Bus Routes through a 'Home Zone'

iwilldoitthistime

Hi

Our estate has been designated a 'home zone' which is a government backed intiative to make housing estates family friendly with max 20mph speed limits, traffic calming etc.

We have heard that a bus company wants to run a bus route through the estate. Does anyone know whether they can legally do this? Can they basically run a bus route wherever they like? Do they have to put the proposed routes out for public consultation, and if so, for how long?

Any information would be appreciated.

thanks

skiddlydiddly

A bus is in itself a traffic calming measure as it potentially reduces the amount of cars on the road.Why wouldn't they let it in?A bus route is also an important part of the community as it benefits it as a whole.

flyingscotno1

Yes. If there are no prohibitions (weight and length) the buses have paid the road fund licence and can use the road. They'll register the road and as a private company there is little people can do.

robt_2

Why on earth would you want to stop a bus service? Are they going to be travelling at 50mph?

Maybe you should move to a private road and estate?

xocbc

A bus company can run buses anywhere they like however they must of course obey width/height or weight restrictions (although some width/weight restrictions exclude service buses and are in place to prevent HGVs using roads as short cuts). Local authorities or the Traffic Commissioner can object to a proposed route if it would lead to traffic congestion.

In England & Wales, bus companies need to give the Traffic Commissioner 56 days notice of a new route or to change/cancel an exsiting one. In Scotland there is an addition 14 day period were local authorities can comment on proposals, however usually this is restricted to height/weight/width/traffic etc, or in some cases competition issues. There is no legal requirement to consult with anyone else, and most bus companies don't advise anyone in advance as it may tip off a competitor of their plans.

Buses are indeed a traffic calming measure, you should be grateful that an operator want to provide a service, less cars on the road and less co2 in your estate can only be a good thing. Plus, buses are infinetely safer than cars, you are FAR more likely to be involved in an accident or injured in a car than on/by a bus. Keeping buses out of residential areas is a sure fire way to ensure that people will always use the car.

As long as the road network is suitable for buses there should be no problem and local residents who don't have access to a car will appreciate not having to walk so far to a bus stop.

The only thing you should be concerned about however where the local authority sites bus stops, and if they plan to erect any bus shelters - which can be an appealing place for teens to hang out and often cause anti-social behaviour issues.

anotherginger

why would you not want a bus going through? it gets more cars off the road and gives people who can't drive more freedom.

DCFC79

So the people who dont have a car in this home zone aren't alowed to have the option of a bus service to get them from where they live to town for example,

iwilldoitthistime

thanks for the replies. I have nothing against buses - myself and my family do use them, but I do not particularly want one running outside my front door from 5am to midnight. The reason we bought on the estate was to get away from traffic, thinking that the 'home zone' status would encourage this. I have young children and want them to be safe around my home and in the street.

There are currently bus stops on the main road around the estate, and as far as I know, no-one has raised any objections to using these. After questioning the council, we now find that there was always a provision for putting a bus route through the estate, but none of the builders have told the purchasers of their houses of this. Maybe it was something we should have investigated when purchasing, but I think we were all happy when the builder assured us there were no bus plans!

Woby_Tide

iwilldoitthistime wrote: »

thanks for the replies. I have nothing against buses - myself and my family do use them, but I do not particularly want one running outside my front door from 5am to midnight. The reason we bought on the estate was to get away from traffic, thinking that the 'home zone' status would encourage this. I have young children and want them to be safe around my home and in the street.

There are currently bus stops on the main road around the estate, and as far as I know, no-one has raised any objections to using these. After questioning the council, we now find that there was always a provision for putting a bus route through the estate, but none of the builders have told the purchasers of their houses of this. Maybe it was something we should have investigated when purchasing, but I think we were all happy when the builder assured us there were no bus plans!

So a bus that replaces x cars on the roads isn't reducing traffic on the estate? Plus it's constant stopping and starting will further calm other traffic surely? Developers can't know everything that may happen to an estate in perpetuity. Unless you buy on a cul-de-sac you may one day have a bus route I guess. Unlikely but not beyond the realms of possibility. Given they are considering a route their must have been some sort of consultation or research into why there should be a bus route on your road otherwise it;s commerical suicide for the bus company?

flyingscotno1

iwilldoitthistime wrote: »

thanks for the replies. I have nothing against buses - myself and my family do use them, but I do not particularly want one running outside my front door from 5am to midnight. The reason we bought on the estate was to get away from traffic, thinking that the 'home zone' status would encourage this. I have young children and want them to be safe around my home and in the street.

There are currently bus stops on the main road around the estate, and as far as I know, no-one has raised any objections to using these. After questioning the council, we now find that there was always a provision for putting a bus route through the estate, but none of the builders have told the purchasers of their houses of this. Maybe it was something we should have investigated when purchasing, but I think we were all happy when the builder assured us there were no bus plans!

If there is going to be a bus route round an estate this does not sound very 'home zone like'. A natural home zone would be very tight and tricky to get a bus around.

Equally it is absurd that a builder can give such an assurance into what private companies are planning to do!

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

Ask yourself if you'd want a diesel bus parked outside your house, rattling your windows, at 700 in the morning. And then 715. And then 0730. And 0745. And so on.

I wouldn't.