‘Scrap the bus lane now’ say most readers (From Bucks Free Press)

‘Scrap the bus lane now’ say most readers

6:30pm Friday 14th October 2011 in Editor's Chair

I’M still reeling with happy surprise at the mass backing for my call to ban the London Road bus lane in High Wycombe.

Legions of readers have emailed and posted me their support, and many have articulated the case better than I did.

A few critics on the web knocked my point about it being a white- knuckle ride. But I also note a common thread of support comes from residents who risk road rage and disaster whenever they try to turn into their roads.

Take for instance Chestnut Avenue. The bus lane stops just short of the road and you therefore have to slip in left at the last moment to make the turn.

Sounds a simple manoeuvre, but just you try it in rush hour when you have a law-breaking car in the left lane bearing down on you, or a bus blocking your path. The London Road often feels like an obstacle course as a result.

I was delighted to see that the county council’s transport chief, Cllr Peter Hardy, said his authority would re-evaulate the lane if there was a strong demand from motorists to do so. Well, Peter, I’ll send you my postbag and you will see there is.

I wasn’t, however, surprised to hear the response from bus company Arriva which said the lane is vital to provide a reliable service. Arriva’s statement was laced with a warning of longer journey times, which would in turn result in higher fares or a reduced level of service.

I make no criticism of Arriva officials for saying this, because they appear to do a good job along the London Road and you can’t blame them for trying to keep the lane.

However, I reckon they wouldn’t see a difference if it was scrapped because traffic in general would run more smoothly. Buses surely can’t benefit from the stop/start nature of this lane and from all the cars that have to suddenly cut back in to the left – thereby cutting up the buses.

Instead of persisting with silly lanes, bus companies could help themselves and the road systems by lowering their prices.

I prefer taxis to buses most of the time when I’m without a car because, for a family of three, they are actually cheaper. And I strongly believe more people would use public transport if the fares were lowered.

I took the Chiltern train line to London three times in a week a fortnight ago and it was brilliant. Every train came on time, and the journeys were fast and relaxing. In fact, I was stunned by how reliable the rail and underground services were.

But the cost of a Travelcard in rush hour was a whopping £27 a day. It was okay for me because it was business, but no way would I dream of taking my family on a train for a day out at these prices. Of course, it gets cheaper in off-peak hours, but it’s still prohibitive.

Don’t train operators ever wonder why more families don’t use their services? Don’t they realise it’s cheaper for a family on a Sunday to drive into London rather than hop onto a train? Don’t they think that lower prices would lead to more demand and eventually more profit if they get the equations right?

Public transport in this country is backward and in desperate need of sensible incentives to get the public on board.

But instead, the authorities stick with hazardous and daft bus lanes… or unpopular high speed train services that will serve mainly the suits who can afford the prices.

If I were PM, I would get rid of every single green transport initiative and plough the money into train and bus subsidies to lower prices and get people out of their cars.

But, hey, what do I know?

Letters

I agree with Steve about the bus lane in London Road, it should be abandoned immediately, it is really dangerous.

A Williams (Mrs), by email

I fully agree... I travel daily, at all times of the day, in both directions from Cock Lane to the M40 junction 3.

The road merge at both traffic light sections are a massive hazard to all drivers, especially those not familiar with the road set-up.

I drive both a car and motorbike down this road and most times I have an altercation with other drivers due to people not reading the road or not looking in both right and left mirrors.

It is mostly a hazard for me when I’m on my motorbike and I use the bus lane in rush hour, as drivers are not aware the bus lane can be used by other vehicles (buses, motorbikes and cycles).

When driving home towards Cock Lane, some drivers driving the in the opposite direction, move into oncoming traffic to turn right into the Shell garage. Numerous times I’ve had to stop to prevent a head-on accident. I think this is due to the road being unclearly marked.

This bus lane, like the one that was on the M4, is a waste of time, creates more traffic during rush hour and is a danger to all road uses.

I do not think this bus lane benefits public transport as the volume of buses using this lane is very minimal.

Jeff Manser, by email

Scrap the lane! I totally agree with you, it has to go. This idiotic idea was probably dreamed up by someone trying to look busy to keep his job.

Geoff Pitter, by email

The bus lane is useless and hazardous.

Brenda, by email

Your article expressed views I have held for some time, but it is even more serious than you indicated. It has been established as the most dangerous road of all-the three lane travel experience we have on the A40. And coming out of Wycombe there are no signs to advise motorists that vehicles coming the other way are likely to be using the middle lane (or not) depending on the day and time.

If you wish to turn right coming out of Wycombe do you sit in the inside lane or look at your watch and depending on the above move to the middle lane and hope no one will bear down on you before you have had the chance to cross over.

I am amazed we have not had any fatalities on this stretch, yet and your campaign despite the apparent indifference of the council is welcomed, and the article should be reprinted and sent to every councillors’ home address. Keep up the good work.

Chris Hales, by email

The bus lane has never worked. I consider it a ‘green’ fashion accessory, it is even worse now the mini roundabouts have been replaced with lights.

Roger Bond, by email

The bus lane along the London Road A40 should be scrapped ASAP. It has been a total nightmare from the word go, and to us it is highly dangerous.

We have had many a near miss, due to cars zigzagging in and out of the traffic flow. Either they have read the signs incorrectly or their patience has run out. You will always get the mad person on any road, but we in Loudwater, along the A40 have had more than our share! There is never anyone around to catch those in the wrong lane at the wrong time – story of our lives We say scrap it now. Graham and Sandra Salter by email

I WOULD like to add my support to your campaign to get the bus lane removed from the A40.

I have been in so many near misses on the A40 that I avoid it whenever I can.

People can’t seem to be capable of reading and understanding the signs that explain the times and days when it should be used.

There is also a ‘part time’ bus lane on the Slough trading estate which has been the cause of several near misses. I don’t suppose you could take on that one as well?

Anyway. Good luck with the campaign.

Graham Gibb, by email

KEEP up the good work – no way is the road suitable for a bus lane.Your article covered all the pros and cons.

Jean Ivermee, Herbert Road, High Wycombe

I have to travel this road from Hatters Lane to Slough every day. In the mornings it’s the 11 sets of traffic lights you have to go through, getting stopped at that joke of a junction at the Marsh and other junctions such as Gomm Road, Hammersley Lane and Rayners Avenue so that only one car can come out. (Bring back the roundabouts.) Then you come to the journey back, and you have the bus lane, same problems with the traffic lights, but then it starts with the Dreams roundabout; coming on the A40 you get cut up by people pushing in (only one lane or have I missed something) which stops the traffic and causes it to back- up onto the roundabout.

Then if the bus lane is in operation you have all the problems you describe. The bus lane is a joke and should be scrapped... all the speed humps as well.

Paul P In the late 90s I was fined £60 or thereabouts when I did a left turn at Chestnut Avenue, down to The Rye.

My crime: I moved into the bus lane just before the bus shelter and hiding behind it were two policemen. As I got into Chestnut Avenue I saw two cars and three vans, their drivers being talked to by a policeman each. A policewoman stopped me, I got out of the car and she said I was driving in the bus lane. I said I moved into it to execute a left-hand turn.

Her response was I should have driven to Chestnut Avenue and turned across the bus lane and down the road. I explained that would have been an illegal move to cross the bus lane and she should read the Highway Code on left turns on multi-lane roads.

At this she got annoyed and called over a policeman who proceeded to go over my car while she took down my details. My fine was reduced as I paid in the time limit.

Name and address supplied

I use the Kings Road turn regularly and it is impossible to turn down there safely due to the broken-down truck. It’s been there for two/three years and means if anyone is coming out of Kings Road you cannot get down off the A40. Another reason to do away with the bus lane: I put the bus lane in the came category as sleeping policemen, checklanes and dotted white lines which allow parking on narrow unsuitable roads.

Name and address supplied

My wife and I thoroughly agree with your stance on this roadway. They have squeezed three lanes into a two lane road, and the outside lane gets used as an overtaking lane, out of bus lane times, with the consequence that there is a pinch point by the traffic lights that causes great problems.

The problem is nearly the same opposite the Mead.

There is no need for any of these lanes, the buses would run just as well without them.

Please carry on your campaign and hopefully the council will see sense and remove this anomaly.

Tony Martin Dovecot Road, High Wycombe

Please get the London Road back to how it was, it would be very interesting to know if there is anyone that actually thinks it’s a good idea. It’s one of the most dangerous roads I have ever driven along.

Heather Gibb, by email

WHILE I agree the bus lane is anomalous I would not want the London Road going back to being just two lanes.

Traffic used to back up behind buses taking on passengers at the stops; not now – we have the middle lane to pass them.

Drivers turning right also used to hold up the traffic, now we can dodge them in the bus lane.

Also, outside the bus lane operating times traffic can fill both lanes travelling westward and merge in at the pinch points. I think this keeps the traffic moving more efficiently.

Try frustrating... as it was back then.

Kathy Dix, by email

Your energy would be better spent by setting an example to your readers by using the bus to get to work and thus take one more car off the road. You have a multiplicity of bus services which stop within five minutes walk of the Bucks Free Press offices and you live not that much further from a bus stop opposite Chestnut Avenue. The exercise would do you far more good than sitting in a car fuming at the traffic caused by too many cars on the road.

I would like to ask you what you think will happen if your campaign succeeds and the bus lane is removed, but the traffic situation does not improve? It is hardly likely that the council will reinstate it in a hurry, so things will only get worse as more and more dwellings are built along the A40 corridor.

In spite of ‘the flood of letters’ supporting your campaign, perhaps you would like to reconsider it in the light of possible consequences of ‘success’.

Mr DW Abbott, Robinson Road, High Wycombe

I was driven (!) to comment by the excitement generated by the Editor’s inspirational – if unintentional – campaign leadership: what a waste of time. Completely wrong in my view.

It could well lead to those who represent us spending valuable time debating the issue – surely they could be focused on more pressing issues? Exactly how many residents would benefit by removing the bus lanes?

I also wonder at how wise it would be for the authorities to spend time and money on whatever formal processes they would need to go through to get to a decision, if they did agree the cost of the work would be substantial – roadside sign removal, road markings to be removed/painted over, roadworks causing delays to all road users etc. They could choose to spend the same amount of money on more pressing road issues – one that comes to mind for drivers …potholes and the condition of road surfaces.

This is the disgrace – not the bus lanes. Cars being damaged, dangerous for cyclists and motorcyclists etc. Someone may argue that the money ‘sits in different budgets’ – well, move the money around; that’s what the commercial world does.

Shouldn’t it also be about persuading more people to leave their car behind and use the bus services?

What about those people who depend on the buses – how would they manage? Pay more? Take longer to make their journeys? What difference would the removed bus lanes make – more greedy selfish car drivers could get to their destination quicker?

Anyway, let us hope that the authorities look to repair and maintain our roads properly, before embarking on removing bus lanes.

The Editor should have more sense.

Name and address supplied

And here are some comments that were posted on bucksfreepress.co.uk:

pugwash86 said: “Countless times I have been undertaken by taxis who appear to think it is still their right of way when the bus lane just disappears and all traffic is supposed to merge again; usually this type of incident occurs just after Homebase Wycombe bound by the first turning to The Rye.

I am forever slamming the brakes on to avoid people who believe I am trying to overtake them.

Maybe if the bus lane was able to be continued non stop the length of the London road and rules enforced it may have a chance of working, but with it being intermittent is a recipe for disaster.

I mean trains don’t run on tracks with gaps in them now do they?”

toptastic! said: “The bus lane has been there since 1997. If it’s a ‘recipe for disaster’ then it’s a very slow-baked recipe. Well done to the Ed for finding another way of giving this tired old non news story a last gasp! Try seeing the bus lane from the other side, ie as a bus passenger and your views might’ve [been] more balanced!”

Condorito said: “Each length is so short that when a bus reaches the end of it I imagine it will be held up by the traffic in front of it anyway. I say ‘I imagine’ because I’ve never actually seen a bus use the lane! To read the times on the signs to find out if the lane is in operation takes one’s eyes off the road, so they’re a hazard.”