Buses aren't ready to replace cars yet, you say

4:23pm Friday 5th September 2008

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PLANS for a radical revamp of Worcester’s transport network have caused quite a stir among readers of your Worcester News website.

On Monday we revealed that Worcestershire County Council officers hope to make the city’s existing road bridge a car-free zone – open only to buses, cyclists and pedestrians – if funding is acquired to build a second city centre bridge.

There are also plans for 35 miles of bus lanes on key routes into the city, running from six new park-and-ride sites around the edges.

Our comment column on Monday suggested the plans could prove hugely controversial – and readers logging on to worcesternews.co.uk seem to bear out that view.

‘Logik’ of Worcester wrote: “I have nothing against bus lanes when there is plenty of room to accommodate them. Worcester roads do not have that room. All this will do is provide plenty of room for near-empty buses, and other traffic will have less – thus creating more congestion.”

Another reader was more supportive of the plan, but stressed roads and bus services would have to improve.

‘Sweetlilac’ of Worcester wrote: “This idea of closing parts of Worcester off to cars is sound, as long as the transport structure is in place. I recently went to Oxford and was amazed at how brilliant the place is. They have a ring road with five park-and-ride places where some cost £1 to park all day, and some are free. There are buses every eight to 10 minutes into the city centre which cost £2 return.

“If Worcester had a decent park-and-ride system, I would do it – it would save me on petrol and parking. As long as we can have a reliable bus system and an orbital ring road, I think it’s a good idea.”

Many readers thought completing a ring road around Worcester was essential. ‘Seenem’ of Worcester wrote: “Why not complete the rest of the bypass and join it up to the A449 northern link, instead of messing about in the city? A lot of the traffic causing the problem in the city would probably be glad to avoid it!”

Other readers were concerned our buses are simply not up to scratch.

‘FlashDaddy’ of Worcester wrote: “Worcester’s bus service is still way too overpriced, unpunctual and badly route-planned to be a valid alternative to car travel. If it was fast and cheap, I’d use it. It isn’t!”