Return to Agenda

Division(s): Eynsham, West Central Oxford

ITEM TIC12

TRANSPORT IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE – 22 DECEMBER 2005

PROVISION OF BUS STOP CLEARWAYS – WITNEY ROAD, EYNSHAMAND GEORGE STREET, OXFORD

Report by Head of Transport

Introduction

  1. At the meeting of the Oxford Traffic Liaison Meeting (27 September 2005) a request was made to implement 24 hour Bus Stop Clearways at all bus stops in George Street, Oxford. This action was requested following concerns raised by Thames Valley Police that vehicles parked in the bus stops outside of the existing restriction period (7am to 7pm) caused an obstruction to traffic flow. It was considered that applying the clearway restriction at all times would remove the problem.

  2. As part of Oxfordshire County Council’s Premium Bus Routes programme, a corresponding pair of new stops was installed at Bartholomew School, Witney Road, Eynsham. Concerns were raised by Stagecoach, following feedback from their drivers, that one of the stops is located on an advisory ‘Keep Clear’ marking outside the school. Whilst this is not illegal, it was considered that this would set a bad example to other drivers and that it would be better to insert bus stop ‘cage’ markings on the highway thus creating a properly identified bus stopping location. As all new bus stop ‘cages’ are required to incorporate a clearway restriction, a bus stop clearway is being promoted at both bus stops at this location.

    3. Background

  3. Under the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002, it is now possible for a Highway Authority to implement bus stop clearway restrictions without the need for formal Traffic Regulation Orders. A bus stop clearway provides that, within a marked box (cage) adjacent to a bus stop, no vehicle other than a bus as defined in the Regulations may park or wait. It is possible to impose additional restrictions, for example limiting the benefit of the bus stop clearway to "local buses", the hours of application, and allowing or preventing the waiting of buses at a terminus for a specified period. Bus stop clearways are already in place in the County, mainly in Oxford and generally with a 7am to 7pm. period of operation.

  4. The provision of bus stop clearways has advantages, especially in busy city or town centres and on Premium Bus Routes. It can assist bus services to operate reliably and, if properly enforced, should ensure that the bus can get in close to the kerb at the authorised stopping place – which is crucially important for the mobility impaired. Without this, the full benefits of low floor buses cannot be realised. The Government believes that local authorities should be providing greater protection for bus stops, generally for 24 hours a day, which is why it has simplified the procedures for introducing bus stop clearways.

  5. However, bus stop clearway restrictions may, by restricting access to the kerb, bring disadvantages to some other road users, including frontagers, those visiting them, and those providing statutory or other services in the area. In proposing bus stop clearways, thought needs to be given to how loading and servicing can be achieved in the vicinity and whether the restrictions should apply for less than the full 24 hours of every day.

    6. Bus stop clearways in George Street, Oxford

  6. There are six bus stops in George Street (Stops A1, A2, A3, A5, B1, B2) with various clearway/stopping/waiting restrictions applying to them. These range from 7am to 7pm bus stop clearways at three of the stops to more general time limited loading and waiting restrictions at the other stops. See Annex 1 (download as .doc file) and Annex 2 (download as .doc file) for location plans of the stops.

  7. The current restrictions create some confusion for motorists as to when and where restrictions apply. This also makes enforcement difficult. Some motorists are aware that they can park in the current, time restricted, bus stop clearways outside of the hours of operation of the clearway without penalty. This has the effect of creating free parking in bus stops between 7pm and 7am.

  8. When buses cannot access the stops they have to pick up and set down passengers in the middle of the road, this has safety implications for all road users. Thames Valley Police have also raised their concerns about the impact this practise has upon traffic flow. Unless the matter is otherwise addressed the police have stated that they may need to consider removing vehicles where an obstruction is caused.

  9. In order to address this issue of obstruction to traffic flow, and enforcement difficulties, it was proposed at the Oxford Traffic Liaison Meeting on 27 September 2005 to promote a change in the current bus stop clearway restrictions of 7am until 7pm to 24 hours.

  10. It is recommended that 24 hour bus stop clearway restrictions be implemented at all bus stops in George Street so as to apply a clear and consistent parking regime. The proposals would prevent all vehicles except buses stopping within the bus stop area marked on the carriageway. A separate sign would also be displayed at each stop to indicate the restriction in accordance with the Traffic Signs and General Directions 2002.

  11. If implemented, the bus stop clearways would be enforced by Control Plus Parking Attendants in accordance with all decriminalised parking enforcement within Oxford.

  12. The immediate frontagers, Oxford City Council, Local County Councillors and relevant officers, Thames Valley Police, Control Plus and the relevant bus operators were consulted on these proposals. A summary of responses is shown at Annex 3 (download as .doc file) .

    13. Financial Implications

  13. The work for the George Street bus stop clearways will be funded from the Bus Stop Clearways capital allocation in the Sustainable Transport 2005/06 budget. The estimated cost of implementing the clearway is £1,000.

    14. Bus Stop Clearways in Witney Road, Eynsham

  14. A pair of bus stops have recently been created outside and opposite Bartholomew School on Witney Road, Eynsham. These were installed as part of the County Council’s Premium Bus Route improvements on the Oxford/Witney corridor and were intended to serve the school. The locations of the stops were agreed at a site meeting involving the OCC Area Highways Office, Stagecoach, Eynsham Parish Council and Thames Valley Police. See Annex 4 (download as .doc file) for a location plan of the stops.

  15. Following the introduction of the stops into service, Stagecoach reported to the County Council that its drivers had concerns about the legality of stopping on the ‘keep clear’ zig-zag markings outside the school, where the stop towards Oxford is located. Drivers were observed to be stopping away from the zig zags and consequently away from the location agreed at the site meeting. Stagecoach was advised that the zig zag markings are only advisory and the principle of the location was addressed at the original site meeting.

  16. The County Council received other, separate, correspondence raising concerns about the locations of these stops. These concerns were about the presence of the Oxford stop on the zig-zag lines and the close proximity of the corresponding pair of stops to each other – causing occasional problems for traffic flow when both are in use

  17. In response to these concerns it is recommended that the stops be relocated further apart from each other and that, at the stop in the Oxford direction, a bus stop cage marking be applied onto an erased section of the zig- zag lining with an accompanying 24 hour bus stop clearway order signed in accordance with The Traffic Signs and General Directions 2002. This would create a formal bus stop area that would signify the agreed location to bus drivers. These proposals were established by the Public Transport Development Team with input from the Area Highways Engineer and Bartholomew School.

  18. As the current section of zig zag lining is in excess of the maximum permitted by The Traffic Signs and General Directions 2002, this proposal would also have the additional benefit of creating two separate sections of zig zags both compliant with these Directions.

  19. It is also recommended that a bus stop cage marking and accompanying 24 hour bus stop clearway be implemented at the stop towards Witney signed in accordance with The Traffic Signs and General Directions 2002. This would protect the bus stop from the significant parking issues at this location at school start and finish times.

  20. The immediate frontagers, Thames Valley Police, Bartholomew School, Parish Council, the local County Councillor and officers were consulted on the proposals. Two frontagers objected to the bus stops on the basis of their location, rather than to the clearway proposals themselves. A summary of responses received is shown at Annex 5 (download as .doc file) .

    21. Financial Implications

  21. The work for the Witney Road bus stop clearways will be funded from the Bus Stop Clearways capital allocation in the Sustainable Transport 2005/06 budget. The estimated cost of implementing the clearway is £500.

    22. RECOMMENDATIONS

  22. The Committee is RECOMMENDED to approve the creation of Bus Stop Clearways in:

          1. George Street, Oxford, as described in paragraph 11 in this report and shown on the plan at Annexes 1 and Annex 2;

          2. in Witney Road, Eynsham as described in paragraphs 18 & 20 on this report and shown on the plan at Annex 4.

STEVE HOWELL
Head of Transport

Background papers: Consultation and responses

Contact Officer: Lewis Ward, telephone (01865) 815531

December 2005

Return to TOP