The current full-day Bus Lanes in the city still doesn't
seem to work well and buses still got stuck in the traffic
jams. Same for emergency vehicles!
My observations are:
-using only single lane as Bus Lane would not work for city
centres such as Orchard Rd & Shenton Way because buses of
different routes are calling at different sets of bus-stops, hence
some got to take the 2nd lane.
-Bus Lanes are not effective when there are so many slip roads
into carparks, taxi stands, side roads meeting the main road and
traffic junctions. Therefore, buses are being forced out
of the Bus Lanes to avoid these vehicles, and got stuck in the
jams.
-In other words, the Bus Lane is only effective when it is a
continuous stretch of lane without any intersections at the
side.
My idea is to build an Exclusive Bus Way that is 2-lane wide in
the city. The Bus Way should be separated by a road kerb to keep
away other vehicles. This Bus Way is also good for emergency
vehicles such as ambulances, police cars and fire engines to use.
Slip roads and intersections should be removed as much as possible
from the Bus Way.
The Bus Way can be built in a non-conventional layout. For
instance at Orchard Rd - there are many intersections and slip
roads along the left lane (eg at Tangs, Lucky Plaza, Paragon,
Centrepoint). So my idea is to build the Bus Way on the right side
instead. Buses should travel against the flow of traffic so that
passengers can alight onto the new bus-stops pavement along
Dhoby Ghaut, Somerset 313, Takashimaya and Wisma Atria.
For buses at the Exclusive Bus Way going to turn right, maybe we
can follow Melbournes's style. Those who have driven in Melbourne's
city centre would understand - ie making a "hook" turn.
Hopefully this would help to free the buses from congestions.
And when motorists got stuck in long traffic jams, and seeing buses
are passing them freely, they may start to wonder if they are
silly not to use public transport.
