Tallinn wants buses-only lanes, but ministry sees no issue with taxis and EVs

Tallinn has proposed restricting bus lanes to public transport only, but the climate ministry and taxi companies argue the real problem is other vehicles illegally using the lanes. Currently, taxis and electric vehicles are permitted to use bus lanes in Estonia.

A disagreement has emerged in Tallinn over who should be allowed to use dedicated bus lanes, after the city proposed limiting access exclusively to public transport vehicles. The proposal would strip taxis and electric cars of their current right to travel in bus lanes.

However, the Climate Ministry and taxi industry representatives do not share Tallinn's concern. According to them, taxis and electric vehicles are not the root cause of congestion on bus lanes — the real culprits are drivers of ordinary cars who break traffic rules and illegally enter the lanes.

Under current Estonian traffic regulations, taxis and electric vehicles are permitted to use bus lanes alongside public transport. Tallinn argues that growing traffic volumes and the expanding number of electric cars on the road mean this arrangement is increasingly putting pressure on the lanes intended to keep buses moving on schedule.

The taxi sector maintains that their vehicles play a role similar to public transport in reducing the number of private cars on the road, and removing their access to bus lanes would be counterproductive. The Climate Ministry has echoed this view, suggesting that enforcement against rule-breakers would be a more effective solution than restricting lane access for vehicles that are legally permitted to use them.

The debate reflects a broader tension in Estonian urban transport policy between expanding sustainable mobility options and maintaining the efficiency of public transit infrastructure. No legislative changes have been announced as yet, but the discussion signals that Tallinn's traffic management approach may evolve as electric vehicle numbers continue to rise.