Whilst traversing Bradley Stoke Way between Great Stoke (Rabbit) Roundabout and Savages Wood Roundabout, I noticed that the new bus stops constructed for the MetroBus scheme are not set back to allow carriageway flow for other road users when buses stop for boarding/alighting passengers, even though the verges allow ample room for this. Surely, this positioning will only lead to traffic backing up behind the buses when at these stops, especially at peak times of the day – also bearing in mind the increased traffic that will be generated on Bradley Stoke Way when the Stoke Gifford Transport Link (SGTL, a.k.a. Stoke Gifford By-Pass) is complete.
The consequences will no doubt be nose-to-tail congestion and frustration for other road users wanting to pass a stationary bus. To say nothing of the danger to pedestrians and passengers wishing to cross the carriageway at and near these stops, which are positioned in close proximity to roundabouts.
Are these stops positioned by design for the benefit of all? Surely not.
Chris Sheppard, Bradley Stoke
This letter originally appeared in the December 2016 edition of the Bradley Stoke Journal news magazine (on page 7). The magazine is delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to 9,500 homes in Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke and Stoke Lodge. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.
This was part of the plan to reduce carriageways in order to ensure buses take priority over anything else. The roads are being modified for buses not other users. In fact I predict the number of cars owners in Bradley Stoke will reduce significantly when they realise how cost effective and efficient the new bus service will be. Exciting times are just around the corner (just wish council could find the funds to repair the roads which are just round the corner from the bus lanes … )