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Summary Bus priority measures aim to reduce journey times and improve the reliability of bus services. They include: segregation; traffic management; traffic signal control; and bus stop improvements. Effective bus priority measures can achieve mode shift from car, and in so doing, reduce delays for both bus users and car-drivers. Effective bus priority measures reduce operating costs for bus operators and increase patronage, both of which impact positively on the financial cost of bus operations. The impacts can be beneficial across a range of objectives including the environment, the economy and social inclusion. Some measures such as bus lanes are often faced with great opposition from traders and residents because of concerns over loss of access and parking. A further difficulty arises in a deregulated environment because the local authority will have difficulty ensuring that a high quality and regular service is maintained on the newly constructed measures. This causes political difficulties with the bus priority measures appearing unjustifiable.
No comprehensive post implementation studies were found, but the general
evidence suggests that the measures are justifiable on the grounds of
benefits to bus users and operators without having a significant detrimental
effect on car journey times.
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