Skip to main content

Independent review says most bus lanes should go

An independent review of Liverpool’s bus lanes is recommending that the majority be removed, but four in the city centre will be retained. On a number of other routes, measures such as bus detector loops are recommended. The city’s 26 bus lanes were suspended in October 2013 to monitor and analyse the effects on congestion and traffic flow. Transport consultant Mott MacDonald has carried out the review and their work was supported by groups of elected members, bus operators and the partners.
October 28, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
An independent review of Liverpool’s bus lanes is recommending that the majority be removed, but four in the city centre will be retained. On a number of other routes, measures such as bus detector loops are recommended.

The city’s 26 bus lanes were suspended in October 2013 to monitor and analyse the effects on congestion and traffic flow.

Transport consultant 1869 Mott MacDonald has carried out the review and their work was supported by groups of elected members, bus operators and the partners.

The bus lane review is part of a wider city transport plan which is to be concluded in February 2015, which aims to: Shape the future transport needs of the city; Forecast future demand for all modes of travel; Improve gateway routes, public realm and pedestrianisation; and improve all public transport infrastructure.

Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said: “I want to make sure that travelling through the city is a quick as possible for all road users. It’s vital for business, for residents, for visitors and I wasn’t convinced our routes were working as well as they could.

“Now for the first time we have robust data about the effects of bus lanes, rather than people’s opinions about how useful or otherwise they are. As a result of this thorough and independent review there a clear recommendations that the majority of bus lanes should be removed which I will honour.

“A number of issues that have emerged during the discussions include the level of indiscriminate parking on some of our key bus lane routes which disrupt traffic flow and we will take measures to prevent this including applying to the 1837 Department for Transport for permission to introduce red routes.

“There have also been discussions about how best we can provide facilities for cyclists. We are spending £80m on upgrading our main gateway routes over the next eight years and we will be looking at cycling measures as part of that.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • DSRC? ‘It’s become a faith-based thing’
    March 2, 2021
    The US FCC’s decision on 5.9GHz led to Applied Information offering DSRC buybacks to DoTs. Bryan Mulligan tells Adam Hill that we now just need to get on and roll out CV technology...
  • Nottingham Ring Road improvement gets final approval
    July 5, 2013
    Work can now start on a package of measures to tackle congestion on Nottingham’s Ring Road and improve public transport in the city after receiving final approval from UK Local Transport Minister Norman Baker. The scheme was one of those given funding approval in late 2011 as part of the Spending Review process and comprises: upgrading of key junctions and selective widening; reconstruction of areas of the carriageway most in need of repair; improved facilities to help change between bus services on the mai
  • Government funding for Lincoln transport hub
    August 25, 2016
    The UK government has announced funding for the Lincoln transport hub, including a new bus station and 1,000 space car park. There will also be improvements to Lincoln Central railway station and a pedestrianised plaza connecting the bus and rail stations. As part of the upgrade, the new bus station will provide live travel information for both bus and rail passengers, while the 1,000 space multi-storey will have up to 32 electric vehicle charging points to power the next generation of vehicles. Cycle
  • Saving the smartphone zombies from themselves
    October 15, 2020
    As roads – particularly in cities – become busier, companies are fielding a steady trickle of products to keep pedestrians safe and vehicles flowing