‘This road is gridlocked enough without buses stopping’
MOTORISTS are becoming increasingly frustrated over delays on a busy Adelaide road caused by buses idling on it, for up to two minutes. Here are the problem stops.
IDLING buses are blocking traffic on Henley Beach Rd, causing delays at peak times and frustrating residents, West Torrens councillors say.
At a meeting last week Cr Arthur Mangos said stationary buses on the northern side of Henley Beach Rd, near the intersection of Marion Rd, regularly stopped for one to two minutes at a time, holding up traffic.
He said they halted at bus stop eight, blocking one of the road’s two lanes of traffic and resulting in driver frustration and visibility problems.
“It just stops there, 50m before the lights,” he said.
He told the Westside Weekly after the meeting the problem generally happened at peak times. He had received complaints about the hold-ups from residents and had witnesses them himself.
A similar situation occurred on Marion Rd, near the Highway Hotel, he said.
“In the evening they just stay there and hold up all this traffic,” he said. “I’ve been talking about it for years in (the) council and written letters to the Department of Transport but they don’t listen to us.”
Cr Steven Rypp said he had experienced buses stopping near the intersection of Henley Beach and Tapleys Hill roads, at bus stop 18.
He told the Westside Weekly he had received complaints from residents who said stationary buses blocked traffic and made it hard to turn from side streets on to Henley Beach Rd.
“Henley Beach Rd is gridlocked enough,” he said.
Mayor John Trainer said he understood buses stopped when they were running ahead of schedule.
Mr Trainer said buses “should stop somewhere” to make up time and suggested the Transport Department could build indents in the road away from other traffic to allow them to do so.
In the meeting, the council resolved to accept an invitation from the Transport Department to participate in a program aimed at developing “appropriate solutions” for transport management.
RAA Senior Manager Road Safety Charles Mountain said buses should only sit at stops for as long as necessary to pick up or set down passengers.
“If buses are stopping for longer periods because they are running early then ... the timetable may need to be reviewed,” he said.
He suggested designated stops could be provided away from intersections on the less trafficked parts of the route.
A Transport Department spokeswoman buses sometimes stayed a little longer at stops to avoid getting to the next stop too early.
“The issue of buses stopping at certain stops or locations arises because buses are required to run on time to ensure passengers have a predictable service,” she said.
“Buses which run early can mean people miss that bus and must wait longer for the next one.”
However she said DPTI would concerns raised with the contractor for Henley Beach Road services.