Bus lanes are coming to Chch

**cooneyr** · 13th August 2009, 11:39

Those in Chch or who travel to regularly may have seen billboards, newspaper adds, article in Our Christchurch etc about bus priority and this is the website. Flyers and other info will be available from the City Council service centres and Civi building plus other locations from September.

Motorcyclists are allowed to use the lanes which is good news (they are Bus Lanes not Bus Only Lanes). By the end of the year you will be zipping past stationary cars on Papanui Rd and Main North Road during peak times though you will have to interact appropriately with buses and cycles. I suggest you all learn the rules from the website - they are pretty simple. While this is good for motorcyclists I'm also posting this so that as many as possible are aware of the rules so please pass the web link onto your friends, family etc. There are some reasonable fines if people don’t obey the rules. Page with the rules.

The Papanui/Main North Road route works are due to kick off next week all going well. My name and number is on the website (not hard to figure out which one) along with people from the City Council so if you have any questions about bus priority, give me a ring.

Cheers R

**humphrt** · 13th August 2009, 11:56

Mint that'll make the commute easier.

(after reading rules) does that mean that the we can use them all the time and cagers can use them during off peak hours?

**SMOKEU** · 13th August 2009, 12:17

First I've heard of these so called 'bus lanes'

**cooneyr** · 13th August 2009, 12:25

Originally Posted by humphrt

Mint that'll make the commute easier.

(after reading rules) does that mean that the we can use them all the time and cagers can use them during off peak hours?

"Outside operational hours, the bus lanes revert to on-street parking spaces with cycle lanes alongside in some locations." See this page.

Originally Posted by SMOKEU

First I've heard of these so called 'bus lanes'

if you live on one of the roads where these are planed there was consultation in late 2007 about these. Currently there is all the marketing etc underway - keep an eye out.

Cheers R

**Silage** · 13th August 2009, 14:09

Well done that man if you had anything to do with getting these up and running.

When I first saw the ads I was tempted to come to work the long way (Hornby - Ilam) just to use the lanes. Are there any plans for the Main South Rd?

**ukusa** · 13th August 2009, 15:03

Originally Posted by cooneyr

By the end of the year you will be zipping past stationary cars on Papanui Rd and Main North Road during peak times though you will have to interact appropriately with buses and cycles.

All good until the tosspot in the car decides (without looking) to pull into the bus lane suddenly to turn left

**boomer** · 13th August 2009, 15:04

what next.. elektrickery??!

**AllanB** · 13th August 2009, 15:12

Originally Posted by boomer

what next.. elektrickery??!

Nah - the Norf Island is taking all dat from us Southern cousins. We still hiding in de woods piles masta.

**klingon** · 13th August 2009, 15:19

Yay for bus lanes! I love using them in Auckland when I have to travel during rush hour. Yes, some ignorant drivers will continue to be a danger to bikes & motorbikes, but (as usual) we just have to keep an eye out for everyone else.

The main one I find is people pulling out from driveways etc on the left. Because they are looking for a BUS in the bus lane they seem to be even more blind to bikes & motorbikes (if that's possible).

cooneyr, I can't see anywhere on the website that clarifies the use of the 'B' priority signal at traffic lights. Some people here in Auckland still seem to think that applies to buses only and get quite tetchy when motorbikes use it. It might be worth spelling out that any vehicle that can legally use the Bus/Bike lanes can also use the priority signal and leave the traffic lights ahead of other traffic.

**RC1** · 13th August 2009, 15:19

i hear there going to put a corner there too

**cooneyr** · 13th August 2009, 20:05

Originally Posted by Silage

Well done that man if you had anything to do with getting these up and running.

When I first saw the ads I was tempted to come to work the long way (Hornby - Ilam) just to use the lanes. Are there any plans for the Main South Rd?

I'm looking after the State Highway sections and the design and construction phases. The investigation and earlier phases were before I got involved. Main South Road bus priority lanes will be in the first half of next year all going well - got to get the design work done yet, investigation work is already done.

Originally Posted by ukusa

All good until the tosspot in the car decides (without looking) to pull into the bus lane suddenly to turn left

As always don't assume anything and take care.

Originally Posted by klingon

Yay for bus lanes! I love using them in Auckland when I have to travel during rush hour. Yes, some ignorant drivers will continue to be a danger to bikes & motorbikes, but (as usual) we just have to keep an eye out for everyone else.

The main one I find is people pulling out from driveways etc on the left. Because they are looking for a BUS in the bus lane they seem to be even more blind to bikes & motorbikes (if that's possible).

cooneyr, I can't see anywhere on the website that clarifies the use of the 'B' priority signal at traffic lights. Some people here in Auckland still seem to think that applies to buses only and get quite tetchy when motorbikes use it. It might be worth spelling out that any vehicle that can legally use the Bus/Bike lanes can also use the priority signal and leave the traffic lights ahead of other traffic.

Actually the B aspect (signals) applies to buses only not the bus lane. See the Road User Rules page here. This is a bit of a problem for our design and we have included cycle aspects as well. There is no signal for motorcyclists or for bus lanes i.e. all users of bus lanes. Techncally motorcyclists are not allowed to proceed when the B aspect is displayed....

Originally Posted by RC1

i hear there going to put a corner there too

Huh??

Cheers R

**humphrt** · 13th August 2009, 20:35

Actually the B aspect (signals) applies to buses only not the bus lane. See the Road User Rules page here. This is a bit of a problem for our design and we have included cycle aspects as well. There is no signal for motorcyclists or for bus lanes i.e. all users of bus lanes. Techncally motorcyclists are not allowed to proceed when the B aspect is displayed....

So does this mean that if we are in front of a bus at the lights then we should just ignore the tooting and wait for the solid green light??? No offence but it sounds a bit stupid.

**Molly** · 13th August 2009, 20:52

Bit shit if you can't park outside your own house anymore.

**cooneyr** · 13th August 2009, 21:04

Originally Posted by humphrt

So does this mean that if we are in front of a bus at the lights then we should just ignore the tooting and wait for the solid green light??? No offence but it sounds a bit stupid.

Has been noted by many closer to the road rules than myself. Unfortunatly a change to the road rules takes a signficiant ammount of time. The new cell phone rule i.e. not allowed to use when driving, has taken almost a year to get through.

Originally Posted by Molly

Bit shit if you can't park outside your own house anymore.

All the lanes currently being built are part time - toward the CBD 7am to 9am and from the CBD 3pm to 6pm. Outside these hours the parking will be very close to it currently is.

Cheers R

**humphrt** · 13th August 2009, 21:10

Has been noted by many closer to the road rules than myself. Unfortunatly a change to the road rules takes a signficiant ammount of time. The new cell phone rule i.e. not allowed to use when driving, has taken almost a year to get through.

Fair nuff. Not much can be done bout that. Hooray for dictatorships