Buses
The Councils have developed and agreed a number of policies on public transport and buses in particular. These policies include the following:
Restrictions on parking and control of new development to improve the flow and reliability of bus services
Increase bus frequency on main radial routes to 6 buses per hour
Improvement in travel information and passenger waiting facilities
Providing buses which cater for elderly people, mobility impaired people and parents with young children
Special bus services for mobility impaired people
Locating high density development near public transport nodes
Problems Affecting Bus Operation
The geographic nature of the road network and the dispersed pattern of settlement provide particular difficulties in providing a comprehensive bus network. This is exacerbated by congestion problems. Whilst a number of bus lanes and other priority measures have now been introduced, there remains areas where the bus operators find difficulties in operating reliable bus services. Heavy traffic congestion along the A3049 corridor in particular has inhibited the development of comprehensive bus services to the expanded Bournemouth University campus.
The existence of the two separate companies with their traditional route patterns and operating areas has tended to inhibit the development of a comprehensive bus network. There are, for example gaps in the network to important edge of town attractions such as the Nuffield Industrial Estate in Poole, Bournemouth Hospital, the Tower Park leisure complex in Poole, as well as the university, as mentioned above.
Click for Public Transport Map 5.1. (This will open in a new window.)
Existing bus ticketing is not interchangeable between the two main bus company's which leads to additional journeys, further inconvenience and extra cost.
Other problems highlighted by the public consultation process are listed below:
Poor reliability
Poor public perception of buses
Lack of publicity and information
Poor radial route coverage
Few late night services
Relatively high fares - especially for family travel
Opportunities
Improved facilities for bus passengers will help to promote the use of public transport. This will be achieved by:
Improved vehicle and service quality in partnership with bus operators (Bus Quality Partnerships)
Improved publicity and information, including area-wide timetables
Changes in legislation to enable compulsory participation in area wide ticketing system
Use of "smart-card" technology
Bus stop improvements, particularly for low-floor buses
Increased efficiency of buses through traffic management and bus priority measures
Improved bus interchange facilities in urban centres and at key bus stops
Targeted services, e.g. Hospitals
Park and Ride
Making more effective use of bus subsidies, seeking funding from development and private/public sector partnerships
A Quality Bus Partnership was signed in September by the local authorities in the conurbation and the two principal bus companies, Wilts & Dorset and Yellow Buses. Progress to date includes the introduction of 90 new low-floor buses by the operators, additional bus shelters and raised-level bus stops. Over 50 new bus shelters have already been provided and a further 100 will be installed shortly. Over 40 bus stops have been raised as part of an ongoing programme of improvements to provide for low-floor buses.
Bus Priority Measures
One of the main concerns raised during the consultation process was the reliability of bus services. In order to produce bus services that are able to attract people out of their cars, buses must be able to run on time by avoiding traffic congestion problems. Where appropriate, bus priority measures will be established to improve the speedy movement of buses through areas of heavy congestion by a combination of:
- Comprehensive network of rigorously-enforced bus lanes (and 'no-car' lanes)
- Junction improvements which assist bus operations, e.g. traffic signals giving buses priority
- Bus-only roads, and exempting buses from traffic restrictions
- Use of intelligent transport systems to aid bus movements
Examples of Past Achievements
| A35 Poole Road, Branksome |
Schemes have been identified to provide a westbound bus land towards Pottery Junction, and eastbound towards County Gates. The latter was implemented in 1996-98. |
| A347 Cemetery Junction, Bournemouth |
Bus lane on Lansdowne Road approach completed and junction of Lansdowne Road and Coach House Place has been signalised. This will assist bus movement for the Bournemouth Travel Interchange. |
| |
|
