To beat traffic frustration
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• A nationwide campaign for priorities for buses has been launched by the Public Transport Association, with the help of a booklet entitled "It's people that matter". Announcing the new campaign, Mr. T. W. H. Gailey, PTA chairman and chief executive-designate of the proposed National Bus Company spoke of the frustration experienced by the industry caused by continuing traffic congestion.
The booklet makes the point that something is being done in many towns. There are already some schemes for urban motorways and the Minister of Transport has made it clear that all local authorities who have not yet done so must take into account the expected growth of road traffic in preparing their plans. But all these traffic plans, explains the booklet, involving as they must the purchase of land, the demolition of buildings and the construction of extensive new roads and improvements to existing roads, will take years to materialize.
What is needed is action now. Some examples of what has already been done are quoted, but further action is urged in traffic measures such as reserved lanes for buses, banning the unloading of commercial vehicles during peak hours, priority turns for buses and so on. Operators themselves need to prepare faster journeys (to the extent that timings can be shortened by priorities) including, as appropriate, revised routes and limited stop journeys superimposed on stopping services.