News & Discussion: Public Transport Contracts, Service & Policy

[Vee]

ABC News online: RAA critical of Adelaide bus lanes.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-05/r ... es/4801122

Bus priority lanes are essential to improve the efficiency and appeal of public transport IMHO. Removing these, as suggested by the RAA spokesperson, would be a retrograde step. More cars on the road leads to more traffic congestion.

[monotonehell]

ABC News online: RAA critical of Adelaide bus lanes.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-05/r ... es/4801122

Bus priority lanes are essential to improve the efficiency and appeal of public transport IMHO. Removing these, as suggested by the RAA spokesperson, would be a retrograde step. More cars on the road leads to more traffic congestion.

Take note of what the second A stands for in RAA.

[Aidan]

ABC News online: RAA critical of Adelaide bus lanes.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-05/r ... es/4801122

Bus priority lanes are essential to improve the efficiency and appeal of public transport IMHO. Removing these, as suggested by the RAA spokesperson, would be a retrograde step. More cars on the road leads to more traffic congestion.

Take note of what the second A stands for in RAA.

Association? Or do you mean the first A?

Anyway, that's no excuse, the RAA should have moved on from a position of advocating motorists at everyone else's expense, and I really thought they had. This proves otherwise.

And is there any evidence that the delay is the result of the bus lane rather than the increase in traffic due to the lack of trains?

[monotonehell]

Association? Or do you mean the first A?

herpa derpa

And is there any evidence that the delay is the result of the bus lane rather than the increase in traffic due to the lack of trains?

More likely this. Correlation not causation strokes again?

[claybro]

Go figure....Bus priority lanes/lights actually increase the amount of time it takes for 1 occupant vehicles to commute into the CBD. Isn't that kind of the point of them? And this passes as NEWS here in Adelaide? Oh dear. And further to that, some Family First idiot is threatening to legislate to remove the bus lanes!!!! Off to the US Midwest bible belt with him as well....no new fangled bus lanes there to interrupt his commute to chapel..

[metro]

some Family First idiot is threatening to legislate to remove the bus lanes!!!! Off to the US Midwest bible belt with him as well....no new fangled bus lanes there to interrupt his commute to chapel..

SA Liberal party might just remove all bus lanes if elected. I remember hearing Vicky Chapman or someone in the Lib party saying something about an overwhelming majority of people drive into the city, therefore, the city needs to be more car friendly to improve business and make it more vibrant.

[PeFe]

From Adelaide Now

We must overhaul bus routes to allow cross-town journeys, says Urban Development Institute of Australia SA

Urban developers say Adelaide needs cross-town bus routes because fewer people work in the city. Picture: Greg Higgs Source: The Advertiser

ADELAIDE'S public transport system must be radically overhauled to allow more cross-suburban journeys that help people get to work more easily, the head of the state's peak developer's body says.

With just 20 per cent of Adelaide's population now working in the CBD, Urban Development Institute of Australia SA executive director Terry Walsh said most routes going to and from the city no longer met workers' needs and must be changed as part of a wider rethink of transport infrastructure.

"We need to start looking at some creative ways of getting some east-west traffic ... because only 20 per cent of our working population actually work in the city," Mr Walsh said.

"Looking at the next 50 years, we're now going to have to get some tree-branch models, and particularly in the north. We have an opportunity, we have time, but its critical."

This radical switch would create jobs, boost economic growth, and set Adelaide's public transport system up for the next 50 to 100 years, Mr Walsh said.

Public transport users who last week spoke to The Advertiser expressed support for a rethink about where services are provided, including the introduction of more cross-city services to take into account changing work and social patterns.

"I think it would work really well for people who don't have a driver's licence or cannot drive and who are travelling to work or to see friends," Chris Graves of Paradise said. "There is no reason why buses should just be going into the city."

The State Government is currently involved in a record multi-billion-dollar infrastructure-spending program but has had to downgrade some plans, such as the full electrification of the rail network, as it attempts to rein in debt of up to $13 billion.

Rundle Mall Management Authority chairman Theo Maras said the obvious solution was to pursue public-private partnerships to pay for infrastructure, including the use of toll roads.

"In South Australia, we seem to have a mindset that it's wrong to have a toll road or toll bridge or main infrastructure like harbours," Mr Maras said.

Without that infrastructure built economically, the state was "behind the eight-ball, he said. "The answer is that we must have it, we will have it, better do it, sooner than later to avoid missing out on the pie," he said.

A spokesman for Transport and Infrastructure Minister Tom Koutsantonis said a federally funded study was under way to examine all traffic movements.

"The study will feed into the review of the 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide and a foreshadowed infrastructure plan so that we can ensure we continue to integrate our network to meet the needs of our growing population," he said.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sout ... 6675661036

[claybro]

Just wondering if it is time to consider closing Currie/Grenfell sts to all but bus and taxis and create a transit zone. An exemption would also be required for deliveries to businesses along there, such as the Rundle Place loading dock.

[Nathan]

Just wondering if it is time to consider closing Currie/Grenfell sts to all but bus and taxis and create a transit zone. An exemption would also be required for deliveries to businesses along there, such as the Rundle Place loading dock.

I agree — a dedicated transit corridor. Couple that with realigning Rundle Rd so that it connects with Grenfell St instead of Rundle St (along the old tram ridge through Rymill Park. That would eliminate the bus lane dance on East Tce).

It won't happen though, because *OMG we needz carparkz!!!!*

[monotonehell]

Just wondering if it is time to consider closing Currie/Grenfell sts to all but bus and taxis and create a transit zone. An exemption would also be required for deliveries to businesses along there, such as the Rundle Place loading dock.

If it weren't for all the carpark entries along there I would jump on this. Need to move them / the entires for those.

[claybro]

Just wondering if it is time to consider closing Currie/Grenfell sts to all but bus and taxis and create a transit zone. An exemption would also be required for deliveries to businesses along there, such as the Rundle Place loading dock.

If it weren't for all the carpark entries along there I would jump on this. Need to move them / the entires for those.

Isn't it only the Harris Scarfe car park in Grenfell street that fronts the road? I know there are others off side streets, but they could access off Pirrie Street. If it is only HS car park, then tear the thing down...it is valuable real estate. I know this would cause an absolute melt down at first, but surely in the long term it would make the CBD more functional.

[Nathan]

I'm pretty sure there's at least one carpark with access from Currie St, and some of the East End apartments only have carpark access from Grenfell St (or lanes coming off Grenfell St).

[Hooligan]

Please, just make a Mawson Lakes to Port Adelaide bus service and i'll be happy.

[Patrick_27]

Just wondering if it is time to consider closing Currie/Grenfell sts to all but bus and taxis and create a transit zone. An exemption would also be required for deliveries to businesses along there, such as the Rundle Place loading dock.

If it weren't for all the carpark entries along there I would jump on this. Need to move them / the entires for those.

Isn't it only the Harris Scarfe car park in Grenfell street that fronts the road? I know there are others off side streets, but they could access off Pirrie Street. If it is only HS car park, then tear the thing down...it is valuable real estate. I know this would cause an absolute melt down at first, but surely in the long term it would make the CBD more functional.

Disagree. Whilst it would be considered fantastic for PT; as seen here in Melbourne with the closure of Swanston Street to all but Trams. taxis and service vehicles, unless you have the thriving businesses operating late into the night, it becomes a safety risk for pedestrian traffic and encourages crime. Now whilst some would consider this to be a minor problem to a big solution, I beg to differ.

[Shahkar]

Just wondering if it is time to consider closing Currie/Grenfell sts to all but bus and taxis and create a transit zone. An exemption would also be required for deliveries to businesses along there, such as the Rundle Place loading dock.

What about people like me whose only way out is Currie/Grenfell street and decide to drive?