HUNDREDS of motorists have fallen foul of Liverpool's newest bus lane, netting thousands of pounds a day for the City Treasury.
For at least half a century, since the opening of the Catholic Cathedral, a stretch of Mount Pleasant has been a useful link between Hope Street and Brownlow Hill.
'Recently it was reported more than £3m had been earned by the council from bus lane infringements'
But just a few days ago, a short stretch of it became operational as a bus lane, with cameras snapping drivers heading in both directions.
Those receiving tickets will be issued with a £60 fixed penalty ticket, cut to £30 if paid within 14 days.
Although this stretch of Mount Pleasant has never been a notable bus route, it was decided to classify it as such in order to deter vehicles to create a safer environment for pedestrians in the cathedral and university area.
I watched in amazement at the weekend as a continuous procession of drivers sailed along Mount Pleasant. In just a matter of minutes I counted my more than 50 cars ignoring the signs warning of the bus lane.
It looked to me as though drivers did not expect to come across a stretch of bus lane, just a matter of metres long, half way along the road.
“I didn't even notice the signs. I've been using this stretch of Mount Pleasant for years. It’s crazy," one irate motorist told me.
“It's just a racket to get more money out of us. It's disgusting. I didn’t even notice it was a bus lane,” said another driver on his way to visit the cathedral.
Instead of using this leg of Mount Pleasant, drivers now have to make detours on long and busy main roads.
Bus lanes have been introduced as part of the on-going CCMS strategy that has seen them controversially introduced in other parts of the city, including Lime Street, Chapel Street and St John's Lane.
The aim is part of a plan to encourage more people to leave their cars at home and use public transport which is seemingly able to sail past traffic queues in exclusive traffic lanes.
Critics say the council will not only deter some cars from coming in, but it will also deter some people from coming to Liverpool.
Since road experts at the CCMS - dubbed by some as the City Centre Moneymaking Strategy - were let loose, some roads seem busier and more crowded than ever.
Chapel Street, towards the Pier Head, is a bus lane, yet it isn't even a major bus route.
There have been calls to allow all traffic to use it during the evenings and at weekends.
It's a similar picture for another money-spinner, St John's Lane. Because the short link between Victoria Street and Lime Street is a no-go route, drivers face a massive diversion that involves heading past the tunnel entrance, doing a right into New Islington, doing another right into Norton Street and yet another right into London Road to join Lime Street near to the Empire Theatre.
Recently it was reported more than £3m had been earned by the council from bus lane infringements.
At least Liverpool allows private hire taxis to use bus lanes which is not the case in all city centres.
A spokesman for Liverpool City Council told Liverpool Confidential: “Enforcement on the bus lane actually began on Monday 14 May. In terms of numbers of cars going through, our parking services team says that, looking at CCTV, numbers are in the region of 200 to 300 cars ignoring the signage and driving through the lane so far.
“Although signs were bagged-over until recently, road markings and other warning signs have been visible for some time to make motorists aware of changes. The number is relatively low which suggests motorists by and large are complying with regulations rather than ignoring them. There is a statutory appeal process for motorists who believe they should not have been issued with a Penalty Charge Notice.”
