Delivery vehicles to be allowed night-time use of bus lanes to ease traffic

Delivery and logistics vehicles will soon be permitted to use dedicated bus lanes during the night. This policy change is being introduced through amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences and the Law of Georgia on Traffic. The legislative package passed its second reading in Parliament today.

Proponents of the amendments believe that opening bus lanes to freight and delivery vehicles overnight will significantly ease daytime traffic congestion and could ultimately reduce prices for consumers at checkout.

“A decree from the Minister of Internal Affairs will define the specific rules and criteria that delivery vehicles must meet. They will be granted permission to use and stop in bus lanes during the night, specifically between 01:00 and 06:00, to offload cargo.

On one hand, this will substantially ease traffic flow during peak hours. On the other hand, reducing transport and logistics costs will, logically, have a knock-on effect in lowering retail prices. These updates are now being integrated into both the Code of Administrative Offences and the draft Law on Traffic,” stated MP Archil Gorduladze, Chairman of the Parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee.

Furthermore, Shota Berekashvili, Chairman of the Economic Policy Committee, confirmed that a consultation meeting had been held with major retail chains and distribution representatives to discuss the logistics of the rollout.

“Yesterday, we held an important meeting with retail networks and distributors. We discussed enabling night-time distribution teams to utilise bus lanes for deliveries. Shifting a major portion of freight distribution from day to night will significantly ease daytime congestion.

Additionally, overnight logistics operations will be more centralised, significantly cutting operational costs for both suppliers and retail networks. This efficiency will naturally translate into lower consumer prices on the shelves,” Shota Berekashvili added.