GUIDING BUSES INTO A NEW ERA

Part of a general improvement to a Birmingham bus route will include a 600 M length of dedicated concrete track along the central reservation of a wide urban dual carriageway. The bus is guided between two parallel kerbs by means of horizontal rollers operating on levers to control the vehicle steering system. Reserved track can be 25 per cent narrower than a conventional highway bus lane giving benefit to users in terms of speed and reliability. The track can be built progressively, as financial and environmental factors permit, at a relatively low cost when compared with that of trams, light rail or trolleybus. A short length of guided busway can speed buses through locally congested areas with the minimum of reserved land usage. Passenger stations have been specially designed with ramps and handrails to give easy access without any steps from the platforms to the bus entrance. Digital displays at the bus stop tell passengers the time when the next bus is due. (TRRL)