Buses

Transport is approaching a state of crisis in West London. As the roads get ever busier, congestion increases and it takes longer to get anywhere.

Buses (and sometimes trams) are the most important means for solving the transport crisis in London.

Buses are cheap and flexible. New routes can be introduced and existing routes can be improved easily and cheaply as demand increases. (This is in complete contrast to trains, where enhancements are often impractical or prohibitively expensive. For example, major improvements in services to west London from Paddington are prevented by the fact that there are only two tracks in each direction.)

Why we need more buses, not more cars

Buses

Buses are vastly more efficient than cars. A bus takes the road space of almost 3 cars. But buses can carry up to about 60 passengers, whereas a car carries on average under 1.5 people. So buses can provide an answer to traffic and congestion problems.

Buses consume far less fuel per passenger than cars and, as a result, produce far less air pollution and far less greenhouse gases. And because they require less road space and parking space than cars, they don't waste valuable land and eat up open spaces. So buses are better for the environment.

Buses can be used by almost everyone - young, old, poor and socially excluded. Cars, in contrast, are largely confined to better-off people and those who can drive. So buses are better for social reasons.

For all these reasons, buses the only realistic answer to our local transport problems.

This is why West London Friends of the Earth is a strong supporter of buses (and trams). We recognise that the only realistic way that we can enable a large and increasing population to travel quickly and efficiently, while protecting the environment, is to ensure that there is a transfer - or 'modal shift' - from cars to buses.

It is not sufficient to simply increase the number of buses or bus routes. This has happened over the last few years, due not least to Ken Livingstone's policies. But if buses are prevented from running efficiently because of congestion and if they run as slowly as the cars they are intended to replace, then it is unlikely that there will be the major shift from cars to buses that is needed. That is why it is essential to give buses priority in the form of bus lanes, to give buses priority at traffic lights and, on certain stretches of road, to exclude cars entirely.

There are strong forces opposing such a shift from cars to buses. There is a vociferous and influential 'car lobby' in all the boroughs in West London. They oppose bus lanes, the West London tram, the congestion charge and anything else which might impede their ability to drive and park wherever and whenever they want. They oppose speed cameras and the use of parking fines to finance public transport. But we believe that the social, environmental and economic arguments in favour of buses are so compelling that the car lobby must not be allowed to prevail.

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Jan 05