BOROUGH OF POOLE
TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY GROUP – 16 OCTOBER 2003
REPORT OF HEAD OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
ON BUS LANES- HOURS OF OPERATION
1. Purpose of Report and Policy Context
1.1 To review the hours of operation of bus lanes in the Borough.
1.2 Public transport is an important element of the Local Transport Plan.
2. Recommendations
2.1 It is recommended that the contents of the report be noted,
and
i) Members give guidance as to whether Ringwood Road bus lane be shortened near the junction with Herbert Avenue, at a cost of £2,000, to be considered within the 2004/05 Capital Programme
ii) The position be clarified in that ambulance vehicles be authorised to use bus lanes.
3. Information
3.1 As traffic congestion increases, bus lanes are a valuable way of allowing buses to keep to their timetable. Their prime purpose is to allow buses and other authorised vehicles to bypass queues at strategic congestion points.
3.2 By stopping a short distance before junctions, the lanes have minimal impact on the capacity of the junction itself they merely allow the bus to bypass most of the queue. The capacity of the road network is generally dependant on the capacity of the main junctions, it is very rare that the link capacity needs improving.
3.3 In congested urban areas bus lanes also allow similar advantages for other specialised users. Taxis and private hire vehicles form an important part of the public transport system and their passengers pay extra when the vehicle is caught up in traffic. There are clear advantages in allowing the emergency services to bypass congestion. Bus lanes also serve as helpful routes to improve safety for cyclists. Furthermore there is currently consultation taking place on a powered two wheeler ( ie motorcycle ) policy, which will inevitably consider the issue of whether these should be allowed in Bus Lanes. 3.4 Full Time or Off Peak
Bus lanes would normally apply 24 hours, 7 days a week. There are two examples in Poole where restricted hours have been applied to allow parking outside the peak hours. While the bus lanes may not appear to be of limited use outside the congested periods, the road space would not provide any benefit (except possibly for parking) during these periods, either because:-
The capacity of the road network is dependent on the capacity of the main junctions, with bus lanes stopping short. The bus lanes stop short of the queue lengths at the main junctions during off-peak periods. Bus lanes still provide a safe route for cyclists throughout the day. Bus lanes still provide a route for emergency vehicles, or a “hard shoulder” for general traffic to pull into when emergency vehicles drive along the outside of a traffic stream. Buses can continue to benefit if queues develop because of unforeseen problems during the day or if peak periods “spread”.
In fact, allowing general traffic to use the lanes during off peak periods has a number of potential safety problems. Observations indicate that most drivers avoid using the bus lanes even outside the controlled hours. Problems can develop when:
I) drivers try to undertake the stream of traffic by driving along the bus lane ii) traffic has to merge at the end of the bus lane and select the appropriate lane at the next junction, this manover being potentially more difficult with numerous private vehicles emerging rather than large buses or emergency vehicles. iii) Allowing traffic to travel two abreast along a route intended for single file traffic could lead to higher speeds and overtaking.
Reducing the hours of operation of the lanes could also reduce drivers respect for them and lead to excuses that they did not realise which periods the lanes applied for.
3.5 Options
It is suggested that only two of the Borough’s full time bus lanes could be considered for conversion to part time: Poole Road and Ringwood Road.
The cost of changing the signs and the orders would be approximately £5000. It is suggested that the existing waiting restrictions (no waiting at any time) should be retained. The benefits of this are questionable, however, as the times when vehicles could be allowed into the lanes are those when there is minimal congestion and therefore little need for the extra space. Conversely when there is congestion at peak times, this is when buses derive most benefit from the lanes.
Another alternative would be to foreshorten the ends of the bus lanes at these places ( and of the two Ringwood Road near the junction of Herbert Avenue would be most beneficial ) in order to provide more queuing capacity at the next junctions. The cost of changing the lines and orders would be approximately £2,000 per location
3.6 Consultation
It is good practice to consult with those groups of road users that are likely to be effected by a change in traffic orders like this, before advertising the proposals officially. In fact, as a party to the Quality Bus Partnership the Council would be expected to liase with the bus companies at an early stage. The Police and Bus Company have previously expressed concerns about the principles of allowing general traffic to use bus lanes during off peak periods, in view of the safety issues raised above. Based on previous consultation it is likely that there will also be objections from the emergency services, cyclists and the taxi trade who all experience benefits from the bus lanes outside the peak periods.
The Ambulance Service has recently asked for their vehicles to be allowed to use bus lanes. It is suggested that in consideration of this report members approve this request in that the bus lanes be provided for all emergency services, whether or not they are actually on a call.
3.7 Conclusion
There are only two bus lanes in the Borough where it would be appropriate to consider reducing the hours of operation or reducing the extent.
There would be no real benefit for general traffic in reducing the hours of operation, but there could be associated safety problems. Reducing the hours of operation will also remove the benefits currently enjoyed by bus passengers, taxi passengers, cyclists and the emergency services.
JAMES T BRIGHT HEAD OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
APPENDIX A – EXISTING BUS LANES
Background Papers: None
Name and Telephone Number of Officer Contact Steve Dean (01202) 262071
TAG161003T3F APPENDIX A
Bus Lanes
Schedule of bus lanes and the relevant restrictions. i) Buses Only
Banks Road – Ferry Way - allows access to the Ferry Kingland Road - allows access to the bus station Kingland Road Services Road - allows access to the bus garage North Road - allows access to the college ii) Buses and Taxis
Poole Road on County Gates Gyratory Poole Road between County Gates Gyratory and the Westbourne shops iii) Buses, Taxis and Cyclists
Parkstone Road - (8:30-9:30 and 1600-1800 Mon-Fri) Poole Road - full time Ringwood Road - full time Wimborne Road - (8:00-10:00 Mon-Sat)