Your comments...
The removal of bus laybys in some areas will cause traffic delays and congestion because buses will have to stop in the main carriageway.
I am worried that where the road is going to be narrowed that this will affect the traffic and buses.
Many of the bus stops are poor with no room for passengers waiting for a bus. Some of the bus stops are particularly busy with school children in the mornings and afternoons. What impact will the Cycleway have on the bus stops and what steps are being taken to ensure that these are safe?
In some places there is no room for the bus to fully pull into the bus bay which causes traffic to queue.
Our response...
Bus stops have been designed to make the best use of the available space. Following the comments received during the consultation, some bus bays have been extended to allow buses to fully pull in, off the carriageway, to maintain traffic flow. Additionally, improved bus waiting areas have been included at most bus stop locations.
In more constrained locations, where there is insufficient width to have a layby and no other options allow, the bus stops are marked on the carriageway and are on road facilities. These are only at locations where the bus does not wait for any period of time and is not expected to cause issues with congestion.
In some cases, we are proposing to move bus stops in order to make better use of the space available and ensure that these are of an appropriate standard. Where possible, cycle traffic is routed away from bus stops avoiding contact with people waiting to access the bus.
The reduction in road width has been designed to account for buses and other large vehicles. This has been carried out in consultation with the bus operators and other organisations, such as the emergency services. The current design allows double decker buses and other large vehicles to pass each other safely whilst retaining the road width within the required standards and providing additional space for walking and cycling.
