Viewpoint

Viewpoint:
Free up this transport gridlock

[Published: Thursday 7, February 2008 - 08:13]

Anyone who uses public transport in Belfast is well aware of the problem of congestion, but there are better means of tackling it than a threat of strike action by the Metro bus drivers. At a meeting next month between the drivers' union and the Regional Development Minister, Conor Murphy, new strategies must be devised to make sure buses have priority on main roads.

The drivers have long been seeking more and longer bus lanes, to have a better chance of keeping to their timetables, and they have reacted angrily to the Minister's proposals for an ambitious rapid transit system. If adopted, it would take many years to come to fruition, whereas Unite wants solutions now, before public transport loses more support from its customers.

The drivers have to brave the appalling traffic conditions, day and daily, so their views must be respected. When they say they need dedicated bus lanes, and rigorous enforcement of parking laws, to enable them to provide the service that Metro promised, the Minister should do what he can to expedite matters.

What would not be helpful would be a confrontation between Mr Murphy and Unite over his plans for a rapid transit system, which virtually every city in Europe has implemented. As the Minister explains, in a letter responding to Unite's concerns, there is a marked misunderstanding about his department's ideas. It is examining a number of different schemes, based on trams and buses, but any new plan would not replace current efforts to improve the bus service.

As proof of his commitment to public transport, Mr Murphy has approved the spending of an additional £182m over the next few years, allowing for the purchase of 200 new buses and 20 new trains. Yet, although 18 miles of bus lanes have been introduced in Belfast - and more are planned for the Ormeau and Antrim roads - the drivers are certain to ask for more.

Improvements to the West Link should divert more traffic away from the city centre, and new trains should encourage more passengers on the Larne line, but there is no doubt that long-term answers are needed, based on tried and tested rapid transit strategies. Both the Minister and the drivers can surely agree, without the threatened strike, that a feasibility study should go ahead into the city's future transport needs.

Ideally, Belfast should follow Dublin's example with dedicated tram lines, but the narrowness of main thoroughfares may rule this out. Certainly there is no way that public transport can be made more attractive without the use of buses, hopefully at rock-bottom fares, so the drivers have a secure future. Just now, they need all the bus lanes they can get, together with parking restrictions, to guarantee better time-keeping for their passengers.

'THANKS FOR TRAVELLING SCUMBUS'