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M1 car-share lane plans 'dropped' M1 car-share lane plans 'dropped'
(10 minutes later)
Plans for the first car-share lane on the M1 have been dropped, a campaign group has claimed.Plans for the first car-share lane on the M1 have been dropped, a campaign group has claimed.
The car-sharing lane would have operated from junction 7, St Albans, Hertfordshire to junction 10, Luton, Bedfordshire. The car-sharing lane would have operated from junction 7 for St Albans, Hertfordshire to junction 10 for Luton, Bedfordshire.
But the Department for Transport has now decided it is "not the right solution for this location", according to the Campaign for Better Transport.But the Department for Transport has now decided it is "not the right solution for this location", according to the Campaign for Better Transport.
The first motorway car-sharing opened on Thursday in West Yorkshire.The first motorway car-sharing opened on Thursday in West Yorkshire.
It links the southbound M606 from Bradford to the eastbound M62 towards Leeds.It links the southbound M606 from Bradford to the eastbound M62 towards Leeds.
The Campaign for Better Transport has accused officials of "burying" the decision not to open a similar lane for the M1 in a report published earlier this month.The Campaign for Better Transport has accused officials of "burying" the decision not to open a similar lane for the M1 in a report published earlier this month.
'Innovative scheme''Innovative scheme'
Solo drivers would have been banned from the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane - during rush hour.Solo drivers would have been banned from the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane - during rush hour.
The former Transport Secretary promised the car share lane in 2004The former Transport Secretary promised the car share lane in 2004
When the then Transport Secretary Alistair Darling announced the M1 car-share lane in 2004, it was heralded as an "innovative scheme to reduce congestion and improve journey times on the M1".When the then Transport Secretary Alistair Darling announced the M1 car-share lane in 2004, it was heralded as an "innovative scheme to reduce congestion and improve journey times on the M1".
The Campaign for Better Transport wrote to Transport Minister Tom Harris in October 2007 asking him to recommit to the M1 HOV lane, but did not receive a reply.The Campaign for Better Transport wrote to Transport Minister Tom Harris in October 2007 asking him to recommit to the M1 HOV lane, but did not receive a reply.
The decision to drop the promised M1 car-share lane was stated on page 65 of an 80-page report published this month.The decision to drop the promised M1 car-share lane was stated on page 65 of an 80-page report published this month.
Rebecca Lush Blum, Campaign for Better Transport's roads and climate campaigner, said: "We are disappointed that the government has decided not to back the important M1 car-share lane.Rebecca Lush Blum, Campaign for Better Transport's roads and climate campaigner, said: "We are disappointed that the government has decided not to back the important M1 car-share lane.
"Car-share lanes work elsewhere in the world, cutting congestion and carbon emissions.""Car-share lanes work elsewhere in the world, cutting congestion and carbon emissions."