the
whole community.
Taxis are not covered by the LEZ conditions but drivers are
voluntarily observing ‘no engine idling’ policies whilst stationary at taxi
ranks.
A successful joint bid with Brighton & Hove City Council
also allows a minimum of 25 vehicles to be installed with cleaner exhaust
technology.
Consultants Ricardo has carried out research into
understanding real-world exhaust emissions in Brighton.
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