INNOVATION IN BUS PRIORITY

This paper outlines current UK Government policy on bus priority, describes the assessment of two new priority techniques, and mentions several possible ways of giving additional priority to buses in the future. The Government considers that there is considerable scope for extending bus priority measures. Between 1992 and 1994, it contributed 19.5 million pounds to initiate innovative bus priority schemes throughout the UK. The Department of Transport (DTp) published Keep Buses Moving, a comprehensive guide for local authorities on providing bus priority measures. The DTp has monitored the Bus Advance Area at Shepherds Bush Green in London, aiming to decrease bus journey times, improve service reliability, and increase bus occupancy. A study by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) found that there were substantial time savings for bus passengers, and that the scheme was successful. The DTp also monitored the first priority lane for buses and goods vehicles in the UK, at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. A TRL study of the scheme was based on three surveys, and found benefits to bus operations but surprisingly low usage by goods vehicles. TRL is currently assessing four other schemes, and the DTp wishes to monitor other techniques. For the covering abstract see IRRD 870107.