Green light for traffic light transmitters
Lengthy delays for Lincoln bus passengers could end after technology capable of changing traffic lights received the green light.
Trials for the £35,000 project will start this summer at three traffic hotspots to prevent buses getting stuck at the lights and missing scheduled journey times.
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Traffic making its way from Lindum Hill towards Broadgate out of the city in the rush hour
Equipment on the vehicles will transmit radio signals to sensors in traffic lights at the junctions between Boultham Park Road and Dixon Street, Birchwood Avenue and Skellingthorpe Road and Washingborough Road and Canwick Hill.
If a bus is running late then Lincolnshire County Council's traffic light control system will give it priority by changing the lights to green.
The normal traffic light sequence will return once the bus has passed through.
Lincolnshire County Council head of accessibility and policy Chris Briggs said the authority designed the scheme to further improve the city's bus service.
"The cost of this work is £35,000 and includes software changes to the on-board computers which are already installed on the buses," he said.
Currently 40 Stagecoach vehicles have the light changing technology and company commercial director Dave Skepper said this was the next big step to encourage more people onto public transport.
"Our biggest difficulty is meeting the timetable because of traffic congestion," he said.
"The evidence suggests people in Lincoln do want to use public transport. Since taking over the service in 2006 people travelling on buses in the city has grown by 30 per cent to 125,000 passengers every week."
For more on how the traffic light technology works, see Monday's Echo.
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by Mr Sneer, Derision on the Wold
Wednesday, May 27 2009, 12:02PM
“Sorry to disappoint you, bill, but I'm actually planning to retire in 20-odd years time. My current commute (just like all but two commutes I've ever had) isn't feasible now using public transport and I confidently predict it won't be by then. Even if it is, I also confidently predict I'll still be able to do it quicker and cheaper on my motorbike.”
by bill, lincoln
Tuesday, May 26 2009, 11:53AM
“So, Mr Sneer, you'll be passing on soon then?
This won't really make any difference - what would is BUS LANES in all possible places. That means Broadgate, Tritton Road, High Street, to name a few.
If it makes it awkward to use a car in the city - do it now, before it's too late!”
by Mr Sneer, Derision on the Wold
Tuesday, May 26 2009, 7:40AM
“"Like it or not, public transport is the future!"
Not in my lifetime, if the pitiful options available for my commute are anything to go by...
And to repeat Les's question, did this £35K come from Stagecoach or the taxpayer?”
by Anon, not here
Monday, May 25 2009, 3:38PM
“Fat Controller, you are correct in every sense, it is the railways that cause all the congestion in the city, all the railway lines need removing from lincoln if the city is going to grow...”
by The Fat Controller, Stuck in traffic
Monday, May 25 2009, 3:25PM
“..and any time saved will be lost by the train barriers being down 5 mins before a train arrives. Waste of ££”
by Kevin, Lincoln
Monday, May 25 2009, 12:24PM
“One look at the Echo's main story today (traffic pollution a bigger killer than road crashes) is your answer, Mr Sneer. Cars were fine back in the 60s and 70s when there were only 10 or 15 million of them, but no there's well over 30m (and growing) it's just not sustainable. Cars may be convenient for the individual, but they are bad for society and, as unpopular as it may be, our Government and Councils are finally coming round to the idea that they need to be controlled.
Like it or not, public transport is the future!”
by Mr Sneer, Derision on the Wold
Monday, May 25 2009, 12:10PM
“Adrian from Newark Road, what the hell are you talking about? Lincoln Ciy Council has nothing to do with this. Silver Street, Outer Circle Road etc. have nothing to do with this. You're making no sense whatsoever.
That aside, why are we giving priority to buses? To quote Jeremy Clarkson, why do poor people have to get to places quicker than I do?”
by Steve, South Hykeham
Monday, May 25 2009, 10:33AM
“A guess all you have to do now if you want to get round the city in reasonable time, is stay close behind a Stagecoach bus.
On a serious note, the traffic light sequence at these junctions could be all over the place and make things even worse when this goes ahead.
Do we know at what distance the bus would need to be from the lights in order to trigger them to turn to green. If you look at the lights outside Argos on the High Street, the bus needs to be extremely close to trigger the change and therefore if the same distance applies at the junctions mentioned, I doubt it would make a lot of difference because I don¿t see any bus lanes and therefore the bus will be stuck in the same line of traffic as they are now.
Forget about the evidence suggesting people in Lincoln do want to use public transport, do your homework on effects to other road users at these junctions.”
by John Green, Lincoln
Monday, May 25 2009, 9:13AM
“This is what you get when you privatise and deregulate public transport.
Forget the word "service", it's all about profit subsidised by the taxpayer.
Public transport should be renationalised.”
by mike, lincoln
Monday, May 25 2009, 8:57AM
“What a joke! Everybody knows how bad Our bus service is.It'll make no difference. The buses will still be late or not turn up..What a waste of time and money.”