Minor amendments for Wycombe bus lane - but CCTV not ruled out

4:00pm Tuesday 18th September 2012 in News By Simon Farr

Minor amendments for Wycombe bus lane Minor amendments for Wycombe bus lane

MINOR amendments will be made to the High Wycombe bus lane in the Spring, transport bosses have announced.

But Buckinghamshire County Council has not ruled out introducing CCTV to enforce the London Road bus lane in the future.

It follows a public consultation into the usage and effectiveness of the project by BCC’s Transport for Buckinghamshire.

Travelling into Wycombe on the A40, the lane will end near Homebase before the pedestrian crossing and left-hand turn into Chestnut Avenue.

The lane will come back into operation by High Wycombe Cricket Club.

The left-hand lane turning into the Wycombe Marsh Retail Park will be redesignated ‘buses and left turn only’, while road-markings and signage will also be refreshed.

Peter Hardy, BCC’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation, said: “Consulting residents and the general public about proposed improvements to the transport system is vital.

“Our strategic bus lanes, such as the one on the London Road, are an important part of our strategy to tackle both current and future congestion for all road users.

“These minor changes represent a good balance between improving the bus lane and investing our limited resources wisely.”

Most responses to the council’s consultation backed the scheme and its current operating times – but comments were made about enforcement.

It followed an investigation by the Free Press in November, which revealed just 34 motorists had been ticketed for flouting the rules since the lane was introduced in 1997.

This is despite the BFP clocking 189 vehicles driving illegally in the lane during two one hour periods in November 2011.

Another Free Press study in 2007 recorded 37 cars and just one bus using the bus lane during a 20 minute slot in the evening rush-hour.

TfB said: “While infringement levels are lower than the general perception, TfB will continue to liaise with Thames Valley Police and consider CCTV as a potential longer term enforcement solution.”

Changes to the bus lane will be made in the Spring alongside the council’s We’re Working On It road repairs programme.

Comments (7)

4:21pm Tue 18 Sep 12

williamjames says...

The changes at the entrance to Wycombe Marsh Retail Site will need to have the 'bus gate' fixed. It has never worked.

The major change required is to remove the bus lane as it is not necessary. It is also illogical to have no bus lane for the east bound traffic. Why have the bus lane into Wycombe operating in the afternoon when the traffic is going out of town taking people home from work.
The changes at the entrance to Wycombe Marsh Retail Site will need to have the 'bus gate' fixed. It has never worked. The major change required is to remove the bus lane as it is not necessary. It is also illogical to have no bus lane for the east bound traffic. Why have the bus lane into Wycombe operating in the afternoon when the traffic is going out of town taking people home from work. williamjames

4:26pm Tue 18 Sep 12

miccles says...

"Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation, said: “Consulting residents and the general public about proposed improvements to the transport system is vital."

But they never end up doing what the general public really want or need.
"Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation, said: “Consulting residents and the general public about proposed improvements to the transport system is vital." But they never end up doing what the general public really want or need. miccles

4:57pm Tue 18 Sep 12

Flackwell says...

improvements ????
improvements ???? Flackwell

9:14pm Tue 18 Sep 12

YorksDavey says...

The 'bus gate' as you call it works fine now and has for sometime. I have seen a Carousel bus go through it without problem. The drivers just don't use it. There was a plan to flip the lane outbound at Hammersley lane to Rayners due to slow traffic at that point but that appears to have been dropped sadly.
The 'bus gate' as you call it works fine now and has for sometime. I have seen a Carousel bus go through it without problem. The drivers just don't use it. There was a plan to flip the lane outbound at Hammersley lane to Rayners due to slow traffic at that point but that appears to have been dropped sadly. YorksDavey

6:35am Wed 19 Sep 12

ThePolice says...

It's unenforceable and therefore pointless.

Get rid of it
It's unenforceable and therefore pointless. Get rid of it ThePolice

7:24am Wed 19 Sep 12

wycombeboy says...

Get rid of bus lane. Very confusing for motorists.
Get rid of bus lane. Very confusing for motorists. wycombeboy

12:07pm Thu 20 Sep 12

washondo says...

Not unexpected. Got to keep the Elfin Saftiers busy at BCC. There will be another enquiry in 2 years time, which will keep them employed for the following two years.
~
It's not a plan, it's an employment opportunity for the incumbents. And it doesn't work!
Not unexpected. Got to keep the Elfin Saftiers busy at BCC. There will be another enquiry in 2 years time, which will keep them employed for the following two years. ~ It's not a plan, it's an employment opportunity for the incumbents. And it doesn't work! washondo

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