Exclusive right-of-way for buses
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The current full-day Bus Lanes in the city still doesn't seem to work well and buses still got stuck in the traffic jams. Same for emergency vehicles!
My observations are:
-using only single lane as Bus Lane would not work for city centres such as Orchard Rd & Shenton Way because buses of different routes are calling at different sets of bus-stops, hence some got to take the 2nd lane.
-Bus Lanes are not effective when there are so many slip roads into carparks, taxi stands, side roads meeting the main road and traffic junctions. Therefore, buses are being forced out of the Bus Lanes to avoid these vehicles, and got stuck in the jams.
-In other words, the Bus Lane is only effective when it is a continuous stretch of lane without any intersections at the side.
My idea is to build an Exclusive Bus Way that is 2-lane wide in the city. The Bus Way should be separated by a road kerb to keep away other vehicles. This Bus Way is also good for emergency vehicles such as ambulances, police cars and fire engines to use. Slip roads and intersections should be removed as much as possible from the Bus Way.
The Bus Way can be built in a non-conventional layout. For instance at Orchard Rd - there are many intersections and slip roads along the left lane (eg at Tangs, Lucky Plaza, Paragon, Centrepoint). So my idea is to build the Bus Way on the right side instead. Buses should travel against the flow of traffic so that passengers can alight onto the new bus-stops pavement along Dhoby Ghaut, Somerset 313, Takashimaya and Wisma Atria.
For buses at the Exclusive Bus Way going to turn right, maybe we can follow Melbournes's style. Those who have driven in Melbourne's city centre would understand - ie making a "hook" turn.
Hopefully this would help to free the buses from congestions. And when motorists got stuck in long traffic jams, and seeing buses are passing them freely, they may start to wonder if they are silly not to use public transport.
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The main issue with Singapore's traffic is that traffic is always brought to a halt by the excessive presence of traffic junctions, crossings or traffic lights.
Chop down the traffic lights, and traffic will flow more smoothly.
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spam...