Page 5448 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 16 November 2011
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I would like to advise the Assembly of the concerns that have been raised by the union representing bus drivers. Mr Klaus Pinkas, who is an industrial representative of the Transport Workers Union, says:
The issue TWU members at ACTION buses have with the bus lane on Adelaide Avenue being a T2 lane is a safety issue.
The problem arises when cars cross over the unbroken white line and enter the T2 lane. This occurs mainly when the normal traffic lanes are moving at a slower rate than the speed limit. They enter the T2 lane where buses are travelling at 80km/h, the speed limit. The difference in speed and the lack of attention of drivers of cars changing lanes has led to two incidents (as far as I know) where there was either vehicle damage or bus passengers were injured. There have also been numerous near misses which required buses to brake heavily.
Clearly drivers have concerns about safety and they have concerns about passenger safety if the existing T2 lane arrangements continue as a permanent measure.
Mr Coe argues that a transit lane would encourage car pooling. We see maybe up to 400 Canberrans using the transit lane during the morning and afternoon peaks—as I have said, about 200 cars. What Mr Coe, and regrettably Ms Bresnan, have failed to consider is the number of people who use the T2 lane in buses. Yes, about 200 vehicles or about 400 people use the T2 lane each peak. However, over 2,000 people use the T2 lane each morning and afternoon peak when they travel by bus. Canberra has about 16 kilometres of bus lane in a network of over 3,000 kilometres of roads across the territory.
I would also make the observation that Adelaide Avenue has three lanes for traffic in each direction east of Deakin and that it has two lanes of traffic west of Deakin and equally two lanes of traffic in each direction along Yarra Glen. This is a high capacity road that carries a large number of vehicles and does so with relatively little congestion. Adelaide Avenue is a key public transport route with rapid and frequent public transport services. Segregation of public transport from general traffic is an important consideration in providing efficient, reliable and safe public transport services.
I have to say that I am amazed that the Greens, who persistently and consistently advocate for a dedicated right of way for public transit, are now saying it is all right to put cars into that lane. I just do not understand their position. You cannot be a champion for public transport and giving public transport priority and then say it is all right to put cars into the bus lane. Surely we can in a city, and particularly on a road that has six lanes for motor vehicles along a large part of its length, give priority to buses on that road. If we cannot, I think it really says something about this debate, and particularly about the Greens’ position on this debate.
Dedicated bus lanes identify the importance of permanency of public transport corridors and allow us to progressively develop opportunities for future transit-friendly lane use changes and developments. The government’s draft transport for Canberra plan has identified opportunities for developing bus stations and stops in the median of Adelaide Avenue and indeed there is money in this year’s budget to fund
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