Bus lane access sought for car sharers

Private motorists carrying at least three people could soon be driving in bus lanes in Dublin, and red lights might change to green as drivers approach at night.

That Utopian vision of travel in Dublin is part of proposals by transport managers, who yesterday presented Minister of State for Transport Ivor Callely with their suggestions to end chronic traffic congestion in the city.

The proposal to allow private motorists to use the bus lanes depends on the motorists taking part in a car pool - it would only apply to cars carrying at least three people. The measure was put forward by the AA's Conor Faughnan. It would also require car-sharing initiatives to be registered with the city council and for cars to display a badge on the windscreen.

Although details have yet to be agreed, the proposal has the support of Mr Callely, who said it was just one of a number of interesting proposals to emerge at the meeting - the first time the city's key transport agencies had all met under one roof to debate ways to tackle traffic congestion.

Mr Callely told the gathering he did "not want to reinvent the wheel" but was seeking instead simple measures which could be put in place within weeks, and which would could ease traffic flow.

Commenting on the AA's car pooling proposal, he said it was likely the scheme would be carried out on a pilot basis, once a roadway had been identified.

Although many of the proposals were issues which were already being addressed - such as tickets which allow passengers to use any form of public transport - some were novel, including a "Red Light at Night Scheme".

The scheme would detect cars approaching red lights at otherwise empty junctions and switch the lights to green, rather than having cars sitting waiting for the lights to change.

Another suggestion was that an "amber start" be introduced into the traffic light sequence. This would ensure that the traffic lights went to amber after red, and before green. Mr Callely said this would allow drivers to be ready for the green light.

Other measures suggested included staggering school opening times to separate rush-hour workers from parents taking children to school; the development of safe routes for parents to walk their children to school; "contra" flows in which a central lane switches direction depending on whether it is morning rush or evening rush; and improved cycle routes.

In a joint submission, the four Dublin local authorities called for more bus services on existing routes; better quality of bus fitouts; "real time" information on buses and routes at all bus stops; and the advancement of the Luas programme as a matter of urgency.

On behalf of the four authorities, Eamonn O'Hare, director of transportation for DúLaoghaire-Rathdown, said private companies should be encouraged to make "mobility plans" which would put in place measures such as car sharing or bicycle sheds.