Critics label bus lane a joke as its final section opens
THE final section of a controversial bus lane opened on Kedleston Road yesterday – with critics condemning it is a "joke" and "a waste of money".
The lane, which cost £130,000, runs along the city-bound section of the busy road. The section near Five Lamps and St Alkmund's Church has been open for two weeks. The final section, near the Broadway area, was officially opened yesterday.
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David Freeman
Motorists have raised concerns about the section towards Five Lamps, where parking spaces reduce the width.
And as the final section was opened yesterday, one resident, who did not wish to be named, said that the system was "a joke" and a waste of public money. She said: "There are two sections, both of which give precedence to buses of no more than about 100 yards each time."
Another, Jane Millward, said the new bus lane was dangerous for cyclists.
"A road which used to be two lanes is now three and cars have to squeeze by. When I was riding my bike to work, cars were getting very close to me. They had no space because of this new lane.
"I will probably have to cycle on the pavement in future because it is probably safer."
She added: "There is no need for a bus lane on Kedleston Road. Parts of it aren't wide enough."
Conservatives pledged to scrap the bus lane in their manifesto before they took control of the city council.
But Councillor Chris Poulter, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said: "Documents for the bus lane were signed off before the Conservatives took control of the council. The traffic regulations are now in place for six months. We cannot scrap the bus lane immediately because of these traffic regulations. However, we will monitoring it over time.
"We have ordered a full review on the Kedleston Road bus lane as well as many more across the city."
Alex Hornby, commercial director at Trent Barton, hoped the lane would encourage more people to use public transport.
"Giving the bus its own lane will ensure buses don't get caught in the rush hour traffic.
"Now the traffic should be able to flow quite well."
Plans for the lane were devised when the council was controlled by the Lib Dems. The Government paid for it.
Councillor Lucy Care, the city council's former head of transport, said residents' concerns were considered when the plans were drawn up.
She said: "The people's main concerns – about loss of parking, and narrow lanes – have been addressed by not including the central section near the shops by Cowley Street in the scheme, and doing works to improve the road surface in some places."
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by Jim, Belper
Thursday, June 10 2010, 11:01AM
“Right.... a majority of people are "motorists" so this term is meaningless. You can split car users into 2 main groups:
people that own a car but use them only when neccessary, and
people that drive everywhere, everytime etc. and cannot think about travelling even the shortest distance without their car.
People who work in Derby and live on a bus route should, by the use of common sense, catch the bus. Many do, many don't. Most car drivers use excuses about the car costing less (I don't think so given the cost of fuel and maintenance on a modern car) or excuses about how the bus takes too long. The fact is that all these people that use the car to get to Derby from Mickleover, Allestree, Chaddesden, Mackworth etc etc are selfishly causing tailbacks that effect everyone else.
Bus lanes speed up journeys for the responsible people that take it upon themselves to think about others, not just themselves. Bus lanes are an incredibly useful tool for getting a bus to it's destination without it getting stuck in a line of "3 mile commuters".
Those who feel the car should have unrivalled preference on the road are living in a dream world. Just because you own a car doesn't mean you have to use it everyday.
I think there should be more bus lanes. Loads more infact. So many that buses can just whizz in and out of town without getting stuck behind a line of "Mr Importants" in their Audis and BMWs with their freshly pressed jackets hanging in their back windows.
Just so you know, I own a car but use the bus and my motorcycle to get travel at rush hour as I don't like traffic jams.”
by CityGent, Surrey
Thursday, June 10 2010, 7:01AM
“The best way to improve the roads for who? More people use cars than use public transport - one day governments, both national and public, will realise that, and will actually fund road developments and improvements that benefit car drivers rather than trying to force us to drive more cars on smaller roads.
Even in London where they charge £8 per day congestion charge, traffic levels are still higher than when the brought the charge in. So its done nothing about congestion, but has done a lot about charging drivers - again!
When I drive up the M6 I have an option of queuing in traffic or paying £5 to use the traffic free M6 Toll. Why shouldn't bus companies be paying for bus lanes in the same way, and then those who benefit will be paying for it, rather than those of us who are inconvenienced by it?”
by Ian, Derby
Wednesday, June 09 2010, 5:32PM
“The best way to improve the roads is to have fewer single-occupant cars on them.”
by CityGent, Surrey
Wednesday, June 09 2010, 4:53PM
“The problem with bus lanes which operate at variable times is a large majority of drivers apply a 'if I don't go in it at any time I won't get fined' approach, so the bus lane remains empty most of the day.
I see this when I drive into London where we have 7am-7pm bus lanes and 7-10am and 4-7pm bus lanes. When you then drive in them 'out of hours' people look at you like you're stealing their family silver but its not my fault! However, this is the genuine behaviour you see.
Its also amazing the difference in traffic flow before 7am and after 7am.
Give drivers a road free of bus lanes, speed humps, priority blocks, traffic lights, etc and its amazing how well they organise themselves - and I include bus drivers in that. Once the anti-car MINORITY start to get vocal and clutter the roads it messes it up for everyone.
One day eventually drivers will get their voices heard, despite paying the most towards using the roads, and being the majority on the road. Why not improve roads to make car drivers' journeys five minutes faster?”
by Simon (DRAG), Darley Abbey
Wednesday, June 09 2010, 3:13PM
“Sounds like the Kedleston Road residents are doing pretty well on their own Geoff. I wish them well in their campaigning. John (Ked Rd) if you are interested I have the accident figures before and after bus lane. Please email us at duffieldroadaction@hotmail.com happy to hand over our documentation to read¿if you¿ve got the time. John, the documentation and information that we have researched and collated is condemning to say the least and having spoken to the Dft March 2007 re Duffield Road, they said and I quote ¿we would certainly advise against any such scheme where three lanes on one road are at the minimum Dft lane width' !!
p.s. John, don¿t let people like Geoff and Ian niggle you, they make the campaigning process much more fun if anything. I think they probably work in the council or are retired with nothing else to do. Keep up the good work.”