24/7 bus lane trial in London
Transport for London is planning a trial to extend the hours of bus lanes in the capital to reflect a customer shift away from peak hours, and help ensure a sustainable recovery from the pandemic.
Before the pandemic, in 2018/19, 1.15 billion journeys were made on the bus routes that will now benefit from the proposed changes to 24/7 operation. The trial will start in late summer and will make bus journeys quicker throughout the day as 24-hour bus lanes will reduce the impact of any congestion on buses.
Claire Mann, director of bus operations, at TfL, says: “This pandemic has changed the way we all live, work and travel. For that reason, we need to adapt our network, be flexible and continue to help people travel safely and reliably as London gets back on its feet.
“The proposed changes to the operational hours of bus lanes will have significant benefits for bus passengers and people cycling beyond the current hours of operation, many of which were introduced years ago in a very different situation.
“We will carefully consider all feedback to ensure the trial has the greatest benefit to the greatest number of people and supports London’s recovery from coronavirus.”
Tim Bellenger, director of policy and investigation at London TravelWatch, adds: “Bus passengers will welcome this initiative to improve bus speeds, reduce journey times and improve service reliability. This is something that London TravelWatch has called for over a number of years.”