On Mon, 28 Jul 2003 12:27:25 +0100, "John Rowland"
wrote:

I like them in Oxford Street, because you can ride when the traffic moves
and start walking as soon as the traffic stops. If they could find a way to
fix the traffic situation in Oxford Street, I suppose we wouldn't need them.

Off-bus ticketing will help, though there will need to be
consideration of how to handle the taxi and a rationalisation of the
number of bus routes in that corridor to really help.

I'd start by banning loading[1] during the shop-opening day (8am-8pm
should do it), including taxis except in designated areas. Then, with
100% off-bus ticketing (except maybe Routemasters), move the bus stops
into the main flow and towards the traffic lights. Thus, buses would
end up stopping together, and the front bus could perhaps have control
of the lights to allow it to depart when loading/unloading was
complete. At present, buses stop in bus stops, then stop again at
traffic lights - this is horribly inefficient. Any more ideas?

[1] Is rear access available to all the shops along there? If not,
some bays may be necessary.

Neil