Bus priority lane

FACT SHEET NO.: Cat-No.3 / Subcat-No.3.6

3. Infrastructure

3.6 Capacity and quality of transport systems

Bus priority lane

Problem definition: Congested roads badly affect public transport services especially buses. During peak hours thousands of passengers travelling by bus get stuck in traffic jams. Priority lanes for buses prioritize buses when they are stuck in traffic. The measure includes segregation, traffic management, traffic signal control and bus stop improvements. Moreover an innovative bus system operates with a reliability of trams in congested areas, and the flexibliity of buses, where it is needed.
- Dedicated or segregated lanes for buses - Priority for buses at intersections (traffic light management)
- High quality buses and stops
- Additional corridor improvements, accompanying the bus service [2,3]

Example UK:
- Bus Priority Measures 'Greenways' Edinburgh
Example France:
- Busway system, Lorient and Nantes
Example Hungary
- Bus Priority Scheme, Budapest

- Facilitating the provision of a faster, more frequent and more reliable bus service
- Creating better conditions for cyclists
- to reduce travel times for public transport
- to improve public perceptions of the quality of the public transport service
- to increase public transport usage
- Improving crossing facilities for pedestrians, including disabled people and people with reduced mobility providing adequate loading and parking facilities for businesses
- Improving safety for all classes of road users including pedestrians[2,3]

Improving public transport service and worsening traffic conditions for car traffic may influence car drivers to choose public transport instead.

The measure basically does not influence the origin and destination of the trips however an advanced system may cause limited (or stronger) influence on trip choice. (Destinations along prioritized corridors will become more attractive and other areas (far away from these corridors) will be negatively influenced.)

The measure does not influence trip frequency.

Car drivers often choose alternative route to avoid the bus corridors, and public transport will switch to priority lanes

One main advantage of the system is the ability to ignore peak-hour congestion. Therefore high level of service can be offered during the whole day.

Often high capacity buses are used, with higher occupancy than conventional bus services.

In most of the cases clean engine buses are used, which influence the energy efficiency significantly.

[1] ASSET Assessing Sensitiveness to transport, Analysing Policy Instruments
[2]Guidelines for implementers for innovative bus systems
[3] Worcestershire County Council (2007): Bus Priority Measures Best Practice Report
[4] City of Worcester IMPLEMENTATION SCENARIO for Key Corridor of Improvement Schemes, incorporating the BHLS (Buses with a High Level of Service) Concept