Bike and bus lane on London Road, Hampshire

A shared bus lane is a bus lane that allows cyclists to use it. Depending on the width of the lane, the speeds and number of buses, and other local factors, the safety and popularity of this arrangement vary.

Research carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) describes shared bus cycle lanes as "generally very popular" with cyclists.[1] Guidance produced for Cycling England endorses bus lanes because they provide cyclists with a "direct and barrier-free route into town centres" while avoiding complications related to shared-use footways.[2] A French survey found that 42% of cyclists were "enthusiasts" for shared bus-bike lanes, versus 33% who had mixed opinions, and 27% who opposed them.[3] Many cycling activists view these as being more attractive than cycle paths, while others object to being close to bus exhausts,[3] a problem easily avoided through replacing exhaust buses with electric ones.

Mainland Europe

In the Netherlands mixed bus/cycle lanes are uncommon. According to the Sustainable Safety guidelines they would violate the principle of homogeneity and put road users of very different masses and speed behaviour into the same lane, which is generally discouraged.[4]

As of 2003, mixed bus/cycle lanes accounted for 118 km of the 260 km of cycling facilities in Paris.[5] The French city of Bordeaux has 40 km of shared bus cycle lanes.[6] It is reported that in the city of Bristol, a showcase bus priority corridor, where road space was re-allocated along a 14 km stretch also resulted in more space for cyclists and had the effect of increasing cycling.[7] The reverse effect has also been suggested. A review carried out in London reports that cycling levels fell across Kew bridge following the removal of a bus lane, despite a general increase in cycling in the city.[8]

In addition, it is arguably easier, politically speaking, to argue for funding of joint facilities rather than separately asking for cycling facilities and bus-only lanes.[9][10] Bus lane proposals often run into opposition from cyclists because creating space for bus lanes generally results in narrowing the other lanes shared by cars and cyclists.[11] Incidentally, the TRL reports that cyclists and bus drivers tend to have low opinions of one another.[1] In some cities, arrangements work successfully with bus companies and cyclists' groups ensure communication and understanding between the two groups of road users.[10][12][13]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Cycling in bus lanes, Reid S and Guthrie N TRL Report 610, Transport Research Laboratory 2004
  2. ^ A.10 Bus Lanes and Bus Stops Cycling England design guidelines 2007
  3. ^ a b La complémentarité entre vélo et transport public Vélocité - la revue du cycliste urbain N° 79, janv. / fév. 2005
  4. ^ Introduction to Sustainable Safety
  5. ^ The bicycle's place in town Seminar organised by the Mayor's Office of the 18th District, Paris, September 2004
  6. ^ A vélo, Mairie de Bordeaux (Accessed 28 October 2007)
  7. ^ Delivery of the National Cycling Strategy: A review Archived 2008-12-01 at the Wayback Machine UK Department for Transport March 2005
  8. ^ Review of procedures associated with the development and delivery of measures designed to improve safety and convenience for cyclists Transport for London, January 2005
  9. ^ Cycle Network and Route Planning Guide, Land Transport Safety Authority, New Zealand
  10. ^ a b Mitbenutzung von Busspuren durch Radfahrer, Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad-Club e.V./Bundesministeriums für Verkehr, January 2005. Translated here [1]
  11. ^ Letter of Objection to Bus lanes on Wilton Road Cambridge Cycle Campaign, September 2003
  12. ^ Bus Drivers and Cyclists in Harmony, Warrington Cycle Campaign Leaflet, 2006
  13. ^ Les couloirs bus + vélos VeloBuc (Accessed 22 October 2007)
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