Peer backs Piccadilly plan
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• Strong backing for the London Transport campaign for bus-only lanes against the traffic flow from Piccadilly Circus to Green Park is coming from Lord Avebury, the Liberal Peer.
He is asking the Government to give sympathetic consideration to all requests from transport undertakings for bus-only lanes.
"It is obvious that if we are going to solve London's traffic problems all priority has to be given to public transport," said Lord Avebury. I think bus-only lanes are going to make life easier for the travelling public."
Up to the present only five bus-only lanes—one of which goes against the traffic flow—have been approved in the entire Greater London area, but the GLC and London Transport are considering several more.
Five bus services—numbers 9, 14, 19, 22 and 38—would use the proposed Piccadilly lane. A survey has shown that more than 3+m people use these routes each year, and that the bus-only lane could save £70,000 a year in operation costs, and also passengers' time.
Of 221 letters sent direct to London Transport about the Piccadilly scheme, 209-94 per cent—support it.
Lord Avebury also wants the Government to consider measures to exempt buses from "No right-turn" regulations. and to give them priority at traffic lights to help speed traffic flow.