(PR.co.nz) Two more bus priority routes will open in Christchurch from 27 April 2010, with the first sections of both the Queenspark and Colombo Street bus routes now complete.
The Colombo Street section from Cashmere Road to Tennyson Street, and the Queenspark bus route from the intersection of Cambridge Terrace and Fitzgerald Avenue to the intersection of Hills Road and Shirley Road will both start operating from Tuesday April 27.
The remainder of both bus priority routes are expected to be completed and open by mid May. The Colombo Street bus priority route travels from Moorhouse Avenue to Cashmere Road. The Queenspark bus priority route travels down Hills Road from Bealey Avenue up to Bassett Street.
The live sections of the bus lanes are clearly marked with both permanent and temporary signage.
Christchurch City Council Project Management manager Christian Anderson says generally people have been adapting well to the new bus lane rules.
“To ensure that people using these two new routes get the message about the bus lanes a comprehensive advertising campaign has been launched including, for the first time, moving billboards. The moving billboards will be towed on trailers up and down the bus priority routes.
“What we really want is people to stick to the rules, and help us to get the lanes working properly, and improving the flow of the public transport. However if people do breach the rules they can end up with a penalty. “
As in Papanui Road, people are required to stay out of the bus lanes during their operational hours, unless turning. If you are using the bus lanes during the operation hours to turn, then the manoeuvre must take less then 50 metres. Anyone who breaches the bus priority rules could be fined $150 for driving in a bus lane or be fined $60 and have their car towed if they park in a bus lanes during operational hours.
Media Release 26 April 2010 from Christchurch City Council.