Page 3162 - Week 10 - Thursday, 16 September 1993
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Firstly, I would ask members to note the amendments introducing bus priority into the ACT. Due to their operating characteristics, buses are more affected by traffic congestion than are private vehicles. Traffic congestion not only increases bus travel times, and therefore running costs, but also reduces the reliability of services. This Bill proposes the introduction of two types of bus priority measures to help overcome congestion difficulties and improve bus operational efficiency, namely, priority signalling for buses at selected traffic signals, and priority when leaving bus-stops and bus bays. The ACT does not have any legislation in place to afford priority to buses to re-enter traffic flows from the left-hand side of the road from either bus-stops or purpose built bus bays. Although ACTION buses carry a "give way" sign identical to those fitted in other cities, these are at present simply courtesy signs and are not enforceable at law - although, if you are driving a small four-cylinder vehicle and a very large bus is pulling out in front of you, prudence would indicate that you give the bus priority.
Canberra suburbs have been developed around town centres connected by arterial roads. Suburbs in many cases are also separated from each other by arterial road networks. Some bus routes have required bus-stops to be located on arterial roads, and some of these stops have been provided with bus bays which allow the bus to stop outside the traffic flow. However, in situations where traffic is particularly heavy or fast moving, particularly during morning and afternoon peak times, safety and bus delay problems have developed because bus drivers experience difficulties in moving back onto the carriageway and merging with the general traffic. Priority when leaving a bus-stop or bus bay involves giving buses right of way to enter the adjacent traffic lane when leaving the left-hand side of the road. This means that buses will be able to re-enter the traffic flow from bus-stops and bus bays but will not be able to change traffic lanes with priority. Priority when leaving a bus-stop or bus bay will be limited to roads with speed limits of 80 kilometres an hour or less.
Another area of concern is congestion problems that have become apparent at some signalised intersections in Canberra. Examples of locations of concern include Commonwealth Avenue, southbound; Barry Drive; and the Callam Street, Hindmarsh Drive, Athllon Drive area of Woden. In addition, the Civic and Woden bus interchanges have experienced congestion problems which hamper access and prevent drivers keeping to timetables. One cost-effective technique that can be used to address these problems is to provide buses with selective priority at signalised intersections where they encounter particular difficulties. This can be very effective in reducing bus travel times and increasing reliability, without significant effects on other motor traffic. Priority at traffic signals involves the special white B signal which allows only a lane of buses facing traffic signals to move. This has the effect of giving buses a head start at lights in order to make changing lanes and merging in heavy traffic easier and safer, or allowing the buses to turn right from the left-hand lane to eliminate the need for unsafe lane changes.
The second part of the Bill deals with specific purpose public vehicles. The Motor Traffic Act 1936 has precise definitions of each of the current public vehicle categories of taxis, private hire cars and buses. However, there is no provision to set out conditions on those licences for specialised services such as taxis for the disabled, the multicabs, or to issue a licence for part-time operations of wedding cars. Furthermore, at present vehicle owners catering for weddings,
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .