Web Forum: Lane change

Feb 3 2010 by Andrew Jackson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

LET the bus lane debate commence!

despondent opened with: “Somehow the council is aiming on squeezing a £¾m bus lane into Manchester Road from the town to Longroyd Bridge in order to shave an estimated two minutes off journey times on outbound buses. There won’t be many that appreciate that.

“Longroyd Bridge has been a rush-hour bottleneck for many generations. Traffic backs up a very long way in all directions, not helped by the duration of the signals and oddly designed lane swapping junctions. Instead of spending this vast amount on prioritising a lane for public transport which they intend to operate 24/7 even when the buses don’t run, they should be looking at improving the road layout to aid everyone.

“Longroyd Bridge has quite a lot of derelict buildings which could be cleared. Would a giant roundabout be better than staggered junctions and traffic lights? Everyone gets a fair chance then. I do wish the council would learn to look before it leaps.’’

idlejohn raged: “I read the story regarding this with some incredulity as this scheme even for KMC ranks as being extremely stupid. The statement by Clr Andrew Cooper that “if this encourages people to use public transport, all well and good. Public transport is a more efficient way of moving people along roads’’ is naive at best. Obviously Mr Cooper has not tried using public transport for a long time or he would realise just how efficient and inconvenient this is in Huddersfield.

“This area has long been a bottleneck for traffic and this scheme is not going to alleviate this. If anything it is going to make it worse and I think it forms part of the Kirklees Council’s ‘car hate’ plans as supported by the Huddersfield Civic Society.

“They have suggested installing a computerised traffic signal system known as SCOOT – Split Cycle Offset Optimisation Technique – and this is just what I wish the council would do as regards this idiotic scheme!’

markmyword49 pondered: “I think you’ll find that many of these buildings are in the process of being refurbished (through some urban regeneration scheme, I believe), so that effectively squashes the demolition plan.

“I’d be interested to hear Clr David Ridgway’s views on this latest suggestion. He was not happy about the town centre consultation excluding access problems via the arterial roads and railway.’’

To be continued....