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Town hall boss: Let car sharers use bus lanes to reduce jams
David Williams, Motoring Editor11 Mar 2008
Congestion in London could be cut significantly by allowing car-sharers to use bus lanes, it has been claimed.
The move would reduce the number of cars on the roads by encouraging commuters to travel together and relieve pressure on key routes, said Enfield council.
Terry Neville, Enfield cabinet member for the environment, called on the Mayor to consider the idea as a matter of urgency.
He said: "This will get London moving again. Congestion is choking London - both environmentally and economically.
"Bus lanes need to be used more effectively. By allowing people who car-share to use bus lanes we are making the most of London's road space and at the same time helping the economy."
The council said there might be " enforcement considerations" but suggested that cameras used by TfL to catch motorists who stray into bus lanes could also be used to detect cheats.
Enfield has more than 4,000 metres of bus lanes and believes that allowing cars carrying at least two people to use them would considerably ease pressure on other roads in the borough.
Mr Neville also announced that Enfield would refuse to install any more "bus boarders" - bus stops that stickout into the road, preventing other vehicles getting past stationary buses and causing traffic jams. There are four in Green Lanes, a major route running through the borough.
The council says the stops cause severe delays, and officials plan to discuss the removal of existing bus boarders with TfL. Mr Neville said: "Boarders mean buses effectively stop in the middle of the road, causing everything behind them to stop while the bus loads and unloads."
TfL immediately attacked the lane-sharing plan, claiming it would delay buses.
A spokesperson for TfL said: "We do not support the introduction of car sharing in bus lanes. The short-term benefits gained from cars sharing bus lanes are not sustainable and quickly lead to increased journey times for bus passengers.
"Allowing cars to use Enfield's bus lanes would lead to enforcement difficulties and driver confusion, as well as safety problems for cyclists."
The Mayor is already under pressure from motorcyclists to allow them to use bus lanes.
Reader views (14)
Can anyone explain to me why taxis are allowed to use bus-lanes? They're not public transport, they're private hire vehicles usually with just one passenger, and contribute nothing to reducing congestion or exhaust fumes. But cabbies are a well organised bloc, and I think politicians are a little bit frightened of them. And as politicians usually travel by cab, they get their ear bent all the time.
- John,, London, 12/03/2008 12:52
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Yes, we should be able to drive in the bus lanes. Don`t forget that these lanes were originally part of the road network which we motorists bankrolled by our road tax.
There is another reason why motorists should regain access to the bus lanes. It will stop the constant 'taxation by stealth" of bus lane cameras...Hammersmith Council will be so upset..!
- Stuart Adams, London, UK, 12/03/2008 01:40
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What a ridiculous idea! This would totally clog up bus lanes, though this might work in a place with only 4km of bus lanes it would not work in somewhere like London which relies heavily on its bus lanes. Anyone who has driven through London will know that these lanes are already clogged with taxis, buses etc.
Though I agree that the 'bus boarders' should be axed, these totally congest the roads further.
I think that serious investigation is needed to decide whether this would work and how it could possibly be enforced before anything is decided. It seems that all too often schemes are launched into before enough research is undertaken.
- Darren Andrews, Plymouth/Bristol/London, UK, 12/03/2008 00:26
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My commuting time by bus is usually largely augmented by my waiting time in the cold.
My last few buses experiences, will average to about 35-40 min of waiting time on a single journey. Thats about the travelling time too, staying in zone1&2. These are journeys that I do regularly. I also do these journeys by car. One takes 15min and the other one 25min.
I let you do the maths for the privilege of using public transport.
So unless tfl provides a serious service, nothing will change.
It really feels like living in Idiocracy.
- Lauren, London Uk, 11/03/2008 21:20
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As someone who has lived, worked and driven in and around London all my life, it is quite clear to me that congestion is not only about too many cars on the road, it's also about the muddy attempts to deal with the problem by narrowing down our roads even further. Width restrictions; traffic control; road narrowing bollards; poorly maintained roads and removal of filter lanes all play their part in causing unnecessary congestion. Buses don't stick to their lanes, they don't pull into bus stops and hold up the rest of the traffic. Traffic light timing is constantly being "played with" to cause more delays and jams which gives TfL just the excuse they need to increase congestion charging - all artificially. What's it all for? A better transportation system? Just look around; keeping London moving is the last thing on the mind of Comrade Ken - it's all self-serving at the expense of the taxpayer.
- Derek Arnold, Bromley, Kent, 11/03/2008 20:15
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This is not joined up thinking. Bus lanes will get clogged quickly, people will be encouraged to drive, the bus users will get delayed. Cyclists who use bus lanes will have to dodge cars as well as buses. Money will be spent on trying to police the car sharing cars, rather than on providing better public transport.
- Will Embliss, Haringey, London, UK, 11/03/2008 17:33
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I have recently started using a commuter bike and have been immensely grateful for small mercies! the bus lanes that stop cars using them, a heaven-sent blessing to us vulnerable cyclists. Let it remain so! Buses and cyclists only in bus lanes. How would the mighty Terry Neville know who are and who are not car-sharers? And would he also know whether those car-sharers drive with due care and attention to cyclists also using those bus lanes? I think not! Terry Neville, please stick to what you know well and leave transport solutions to be sorted by Tfl and the government.
- Angela Simoes, London UK, 11/03/2008 16:47
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Good idea but....guess what, it will never happen. It would lose all that revenue collected from fines.
(The same reason they won't let motorbikes into the lanes).
- Gt, London, England, 11/03/2008 16:32
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This shows how ridiculous and undemocratic having one authority for London really is. If the people of Enfield wanted this and voted for this why cant they have it, why should it be either up to tfl or the mayor who seems to have to much power in decision making processes which affect neighbourhoods (such as in building planning). We had a referendum to get the mayor why not another to get rid of the mayor and hand power back to the people and maybe save Londoners some money.
- Dr Finlays Casebook, London, UK, 11/03/2008 16:29
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What a load of rubbish!
Clearly, it is apparent that this town hall boss must rarely use public transport! If this plan were to go ahead then what will that do to the already nightmare journeys of Londoners who actually regularly travel on buses because there is no other viable option available to them?
Yes, I totally agree with the statement that "Bus lanes need to be used more effectively" but...In my humble opinion, what we need is a lot more "quality buses" (where sufficient leg-room and seat spacing is provided for modern traveller's & their journeys i.e. if they want more people to travel by bus then they must provide sufficient passenger space allowing for bulky shopping,etc.) and less cars on the roads.
Clearly, in so doing this WILL relieve pressure on ALL key routes, and benefit London (not just Enfield) both environmentally and economically.
Perhaps London's Congestion Charge should be immediately increased to £25 or £50 per day, in order to reduce the number of cars on the roads by encouraging commuters to travel together and relieve pressure on key routes?
- Fraser, Telford Park, UK, 11/03/2008 16:20
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Should we not find out just who is on these Buses, are they leaders of industry, blue or white collar workers?
No, they are shoppers, OAP's and benefit cheats.
And the whole of London is held up for these - Crazy!
- George Dorman, Hempstead, Kent, 11/03/2008 15:38
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Great common sense from Enfield! There should be room for under-utilised bus lanes to be made available for selected other traffic. It's about being pragmatic. There isn't enough road space in London, so let's explore creative ways of using it as efficiently as possible. And as for the "bus boarders" TfL made no secret of their desire to keep other traffic waiting behind the bus - all part of their war on the motorist. They cause delay and - worse - encourage dangerous overtaking by frustrated drivers (TfL attempt to combat the overtaking by strategic placing of traffic islands near the bus boarders, but this simply encourages the boy racers to try even more daring overtaking!).
- Bryan Armstrong, London, UK, 11/03/2008 13:25
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And who, exactly, is going to let them out of the bus lane when they eventually catch up with a stationary bus?
Being a Councillor does not necessarily guarantee intelligence or wisdom.
- Md, London, UK, 11/03/2008 13:13
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At last, someone with a positive way forward for easing traffic congestion. And predictably, TfL are anti- as it is pro-car.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, UK, 11/03/2008 12:33
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