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Fendalton Rd bus stops
Bus users, cyclists and other road users
were all considered in the design of bus
stops on the redeveloped section of
Fendalton Road. The design team says the system has a
good record in other cities and they think
people using that section of road will quickly
get used to it. Council traffic engineer Axel Wilke says
the in-lane bus stops work well on roads
with at least two lanes running in the same
direction. “The bus companies told us their drivers
were finding it hard to get back into the
traffic if they pull all the way off the road
into a bus bay, so what they’ve been doing
is only pulling half-way into bus bays and
that can lead to rear-end crashes,” he says. “With these in-lane bus stops, the bus is
immediately back into the flow after picking
up passengers and other drivers soon learn
to move into the right-hand lane. “The system has other advantages too. It
means drivers coming onto the road from
side roads may find it easier to merge into
the traffic because there’s less traffic in the
kerbside lane.” The new stops give cyclists two options. On the kerbside lane there is space to the
right of a stopped bus for confident riders
to safely pass while others can use the
cycleway that loops behind each stop. Bollards are placed to ensure these cyclists
do not go into the area used by people
waiting for a bus. “The new design follows talks with the
Automobile Association, the cycle group
Spokes and others,” Mr Wilke says. “All
parties expect that fully blocking a traffic
lane will mean fewer crashes.” |