The Greens’ Amanda Bresnan has announced that she’s convinced the Legislative Assembly to put the T2 lane back onto Adelaide Avenue and to have a look at the whole issue of transit lanes.
“We were disappointed that the Government removed the T2 transit lane on Adelaide Avenue without conducting a proper analysis of how it would impact on Canberra’s transport patterns,” said ACTGreens Transport spokesperson, Amanda Bresnan MLA.
“We agreed to reinstate the T2 lane.
“The Greens’ amendments additionally require the Government to conduct an evidence-based assessment of whether the lane will operate best as a T2, T3, T4 or bus-only lane. It will report back to the Assembly early next year.
“This paves the way for a future, evidence-based decision that best encourages sustainable transport on the road.
Success having a thousand fathers the Liberals Alistair Coe followed up this morning with his own happy dance having run hard on the issue.
“I am glad the majority of the Assembly has agreed that ACT Labor’s decision to change the T2 lane to a bus only lane was illogical and not in the best interests of the community,” ACT Shadow Transport Services Minister, Alistair Coe said.
“This successful motion follows concerns raised with me by the community about the lane closure.
“The onus is now on ACT Labor to respect the community’s wishes and restore the T2 lane as soon as possible.
“Simon Corbell’s decision to remove this lane was yet another poorly thought out plan by this Minister.
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dungfungus said :
It’s an illusion, at least at peak hours.
I’ve tried it several times, and it’s always faster for me to do Northbourne Ave and Adelaide Ave. The GDE feels faster because there are no lights, but it’s a lot farther and, once you hit Woden, things immediately turn to custard. I save about 10 minutes by going the way I do.
BicycleCanberra said :
Are you suggesting bus drivers are not capable of reacting to someone changing into their lane?
Majory safety issue. Give me a break.
BicycleCanberra said :
I’m sure that some irresponsible drivers have cut off buses but then I’m sure some motorcyclists and taxis have done so too. I haven’t got a problem if, at the end of the day, the purpose of the lane is for in service buses only. I do have an issue though when the purpose of the lane is not clear and the variety of permitted uses (eg, motorcyles, taxis and out of service buses) do not logically support any one purpose. If the purpose should be, as you suggest, solely to improve bus times and passenger safety then prohibit motorbikes, out of service buses and taxis and make it illegal for in service buses to be out of that lane except when turning.
You’ve got to love how Alistair will slag off at the Greens any time a decision goes against the Liberals, calling them ALP’s coalition partners and all. But when it’s the other way, it’s just “the majority”.
dungfungus said :
It is the safety of the Bus driver and the 80 or more passengers he/she is responsible for! now if knuckle head drivers pull into the T2 (bus) lane from any where along the route and not at the start there is an a major safety issue and itsbnot about pampering to Bus drivers who do a good job considering.
Maybe a solid one line is not enough and there needs to be some small concrete bollards along the route.
Deref said :
Unusual route you take from Belco Woden return, daily via Adelaide Avenue. In case you are unaware, their is a more direct route via the TuggeranongaParkway and the GDE.
The “science” behind the T2 lane was revealed on ABC 666 this morning when Andrew Barr admitted it is the TWU that wants the T2 exclusively for their papmpered bus drivers.
I commute from Belco to Woden daily and back in the arvos. Apart from single-passenger cars doing 100kph or more, I’ve never seen the T2 lane offering any advantage to buses or cars. Cars in the ordinary lanes regularly pass buses in the T2 lane. I’d love to see the science behind the T2 lanes – I have a sneaking suspicion that there ain’t none.
MummaBear said :
Monday. There was an electronic sign being errected this morning.
MummaBear said :
This “technicality” has already been brought up here, and it turns out that there’s an exception in the road rules allowing vehicles to cross an unbroken line to enter a restricted lane like a bus lane.
Thank Christ that Obama has gone and now we can get back to the BIG issues.
Does anyone know when the T2 lane will be reinstated? I know the Bus Only lane commenced on 13 November (Monday this week). I drove along Adelaide Ave today but there were Bus Only signs up. I also find it interesting that the Bus/T2 lane on Adelaide Ave, just after the Woden roundabout, heading towards the city, had unbroken lines at the beginning of the lane. Technically, all buses and commuters should have been booked entering the lane…. 🙂 I noticed they changed this with the signage promoting it as a bus only lane.
Proper analysis? Evidence based analysis?
And from the Greens of all people?
In other slow-moving-road-improvements news, they’re working on the Long Gully Road/Mugga Lane intersection at the moment, but not fast enough. There was another accident there yesterday afternoon, and it looked very ugly indeed for one of the drivers involved. Even with the top half of the car cut off, they had all sorts of trouble getting the driver out.
The biggest danger there is that westbound traffic intending to turn right onto Mugga Lane (a maneuver which should be banned from 8am-10am, just as similarly dangerous right-hand turns are banned during peak hour in grown-up cities) get impatient and they can’t see oncoming eastbound traffic until the last moment when they pop out from behind eastbound left-turning traffic.
DUG said :
You know I kinda recall that the road was duplicated by the feds using money to improve public transport as opposed to someone deciding to turn one lane into a bus only lane. Though yes a stupid idea, the best result for public transport and everyone in general was to get all traffic flowing freely. Same can be said for other places too, including Adelaide Ave.
artuoui said :
What, so they could cut across two lanes of traffic when they need to make a left turn?
Can they be made mandatory? If you have two or more in the car you MUST use the T2 lane.
That’ll get all those slow moving drivers pottering along while they chat with their mate out of everyone else’s way.
BicycleCanberra said :
So we don’t already pay for the T2 lane? We all pay for the roads, that’s why forcing a fee for car-pooling lanes is as stupid as forcing a fee for cycling lanes.
You’re also incorrectly assuming that car-poolers don’t ‘ride a bike every now and then’. Car-poolers don’t simply wait to perform an activity only when car-pooling is available to them. I can only imagine how long it would take me to get a loaf of bread if I needed to send a facebook invite out to all my car-pooling pals first..
dungfungus said :
Buying another home on $100k/year? Not in this city.
harvyk1 said :
How about considering rego is a minimal, if any, component of monies used to pay for roads etc.
Lillypilly said :
Anytime is a goodtime to tell Bussie to suck eggs. Do you want to bet that he will be talking to the TWU already? Either that or he will be on stress leave or buying another home with his $100K plus salary.