And --- in Manchester/Salford we have the mosty amazing forward looking changes -- if you are a snail!
There are two main routes into the City from the West -- the M602 -- very congested in the morning -- and the A580/A6 -- possibly even more congested but at least there were 3 lanes for a lot of it and 2 lanes when it became the A6 into the City Centre.
So, of course firstly Salford Council decided to take the 3 lanes part at Salford Crescent Railway Station and reduce that to one, (clever huh??) so now the A6/A580 is even more congested. But that5 is not good enough! Traffic still moves albeit slowly. So to ensure complete chaos a guided Busway is being installed along the A580 from miles outside the City, thus reducing the 2 and 3 lanes to 1 and 2 on a road that is already a snail trail.
What good are Bus lanes really unless the roads are wide enough and the whole traffic light system is overhauled to fit?
a) They encourage people to take Public Transport which saves fuel, is less polluting and saves the Country money overall
b) Rubbish! They don't encourage you if the Bus is infrequent, doesn't go anywhere near where you work, requires two changes and takes twice as long as the car even with the traffic! It isn't less polluting as the subsequent car congestion creates more pollution, it doesn't save money with all the cars using the most inefficient engine performance -- crawling in traffic jams!
C) It works wonderfully in London so it will work everywhere
d) more rubbish. London has a wonderful transport system we don't have elsewhere (they complain but let them live in a Manchester Suburb and work in the City!). They have a totally interconnected system of Trains, Underground Trains, Buses etc. I work a lot in London and it is absolutely fantastic, you can get anywhere easily and are never far from a transport point! Having Bus Lanes and Congestion Charges works there -- it wont work anywhere else unb less you have the same transport architecture.
I know, easy, why didn't I think about it before? We can build a wonderfully fast rail link to everywhere from London, could start with the North West of England? Lest call it HS2?? Then everyone can work in London and travel by train from the North?? Ahhh, cant get to a station --- roads clogged up with Bus Lanes. Stupid man, get the Underground --- ahhh well yes -- we don't have one -- then get a Tram ----- ahh not many of those, as, unlike London where the whole UK pays for it, they expect us to pay here, but we cant afford it as we have no job, or we are spending all our money on transport to it!
Never mind Scottish Independence the UK needs Independence from London!
Bitter Dour Northener??? No, I grew up in Sussex and most of my family are still there -- and -- of course -- most work in London!