Bus lane specific lights

Shedite27

There's two points in Dublin (that I've noticed) that have green bus lane lights along side the regular lights. The two I'm referring to are...

• Southbound on the N11 just past the Burlington.
• Southbound on the Malahide Road just at the left turn for Tesco Artane.

Now the sequence of these lights is, Green Bus lane light goes on for 10 seconds so busses can go straight, then green car light goes green and cars can go straight.

At both these junctions no other cars or pedestrians move at this time. So for the 10 seconds that busses can move, cars could also move in the same direction without interfering with anyone else (there is no left turns at these so nobody would be passing the bus lane).

Does anyone know the purpose of this? It seems to be just to give busses a 10 second headstart at the junction over the cars.

Vic_08

Shedite27 wrote: »

There's two points in Dublin (that I've noticed) that have green bus lane lights along side the regular lights. The two I'm referring to are...

• Southbound on the N11 just past the Burlington.
• Southbound on the Malahide Road just at the left turn for Tesco Artane.

Now the sequence of these lights is, Green Bus lane light goes on for 10 seconds so busses can go straight, then green car light goes green and cars can go straight.

At both these junctions no other cars or pedestrians move at this time. So for the 10 seconds that busses can move, cars could also move in the same direction without interfering with anyone else (there is no left turns at these so nobody would be passing the bus lane).

Does anyone know the purpose of this? It seems to be just to give busses a 10 second headstart at the junction over the cars.

The 11 bus needs to cross to the right turning lane immediately after the Burlington stop for the Appian way turn, the light allows this without the usual battle with selfish car drivers who are typically less than courteous towards public transport.

Macy0161

There's another one the N11 southbound, just past the Stillorgan Park Hotel. It allows the bus out ahead to turn up the old road past the Stillorgan Shopping Centre.

I'm not sure it's because of discourteous car drivers, just the practicalities of getting across two lanes of traffic that's mainly going straight on. It also allows maximum use of the bus lane - at the Stillorgan Park at least, there's plenty of time to get across from the last bus stop, but then they'd have to leave the bus lane earlier.

Colm R

I do think more of these are badly needed. But a bit more thought should be possible. Where a bus needs to turn right, the lights should allow it to do so from the left most lane at the junction where the bus needs to turn right.

Shedite27

Ah yes, that makes sense bout the 11 bus at the Burlington anyway. Still at a loss with regards to the one at Artane. All busses there go straight on all the way to town and have their own bus lane the entire way.

AlekSmart

Shedite27 wrote: »

Ah yes, that makes sense bout the 11 bus at the Burlington anyway. Still at a loss with regards to the one at Artane. All busses there go straight on all the way to town and have their own bus lane the entire way.

One of the great learning curves involved with such signal arrangements,is the realization of just how many Motorists are not watching the signal at all.

Instead,as soon as the Bus begins to move,it's into gear and ZooM !!..."Yer not going to get your fcxxkkin Bus ahead of ME matey".....then,at the Burlington one,the buffoon (and his/her phone) will then plonk themselves in the centre of the Yellow Box while glowering up at the busdriver....

Incidentally,the numbers of drivers approaching the Appian Way/Leeson St junction in the wrong lane is astounding,and well worth independent study by some learned body.

The principle of Public Transport Priority is not solely about giving it an actual advantage,but also to give it a Percieved one,the very reason the OP found it necessary to ask the question demonstrates that this approach works.

n0brain3r

Do these lights apply to traffic using the bus lane or specifically buses only? i.e. Whats the situation outside the bus lane hours.
If buses only is there any provision for it in Road Traffic act or relevant legislation?

Just wondering if it's another good idea let down by poor implementation!

Vic_08

Colm R wrote: »

I do think more of these are badly needed. But a bit more thought should be possible. Where a bus needs to turn right, the lights should allow it to do so from the left most lane at the junction where the bus needs to turn right.

Unless they were triggered by the bus it would be more of a hinderance as every bus would have to wait for a very short bus only segment in the junction cycle as turning right on a solid green from the bus lane would be too dangerous.

donvito99

There are two that don't seem to do anything in alleviating - for buses at least - the Terenure N81 bottleneck. One was hit to an extent that it faces the wrong way. The other is farcically ignored by locals.

LXFlyer

The N81 inbound is a queue relocater and as such does the job as best one can in that location. Its job is to keep the traffic queue at the junction with Terenure Place to a minimum - and keep the main queue back where the bus lane is.

As you say many people ignore it but it does save some time for the buses.

dublinbusdude

Lads, its R137 from the M50 Tallaght exit now to the City not the N81

LXFlyer

Ok - the Templeogue Road inbound so!

BenShermin

Vic_08 wrote: »

The 11 bus needs to cross to the right turning lane immediately after the Burlington stop for the Appian way turn, the light allows this without the usual battle with selfish car drivers who are typically less than courteous towards public transport.

It would be great to have these at all junctions, I've often sat on buses stuck in traffic in the third lane (right turn lane) while the first lane (bus lane) lies idle.

Such an idea would be fantastic for cyclists aswell. Negotiating three lanes on two wheels to get a right turn can be a nightmare on some streets.

Chris_5339762

lxflyer wrote: »

The N81 inbound is a queue relocater and as such does the job as best one can in that location. Its job is to keep the traffic queue at the junction with Terenure Place to a minimum - and keep the main queue back where the bus lane is.

As you say many people ignore it but it does save some time for the buses.

The inbound one is a good idea (although unbelievably frustrating to wait at), but it doesn't seem to keep the Terenure queue quite as short as it could. The outbound one is constantly green, I pass through twice daily and I have NEVER seen it red in three years.

That said, the inbound queue at Terenure can be quite easily dodged legally

coylemj

Macy0161 wrote: »

There's another one the N11 southbound, just past the Stillorgan Park Hotel. It allows the bus out ahead to turn up the old road past the Stillorgan Shopping Centre.

That's reverted to a normal signal sequence since the outbound 46A and 145 buses stopped going up by the shopping centre. The 47 (every 45-60 mins) and 116 (once a day) are now the only buses that need to cross the traffic to go up the Old Dublin Road and the lower frequency couldn't justify holding up the regular traffic while a green 'Bus' light was activated.

I was on an outbound 46A which was stopped at those lights last night, when the lights changed they went from red to a regular green 'Up' arrow so there's no longer any priority for buses.

LXFlyer

Chris_5339762 wrote: »

The inbound one is a good idea (although unbelievably frustrating to wait at), but it doesn't seem to keep the Terenure queue quite as short as it could. The outbound one is constantly green, I pass through twice daily and I have NEVER seen it red in three years.

That said, the inbound queue at Terenure can be quite easily dodged legally

The outbound one has never functioned since its original installation over 10 years ago. It is rather unnecessary to be honest.

The inbound one does the job it's designed for pretty much as well as it can. Yes it is frustrating for car drivers - an that's what it is designed to be. It gives the bus priority.

msg11

n0brain3r wrote: »

Do these lights apply to traffic using the bus lane or specifically buses only? i.e. Whats the situation outside the bus lane hours.
If buses only is there any provision for it in Road Traffic act or relevant legislation?

Just wondering if it's another good idea let down by poor implementation!

My understand of it is for traffic in the bus lane. So if your in the bus lane and the bus light comes on you move along. Now if you should be legally in the bus lane at the time is a different matter.

Macy0161

coylemj wrote: »

That's reverted to a normal signal sequence since the outbound 46A and 145 buses stopped going up by the shopping centre. The 47 (every 45-60 mins) and 116 (once a day) are now the only buses that need to cross the traffic to go up the Old Dublin Road and the lower frequency couldn't justify holding up the regular traffic while a green 'Bus' light was activated.

I was on an outbound 46A which was stopped at those lights last night, when the lights changed they went from red to a regular green 'Up' arrow so there's no longer any priority for buses.

Was stopped at these lights this evening - bus specific light was in the sequence.

coylemj

Macy0161 wrote: »

Was stopped at these lights this evening - bus specific light was in the sequence.

It just occurred to me that I was studying the last traffic lights before the stretch that goes down to Stillorgan cross, the lights that you and the other poster are talking about are probably further back, given that the 47 needs to diagonally cross the outbound lanes. My bad.