Call to install bus lane cameras to end gridlock on Hull's main transport routes
THE boss of an East Yorkshire bus company is calling on civic leaders to introduce more efficient bus lanes and enforce them with cameras to prevent gridlock.
Peter Shipp, chairman and chief executive of EYMS, has returned from a fact-finding trip to Nottingham with city council officials to see the city's lane system in action.
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'Improvements needed'; Peter Shipp of EYMS
Hull City Council, which has described this week's trip as "interesting", is now considering the implementation of a system modelled on the one in Nottingham.
Mr Shipp believes that if more people are to be persuaded to ditch their cars for public transport, the city will need a much more efficient bus service.
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He said: "I see no reason why a similar system, with proper consultation with drivers and users of public transport, could not be introduced in Hull.
"I took a bus recently from our depot in Anlaby Road to the city centre and it became caught up in the football traffic. It needs improving."
Nottingham has a variety of bus lanes, which are in operation for varying lengths of time, ranging from peak hours only to 24 hours a day.
Cameras catch motorists who flout the rules and, when cases are proven, fines of £30 are issued.
Mr Shipp said: "Nottingham City Council saw a very muted response from motorists.
"Their council was very careful to make sure it was introduced slowly and with care. Signage is also very clear.
"Ultimately, motorists who abide by the rules will not have to worry about fines."
Civic leaders in Nottingham told the delegation the cost of implementing their system was about £200,000.
However, the costs are being recouped in fines.
Mr Shipp said he would like motorists, as well as frequent bus users, to see the benefits of a city centre tailored to public transport.
He said: "If bus lanes are not kept free, buses will have no choice but to pull out into the outside lane, causing hold-ups for cars.
"There are benefits to be had by everyone to have more efficient bus lanes."
Councillor Martin Mancey, portfolio holder for environment and transport, was among the civic delegates who made the trip to Nottingham.
He said: "It was an extremely interesting visit looking at how they deal with bus lane enforcement.
"Nottingham City Council is at the leading edge for advanced camera and traffic enforcement technology and, over the coming months, we will review some of the methods and technology used.
"There are some important issues to think about and possibly considering a partnership approach with Nottingham City Council in the future."
Comments
by JayOnly
Tuesday, January 15 2013, 3:32PM
“These companies get enough public money from subsidised bus passes...cheeky devils!”
by rich99
Tuesday, January 15 2013, 10:32AM
“thats it, think of new ways to punish the car driver!
ridiculous idea, buses are peasent transport and deserve no respect”
by smartguy1
Monday, January 14 2013, 11:12PM
“What a plo*ker this man is. Fancy taking a bus down Anlaby Road when City are playing. We all know to avoid Anlaby Road when this is happening and he should know better as their depot is right next to the KC stadium. What I would like him to tell me is how can I take a bus to work. I don't live on a bus route. The nearest bus stop is 2 miles from where I live and I work 16 miles away with no bus going near my place of work. I start work at 8.30 and can do the journey in 30 minutes by car. Would take me more than 2 hours by walking and bus.
Nottingham, Derby, Leeds etc are all proper cities. Hull is not. It is only half a city due to the River Humber. All of the other cities have proper ring roads and motorways going all the way around as well as through some of them like Leeds. If only our city planners had taken on board the Abercrombie design for a road network after the second world war we wouldn't be in this mess. For building the KC stadium where it is ......well, it's logistical nightmare and should have been put on Priory Park or somewhere else on the outskirts of town where road links are better.”
by jarvosdad
Monday, January 14 2013, 8:49PM
“Not a Buss Lane an Express Way for Taxi's..None Emergancy Ambulances Police Cars on the Sandwhich run and not to forget Hull City Council work's vans and cars from Eastern Europe.......Just like they do in the Town Center from Car Lane to Dock St”
by Morev
Monday, January 14 2013, 4:26PM
“Mr. Shipp, maybe charges should be made for your coaches using motorways and A roads, this would price them off the road and then more people would be persuaded to use the trains. You run a business for profit but you cannot keep trying to blackmail people into using buses. How long before umbrellas are banned to increase the sale of raincoats. If there was a high passenger change from cars to buses, and in particular at peak periods, the system just could not cope.”
by Fogeyspasm
Monday, January 14 2013, 1:30PM
“Obviously the Council, who are voted in to support the public's needs, will completely ignore the majorities view and bring in the bus lanes anyway.
We will be ignored as normal. Time for civil disobedience if this goes ahead. Maybe everyone should block the lanes completely to show their anger?
Although then it will be the naughty motorist who will be hammered with a fine again!”
by DazWillerby
Monday, January 14 2013, 1:21PM
“I have it on good authority that the Council will be putting in a bus lane from the roundabout at the bottom of Willerby Road all the way to Chants Ave!! I suggest the car owners of this City kick up a stink to get this ridiculous idea scrapped.”
by Clem_
Monday, January 14 2013, 1:10PM
“EYMS is not a charitable undertaking, it is there to offer a service at a price to make a profit. Public roads should not be made available for their exclusive use. Should bus lanes be introduced at the level indicated, what would happen to all the buses using a particular lane when one of their number stops to pick up/drop off passenegrs and those following have to come to a halt for a few minutes? I suspect that they will lose patience and pull out into the traffic lanes to overtake the obstruction. Will they be fined? Will fares have to rise to pay for the fines?
Hull's roads just aren't wide enough to cope with fulltime exclusive bus lanes and the volume of traffic that is needed to keep our lives ticking over. Perhaps we should just knock a few houses/shops/historic buildings/schools and trees down to make space for wider, bus-friendly roads.”
by colour_golden
Monday, January 14 2013, 11:18AM
“Buses, along with push bikes and binmen are the cause of most of the traffic problems in Hull, they never pull into their designated drop off points, they leave the **** end of the bus sticking out in the main road. Then they dont bother indicating when pulling back into main traffic!
Bikers who dont feel confident on the roads (but are forced to use them under threat of prosecution) wobble all over the road and dont ride in a straight line, or look when overtaking stationary vehicles.
Dustmen bring their massive trucks down small culdesacks and block everyone in and they dont rush when they see you waiting to leave for work.”
by bulldog60
Monday, January 14 2013, 10:47AM
“ok , so the bus lanes would be for buses only , humm yer that makes sence ,so how do you overcome all the HGVs delivering goods to shops , will they get a fine !!!, I think not , they cause obstructions to cars ,buses, and people on foot ,this need a lot more thought”