inching towards a quality bus corridor.... lessons for cycle advocates?

As cycling advocates - we continually raise the lack of any strategic planning for, and development of, coherent, consistent and continuous cycle routes in Greater Manchester in our discussions with local councillors and council officers.  We will all have our perspectives on why such a network of safe cycle routes have not been delivered....

But as an illustration of the barriers to obtaining such a network - consider this case of a 'Quality Bus Corridor' in Trafford.  All ten of the Greater Manchester councils have signed up to the various Local Transport Plans (LTPs 1, 2 and 3) that highlight the supposed priority to be given to encouraging bus travel.  Note also that the bus companies have a powerful voice when speaking to Council and Transport for Greater Manchester leaders.
 

But let's back up a little. In October 2010, this blog highlighted Trafford Council's (TMBC) painfully slow progress towards enforcing the bus lane at the top end of Upper Chorlton Road.  (See Trafford finally get on board the bus lane?).

These Quality Bus Corridors (QBCs) are designed to help buses avoid traffic congestion bottlenecks and so help provide a more reliable bus service - and in the absence of any segregated cycle routes - they also double up as very wide cycle lanes.

Trafford Council first sought authorisation for the Upper Chorlton Road, Old Trafford and Edge Lane, Stretford (Reserved Bus Lane) (Peak Hours) Order on 20th September 2007.

In September 2010, a report to the Executive Member for Highways and Transportation stating that Trafford Council wanted "To seek approval to introduce waiting restrictions along Upper Chorlton Road, Old Trafford, as detailed on drawing number E8220/06"

The report contained the following recommendations:  "Members are asked to agree the following;  

• That authorisation be given to advertise the intention to introduce the Traffic Regulation Order as detailed in the schedule to this report and as shown on drawing number E8220/06 and that if no objections are maintained the order be made and implemented as soon as is practicable. 

• That a formal consultation be carried out in the immediate locality of the proposal and any objections received be reported back to members for consideration."

As of November 2012, the so-called 'Quality Bus Corridor' is still full of parked cars. Not being able to find any reference to the outcome of the September 2010 meeting on the Trafford Council website, a Freedom of Information Act request was submitted on 15th November seeking more details. The speedy response came back 24 hours later....

According to TMBC:

• The Traffic Regulation Order referred to has been made – Operative Date 19/12/2011; 
• A formal consultation was carried out and the objection received was detailed within the attachment (d);  A decision was taken to overrule the objection and implement the scheme – see attachment (e). ‘ 

The FOIA response also outlines the actions that have been taken since that December 2011....  

"No Waiting’ signs have been erected but despite several attempts at different times and on separate days neither the street sweeping vehicle nor the road marking contractor has been able to access the road channel along this section of Upper Chorlton Road to enable the yellow line to be applied. Further action is now being organised to serve notices on the occupiers of the adjacent properties (and also place leaflets on the parked vehicles) advising that ‘No Waiting’ cones are to be deployed along the road supported by a full-time Civil Enforcement Officer and that Penalty Charge Notices will be served on any vehicle that remains parked. Once the road is clear of parked vehicles it will be swept and the road marking applied. Subsequently the restriction can be enforced."

Not surprisingly, the GM Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE as was) and the bus operator - Stagecoach - supported the Quality Bus Corridor. Stagecoach's submission to the consultation states:
 
“Clearly we wholeheartedly support the proposal. This section of road is used by our services 15 and 86. Both are important and very popular routes, the 86 operating to a high frequency all day every day. Both services are used by large numbers of customers. The current abuse and lack of enforcement causes service unreliability, lengthened journey times and increases in journey time variability. All of this makes the service less attractive to users. This bus lane is critical for these services and their users and the benefits that would be afforded should have already been being enjoyed for some considerable time.”

So what has this got to do with cycling and cycle lanes, routes and networks?



If Manchester (and Greater Manchester) is serious about becoming the No.1 Cycling City there is an urgent need to create safe routes to encourage more people to cycle. There are a wide range of changes needed to achieve this target. Some of this will be off-road and segregated cycle routes. But there is also a need to re-allocate space on the road network.



But it has taken Trafford Council over 5 years NOT to implement a short stretch of Quality Bus Corridor - even with the support of the public-transport focussed TfGM  Committee and the bus companies. According to a Highway Network Management report submitted to the recent Transport for Greater Manchester Committee meeting:
  
"At the present time, only Manchester City Council and Bury MBC have fully implemented the civil enforcement of bus lanes, allowing more targeted enforcement to reduce traffic congestion and improve journey times. The remaining Greater Manchester Authorities all have aspirations to undertake the enforcement of bus lanes but the capital costs have proved prohibitive."
(3.6 Bus Lane/Tramway Enforcement, page 5) (Emphasis added).
 
Public transport has a high level of support within the Greater Manchester political establishment and yet only two of the ten local authorities have implemented measures agreed upon to improve the reliability of bus services.

Greater Manchester cycling advocates have yet to build, or focus, the political and business sector support for quality cycling infrastructure.  

Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th sees Manchester hosting the Love Cycling - Go Dutch events.  Lets work together inside (and outside) these meetings to increase the political (and financial) support to encourage and enable more people to cycle in Greater Manchester....