TRANSLINK has "ghettoised " the Irish language by its decision to revert to English-only signs on the new Glider service when it leaves west Belfast, it has been claimed.
The high-profile cross-city service, which launched earlier this month, will have bilingual signs added to vehicles in the coming months.
However, Translink is to ensure the information signs switch to English only before travelling to predominantly unionist east Belfast.
Irish language activist Linda Ervine, who runs hugely popular Irish classes at the Skainos centre in the heart of east Belfast, has branded the policy "bizarre".
However, east Belfast DUP councillor Tom Haire said there was no need for bi-lingual signage as people in the east of the city had "no more interest in Irish than the man on the moon".
Janet Muller, director of Irish language advocacy group Pobal, welcomed Glider's bilingual policy but criticised Translink for discontinuing the signs in east Belfast.
"We regret the decision to restrict bilingual signage to certain areas of the city – it is counterproductive and ineffective, and creates the impression that the language only belongs in some parts of Belfast," she said.
"The name of the entire city - Belfast from Béal Feirste - and many of its best known areas come from Irish. The language belongs to all and should not be ghettoised."
A Translink spokesman said information at Glider halts in west Belfast were already displayed in dual English/Irish language and that this would be extended to Metro feeder services in the future.
"Irish language destination screen signage for the west Belfast section of the G1 route is planned to be in place in the coming months," he said.
The spokesman said computer software would be developed to switch the signs to solely English as the Glider crosses into the east of the city.
In July, DUP South Belfast MP Emma Little-Pengelly raised concerns that a Glider halt on the Albertbridge Road had been named Short Strand.
