The trial began on Monday
A controversial trial extending the operating hours for bus lanes on certain routes in Edinburgh has got underway, amid fears it may result in congestion increasing in the city.
Dubbed the “7-7-7” operation, the scheme has seen the bus lanes between Milton Road East and London Road in force from 7am to 7pm, seven days a week. The previous bus lane times on the route were peak hours only - 7.30am to 9.30am and 4pm to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday.
The trial will last 18 months, at the end of which the council could consider introducing the new rules for all of Edinburgh’s bus lanes.
The city council is using an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) to carry out the trial, which allows the effects of the change in hours to be monitored and evidence gathered before recommendations are made on longer-term arrangements. The first six months of the trial will also serve as a consultation period, with the public able to give their views.
Transport and environment convener Stephen Jenkinson said: “Edinburgh is lucky to have a first-rate public transport system, which hundreds of thousands of people rely on every day. We want to make travel by bus an attractive, accessible and reliable alternative to the car and bus lanes support that.
“However, travel behaviour is changing and bus demand is increasing, leading to delays outside of traditional peak periods. This trial will help us to assess whether extended bus lane hours can reduce journey times on one of our busiest routes.
“Thanks to the nature of the trial we’ll be able to carry out real-world monitoring of traffic impacts and network performance, alongside feedback from the public.”
Before 2015, many bus lanes across the city operated either 7.30am to 6.30pm Monday to Saturday or 24 hours a day, but they were then switched to peak hour operation only and limited to weekdays.
Motorists have warned of potential “knock on effects”.
Christine Morgan commented: “Great more stand still traffic. More getting home later. Maybe get to work late too. Gonna be like having road works all the time.”
Local business owner Nikki Boyd, who runs Nikki’s Fleurs on Wolseley Place and is one of the most vocal critics of the new measures, said she is just asking “for a bit of common sense”.
She added: “Can somebody please explain to me how extending bus lane hours is suddenly going to make buses run on time? We’ve got two number 44 buses turning up on the same route at practically the exact same time!
“But apparently bus lanes are the answer to everything! What about the endless roadworks across Edinburgh? The road closures? The diversions? The temporary traffic lights? The congestion caused by all of that?”
A petition started by Ms Boyd calling on the council to reconsider the18-month trial and consult local businesses reached over 2,000 signatures by the time it closed at the start of this month.