Improving bus reliability will come a step closer tomorrow when the first section of bus lanes along Papanui Road between Bealey Ave and Innes Road begin operating.

Drivers will now not be able to drive or park in the green painted bus lanes when they are operational between 7am and 9am on the inward bound section of the Papanui/Main North Road bus route and between 3pm and 6pm on the outward bound route.

The bus lanes will be clearly identifiable by the green road markings and by signage.

Buses, cyclists, motorcyclists, and emergency services vehicles can use the bus lanes during operational times. Outside the operating hours the bus lanes generally revert to on-street parking spaces with an indicated space in the lane for cyclists .

Measures to improve pedestrian and cyclist facilities will be provided along the corridor.

Mayor Bob Parker says “The opening of the first stage of one of what could be 10 bus priority corridors across the city is an exciting development in our measures to improve bus reliability and to help reduce traffic congestion.

“It is important that we encourage commuters to use public transport. Council and NZTA have identified a range of measures to improve the reliability of the bus services operated by Environment Canterbury. Implementing these will in turn mean better timetables and frequency of bus services making buses a more attractive transport option for users.

“We are building on the fact that patronage has increased 141% between 1992 and 2009 with passenger trips up from 7.1 million to 17.2 million. We believe that acting now to make bus travel more reliable has to be good for the city.’’

Council Project Management Unit Manager Christian Anderson says. “We have had an education awareness campaign in place since the beginning of August to let people know how the bus lanes and other bus priority measures will operate.

“So from tomorrow, enforcement officers will be monitoring compliance in use of the bus lanes to ensure motorists are not parking or driving in the bus lanes when they are operating.

“The penalty for driving in an operational bus lane is $150, while the penalty for parking in an operational bus lane is $60 plus a tow fee. However, motorists may travel across a bus lane to turn into a side street or driveway.

“There are plenty of signs that will let motorists know when the bus lanes are operating so they cannot park or drive in them.

The Council and the New Zealand Transport Agency are implementing the Papanui Road/Main North Road corridor in seven sections. The first six sections between Bealey Ave and Johns Road will be operational by mid-November 2009. The final section along the State Highway between Johns Road and the Christchurch Northern Motorway will be operational by the end of February 2010.

Further information can be found at http://www.buspriority.co.nz/ .

ENDS